Ah, a fellow aficianado of all things meteorological. Upgrading my monitoring gear is on my domestic chore list - maybe after the holidays. Also, finishing my ham radio license studies, getting my broadcast ticket, joining the ARRL (they play a big part in severe weather networks), and getting the tubes hot in the HW-101 transceiver behind me. (I’m planning ahead.) I’ve been threatening that for 45 years, and now I mean it. At one time, I was taking courses to get my meteorology degree, or at least a cert. Got the prerequisite Meteorology 101, Ocean Sciences 102, Chem 101, etc. I never finished for one good reason: MONEY. I was in hock for student loans until recently. I’ve been a NWS grad storm spotter for 25 years, got recertified thru the NWS Birmingham office again about seven years ago. I retired on disability, and I told my wife that I think I’m finally gonna finish a degree that I started forty years ago. Possibly online, out of pocket, and weather related.
Ham radio is a valuable endeavor, particularly when the SHTF.
Your passion will get you through!Great job. The world needs those who are willing to delve into the weather rather than take what they are given which often is half the story.
Awesome, Viking!!!
You really should!
I taught for 20 years at Auburn University. Sadly, we don’t offer Meteorology. The University of South Alabama does:
https://www.southalabama.edu/bulletin/current/degrees-programs/earth-sciences/meteorology-bs-pt/
With online courses!
Hi Viking,
Good on you going for an amateur radio license.
First of all read the federal rules and regulations concerning amateur (Ham) radio. Terminology is important. You may not like the restrictions we have to operate under.
“Broadcasting”, as you said you are going to do, is not permitted by Ham radio operators.
The Uniden “Washington” you talk about is a CB radio with upper and lower side bands on frequencies that does not require a license. I have had a CB Uniden “Grant” with the same features.
Ham radios operate on different frequency bands that do require a license.
Amateur Radio is not just a bigger CB channel 19 and Ham operators do not like that comparison. Being a CB “know it all” doesn’t go over well in ham radio.
Go to some of the Ham web sites and become more acquainted with the hobby and the general attitudes and interests of the operators..
ARRL is a private organization, advocating for the interests of amateur radio operators before the Federal Government which regulates and governs use of the radio frequencies assigned to amateur radio.
It is a good start for information but does not represent the entire amateur radio hobby. Many pros and cons about the true interest of ARRL. Some say that the organization only promotes changes in Fed regulations that will increase it’s paid membership, Excels in self promotion and sales of it’s many products.
BUT, It is the only organization that does represent the amateur radio hobby in Washington, D.C. and it takes money to do that.. Good luck getting your license.
Topsail, Amateur Extra.