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<blockquote data-quote="p238shooter" data-source="post: 2408882" data-attributes="member: 24583"><p>I would think the first thing that needs to be thought about iswith who and how far you want to communicate?</p><p></p><p>Ham radio is not like CB which is more like a cussing contest. Ham radio is a very clean hobby the is very well regulated by the operators and has very great support from the FCC for people who violate the rules. Particularly locally you are trying to communicate with a specific individual or a specific group of individuals.</p><p></p><p>In reality, Ham radio is the only dependable "legal" way to communicate more than a mile or two. With Ham radio you can get one of three classes of licenses, purchase radios and put up antennas to communicate miles, states, and countries away. If you need to contact a specific person a few miles away, a 2M handy talkie a 1st level Technician license can do that. With a mobile radio you will go further especially through repeaters (privately owned) and generally you can talk a 50 mile radius. With a 2nd level General license you can typically talk nation wide and more. A basic HF radio generally will start at about $500 and go up from there. An antenna can be made from $50 upward to several thousands depending what you want to do. </p><p></p><p>I have several posts on some of these items, I will past one of my recent ones here to get you started.</p><p></p><p>A Technician license will give you privileges to operate in the 146mz and the 440mz bands commonly called 2Meter and 440 bands and a little in the 10M band for local communications. Handy Talkies will usually communicate 5-20 miles dependent on terrain, mobiles 20-30 miles, again depending on terrain. These will also operate through existing privately owned repeater systems which will retransmit 50-70 miles.</p><p></p><p>If you are interested in getting your technician ham radio license, and are willing to study an hour or so a night for a couple of weeks, I highly recommend a $25 purchase of:</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com" target="_blank">http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com</a></p><p></p><p>You can try some of it for free to see if it will work for you. It is less expensive than most books and very effective to not only answer the questions, but know why the answer is correct. It gives you flash cards and drills you. You miss something it will give you the correct answer and why. It will re-nag you to make sure you really got it.</p><p></p><p>My Wifey who knew nothing about radio studied a couple of weeks and made a 97% on the Tech test (70% is passing). When you are ready many places have testing available. They usually charge $15-18 to administer the test. First license usually takes a couple weeks to be approved by the FCC. Upgrades are immediate.</p><p></p><p>When the FCC dropped the code requirements I upgraded from Tech+ to General in a week, and to Extra 3 weeks later. I was a Tech+ for many years because I could not do Morse code faster than about 8 words/min. I had a lot of electronics background but the code stopped me. I am glad it is gone, but it is also a useful tool. I just do not need it at 10WPM or faster.</p><p></p><p>Take a look at it. He will give you a little free preview, you just have to make a log in so it can remember where you left off the last time. </p><p></p><p>Ham radio it is a great family hobby. One of my friends sons passed the Tech test when he was 11 and he is very good on the radio, always has a good fishing story. There are many radio clubs around the usually meet once a month to have a meal and shoot the bull. Very nice people in general, and willing to help out.</p><p></p><p>We had an ice storm several years ago with no power 7 days out in the country. Day 3 the cell phone tower ran out of back up fuel. I used the boat battery in the garage to communicate with my friends. I had one radio friend in particular who usually turned his radio off when he went to bed. He offered to leave it on with the volume turned up. He stated, "if you need anything in the middle of the night, you get on the radio and wake me up, fire, ambulance, anything -- got it?" He was 40 miles away in the city with power and phone service. I did not need him, but was glad he would be there if we did.</p><p></p><p>When all normal forms of communication are down, ham operators can and do talk, locally, or around the world. 12V power is pretty accessible, you can take it with you easily. WB5Y Ken</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="p238shooter, post: 2408882, member: 24583"] I would think the first thing that needs to be thought about iswith who and how far you want to communicate? Ham radio is not like CB which is more like a cussing contest. Ham radio is a very clean hobby the is very well regulated by the operators and has very great support from the FCC for people who violate the rules. Particularly locally you are trying to communicate with a specific individual or a specific group of individuals. In reality, Ham radio is the only dependable "legal" way to communicate more than a mile or two. With Ham radio you can get one of three classes of licenses, purchase radios and put up antennas to communicate miles, states, and countries away. If you need to contact a specific person a few miles away, a 2M handy talkie a 1st level Technician license can do that. With a mobile radio you will go further especially through repeaters (privately owned) and generally you can talk a 50 mile radius. With a 2nd level General license you can typically talk nation wide and more. A basic HF radio generally will start at about $500 and go up from there. An antenna can be made from $50 upward to several thousands depending what you want to do. I have several posts on some of these items, I will past one of my recent ones here to get you started. A Technician license will give you privileges to operate in the 146mz and the 440mz bands commonly called 2Meter and 440 bands and a little in the 10M band for local communications. Handy Talkies will usually communicate 5-20 miles dependent on terrain, mobiles 20-30 miles, again depending on terrain. These will also operate through existing privately owned repeater systems which will retransmit 50-70 miles. If you are interested in getting your technician ham radio license, and are willing to study an hour or so a night for a couple of weeks, I highly recommend a $25 purchase of: [url]http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com[/url] You can try some of it for free to see if it will work for you. It is less expensive than most books and very effective to not only answer the questions, but know why the answer is correct. It gives you flash cards and drills you. You miss something it will give you the correct answer and why. It will re-nag you to make sure you really got it. My Wifey who knew nothing about radio studied a couple of weeks and made a 97% on the Tech test (70% is passing). When you are ready many places have testing available. They usually charge $15-18 to administer the test. First license usually takes a couple weeks to be approved by the FCC. Upgrades are immediate. When the FCC dropped the code requirements I upgraded from Tech+ to General in a week, and to Extra 3 weeks later. I was a Tech+ for many years because I could not do Morse code faster than about 8 words/min. I had a lot of electronics background but the code stopped me. I am glad it is gone, but it is also a useful tool. I just do not need it at 10WPM or faster. Take a look at it. He will give you a little free preview, you just have to make a log in so it can remember where you left off the last time. Ham radio it is a great family hobby. One of my friends sons passed the Tech test when he was 11 and he is very good on the radio, always has a good fishing story. There are many radio clubs around the usually meet once a month to have a meal and shoot the bull. Very nice people in general, and willing to help out. We had an ice storm several years ago with no power 7 days out in the country. Day 3 the cell phone tower ran out of back up fuel. I used the boat battery in the garage to communicate with my friends. I had one radio friend in particular who usually turned his radio off when he went to bed. He offered to leave it on with the volume turned up. He stated, "if you need anything in the middle of the night, you get on the radio and wake me up, fire, ambulance, anything -- got it?" He was 40 miles away in the city with power and phone service. I did not need him, but was glad he would be there if we did. When all normal forms of communication are down, ham operators can and do talk, locally, or around the world. 12V power is pretty accessible, you can take it with you easily. WB5Y Ken [/QUOTE]
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