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.
They’d have to do a near field intercept and station in person inspection to prove the signal came out of your equipment. Unless you’re threatening the POTUS or attempting to jam some biggov site, don’t worry about it.
well, they WERE secret...
Several real good reasons. Your safety and the safety of others. An untrained user can do serious injury to themselves and others via RF radiation. An untrained user can also disrupt others communications. If you want to see what elimination of license did for radio buy a CB. My first one required a license. By the time I bought my second one licenses were no longer required.
There's nothing like listening to some pilled up Moron cussing away on a CB enhanced with a 500 watt boost & a Roger Mike. Licensing helps maintain needed knowledge, skills, and disciple, needed on the radio bands for them to be functional for all. Without it anarchy would prevail. What would stop Bubba from running a TV station next door to you and coming in on every electronic piece equipment you own?
The short answer is you pass a test. Different tests for different levels of operator / license / bands allowed.
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As I understand it, the test is sort of canned (like the alien citizenship test) in the sense that you can practice taking a number of prior tests, which have questions that will be the same or similar to the one you will be taking. There are also study materials. The entry level operators test is not too difficult to pass.
We sometimes travel to and through isolated locations in western states in our motor home. I carry a mobile mounted and a handheld dual band radio (2 meters and 440 mhz.) The mobile can operate on a transmitting power range of 5, 25, or 50 watts. And with the short antenna on the motorhome roof up about 12 feet above the ground, its often even easy to reach regional repeaters in the area with as little as one watt output on the handheld( walkie talkie.)
Cell phone towers are sometimes non existent to iffy in some areas. There are thousands of VHF and UHF repeaters across the country. These operate on the same principle of cell phone towers, except they rebroadcast ham radio transmissions on ham band frequencies. In addition to talking to other hams as we travel, its nice to know that communication is generally available for emergencies in many areas where you will have no bars showing on your cellphone.
Unless you live in a big metropolitan area or are prepared to spend $10,000 for an antenna, you will be wasting your time and money. And by time, I mean lots and lots of time. Don’t expect to drop 4 figures and spend a few hours and start enjoying ham radio. But this is only the conclusion of a computer, prepper geek. Ham radio is an all-in activity, not for the casual user. Flame away.
10-4
Some of my amateur switch-mode power supply work must radiate in a terrible way.. But it’s non-intentional and momentary. Usually ending with a burst and the loss of a few-dollar-or-so FET..
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009MAKWC0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Buy this radio. $30 (I own it and it’s pretty cool, especially for the price).
Get your Technician license and start talking.
Software Packages in “wheezy”, Subsection hamradio
https://packages.debian.org/stable/hamradio/
I am not sure if any of my old radios work or not. I do have an emergency radio which I have never opened up. still in the box. Listen to radio in the car but that’s it. Otherwise I get all my music and news — all of it through the internet.
You're broadcasting some real bad info there lindsey....
I used to have a G5RV multiband horizontal, but now use a homemade small transmitting loop made from copper plumbing pipe, with a high voltage capacitor made from aluminum flashing from home depot, some pressboard I found in a dumpster, and a plastic chewing tobacco tin for a dial. Hangs from a hook in the ceiling and works like a charm. Homebrewing and fun is what ham radio is all about.
You bet. Amateur radio people are one of the few groups keeping American ingenuity alive. Not everyone buys expensive radios, antennas, amplifiers etc...Some still design, make them and experiment.
Bookmark
one day at a “Ham-Cram” and Ten Bucks got Me a license.
200 bucks for a 50 watt radio and antenna got Me up and running with a Great Rig !
I have yet to see a need for anything else for My 2 meter radio.
Last I read about it they were having design problems with the outdoor condenser coils for the server refrigeration system and the project was behind schedule.
Wow. I was an 11 year old listening to Radio Moscow on a 39 Philco Cathedral with an antenna running about 75 feet up a hill on a clothesline pole. I stopped when I started listening to Jean Shepherd and Long John Knebel out of WOR in New York.
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