any ham radio operators?

gogofast

gogofast

Addicted Member
any ham radio operators out there?

if i was to set up a very basic rig to communicate across nearby towns to friends and family, what do i need?

do you need license to listen and respond?

what other options are there to communicate during times when the phone/cellphone are down?

always wanted to learn how to operate ham, but never had time to start.
 
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You'd need at least a technician class license to transmit.

http://www.arrl.org/getting-your-technician-license

Then you could set up 2 meter and/or 70 cm transceivers with those others with licenses. You could talk direct "simplex" or talk through a local repeater.

Limiting thing will probably putting up a good enough antenna at proper height to cover the distance you want to go.
 
Lesson 1.

Most 'Ham' Radio Operators prefer not to be called that.

Amateur Radio Operator is better.

As regards regulations etc - varies from country to country - but to get a license you usually need to pass an exam & pay a fee.
 
Ed in Tx said:
You'd need at least a technician class license to transmit.

http://www.arrl.org/getting-your-technician-license

Then you could set up 2 meter and/or 70 cm transceivers with those others with licenses. You could talk direct "simplex" or talk through a local repeater.

Limiting thing will probably putting up a good enough antenna at proper height to cover the distance you want to go.
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thanks for the link.

so i'll need to take the exam. does the license expire? and have to renew? or is it a one time thing? a dual band handheld radio sounds like what i'll need.



if i was to just use it during, lets say, a disaster with no other communication options, do i just set a certain frequencies to contact with people i know - like a few for daytime and a few for nightime? how far does handheld unit transmit and receive with its antenna?
 
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gogofast said:
thanks for the link.

so i'll need to take the exam. does the license expire? and have to renew? or is it a one time thing? a dual band handheld radio sounds like what i'll need.
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Yep will likely be done through a local club, administered by volunteer examiners. I think the cost is about $15 these days. Good 10 years. Renews free and can renew up to 2 years past expiration, unless you opt for a vanity call sign then you have to pay the going rate at the time.
 
You can set up a radio and listen all you want, but the second you push that transmit button, you better have the required paper saying you paid your fees and dues to do it...

They will come looking for you if you don't. It's something the whole community takes pretty seriously, and wouldn't waste any time letting Unkle know..
 
similost said:
You can set up a radio and listen all you want, but the second you push that transmit button, you better have the required paper saying you paid your fees and dues to do it...

They will come looking for you if you don't. It's something the whole community takes pretty seriously, and wouldn't waste any time letting Unkle know..
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yaiks! how do they locate you?
is that why you begin transmitting with your call letters?

Ed in Tx said:
Yep will likely be done through a local club, administered by volunteer examiners. I think the cost is about $15 these days. Good 10 years. Renews free and can renew up to 2 years past expiration, unless you opt for a vanity call sign then you have to pay the going rate at the time.
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so you get call signs assigned by fcc?
 
G'day all, yes I'm a 'Ham' and don't mind the expression! Hey, I've been called much worse than that. :D

Yes you can buy short range radio communication equipment that doesn't really require licensing, UHF CB for example, but it all depends on the appropiate and applicable rules and regulations in your country.

It can get a bit messy, in all honesty. It might be best to consult with the spectrum management authorities in your country for general guidance on these matters. :yes: Regards, Felix (vk4fuq) aka catman.
 
I have a ticket, but I've never used it. Its a tech license, but VHF has no appeal to me. Only band I'm allowed to use that I'm interested in is 10m, and my 10m rig is down right now. The squelch control was bad, and when I tried extracting the tiny little board its mounted on, I managed to snap off the clarifier (RIT) control. I can't find exact replacements, but I found ones with shorter control shafts that should fit the board. Been meaning to upgrade the license so I can run proper boatanchor equipment on the HF bands but its one of those Round Tuit projects.

Here in the US, if you want non-license stuff, its basically either CB or FRS. FRS is walkie-talkie form and generally a lot more portable.
 
gogofast said:
yaiks! how do they locate you?



so you get call signs assigned by fcc?
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Yes and in consecutive order. So if you and a friend go take the test together you may end up with adjacent call signs. Looks like they are up to "KF7" prefixes in WA state, so your license would be something like KF7XYZ. For a fee you can pick your own, with exceptions.

Oh, and they locate you by triangulation. A couple of mobiles will go out and get direction bearings, which direction the offending signal is coming from, and where they cross puts them in the general neighborhood. Sometimes the FCC does this like with illegal broadcasters on the commercial FM band. That can get you a $10,000 fine! Other times ham operators will go out to track down an illegal transmitter, or maybe one that's stuck On holding the local repeater open or somesuch. Then it's all a matter of locating the exact source with a small handheld beam or loop antenna and an attenuator so you can reduce the signal as you get closer and locate it by strength. Some radio clubs have "fox hunting" events where someone will hide a transmitter and others go out to find it. Gives them practice.
 
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Ed in Tx said:
Oh, and they locate you by triangulation. A couple of mobiles will go out and get direction bearings, which direction the offending signal is coming from, and where they cross puts them in the general neighborhood. Sometimes the FCC does this like with illegal broadcasters on the commercial FM band. That can get you a $10,000 fine! Other times ham operators will go out to track down an illegal transmitter, or maybe one that's stuck On holding the local repeater open or somesuch. Then it's all a matter of locating the exact source with a small handheld beam or loop antenna and an attenuator so you can reduce the signal as you get closer and locate it by strength. Some radio clubs have "fox hunting" events where someone will hide a transmitter and others go out to find it. Gives them practice.
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so it's not really a "secure" way to communicate if you're planning a coup. :D
 
Another ham, here, too. Actually, my current day-job is working for one of the more popular US vendors of ham radio gear, Elecraft.

There's lots of cool things you can do these days with both long-distance (aka: DX) and local radio communication as well as trail, portable and location tracking (APRS). There's even local repeaters that are now connected over VoIP so you can have a conversation (called a QSO, in hamdom) with someone anywhere in the world from your walkie-talkie (called an HT in hamdom).

Cost of entry is pretty low here in the US with the Technician class starting out. You'll need to take the FCC test (mostly rules and regs), buy a little radio for local FM repeater work, learn how to configure it with local repeater frequencies and you're off and running.

Another test with a bit more technical details gets you a General license and the ability to get down on the lower bands (known as HF bands) where you can connect directly across the world.

Its really a community out there, too, much like it is here at AK!

Cheers,

David/KG6IRW
 
Use your computer log into: http://www.websdr.org/ then you can tune and listen to the Amateur radio bands there 160m 80m 75m 40m 20m bands are availiable.
Usually 20m and 40m are more active for SSB and AM you can play with the band
filters there and get an idea what upper and lower SSB are not much AM action these days .

Another good link: http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Live_Tunable_Receivers
Give it a listen and see if you like it first before jumping into real radio.
 
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I have been a "ham" since 1991, it' not derogatory to call us as such, and actually "amateur radio operator" almost makes it sound like we don't know what we're doing!
Basically, if you can read, you can get your license, then upgrade as you become more experienced.
Ham radio has so many aspects to it you almost get overwhelmed with all you can do.
So by all means, get your "ticket" and find a local club to join.
I think you'll find most hams very friendly and willing to help you get started.
Good luck, come join the 400,000 or so folks who like to communicate through the magic of "Wireless", the original variety!

Bob N8PKN
 
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