Posted on 08/19/2017 5:37:59 AM PDT by canalabamian
Yep. But it’s still good to know, a lot of fun and a lot of the older HAMs still use it.
Plus, ya never know.....it may come to the point that it’s the only way we’ll be able to communicate again IF space aliens take over the world.....LOL. :)
I had to pass the Morse code test a long time ago
still remember the cryptic test passages:
best bent wire
pack my bag with twelve dozen Phoenician liquor jugs.
bink
It’s slow, but like verything else electronic, it is getting better every day.
There is a whole digital side to hams now. Pretty much anything you want can be found.
There are Chinese companies that will sell youl little tiny radio kits. Usually a single frequency and minimal wattage. But if you are able to solder, you can make them work.
I got a mobile 2 meter radio with a
Power unit and Antenna—New in the box.
250 bucks!
Got a study guide, passed the test and
I’m talking with 50 watts !
Lots of Repeaters out there for 2 meters.
That is the extent of My experience.
The computer in digital mode looks like the “Matrix.”
And you need to do both on both ends. What would be cool is to link it into the Internet.
Bookmark
Cool!
A New Rap song in the makeing???
2 Meter Me!
bump!
Nearly every community has someone teaching the classes and would be your best counsel.
Advice: Buy both the tech and general books, read/study both, do the practice exams and then take both tests on the same visit (same fee).
I got 50% on the general without even owning the book; you could get both and save some hassle, opening up other frequencies.
Join you local club as well. There you’ll.get all the advice you need and make some friends as well.
Good luck!
Nearly every community has someone teaching the classes and would be your best counsel.
Advice: Buy both the tech and general books, read/study both, do the practice exams and then take both tests on the same visit (same fee).
I got 50% on the general without even owning the book; you could get both and save some hassle, opening up other frequencies.
Join you local club as well. There you’ll.get all the advice you need and make some friends as well.
Good luck!
“It’s been a dying hobby for years, but it is now starting to make a small comeback.”
Some of that comeback may be part of the RC flight community, particularly the guys using a small video transmitter for “first person view” flight. Some guys get the license, some don’t, but they say it is required by the FCC to operate most of those higher powered transmitters. As an RC guy though I’m not going to claim credit, I’d like to think there’s interest in other forms of communication besides the internet.
I just got my General. Took the Technician test last month and the General a week ago.
I will go for Extra when I get the time to read the ARRL book.
This has been on my bucket list forever, but the Morse Code requirement kept me away. Glad they dropped it.
We had a total black out of AT&T wireless, internet and a power failure for a complete afternoon a few months back. If I needed an ambulance, I would not have had any comm link. Scared me into finding a back-up plan.
I have two deep discharge batteries on trickle charge just in case. I will probably buy a used 50W 2 meter car rig and put it in a metal trash can for EMP protection.
BTTT! Must follow later.....
I’ve had an Amateur Extra class license for 16 years now. It’s still fun even though the internet may seem to make long range radio obsolete. For instance, I am just awed when I look at the 100 watt light bulb overhead and realize that I am booming into Spain from the East Coast with the same power output. It’s often like fishing: let’s drop the line in and see whether the the band is open or not; will I connect with another amateur half way around the planet, or will it just be hash?
My only advice is to put as much time and effort into experimenting with your antenna as possible. If you are as lucky as I was, you’ll hit on something spectacular. Out of necessity and space restrictions, I adopted an inverted double bazooka design sloped at a 45 degree angle. It has sent my voice most of the way around the world on 100 watts. My best guess as to why is I have a layer of clay under my property which perhaps reflects the signal out to the ionosphere at a perfect angle.
50 watt 2 Meter
I got one for a Base and one in the Jeep,
Can’t think of a better way
to COM’S on the Cheap!
Older radios are cheaper.
Ebay.
Wire antennas (military commo wire) are best and nearly invisible.
Forget ‘lengths’ and the math—get an antenna tuner.
73
Got a “blue racer”?
Here’s what I would like to know:
What radio contains the following features. (prioritized)
—Good, won’t fall apart
—Inexpensive
—Portable, like a walkie-talkie...I once had a pretty good CB radio like that
—Easy to operate, intuitive controls
—Could be attached to something else to (legally) boost power
Thanks to all who might answer!
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