Such as under a real or imagined (or ginned-up) emergency, which grants the president special authority to control and restrict radio and TV networks, and now possibly the internet as well.
If one secures the entry-level ham license, the "Technician," one will meet other ham radio operators -- many of whom you will discover are quite conservative in their views. One can gather ham radio gear more easiy and quietly both from commercial sources and from other operators. And, one will "learn the ropes" from the local guys. Almost everywhere has an active ham radio club or two, and they happily assist newcomers with license courses and license testing sessions. (There are a few crusty crotchety old crabs, but they are rare and can be ignored.)
The material isn't very difficult. Knowledge of Morse code is no longer required,
I suggest the book, "Ham Radio for Dummies," by Ward Silver, available from The American Radio Relay League (www.ARRL.org) and from Amazon (cheaper). It's a typical "Dummies" black and yellow book, and is a great beginner's low-cost, no-obligation look into what it is, and what you can do with it.
Family groups can use it for routine daily personal communications far beyond the capabilities of old-style CB and the new so-called "Family Radios." It even has some significant advantages compared to cellphones and texting. For example, no "air-time" billing charges or records, and no permanent texting archives stored... ...somewhere.
I have interest in the field, but know nothing.
Only issue is that if something ‘big’ happens, the air waves are off-limit to hams as well (perhaps some RACES traffic, that is all).
That said, one could still remain on the air regardless.
True, but the downside when compared to cellphones is that everybody—at least, anybody with a scanner that can pick up the right bands—can hear your conversation.
The other minor drawback, when you get your license, you have to give your address. That database is public. If you post your FCC callsign on a public forum, anybody can go to the FCC website and look your address up. If you’re paranoid about the government, that to me seems a bigger drawback.
That having been said? Ham radio is a great hobby and like you, I wholeheartedly encourage anybody with an interest in communication to get into it. I’ve held a license for seventeen years now and had a great deal of fun with it. I keep saying I’m going to get more active (I’ve been off the air for several years) but I’m constrained currently by lack of money and equipment. Someday, though, I’ll find room to throw that dipole up in the backyard and buy a gently-used HT at a hamfest and get back at it!
}:-)4
Find a local “Elmer” (ham who will teach newcomers), they can teach you more than a book or class environment. Many X-mil personnel around the country.
Find a local Ham Club. Best place to ask is you EMS friends, local Red Cross, or 2-way shops. They nearly always know who to talk to.
73 de
TF
Had one for quite some time now.
Very enjoyable hobby but not for everyone.
IMHO the new new giveaway licenses are a REAL danger.
This recently crossed my mind too. Thanks for the info.
I have a nice older reciever but it doesnt transmit.
haven’t used it in years though.
Been there, done that. All I can say is that 40 meters isn’t worth a crap until we get some sun spots back!:) How ever, very reliable communication can be had on 2 meters and lower(lower in the sense the wave length is shorter)and there are repeaters across the country so you can talk a long distance on these 2 meter rigs. I have been a ham for a long, long time(remember tubes?).
ping
Ham radio was shut down totally during WW-I and WW-2. Nothing would stop Obama from shutting it down again in a “emergency” situation.
For an apocalyptic scenario one would want these radios.
-HF ham rig, 100watt, operable from low end of AM band to 30mhz. Most HF rigs can be made open in the entire range by clipping a diode internally...info found on internet.
-CB radio, still widely used and indispensable in an emergency situation.
-Tri-band 2m, 220, 440 ham radios...one for the car, the home and a handheld.
-VHF AM Aircraft band transceiver...these can be found new and used on ebay....coverage of the military aircraft band is also nice. A quick shout on 121.5 will be heard by all airliners within several hundred miles....they are all listening on this emergency frequency. 121.5 is also monitored by satellite so you will be heard no matter where you are... 243mhz is the military aviation emergency freq.
-VHF Marine radio...you can get these cheaply from many sources.
-FRS, Family Radio Service...the little 1/2 watt walkie talkies... many people will only have access to these so it’s nice to be able to talk to them. Mounting an external antenna or remote mounting a rig at the antenna feedpoint will give enormously increased range. In this band line-of-sight is everything...for instance, the frs frequencies are pure bedlam on board the space station...1/2 watt is easily enough to talk to the station when it is line of sight from you.
Some thought should be given to an emergency source of power for your radios. One solar panel and a deep discharge marine battery will suffice, you won’t have a lot of talk time at 100watts but at least you will have some.
Doesn’t it defeat the purpose by getting a license? If you have a license, they can find you...kind of like regestering all your firearms with the fed.
ping
Bookmarking.
THE XYL and I both have ours, KE4HTS/KB0VFX. All the kids are working on their tickets. I have as many radios as I do firearms in this house.
I, too, have envisioned a time to come when my beautiful radios, amps and mics will be as essential as gasoline, food and ammo.