Dust Off The Ham Radio License—We May need It Soon...

me | 03/08/2022

[devane617]

Ok fellow Freepers. Drag out the junk box and dust of the Key and Dipole. I believe this is about to get nasty and communications in a cyberattack will be target one.

[PUGACHEV]

I live in Northern Virginia, where the courts have strictly limited HOAs to the language in their DCCRs. My HOA bans “roof top antennas”, so I installed three sloping inverted V Double Bazooka antennas from the 3rd story window to my fence posts below. Not being on the roof, these antennas are not within the HOA’s restrictions.

I am very lucky in how my antennas are configured: the “V” slopes from East to West and they sit above a layer of marine clay. On 20 meters with 100 Watts, I can boom into Europe from Spain to Scandinavia and the Middle East, and from Nova Scotia to Brazil and as far west as Texas.

[higgmeister]

What you really need is ACP 131-1 that is Allied Communications Publications 131-1, Communications Instruction - Operating Signals. revision F

Allied Communications Pamphlet 131-1 (F)

Print the .pdf before the internet is gone.

No money needed.

[higgmeister]

I only saw the Q code and thought you were talking about Q and Z signals.

[Political Junkie Too]

I renewed directly on the FCC ULS site for free.

-PJ

[Republican in occupied CA]

Excellent.

[omegatoo]

Thanks! Would GMRS be a viable option? Looks like that needs a license but no testing. It does look like there are some repeaters in my area. I need to do some more research to see which are still operational. From the arrl links it looks like a lot of the local clubs have been quiet for the past 2 years.

Thanks for the guidance. I see I have a lot more research to do.

O2

[IYAS9YAS]

But isn’t she too far away for GMRS too? I don’t know much about that.

It depends. For the hand-helds? Probably. However, there are GMRS repeaters now. And some of the mobile GMRS can put out 40 watts on certain channels. Midland makes the MXT-400 that can use repeaters. It's under $300. I made the mistake of buying a four pack of Midlan Handy Talkies for $180 before I realized GMRS had repeater networks, or I would have tried to get some hand-helds that were repeater capable. The repeaters are not everywhere, but they are around. Channels 15-22 can use up to 50 watts.

[Jamestown1630]

See post 147

[teletech]

ByeDone will order us off the air.

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

When the shit hits the fan you won’t need a license, you’ll only need the radio.

[omegatoo]

Thanks, that helps a lot. I’m in SE Louisiana, no hills, but lots of trees. Suburbs, so not a lot of tall buildings between us.

O2

[omegatoo]

👍

[higgmeister]

I believe this is about to get nasty and communications in a cyberattack will be target one.,p>By the attention your post is getting you are probably not alone.

[Magnum44]

For short range and local repeater use.

[GingisK]

Yes, mostly in third world countries.

[IAGeezer912]

My wife and I were on a large lake with engine problems late one night in MO. I saw a boat a long ways off and got their attention using the rear transome light to send SOS.

[Jamestown1630]

The problem these days would be attracting the attention of someone who understood.

[GingisK]

Inter-letter space is 1-dit wide.

[BiteYourSelf]

Did you EMP proof it?🤔

[GingisK]

I have found that the little Grundig, Sony, etc are not very sensitive and have terrible tuning facilities. The tuning knobs are small and aren't geared very low for good selectivity. They also don't have a BFO for tuning CW.

What is a good AM/FM/SW portable radio?

Do the digital tuners work better?