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re: Does anyone still use ham radios?
Posted on 8/24/14 at 10:21 am to prplhze2000
Posted on 8/24/14 at 10:21 am to prplhze2000
CQ, this is W9GFO. CQ, this is W9GFO here. Come back?
Posted on 8/24/14 at 10:37 am to GeauxColonels
quote:
What exactly IS a HAM radio?
Its a hobby centered around radio. It can be people that work in emergencies to get messages into and out of disasters (Katrina, earthquakes, etc). It can be people who just enjoy talking to each other over the radio (like the internet). It can be contesting where everyone involved attempts to make as many conversations with each other in a certain amount of time (there was even an "Olympics" sort of event where they had participants from countries all over the world competing against each other).
It uses voice (talking), morse code (very efficient) digital modes, television modes, satellite communications, high speed, slow speed, etc.
Ask away, more than happy to answer any questions.
And yes, it is full of geeks who are smart as heck and dumbasses and stinky antisocial old farts.
Posted on 8/24/14 at 10:52 am to ChuckM
quote:
And yes, it is full of geeks who are smart as heck and dumbasses and stinky antisocial old farts.
Geeks? Rex
Smart? Not Rex
Dumbasses? Rex
Stinky? Rex
Antisocial? Rex
Old Farts? Rex
Five out of six HAM radio operators are Rex.
Posted on 8/24/14 at 10:53 am to ChuckM
How expensive is it to get into the HAM radio hobby?
Posted on 8/24/14 at 10:57 am to prplhze2000
quote:
Does anyone still use ham radios?
or has the internet pretty much decimated that hobby as well?
I don't believe Jews nor Muslim use ham radios.
Posted on 8/24/14 at 10:57 am to GeauxxxTigers23
Tree fiddy
Not kidding.
Not kidding.
Posted on 8/24/14 at 10:57 am to GeauxxxTigers23
quote:
How expensive
$10 for the book
$15 for th test
$30 to buy a VHF/UHF walkie talkie LINK
Of course it goes up from there depending on what interests you.
Posted on 8/24/14 at 10:59 am to ChuckM
That 8 ft. ham radio antenna that people have for their vehicles ain't cheap.
Plus, they make vagina moist everywhere.
Plus, they make vagina moist everywhere.
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:03 am to ChuckM
What if I want to talk to people on the other side of the world?
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:12 am to GeauxxxTigers23
quote:
What if I want to talk to people on the other side of the world?
That whole set up in the last message, using IRLP, Echolink, or any of the linking systems (which uses the internet to link repeaters that a VHF/UHF walkie talkie uses), or you move on to what some consider "true ham radio". HF (shortwave).
Cheap radio LINK $700. Of course there's Ebay and used radios much cheaper. Add some wire for antennas and you're done.
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:14 am to ChuckM
Short wave is the one that rolls over the ground no?
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:18 am to GeauxxxTigers23
I believe so.
I think you can "skip" it off the ionosphere similar to AM radio waves with enough power and get some really long ranges.
I used to catch people in Puerto Rico and Canada on my CB.
I think you can "skip" it off the ionosphere similar to AM radio waves with enough power and get some really long ranges.
I used to catch people in Puerto Rico and Canada on my CB.
This post was edited on 8/24/14 at 11:19 am
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:19 am to GeauxxxTigers23
Bounces off the ionosphere, comes back down on the other side of the earth.
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:20 am to ChuckM
But doesn't the ionosphere move or fluctuate in strength or altitude or something like that?
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:33 am to GeauxxxTigers23
quote:
move or fluctuate in strength
Yes, time of day and frequency that you transmit on. Higher HF frequencies will go farther during the day and die at night. Lower frequencies will be absorbed during the day, yet travel farther at night.
The HF frequencies given to hams vary, from 1.8mhz to 28mhz. Each is unique at a time of day, season of the year, and conditions of the sun.
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:37 am to ChuckM
quote:
The HF frequencies given to hams vary, from 1.8mhz to 28mhz. Each is unique at a time of day, season of the year, and conditions of the sun.
Does all this come in the book?
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:37 am to prplhze2000
quote:
has the internet pretty much decimated that hobby as well?
that hobby will never be decimated by public forms of communication, as the very gist of it all is that you can talk to another operator anywhere on the planet using nothing but your equipment...
total loss of communications taught me a valuable lesson during Katrina...anarchy follows quickly when communications are lost...
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:46 am to GeauxxxTigers23
quote:
Does all this come in the book?
Yeah, here's some books from the ARRL to check out. The Beginners book tells about it, but the License Manual is all you really need to pass the first test. Total of 3 tests to get all the way to the top, each one gives you more privileges.
LINK
Posted on 8/24/14 at 11:49 am to ChuckM
I know some local ham radio operators help share info in support of the Tour du Teche kayak race on Bayou Teche. Not sure why, but they've been in involved since the first year of the race.
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