Communications ...***

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

MacFromOK

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
May 11, 2016
Messages
13,759
Reaction score
14,757
Location
Southern Oklahoma
If you have not practiced it would be pretty easy to tell. It is not difficult to get a license, so why not get one?
Is everone ignoring the apocalypse scenario mentioned?

So let's say phones and utilities are down across the state (or perhaps a larger area), and you won't respond to someone asking for help, instructions, or whatever just because they don't have a license?

This is NOT what I've been hearing about ham operators over the years. Have things really changed that much? :shocked:
___
 

deerstalker

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Messages
265
Reaction score
318
Location
ks
I'm like most started off with cb in the 70's. I have a Kenwood 600 receiver and a couple of the Baofengs. I've been trying to find out more about the Gmrs radios and about the repeaters. I have yet to find anyone in the Wichita Ks area that has any knowledge about it here. closest repeater is in Manhattan Ks or Bartlesville Ok. The fee for a 10 year licence is $70 1st of the year will drop to $35.00.
 

p238shooter

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Aug 16, 2012
Messages
3,680
Reaction score
2,877
Location
East of Tulsa
Is everone ignoring the apocalypse scenario mentioned?

So let's say phones and utilities are down across the state (or perhaps a larger area), and you won't respond to someone asking for help, instructions, or whatever just because they don't have a license?

This is NOT what I've been hearing about ham operators over the years. Have things really changed that much? :shocked:
I
Well trying to be helpful here, but I think with your comments you are the one which I think has changed the context of what you have heard over the years that in general you will find we are helpful to anyone in any way we can be which is true. But what it seems you are talking about is an adverse apocalypse scenario situation which is a little different than driving up on an accident where there is no cell service or a tornado ripping thorugh and taking out normal communication methods.

Many of us will be taking care of our own issues, the ones who might have time to be on the radio for providing additional help to others most likely will prioritize to help our Ham "family" first because we might not know who we are talking to or who we trust that could take advantage of us or harm us or others we know in our "family". That is a very different than the average day to day situations we help with, storm chasing, hurricane health and welfare, and like last weekend in my area the Dam Jam bicycle ride providing communications in NE Oklahoma.

Yes, if you have a life threatening immediate situation, get on ham radio and we will try our best to find a way to help, but I would think anything past that, you might not be so welcome. Does that explanation help a little?
 

MacFromOK

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
May 11, 2016
Messages
13,759
Reaction score
14,757
Location
Southern Oklahoma
Well trying to be helpful here, but I think with your comments you are the one which I think has changed the context of what you have heard over the years that in general you will find we are helpful to anyone in any way we can be which is true. But what it seems you are talking about is an adverse apocalypse scenario situation which is a little different than driving up on an accident where there is no cell service or a tornado ripping thorugh and taking out normal communication methods.

Many of us will be taking care of our own issues, the ones who might have time to be on the radio for providing additional help to others most likely will prioritize to help our Ham "family" first because we might not know who we are talking to or who we trust that could take advantage of us or harm us or others we know in our "family". That is a very different than the average day to day situations we help with, storm chasing, hurricane health and welfare, and like last weekend in my area the Dam Jam bicycle ride providing communications in NE Oklahoma.

Yes, if you have a life threatening immediate situation, get on ham radio and we will try our best to find a way to help, but I would think anything past that, you might not be so welcome. Does that explanation help a little?
Yes, I think it does help explain your position.

Thanks. :drunk2:
___
 

p238shooter

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Aug 16, 2012
Messages
3,680
Reaction score
2,877
Location
East of Tulsa
Sorry I have been kinda blunt, got a lot going on this afternoon. I do think you will find my opinion will be close to a common general conses you might see out here. Also, as jrusling commeted, if we have some "official" nets going on trying to help individuals it is much easier to work with and help people who are familiar with what we do and how we do it on the radio.

It is a relatively inexpensive hobby to get into, family oriented if desired, and useful for many purposes including the one you mentioned. If you might want to talk more in detail I can be available later this evening.
 

jrusling

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
1,381
Reaction score
115
Location
Mustang
I'm like most started off with cb in the 70's. I have a Kenwood 600 receiver and a couple of the Baofengs. I've been trying to find out more about the Gmrs radios and about the repeaters. I have yet to find anyone in the Wichita Ks area that has any knowledge about it here. closest repeater is in Manhattan Ks or Bartlesville Ok. The fee for a 10 year licence is $70 1st of the year will drop to $35.00.
I have a couple of GMRS hand helds, but then I got my license and mainly use VHF and UHF repeaters for local stuff and HF for distance. If you check you will probably find a lot more VHF and UHF repeaters. I use either hand held or mobile radios, but also have dual band base antennas for them.
 

MacFromOK

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
May 11, 2016
Messages
13,759
Reaction score
14,757
Location
Southern Oklahoma
Sorry I have been kinda blunt, got a lot going on this afternoon. I do think you will find my opinion will be close to a common general conses you might see out here. Also, as jrusling commeted, if we have some "official" nets going on trying to help individuals it is much easier to work with and help people who are familiar with what we do and how we do it on the radio.

It is a relatively inexpensive hobby to get into, family oriented if desired, and useful for many purposes including the one you mentioned. If you might want to talk more in detail I can be available later this evening.
Thanks. I've considered ham in the past, but between my bad health and Sweetie's Alzheimer's, I barely have time to post here in between chores (I'll be feeding her in 10-15 minutes).

Not looking for sympathy, it just is what it is.
:drunk2:
___
 

jrusling

Sharpshooter
Special Hen
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
1,381
Reaction score
115
Location
Mustang
Is everone ignoring the apocalypse scenario mentioned?

So let's say phones and utilities are down across the state (or perhaps a larger area), and you won't respond to someone asking for help, instructions, or whatever just because they don't have a license?

This is NOT what I've been hearing about ham operators over the years. Have things really changed that much? :shocked:
___
My first priority will be to help people I know, then if I can others with serious problems. If all you want is information, I probably will not reply. If you just listen for a while you may get the information. My radio club has a communication plan just for things like this.
 

Grendelshooter

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Aug 19, 2019
Messages
460
Reaction score
467
Location
Cordell, Oklahoma
I have some wouxun GMRS handhelds and the license to use them. Where we are they’re good to about 2 miles before losing LOS. They get used around the homestead a bit, have never heard any other transmissions from anyone else.
 

Hodrod

Sharpshooter
Supporting Member
Special Hen Supporter
Joined
Mar 1, 2021
Messages
2,402
Reaction score
4,264
Location
Mustang
I purchased several of the Baofeng UV-5R's and have them in a faraday cage just in case the SHTF. I don't have a ham license but have thought about taking the test. I purchase a couple of books from Amazon with the info I need but I just haven't taken the time to move forward.....Maybe this winter when the weather is bad would be a good time to study and then take the test.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom