Ham Radio Ping ListPlease Freepmail me if you want to be added to or deleted from the list.
A belated heads-up to the list, and thanks to 1066AD for pinging me.
Posted on 12/29/2004 8:46:24 AM PST by entreri
Power Line Named Blog of the Year: TIME also names Power Line its Blog of the Year. “Before this year, blogs were a curiosity, a cult phenomenon, a faintly embarrassing hobby on the order of ham radio and stamp collecting. But in 2004, blogs unexpectedly vaulted into the pantheon of major media, alongside TV, radio and, yes, magazines, and it was Power Line, more than any other blog, that got them there,” writes TIME’s Lev Grossman.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
I'm an amateur radio operator (HAM) ... not embarrassed by it in the least. I would be embarrassed to be seen reading Time magazine however.
Ham Radio Ping ListPlease Freepmail me if you want to be added to or deleted from the list.
A belated heads-up to the list, and thanks to 1066AD for pinging me.
TECH-PLUS HERE.
THIS AUTHOR IS A MORON.
Right you are. And hams have more exotic means of communication in addition to good old shortwave. Years before the Internet became popular, many ham radio operators had modems and computers hooked up to their radios and used packet radio to communicate digitally (and packet radio is still popular). Also the Russian MIR space station had an amateur radio station on board, as did some Space Shuttle missions and as does the International Space Station. And hams have had their own communication satellites (that they built themselves) for forty years.
A lot of young people grew up learning about technology, math, geography, etc. thanks to ham radio. And I would rather see a child collect stamps than be obsessed with the latest video game. Who is likely to have a better future? The youngster who is into amateur radio/shortwave listening and/or stamp collecting or the child whose proudest achievement is learning how to play "Grand Theft Auto"?
i predict that morse will not be required after THIS year.
free dixie,sw
free dixie,sw
I would appreciate it if you experts would provide information on how one might start out as an operator. Please suggest any links, recommend equipment and offer any suggestions for the total novice.
Thanks!
i got my TECH license about 6 weeks after buying the book.
free dixie,sw
Time would whore itself for Ham radio reports from an isolated area that was news topic for the day/week.
free dixie,sw
If I can do it -- a liberal arts/classics major with absolutely no technical expertise other than what I've picked up from my techno-geek husband -- then ANYBODY can do it.
The Tech exam is not difficult. You'll have to memorize a few frequencies (the ones that Techs are allowed to use), some rules, and some very basic electronic theory like Ohm's Law.
My daughter & I were both novices before the rules changed - we took the Tech exam right before midnight on the day the rules changed over - so we are now Techs with code privileges on the old Novice bands . . . we're way behind hubby who is an Extra and Honor Roll DXer with 320 some-odd countries (at last count, I think.)
Stand, thank you for the tip. I will stop by the Radio Shack this week.
I have had some technical experience. It does seem doable based on your experiences. I am looking for a new hobby. Perhaps this will be it.
free dixie,sw
Agreed
I have been a Ham Radio operator since 1979 and have NEVER been embarrassed. What is it with people. People are interested in what they are interested in. If you want to have a hobby, then you do it because you are into it, not because it's cool. People who do things like a hobby only because it's cool and it's not what they are interested in are not very strong people in my opinion.
I wonder if Time realizes what they are saying about Walter Cronkite (KB2GSD)?
Look for the quicklink "Getting Started" over on the righthand side.
And here's a list of the local ARRL radio clubs in NJ:
Best thing you can do is join a local radio club. We have two local clubs - one a general radio club (Atlanta Radio Club), the other a special interest (Southeastern DX or long-distance communication) club. We belong to both, and you'll never meet a nicer bunch of folks. They love to help people get started in the hobby - they'll be helping you pick out a first radio, helping you get the antennas raised, etc. etc. before you know where you are. They also have really good parties.
free dixie,sw
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.