Something I am studying so I can test out all 3 tests for my license.

 

Also picked up a cheap ham 7 band 10 watt walkie talkie pair on Amazon.

(I know I will start cheap and grow into it if needed)

 

Anybody else here into this?

The only ham I mess with is on my sandwich. ;)

 

But to get serious, I am a prepper of sorts, and a radio is on my list. It's lower than my food and alternative money supply is though, as I can always be a "runner" to get a message in/out.

I am not a prepper by definition, but I could be lol.

 

So since the dollar limit in this so called hobby is pretty much how much money you want to put into it, so I picked up a pair of handsets to play with. Less than 60 bucks but it comes unlocked. And accessories.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CW2QQGXD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I know its cheap Chinese junk, but to me a perfect entry-level price point.

 

I know I can achieve all three licenses, and I guess then I will have to upgrade to a mobile/base station.

A what now? This is what I thought when reading ham rig:

[ATTACH type=full" size="1170x2532]1191[/ATTACH]

A what now? This is what I thought when reading ham rig:

[ATTACH type=full" alt="IMG_9103.webp]1191[/ATTACH]

Having been in the food industry, this thing scared the shit out of me. I had to operate it almost daily.

Having been in the food industry, this thing scared the shit out of me. I had to operate it almost daily.

lol I’d be frightened too!

I'm a ham operator. Callsign N9KN. I run a Kenwood TS930S.HF rig 10Mto180M. I have a homebrew Drake TR4CW HF rig that I just rebuilt. 250 watts operates on 10-80. It's a CW only rig. I've been licenses since 1980. I operate in 20M CW most of the time.

I'm a ham operator. Callsign N9KN. I run a Kenwood TS930S.HF rig 10Mto180M. I have a homebrew Drake TR4CW HF rig that I just rebuilt. 250 watts operates on 10-80. It's a CW only rig. I've been licenses since 1980. I operate in 20M CW most of the time.

And when SHTF, you're the type of person I'd run to. I'm sure you wouldn't mind an MRE or silver coins in return for some good messages to be given or passed along. :-P

Picked up up my GMRS license this morning. I know I cant transmit on the certain frequencies yet, but I do want to stay on the right side of the tracks. I will have my call sign in a couple days.

 

I have been practice testing using "Ham Radio Prep" app for the next level of licensing. I just use the free features.

Edited January 29Jan 29 by CTS

And when SHTF, you're the type of person I'd run to. I'm sure you wouldn't mind an MRE or silver coins in return for some good messages to be given or passed along. :-P

Those would be perfect . Especially the MRE.

Picked up up my GMRS license this morning. I know I cant transmit on the certain frequencies yet, but I do want to stay on the right side of the tracks. I will have my call sign in a couple days.

 

I have been practice testing using "Ham Radio Prep" app for the next level of licensing. I just use the free features.

So much different now. In my day I had to pass a code test first then theory test to get a Novice license. Then more code and more theory for Tech, General, Advanced and finally Extra.

 

I taught novice code classes for a while. At the end we would give the class the test and if they passed we would have a little party for them.

So much different now. In my day I had to pass a code test first then theory test to get a Novice license. Then more code and more theory for Tech, General, Advanced and finally Extra.

 

I taught novice code classes for a while. At the end we would give the class the test and if they passed we would have a little party for them.

The GMRS just requires registration, agreements, and payment of $35. I plan on getting the technician, general, and Extra,.. each a harder level test.

Something I am studying so I can test out all 3 tests for my license.

 

Also picked up a cheap ham 7 band 10 watt walkie talkie pair on Amazon.

(I know I will start cheap and grow into it if needed)

 

Anybody else here into this?

I've always wanted to.

 

I've been a storm spotter for 20+ years and ham radio is heavily integrated into that. I've also been involved with local emergency management operations and we relied on hams for emergency operations and communications.

 

It's planned.

 

I used to be an assistant fire chief and always used Motorola radios. I'm sure probably expensive but do they offer good ham radios? I'd want something handheld.

I've always wanted to.

 

I've been a storm spotter for 20+ years and ham radio is heavily integrated into that. I've also been involved with local emergency management operations and we relied on hams for emergency operations and communications.

 

It's planned.

 

I used to be an assistant fire chief and always used Motorola radios. I'm sure probably expensive but do they offer good ham radios? I'd want something handheld.

Well handhelds have a lot of limitations, but are dirt cheap. If you have some technical backgrounds then you are likely to pick up what is needed to know fairly easily what is in the tests.

I didn't know you needed a license to operate a ham radio? I'm guessing it's for FCC regulations right? I never really was interested in the hobby, I bet it was more fun back in the day when the internet didn't exist to talk via ham radio.

Got my GMRS call sign today and the radio's came in today. Gonna do some setup on it and watch a few video's for familiarization.

I'm wondering if you "need" a license (I would look into it for Japan) to own a radio but never use it. Probably good to have, but I don't want to go through the hassle of licensing, etc., to use it. However, I'd like to at least test an emergency channel (if possible) without the "Feds" coming down on me, to see if anyone can respond to a test emergency to be aware that the radio works at the very least.

 

I wouldn't operate it in any other conditions (unless some bands you don't need a license).

I'm wondering if you "need" a license (I would look into it for Japan) to own a radio but never use it.

You do NOT need a license to buy or listen in on in the US.

You do need an FCC license to key the mic and talk in the US.

And some of these radios you will need multiple test sessions to be approved for all bands.

And if you don't plan on getting a license, get a trigger guard lol.

 

I bet these can be bought in Japan. Different licensing laws than the US I am sure.

 

Right now I only have the CMRS license. Working on my Technician level license now.

Edited January 31Jan 31 by CTS

And if you don't plan on getting a license, get a trigger guard lol.

That's what I was thinking. There has to be some sort of manual trigger to stop you from broadcasting on bands you shouldn't be on, but also there for when you do get a license to do so, to open it up.

 

I'd mainly want it to listen and then, if SHTF, nobody cares about a license. I just want to test the emergency channels to see if they can receive (and respond) without getting a fine. :-P

 

So, I'll look into that, for Japan.

That's what I was thinking. There has to be some sort of manual trigger to stop you from broadcasting on bands you shouldn't be on, but also there for when you do get a license to do so, to open it up.

 

I'd mainly want it to listen and then, if SHTF, nobody cares about a license. I just want to test the emergency channels to see if they can receive (and respond) without getting a fine. :-P

 

So, I'll look into that, for Japan.

The only band you can legally broadcast on without a license is 11 meters which is CD radio. That used to need a license 100. My callsign was WNF1068. It was deregulated in 1984 or so. I think there are a couple UHF frequencies you can broadcast on, but, those are short range communication.

 

Each country has different ways to license. I think Japan is one of the hardest.

Each country has different ways to license. I think Japan is one of the hardest.

I'll have to look into it locally, but at least I have some models to look into, if they're equipped for the same wavelengths (might be different frequencies here or something, who knows, but it should be a universal standard I would presume).

I'll have to look into it locally, but at least I have some models to look into, if they're equipped for the same wavelengths (might be different frequencies here or something, who knows, but it should be a universal standard I would presume).

Ham radio is universal. All the bands are the same everywhere in the World. Each country decides what license class gets which bands to operate on. The language is also universal. Morse code.

There has to be some sort of manual trigger to stop you from broadcasting on bands you shouldn't be on, but also there for when you do get a license to do so, to open it up.

I have found CHIRP freeware to be an awesome tool for managing your memory settings on handhelds, but best thing is you can turn off duplex on any selected channel memory location preventing Transmission. You still can fat-finger your ability to transmit on a band though.

 

My local testing spot is about 80 miles away so I am hoping to be able to test-out for the General license, but my absolute goal right now is the Technician, mid Feb. The next most soonest is a few hours away end of April. That's why I wish to get the first two levels on the first go around. The Extra license will require much more study time I expect. I downloaded a free app just to self test, and purchased a study guide from amazon that will get me up to speed on the current info.

Today I completed and passed the FCC Technician Amateur radio certification licensing. In about a week I will have legal access to listen and transmit when the FCC enters it into the database. (the final step). I was pretty nervous, but actually it was a breeze for me. I will be studying the General (and hopefully the Extra) licensing requirements and to prepare for the next round sometime in the next few months.

 

There was at least 50 people in for different test levels, and I estimate about 2/3 of them passed. (and I never saw so many grey hairs gathered in one place before lol)

Today I completed and passed the FCC Technician Amateur radio certification licensing. In about a week I will have legal access to listen and transmit when the FCC enters it into the database. (the final step). I was pretty nervous, but actually it was a breeze for me. I will be studying the General (and hopefully the Extra) licensing requirements and to prepare for the next round sometime in the next few months.

 

There was at least 50 people in for different test levels, and I estimate about 2/3 of them passed. (and I never saw so many grey hairs gathered in one place before lol)

Congrats! :D

Today I completed and passed the FCC Technician Amateur radio certification licensing. In about a week I will have legal access to listen and transmit when the FCC enters it into the database. (the final step). I was pretty nervous, but actually it was a breeze for me. I will be studying the General (and hopefully the Extra) licensing requirements and to prepare for the next round sometime in the next few months.

 

There was at least 50 people in for different test levels, and I estimate about 2/3 of them passed. (and I never saw so many grey hairs gathered in one place before lol)

Congrats! It's been a while and memory is a little off. There used to be a designator a ham could use to operate in the new bands as they moved up in class. I rmember only having to wait for my Novice ticket. All subsequent upgrades I was able to use the new bands as soon as I got home. Of course we had to go to the FCC field office to test so it went into the system right away.