re: Any HAM radio operators here?

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What's the point of being a ham radio operator? I'm genuinely curious, don't know what it is outside of the old me with the ham operator license plates and giant antennas on their cars.

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I don't even know man. I just wanted to learn about it so I signed up and took the test. I have no idea what to do now.

ETA: I ain't putting shite on my truck

quote:

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What's the point of being a ham radio operator? I'm genuinely curious, don't know what it is outside of the old me with the ham operator license plates and giant antennas on their cars.

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It has many aspects, but probably falls in to three categories, technical experimentation, social interaction, and public service.

In the technical realm there is currently a lot of experimentation in digital communications, integrating the internet, radio, and GPS technology for various purposes. Space communications using voice and digital modes, there are several amateur satellites that anyone can use with the necessary equipment. Some do hardware and software development for all of the above. A lot of cutting edge design in telecommunications started on the kitchen table of ham operators.

Those that use it for social interaction will talk to friends locally or all over the world, many have carried on friendships for decades with people they have never met in person. There are those that are basically collectors, they try to contact someone in every state, and as many different countries as possible.

And this is just scratching the surface.

The public service is the most well known thing, providing communications when everything else has failed due to some disaster.