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
That is true for Ham operators, but another option is CB (Citizen's Band). It operates on the 11 meter short wave band between 26.965 MHz and 27.405 MHz. There are 40 main channels available, but with Single Side Band (SSB) transceivers you can effectiviely triple that. Range is limited (I've talked coast to coast when weather conditions are right) at standard output, but it does not require a license anymore.
Call Sign: K6CUK, Licensee ID: L00938390
Grant Date: 11/10/2004, Expiration Date: 01/31/2015, Certifier: Robert Hayos
Registrant: Robert Hayos, 1502 E Sycamore Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: K6PWI, Licensee ID: L00851190
Grant Date: 04/22/2004, Expiration Date: 04/22/2014, Certifier: Merrick W Creagh Iii
Registrant: Merrick W Creagh Iii, 433 West Maple Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KA6GUF
Grant Date: 02/05/1996, Expiration Date: 02/05/2006, Cancelation Date: 02/06/2008
Registrant: Samuel F Gilbert, 847 Pepper St, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KA6UYS
Grant Date: 04/12/1988, Expiration Date: 04/12/1998, Cancelation Date: 04/13/2000
Registrant: David B Schneider, 323 1/2 Richmond St, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KA9NHM
Grant Date: 01/19/1988, Expiration Date: 01/19/1998, Cancelation Date: 01/20/2000
Registrant: Richard J Crowell, 839 Hillcrest, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KB7MMH, Licensee ID: L00610444
Grant Date: 12/20/2002, Expiration Date: 02/02/2013
Registrant: Nathan L Cox, 953 Loma Vista Street, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KB9ZW, Previous Call Sign: WB9LYX
Grant Date: 11/22/1988, Expiration Date: 11/22/1998, Cancelation Date: 11/28/2000
Registrant: Robert W Stewart, 627 W Elm Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KC5ZCN, Licensee ID: L01088253
Grant Date: 01/23/2007, Expiration Date: 02/24/2017
Registrant: Frederick W Percival Jr, 214 Main St., Box 102, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KC6BBW
Grant Date: 12/06/1988, Expiration Date: 12/06/1998, Cancelation Date: 12/07/2000
Registrant: Carl E Gram, 531 Main St, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KC6BDN, Licensee ID: L01453350
Grant Date: 12/18/2008, Expiration Date: 03/08/2019, Certifier: Alfonso Morales
Registrant: Alfonso Morales, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KC6MGC, Licensee ID: L00246579
Grant Date: 05/30/2000, Expiration Date: 08/14/2010
Registrant: Dan Marks, 711 W Palm Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KC6RAG
Grant Date: 03/12/1991, Expiration Date: 03/12/2001, Cancelation Date: 03/13/2003
Registrant: Madelyn L Bennett, 770 W Imperial N 2, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KC6RAU
Grant Date: 01/22/1991, Expiration Date: 01/22/2001, Cancelation Date: 01/23/2003
Registrant: Timothy E Holden, 501 Center St 19, El Segundo, CA 90245
Call Sign: KC6RHE, Licensee ID: L00370521
Grant Date: 06/22/2001, Expiration Date: 07/09/2011
Registrant: Don T Webster, 527 Richmond St, El Segundo, CA 90245
.......................
127 entries, and it took 25 seconds to get.
“They” already know who you are. The info in the FCC database is very, very basic. Little more than name and address. One look at your mailbox, and “they” know as much. The guy who fixes your car, or your bartender knows more about you.
The listnership with scanners is vanishingly small. It’s possible, of course; but I’ve been a ham since 1959 and never yet met a non-ham who eavesdropped with a scanner. They could easily enough, but they just don’t.
Let me say this: if “it” happened tomorrow, and the radio and TV nets were either silenced or heavily constrained, you’ll wish you had set it up today.
I believe events are converging, and September and October will see momentous events.
...for what that may be worth.
The easy-access public callsign database is why I never opted for the call-sign license plates.
I have been licensed for 31 years. In early 2000 I put everything away and took a long hiatus (but at least I kept all my gear).
Earlier this year I decided to start getting back into it, and that was actually sparked by a thread about SWL radios right here on FR. I had a Technician license that was first issued in 1982 so I was entitled to element 3 credit, a "free" upgrade to General. I went to a VE session to get the upgrade and the guys suggested I (and anyone else who got what they came for) take the successive exams. So I did, with no studying beforehand, a borrowed pencil and no calculator, take the Extra exam and I passed it. I was so jazzed.
And since then I have been having a ball with the hobby, especially my project assembling and perfecting my portable HF station. Also getting all the gear repaired, cleaned up, and tuned up after all those years of storage in the dusty garage.
Your point about not putting your call out on the public forum is good. I would never do it. I don't know if you are aware but 8 years ago or so (the last time I processed a renewal on the FCC site), I was surprised to learn the publicly accessible database had EVERYTHING, including SS and date of birth. NO GOOD. They have taken those out, and also you no longer need to provide a physical address - but in lots of cases street address and mailing address are the same, but you can use ANY type of address that receives mail - a UPS store or whatever. I don't have anything to hide, but when it comes to internet forums I still don't put out clues to my real identity.