HAM Radio (Amateur Radio Operator)

[cjb]

Today I took the exam for the Technician class HAM Radio License (and passed). Amateur Radio is a hobby, but it is also a service.

Is anyone else a HAM?

[BigTom]

I'm a ham but it doesn't have anything to do with radios.

[Tony]

I let my General class license expire a few years back. What with the internet for all my communications needs, it just didn't seem to make any sense to hang onto it.

[Jenniffer]

Congrats :)

[PezCollector]

Whooo HOOOO! CJ is hammy now! Way to go lady!!! :thumbsup:

[JiveTurkey]

I'm not a ham. (Well, depends on who you ask...)

Have fun with it!

[cjb]

So, you keep your license current?? :D


I'm a ham but it doesn't have anything to do with radios.

[BigTom]

I don't do radios. I just tend to ham it up and you don't need a license to make an ass of yourself.

[cjb]

Some sticks in the mud think you need a license to do that....


I don't do radios. I just tend to ham it up and you don't need a license to make an ass of yourself.

[millers1]

Today I took the exam for the Technician class HAM Radio License (and passed). Amateur Radio is a hobby, but it is also a service.

Is anyone else a HAM?

My Dad was a Ham operator back in the 60's. I remember a spare room in our house used as his radio shack. I also recall him building his Heathkit radio. It's a tube-type behemoth, that I've got packed away in my barn. I'd like to get licensed and then see if the FCC will allow me to assume his old call sign (W3QZJ). At one point, I looked into it and it required knowing code. That nixed it for me at the time. What's the license requirements like now and where is the exam taken??

[Tony]

It's a tube-type behemoth, that I've got packed away in my barn.Pictures. We need pictures! If you need help firing it up for a shot, let us know!

[cjb]

NO CODE anymore!!! I also took it back when code was required and didn't pass.

A call sign can be requested under the "vanity" call sign program. I don't know what the rules are for requesting a previously used, but not currently used. I see it's still listed as expired in '97 and canceled in '99 for your dad I presume??

I hooked up with a local HAM group (LARG) Loudoun Area Radio Group. They offered a class at the Leesburg VFW - it was 2 days 8 hours each. It was a crash course of all that you need to know to pass the test. The one I attended was geared toward the Technical Class License Level.

They say that they intend to do another one geared towared the General Class License yet this year, but it has not yet posted to the website. www.k4lrg.org Many of the radio groups do similar classes. I really liked the guys with larg. They did good! and I passed my test! they arranged a testing oppertunity for their students on the following two weekends. Passed about 30 out of 35 students.

Now - for testing - check out www.arrl.org. up in the top left there is a "testing" link. There are many many testing oppertunities - this will just filter it down to the very local w/ date and time. The ARRL also list the local clubs and sometimes have the class information as well.

AND REMEMBER EVERYONE - you don't have to have a license to LISTEN. Just to transmit.

ENJOY!
c

[Tony]

I never really had a problem with the code. I learned 5wpm in a week, and fairly quickly got the ARRL certificate for 15wpm, not much later passing the 13wpm at FCC HQ to get my General.

[cjb]

I picked up a piece of software called "just learn morse code". It gives it to you a couple of charecters at a time. Rather the way I learned typing all those years ago. Started out with just a couple of letters, then added a few more, pretty soon you had words.

Am interested in code just for it's own sake.



I never really had a problem with the code. I learned 5wpm in a week, and fairly quickly got the ARRL certificate for 15wpm, not much later passing the 13wpm at FCC HQ to get my General.

[Black Dog]

I know this may be a silly question but why would a license be necessary to talk on a radio?

[Tony]

So the government can make money from it? Okay, maybe that's just the cynical answer. :)

Radio spectrum is very limited, and naturally everyone wants to use the "best" frequencies. Enter the FCC, dictating who can use which frequency and at what power. The FCC enforces it's rules via licensing.

Technically, you don't need a license just to talk on the radio, as anyone that's ever been interviewed on radio knows. But someone there has to be licensed to operate the transmitter - to keep it within power limits and close to the assigned frequency (among other things).

[Black Dog]

Ah, that makes sense.

[katybelle]

My father was a ham radio operator back in the late 1920's, early 30's. He would stay up half the night (because the signals were stronger?) and talk to people all over the world. If you heard someone else's broadcast you sent them a specialized postcard. They have a name with a Q in it...
Anyways, I have a box of these cards sent to Dad from all over the place and they are printed with other Ham Operators call letters and have personal notes about when they heard each other. They are amazing to read.

Katybelle

[Tony]

I used to have a good collection of QSL cards (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QSL). Most from the US, as I never ran more than 90 watts. But here on the mountain late one night I managed to talk to Great Britain. That was my farthest.

I threw the cards away years ago. Again, once I was able to log into an online community and talk easily with people around the world it just took all the challenge out of it.

[phillip]

I'd like to learn-

[cjb]

Learn HAM??? woo hoo!!! :thumbsup:

Code??? Woo Hoo - there are several free software's available online


I'd like to learn-

[Brian]

I've actually been thinking about this for some time too. It just seems like a considerable start-up cost.

[Tony]

Oh I dunno about "considerable" cost. I suppose that depends on your definitions. You can certainly spend thousands on good equipment, but short distance transceivers on Ebay go for $200, long dx maybe $800.

Here near the mountain you may want to go to the extra expense of a good tall mast and fancy Yagi, but really any old long wire will do the job.

So, compared to say, restoring old cars, it's not expensive at all.

[millers1]

Thankyou very much. I'll look into this, soon!

[Brian]

Just passed my "Technician" this weekend. They told me to go ahead and try for the "General" too since I aced the "Technician". I had not looked at that material at all so that was rather humbling.

Gonna be looking for some stuff now. I bought a really old Icom 2m on ebay for $20 just to play with while I research and decide what I really want. Need to find a PS, have been told to look for an Astron, at least 30A. Will probably just see about putting antenna in the attic for now.

[SeanEpperson]

Good Job Brian! Welcome to the club. There are some great local repeaters, and also a local simplex group in Charles Town. If you need info just let cjb or myself know.