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re: Learn me about radio communications
Posted on 5/6/15 at 8:00 am to chickman1313
Posted on 5/6/15 at 8:00 am to chickman1313
Yes, you can use receive only function of a radio (like a scanner) to monitor transmissions. Just don't transmit without a license.
Different radios broadcast on different freqs. Most handhelds are single or double band. For instance the most popular HT (Handi Talkie) Ham radios are 2M/70cm style (144Mhz/440Mhz bands). Typically most contacts on those radios utilize repeaters (transmit on one freq and receive on another after it "bounces" from a tower mounted repeater. There's also a mode called simplex where it's radio to radio. But you and the other person have to be on the same freq. Repeaters are a great way to find people. There's a TON of websites available for local EMS/SKYWARN type nets and their associated frequencies.
For example go to this site: I see from your profile you live in Mandeville: Here'sa list of repeaters in that area:
Mandeville Area Repeaters
By the way...the IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project) is the program that allows HAMs to use VOIP to transmit via the Internet to repeaters nationwide.
Typically a local Ham Radio club sponsors the repeaters. They allow members certain "closed" functions to repeater, but allow other functions to all users. Closed functions are things like SSTV (Slow Scan TV) and phone patch (yes, you can use your ham radio to make a phone call with the access of a phone patch).
Different radios broadcast on different freqs. Most handhelds are single or double band. For instance the most popular HT (Handi Talkie) Ham radios are 2M/70cm style (144Mhz/440Mhz bands). Typically most contacts on those radios utilize repeaters (transmit on one freq and receive on another after it "bounces" from a tower mounted repeater. There's also a mode called simplex where it's radio to radio. But you and the other person have to be on the same freq. Repeaters are a great way to find people. There's a TON of websites available for local EMS/SKYWARN type nets and their associated frequencies.
For example go to this site: I see from your profile you live in Mandeville: Here'sa list of repeaters in that area:
Mandeville Area Repeaters
By the way...the IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project) is the program that allows HAMs to use VOIP to transmit via the Internet to repeaters nationwide.
Typically a local Ham Radio club sponsors the repeaters. They allow members certain "closed" functions to repeater, but allow other functions to all users. Closed functions are things like SSTV (Slow Scan TV) and phone patch (yes, you can use your ham radio to make a phone call with the access of a phone patch).
This post was edited on 5/6/15 at 8:06 am
1
Posted on 5/6/15 at 8:22 am to LongueCarabine
quote:
Right up until a hurricane comes and knocks out all the power. Cell towers will run for a little while, now that most of them have generators, but they will go down without fuel supply. When Katrina hit, I was working at a hospital on the Northshore. We had a HEAR radio, cellphones, internet, landlines and Sat phones. Once the power was out, it took maybe a day for all cell coverage to disappear. The HEAR radio didn't work at all, landlines and Internet were trashed, and Sat phones were virtually useless unless you could find just the right place to stand to talk. Forget about sitting in your office or walking around. The HAM operators in the area saved our asses by relaying messages to the powers that be. I became a HAM shortly after that.
This is my situation sort of. I can get the training if I can find the time. I'm somewhat interested but not enough to get me motivated.
Yes, Sat phones are not as great as most people think. Inside anyhow. Outside is even a hit and miss. We tied a few Admin desk phones to a sat phone that is docked on our roof top room. This is hte time of the year we gear up to start testing all of the equipment.
Posted on 5/6/15 at 9:03 am to Crawdaddy
I literally bought the book from Rat Shack (Radio Shack) on Friday...and took the test on Saturday. That was Tech-no Code. Then they dropped the code reqmt and I easily upgraded to General.
Haven't had time to upgrade to EXTRA, but it's in work. That one takes a bit more time of studying due to the electrical theory in it. The Band plans are just memorization. I haven't done much electrical/electronics work in years..so I need to brush up.
there are question pools with answers online...some people can memorize those and pass the test.
Haven't had time to upgrade to EXTRA, but it's in work. That one takes a bit more time of studying due to the electrical theory in it. The Band plans are just memorization. I haven't done much electrical/electronics work in years..so I need to brush up.
there are question pools with answers online...some people can memorize those and pass the test.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 7:46 am to NASA_ISS_Tiger
Aight, time for some more dumb questions.
Basically, at least for now, I just want to have access to listen. Not just to ham frequencies, but also police, emergency services, weather alerts, whatever else may be good to hear about if either SHTF or there is a major weather emergency. I'm in south Louisiana so hurricanes are always a factor. So, from my limited knowledge and online research two options have come up multiple times. A scanner (needs to be digital apparently to hear the state police here) and also a handheld radio that, from what I can understand, can do a lot of what I want, and also transmit when the time comes.
Can someone please explain the differences between these two?
Baofeng Radio
Uniden Scanner
with the Baofeng will I be able to hear everything I would hear on the scanner? or since the scanner is digital and trunked (no idea what that means) it will pick up different signals?
what about distance? will I only be able to pick up signals within a couple miles? I kinda get that if I am on a ham frequency I can get on a repeater and hear farther... with the Uniden scanner, will I only be able to pick up transmissions within a couple of miles of me as well?
how do the weather reports/alerts work with these? are they localized? different stations for different parts of the country/world?
what if there is just some crazy stuff being transmitted over radio, would I be able to find it using the scanner and/or the baofeng radio?
Basically, at least for now, I just want to have access to listen. Not just to ham frequencies, but also police, emergency services, weather alerts, whatever else may be good to hear about if either SHTF or there is a major weather emergency. I'm in south Louisiana so hurricanes are always a factor. So, from my limited knowledge and online research two options have come up multiple times. A scanner (needs to be digital apparently to hear the state police here) and also a handheld radio that, from what I can understand, can do a lot of what I want, and also transmit when the time comes.
Can someone please explain the differences between these two?
Baofeng Radio
Uniden Scanner
with the Baofeng will I be able to hear everything I would hear on the scanner? or since the scanner is digital and trunked (no idea what that means) it will pick up different signals?
what about distance? will I only be able to pick up signals within a couple miles? I kinda get that if I am on a ham frequency I can get on a repeater and hear farther... with the Uniden scanner, will I only be able to pick up transmissions within a couple of miles of me as well?
how do the weather reports/alerts work with these? are they localized? different stations for different parts of the country/world?
what if there is just some crazy stuff being transmitted over radio, would I be able to find it using the scanner and/or the baofeng radio?
Posted on 5/8/15 at 2:54 pm to chickman1313
Cool, more radio nerds. I've had good luck buying new radios from Copper Electronics but I don't recommend having them "peak and tune" etc. AS mentioned, Galaxy 10m and CB is decent stuff, as well as RCI/Ranger. Worldwidedx.com is a cool site (for radio nerds) with some knowledgeable folks. K0GB.com is another that's useful for mobile setups and other stuff. I'm contemplating getting my ticket as well. When I talked to a dude in Australia on SSB I was hooked.
AS far as scanners, is it true if police/fire use digital you can't hear them, right? So make sure you buy the right equipment so you can hear whomever you're wanting to listen to.
AS far as scanners, is it true if police/fire use digital you can't hear them, right? So make sure you buy the right equipment so you can hear whomever you're wanting to listen to.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 10:20 pm to White Bear
I've heard that if you buy the right scanner, you can pick up the State Police, but the scanner will be pretty expensive.
I have the Baofeng UV-5R, and for $35 it's a surprisingly decent radio. Much more versatile that those GRMS or FMS radios that hunters use in the field. The Baofeng will scan and pick up a bunch of frequencies.
I regularly listen to the various LE and fire departments in this area as they still broadcast in the clear. (As opposed trunked digital systems.) In rural areas, a digital system is too expensive for most LE agencies to afford.
I also have a Kenwood handheld ( I forget the model number at the moment) and an ICOM 2200H mobile unit. Haven't decided which vehicle to put it in yet. We use the Baofeng and the Kenwood on camping trips regularly.
Even in this parish, there is a group of people who have joined up to form an adjunct to the local EOC. In the event of an emergency, you can't have too many people helping out with communications.
Got my Technician class in 2006 IIRC, gonna jump up to the next level soon.
LC
I have the Baofeng UV-5R, and for $35 it's a surprisingly decent radio. Much more versatile that those GRMS or FMS radios that hunters use in the field. The Baofeng will scan and pick up a bunch of frequencies.
I regularly listen to the various LE and fire departments in this area as they still broadcast in the clear. (As opposed trunked digital systems.) In rural areas, a digital system is too expensive for most LE agencies to afford.
I also have a Kenwood handheld ( I forget the model number at the moment) and an ICOM 2200H mobile unit. Haven't decided which vehicle to put it in yet. We use the Baofeng and the Kenwood on camping trips regularly.
Even in this parish, there is a group of people who have joined up to form an adjunct to the local EOC. In the event of an emergency, you can't have too many people helping out with communications.
Got my Technician class in 2006 IIRC, gonna jump up to the next level soon.
LC
Posted on 5/8/15 at 10:52 pm to NASA_ISS_Tiger
quote:
I wouldn't advertise 35W CB on an open forum. Legal limit on a CB is 4W.
Like the FCC is worried about a 35w cb. Really???
Posted on 5/9/15 at 1:27 pm to NASA_ISS_Tiger
NIT, what if you wanted to stay in contact w/ a child 60 miles away in the event of an emergency? Could you buy her a handheld and tell her a designated channel to use?
Posted on 5/11/15 at 1:29 pm to chickman1313
Since you are just starting out I recommend not jumping into the Commo pool all at once. Take it in steps.
Start with a basic low cost CB radio. AM 40 channels, 4 watts out. Get a simple $40 model like they sell at the truck stop. Something like this-LINK
Hook it up to a small power supply at home and throw a mag mount antenna on your refrigerator or a file cabinet near a window. The same radio can be taken out to your car/truck, plugged into the cigarette or run to your battery. Stick the mag mount on the roof and drive off monitoring the locals.
For a scanner, depending on where you live and what you want to hear you can find a simple VHF/UHV handheld or desk top scanner for a few bucks or you may have to upgrade to a Digitracker. If you have the bucks Uniden sells the HomePatrol which you turn on, enter your Zip Code and it loads the freqs for your area. LINK
Hamm Radio, as you learned takes a license to transmit on but you can still purchase a radio and monitor while you study. Use it to tune around and learn the locals. Find a club in your area. They can often help you get up to speed on what you need to know. For example, the Baton Rouge club just completed a series of Ham Radio classes and a test session and are gearing up to begin another class. Ham radios can cost anywhere from $40 to $4000 or more. It all depends on what you are buying.
My daily carry portable radio is a 5 watt VHF/UHF Chinese model which can be found for under $35- LINK
In my car I run a Kenwood dualband 50 watt mobile- LINK while at home I have an old Radio Shack VHF radio that I picked up used at a HamFest for about $25- LINK
Also on my desk I have a Yaesu HF radio I bought from the BR ham club for about $400- LINK
That radio hooked to a wire antenna in a tree next to my house has gotten out all over North and South America, Europe and even Africa on less than 100 watts. I can do voice comms and I have a computer interface which allows me to do digital text communications (Packet, PSK).
Radio communications can be a very rewarding and interesting hobby if you invest the time.
Start slow and do some research. Youtube is a great place to find tutorial videos on the subject of studying and learning how to operate. Find your local ham club and show up and ask some questions.
Field Day 2015 is coming up the last full weekend of June. That is when clubs around the US get out and set up their stations and invite the public to come by and learn about the hobby. Field Day is a contest which is meant to simulate emergency operating conditions and stations attempt too contact as many other ham operators in a 24 hour time period. If you want to see Ham Radio in action then Field Day will be a great time.
I hope this long post helped you some.
73
Start with a basic low cost CB radio. AM 40 channels, 4 watts out. Get a simple $40 model like they sell at the truck stop. Something like this-LINK
Hook it up to a small power supply at home and throw a mag mount antenna on your refrigerator or a file cabinet near a window. The same radio can be taken out to your car/truck, plugged into the cigarette or run to your battery. Stick the mag mount on the roof and drive off monitoring the locals.
For a scanner, depending on where you live and what you want to hear you can find a simple VHF/UHV handheld or desk top scanner for a few bucks or you may have to upgrade to a Digitracker. If you have the bucks Uniden sells the HomePatrol which you turn on, enter your Zip Code and it loads the freqs for your area. LINK
Hamm Radio, as you learned takes a license to transmit on but you can still purchase a radio and monitor while you study. Use it to tune around and learn the locals. Find a club in your area. They can often help you get up to speed on what you need to know. For example, the Baton Rouge club just completed a series of Ham Radio classes and a test session and are gearing up to begin another class. Ham radios can cost anywhere from $40 to $4000 or more. It all depends on what you are buying.
My daily carry portable radio is a 5 watt VHF/UHF Chinese model which can be found for under $35- LINK
In my car I run a Kenwood dualband 50 watt mobile- LINK while at home I have an old Radio Shack VHF radio that I picked up used at a HamFest for about $25- LINK
Also on my desk I have a Yaesu HF radio I bought from the BR ham club for about $400- LINK
That radio hooked to a wire antenna in a tree next to my house has gotten out all over North and South America, Europe and even Africa on less than 100 watts. I can do voice comms and I have a computer interface which allows me to do digital text communications (Packet, PSK).
Radio communications can be a very rewarding and interesting hobby if you invest the time.
Start slow and do some research. Youtube is a great place to find tutorial videos on the subject of studying and learning how to operate. Find your local ham club and show up and ask some questions.
Field Day 2015 is coming up the last full weekend of June. That is when clubs around the US get out and set up their stations and invite the public to come by and learn about the hobby. Field Day is a contest which is meant to simulate emergency operating conditions and stations attempt too contact as many other ham operators in a 24 hour time period. If you want to see Ham Radio in action then Field Day will be a great time.
I hope this long post helped you some.
73
Posted on 5/11/15 at 1:57 pm to cellblock776
10-4 good buddy, watch out for the Lot Lizards at the stop. 
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