Posted on 12/31/2014 5:22:29 PM PST by Usagi_yo
So I've thought about ham radio as a hobby in the past. I read an article on the Government having an internet 'kill switch' but really I extrapolated that out further and think they have a 'communications kill switch'. Meaning internet and phone.
In the event that national, regional, coordination and communications goes out, and a distinctive impact on neighborhood coordination, but not so much communications (sneaker net, or short haul CB's):
What types of digital ham radio services and equipment are available to build a manned digital station -- meaning it accepts TCP/IP protocol even if it needed a protocol wrapper around it? And is maintained by a properly licensed Ham radio operator?
Any links, thoughts, experiences are welcome.
My wife formerly lived in Anza, CA, with a long, twisty road "off the hill" to reach civilization. She ran a private school, and made a point of getting a Technician license so she'd be able to communicate with parents and public authorities in an emergency. You may well have more days of ice and snow than she had, but I recall one trip there when we couldn't even get the car out of the carport because the drive was so icy. The roads "off the hill" would have been impassable.
Don't give up. You may have to make a trip "off the hill" to take the test, but once you've passed that, you're good indefinitely. Just renew when the license comes due.
Thank you. We’ve learned much over the years and will be okay.
I’m not sure that we’ll go with ham. We may be most interested in finding any other truly private sector, technically inclined people within a radius of 20 miles or so for some new communications hobbies.
After also having lived in places like Texas and the Ozarks in the past, I know that there are some good ham operators in some places and other kinds of people in other places. Gotta go and do some more work on snow fence now. The wind just started coming over the peaks.
Not true at all from my perspective.
I've communicated with operators all over the planet, some in exploration bases in the Antarctic, extreme remote areas of Alaska, Russia, extreme remote tiny Islands, deep into the Australian outback and on and on.
Lots of those extreme rural folks in the U.S. have been using amateur radio for years. They do this because they're extremely rural and it works and is one of their connections to the outside world. BTW, the smart ones in urban areas are able to operate off the grid if necessary, as do many of the rural folks, with no monthly Internet/cellular bills. Many also use batteries and solar panels etc...Opens up a fascinating world.
Let me make a correction to what I wrote earlier. Only one Photo ID is needed. I was thinking of something unrelated.
If you don’t have a photo driver license, then you have to have two other pieces of ID such as a social security card, birth certificate, etc.
You will be good to take the test with your driver license. It can be an interesting hobby.
Oh, well, that’s very different. Much better! Thanks! I’ll consider it then and likely arrange to take our family for the first test, maybe when spring runoff starts. Between now and then, we’ll study.
If we use radio, we’ll probably only use it with terse speech between ourselves for work, and if possible later on, to talk to friendlier people elsewhere. As sparsely populated and remote as this area is, it’s regulated up and unfriendly.
For example, an ambulance ride on a good road can cost nearly $10,000 with some of the proceeds going to places like Vegas for entertainment. ...and impact fees. Men with prior enlisted Army or Marine service are subjects of dishonest gossip (such men compared to Tim McVeigh without cause or reason by officials and their retired NIMBY friends). Friendlies who are not from certain northeastern states are few and far between. Hope that explains some of my previous comments and inhibitions.
I mostly chase DX (establishing new contacts in foreign countries) but am starting to get into the digital modes including JT65, SSTV, PSK31, RTTY, etc..
Any idea what specifically you want to do in the hobby? Ham Radio can be as cheap or as expensive a hobby as any others. I'm one of those idiots who started out spending a boatload of money upfront and am now paring back, hihi.
Can never have too many radios. :-)
Getting an Amateur Radio License is actually quite easy. There are only three license classifications now, Technician, General and Extra.
Everyone starts out having to take the Technician test. It's 35 questions and honestly, it's easy. Mostly common sense, some questions about the rules, and very basic electronics (two or three formula's tops.)
Amazon.Com has the Technician Class Study Guide and there are all kinds of "free" sites on the web that can be used to study and take mock tests.
The "hardest part" is finding a local amateur radio group that gives the license tests. A quick Google Search can locate one for you.
I started 6 years ago as a Technician Class and passed the test getting 35/35 right in 10 minutes. If I can do that, anyone can. Did the same on the General Class license. Am planning on taking my Extra test in a few weeks.
I have A LOT of fun in the hobby. Made contacts all over the world, over 160 countries thus far including Japan, China, Turkey, Israel, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Oman, Senegal, Malaysia and more. I've even gotten the International Space Station when it passed overhead three years ago. Have the certificate for that contact and my kids thought it was cool.
Ping
I guess I don’t understand why any one needs to be licensed?
Because the Amateur Radio Bands are regulated and monitored by the FCC. Regulated means “license required” to operate in those bands.
Not sure what ya mean. You said from your perspective it appeared that ham radio is a hobby for folks who have plenty of friendly neighbors nearby in more populated communities.
That's an inaccurate perspective.
My point was Internet/cellular chains you with additional monthly debt/bills while amateur radio does not.
Additionally the the main point was a whole lot of extremely remote people, much more remote than you, use HF/VHF/UHF and other modes of amateur radio, in these extremely remote regions all over the planet, on and off the grid.
Take care.
Interesting thread, I have come in to it a little late but...
I haven't been a ham as long as some of the other fellows here, only 36 years for me and I earned my Amateur Extra class license a relatively short time ago.
I really enjoy HF operating, most of which I do with a portable station and makeshift antennas. I don't do any serious DX chasing or contesting, just what I would call casual guerrilla operating - though I participate in every field Day and sometimes the NM QSO party and the Scouts’ Jamboree on the air (JOTA) when I can get away for them.
I am by no means a prepper but I recognize the utility of ham radio and the advantage of being an experienced operator as it may be in some circumstances.
I do want to put in a plug for a resource a lot of people don't know about. I really enjoy discussing various aspects of the hobby with the ham radio subforum at ar15.com located here: http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_10/22_Ham_Radios.html
The fellows there are all friendly and helpful and at the top of that forum you will find several stickies with all the information you need about becoming licensed, station construction, and etc., located here: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/665780_Important_Threads___New_to_the_forum__check_here_first_.html
Ham radio is a fun and rewarding hobby and it has never been easier to enter or more affordable than it is right now. Do it!
Because the Amateur Radio Bands are regulated and monitored by the FCC. Regulated means “license required” to operate in those bands.
____________
Why does this need to be so?
Thank you. Sorry that my rhetoric was far from being clear or definitive enough. Also working on my discussion board temperament. Had to put some more snow fence today but did finally catch up on needed sleep beforehand (busy this time of year).
We had a family talk here and will probably get our licenses, when the roads are clear enough. Need to finish the snow fence (only about 300 feet to go) and wait for the big wind to clear some ugly spots down the road.
Here are some bits of garbled info and ramblings from my atrophying brain (muscles between ears need building more often these days). If you see something there to advise me on, that would be more than welcome.
I did look around the Internet for repeater lists. Found quite a few linked digital repeaters near a monthly destination of ours. A couple were mixed mode repeaters, hopefully open for amateurs. We’ll most likely consider pure, cheap analog at first (no DRM radio, no packets from our end). Might do HF later on if needed, and if we can find something to repair or something cheap.
There’s at least one open repeater in line of sight from here, but it’s about 22 miles away. I did link with it with a wireless antenna a while back. Should be able to get a hand held, cheap radio to do it, too (homebuilt beam only if necessary). But I don’t know, yet, if the repeater is further linked or stand-alone for its area. Will check that out.
If you see anything that you’d do differently, fire away. All that I have is some very rusty electronics experience and what little is left in memory from communications theory. ...and past experiences with only using Army field radios (PRC-77s and 25s, IIRC) and mobiles for other duties. Various radios for duties didn’t require much training at all. It appears that much more education can be put into ham radio.
Needed correction here.
“There’s at least one open repeater in line of sight from here, but it’s about 22 miles away.” I did *not* link with the same antenna for wireless a while back. That was a repeater for wireless—a separate repeater on the same peak.
Sorry. Guess I could use a little more shuteye. Pounding T-posts in frozen ground with a hand driver is getting the best of me. ;-)
Ask them.
I am not trying to be snarky. I just cannot understand why it is regulated.
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