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p238shooter

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Ham radio operators take their hobby seriously and most likely would attempt to resolve the issue by paying you a visit. In general the FCC does not get involved unless there is an official complaint made by another Ham, and then it is usually a large fine and usually confiscation of equipment. Ham radio operators frequently practtice finding radio transmitters with "FoxHunt" events where a ham operator will try to "hide" wile transmitting and others will try to find him. In the entire Tulsa area they are usually found with in a couple hours or so at most using some ingenious hiding techniques.

While hams generally chit chat, they also practice and prepare for emergency communications. If someone were interfering with those communications, you would likely have an upset visitor, most likely accompanied by some sort of law enforcment individual to have a talk with you or additional action.

Why not spend a little time and get your ham license and be legal? About 20 hours of study time over a month or so using a $25 program and $15 to take the test. This would make you legal and a life time member of the ham community. Ham radio is a great family hobby.

Ken WB5Y
 

SMS

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In the event of a major regional or nationwide disaster, will people who use ham radios without a license be fined or suffer some other form of reprimand?

Ham radio operators take their hobby seriously and most likely would attempt to resolve the issue by paying you a visit. In general the FCC does not get involved unless there is an official complaint made by another Ham, and then it is usually a large fine and usually confiscation of equipment. Ham radio operators frequently practtice finding radio transmitters with "FoxHunt" events where a ham operator will try to "hide" wile transmitting and others will try to find him. In the entire Tulsa area they are usually found with in a couple hours or so at most using some ingenious hiding techniques.

While hams generally chit chat, they also practice and prepare for emergency communications. If someone were interfering with those communications, you would likely have an upset visitor, most likely accompanied by some sort of law enforcment individual to have a talk with you or additional action.

Why not spend a little time and get your ham license and be legal? About 20 hours of study time over a month or so using a $25 program and $15 to take the test. This would make you legal and a life time member of the ham community. Ham radio is a great family hobby.

Ken WB5Y

His question was in regards to use during a major disaster. Using it, not interfering…

I agree folks should take the time, learn, get licensed and do it right. But in the event of some widespread calamity, I doubt you will be paying anyone "a visit" if I/we decide to use the system without a license. Law enforcement will have bigger issues to deal with and if you decide to go vigilante on your own and protect your "HAM-dom", the visit probably won't go the way you expect.
 

p238shooter

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His question was in regards to use during a major disaster. Using it, not interfering…

I agree folks should take the time, learn, get licensed and do it right. But in the event of some widespread calamity, I doubt you will be paying anyone "a visit" if I/we decide to use the system without a license. Law enforcement will have bigger issues to deal with and if you decide to go vigilante on your own and protect your "HAM-dom", the visit probably won't go the way you expect.

While I understand your comments, and I, like everyone else will be doing what we need for survival, my comment is why not be better prepared now rather than later.

My statement addressed that without a little knowledge, how will he know if he might be interfering with other operations that might be going on during this disaster? If he were to have a radio set up incorrectly, like using a repeater input frequency for his "personal" simplex frequency, he could interfere with multiple potential more important conversations that he might not even be able to hear. Depends on the severity of the emergency, amount of interference, abstinence of someone resolving the interference. Plans by hams or law enforcement can be modified to resolve the situation.

Without a license, most likely he might not get as much help as might be available from others in the "Ham-dom" community. There are many resourceful people in the ham radio community also. Just my opinion
 

uncle money bags

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His question was in regards to use during a major disaster. Using it, not interfering…

I agree folks should take the time, learn, get licensed and do it right. But in the event of some widespread calamity, I doubt you will be paying anyone "a visit" if I/we decide to use the system without a license. Law enforcement will have bigger issues to deal with and if you decide to go vigilante on your own and protect your "HAM-dom", the visit probably won't go the way you expect.

Well this is true. I would only add that in the event that the person making the transmission is in an emergency, and the ham freqs are their best option for getting help, then more power to them. I believe that is a specific exception to the "licensed user" requirements.
I am only mentioning it in case that is what the original questioner had in mind by "disaster".
 

SMS

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Well this is true. I would only add that in the event that the person making the transmission is in an emergency, and the ham freqs are their best option for getting help, then more power to them. I believe that is a specific exception to the "licensed user" requirements.
I am only mentioning it in case that is what the original questioner had in mind by "disaster".

No argument here...I'd never advocate interference with the network (unless the network was being used by government lapdogs during a hostile .gov crackdown of course ;)). I was just getting a chuckle out of the vigilante HAM-er concept.

If someone is not afraid of the FCC/Feds and using the network without a license...they probably are not too concerned about some other HAM licensee tracking them down.
 

p238shooter

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No argument here...I'd never advocate interference with the network (unless the network was being used by government lapdogs during a hostile .gov crackdown of course ;)). I was just getting a chuckle out of the vigilante HAM-er concept.

If someone is not afraid of the FCC/Feds and using the network without a license...they probably are not too concerned about some other HAM licensee tracking them down.

Very true, and depending on the situation, in a true emergency it might be totally legal for him to transmit and he most likely would receive true help from hams that could help if he had a true emergency. It all depends on the situation. Like all hobbies, there are a few that might also park a quarter mile away and make sure his radios were inoperable the next time he tried to use them, not hard to do with common equipment many of us have. Many hams have a serious mission to not let Ham radio go the way of CB radio. There are all kinds of people with different opinions everywhere, ya know.

This was my reason for giving fankos72 the broad answer he asked for and options for avoiding ANY problems and possibly being able to have a better chance of getting help if possible. A total expendature of less than $150 and a few hours studying would give him aditional options with a license and a radio if he is close to a metro area, usually no more than $100 additional if he is 20 miles or more out. With each of these he can also be mobile if desired. Most of us spend more than that on practice ammo and many other "what if" items frequently.

Also, he and his family might have fun with this as a hobby in between disasters, rather than just something sitting in the closet with dead batteries and trying to figure out how to use it if it were needed. Just my opinion.

During an ice storm a few years back I had no home phone or internet for 7 days, no cell phone for 4 days, but I had immediate contact using my boat battery in my garage with 50 to 100 ham radio friends that would have been happy to make a 911 or even a personal call to pass a message for me. Never needed it, but it was nice to know it was there. I would not even needed to walk out to my truck on the ice.
 

frankos72

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Well that was more answer than I expected. Thanks guys. The thought is get a radio and have it on hand in case of a true disaster we are in trouble and have no other way to get help type scenario. Licensing would be cool but between working 60+ and family with 3 small kids, that isn't on my radar. Maybe next year when my restaurants are more stable and I can work less.
 

jrusling

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I just took and passed the Ham Radio Technician ham radio test. I decided to go ahead and take the General test even though I had not studied for it and actually managed to pass it as well. Now I just have to wait until FCC issued my license and call sign. That normally take a week or two. I would like to thank the people at the FAA Radio Club for making this available.

This is the start of another expensive hobby. :woohoo1:
 

Blitzfike

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Congratulations. If you have anywhere near the enjoyment out of the hobby that I have it will be great. If you find yourself needing help, just shoot a PM, if I can't answer it, I know someone who can.. Jim
 

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