Just got a ham radio!

[Bastard]

WTF, so I half *** skimmed through this thread and ended up ordering the radio... its not like I don't already have an absurd collection of CBs & other 10 meter radios, scanners and the like - but $30 is hard to beat

[SOAR79]

wow very interesting stuff in here, what's the process to obtain a license?

[NoNOS67]

wow very interesting stuff in here, what's the process to obtain a license?

1. Study, either by taking practice tests until you've got it down, or by doing some serious reading. Just Google "ham practice test" or use one of several free android or iPhone apps.

2. Take the test! Find a testing location here: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-...e-exam-session

Prior to taking the test, you will need to register for a FRN (FCC Registration Number) here:https://apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do Registration is free, but most testing locations charge between five and fifteen bucks to take the test.

Getting my ham license is one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done. There are many, many repeaters that are open to the public and free to use, greatly extending the range of even the most inexpensive handheld. Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask!

[SOAR79]

I will definitely be doing this during my Christmas vacation!

[speeedracerr]

Protective Bunker and Survival Center in the City of Lake Elsinore will be hosting a Ham Radio Class. I took my test with them sometime last year and received my technicians license. they are awesome people, with lots of awesome and cool things, not to mention the 80% paperweights and rebuild kits the last time I was there Here is the link to the class:

https://www.facebook.com/events/471455936305547/

[Puckinhead]

You guys do know that its illegal to use Ham radios on the FRS frequencies.......

[NoNOS67]

You guys do know that its illegal to use Ham radios on the FRS frequencies.......

The radio being discussed here is a Part 90 device as well, but that still does not cover FRS. If I recall correctly, that would fall under Part 95.

Either way...would you kindly show me where anyone suggested using this particular radio on any FRS frequency???

My apologies, just found it.

[Kodemonkey]

You guys do know that its illegal to use Ham radios on the FRS frequencies.......

Er, my bad. I did not realize that these were not type accepted for FRS. I knew GMRS, because of its own licensing requirement, but didn't look that far into the regs thinking that FRS is basically CB 2.0

So, be advised that tuning these to radios for FRS is not legal.

[DVSmith]

Go Extra or go home....


OK, just kidding...

Good luck

[Jaytil]

I got my technician's license a couple of years ago because of off-roading friends and SHTF prep.

These guys are a great group and do testing at their Meet & Greets and support field days. They also have a weekly net on the Keller repeater.

http://oausa.net

[chiefcrash]

Not legal for FRS/GMRS/MURS, but in a real emergency it's nice to have the option. And it's always legal to *RECEIVE* FRS/GMRS/MURS regardless, so that can be helpful...

These little chinese wonder radios will even reach CAP/MARS analog channels, though I don't think they're legal for them either (no NTIA compliance). Still nice to have in an emergency though...

[brassburnz]

I've wanted a HAM license since I was a kid. Our faculty recently went through a mini-CERT class and that got me thinking about HAM again. Thanks OP and others for the 42A link. Think I'll get one and dig out the ARRL book I bought 5 years ago and prep for the test.

[Flyin Brian]

Here's a tip for anyone looking for a Baofeng in Sacramento... I was in a shop a few months back called Last Stand Tactical http://www.laststandtactical.com/ and they had them in stock for around $49. The cool part is the store pre-programs their radios with around 100 local repeaters and also the FRS frequencies too, so you can easily monitor those. I picked one up and and played with it a bit but haven't used it yet.

I have been licensed since around 1991 (can't remember the exact year) and started out as a Novice class doing only morse code. I had a Yeasu FT-7 HF radio running 5 watts. I lived in an apartment building in Brentwood and used a 40 meter mobile whip antenna that was mounted on the balcony railing using a C-clamp that I welded onto the antenna mount. I worked all of California, Nevada, Oregon, etc with that little setup and even had a QSO with Japan once when the conditions were just right

I moved up to the hills and had a full length dipole on 75/80 meters and also an Astron A-99 vertical for 11 meters. Using a Kenwood TS-520S and licensed as a General class, I made contact with dozens and dozens of countries... I have QSL cards from Mozambique, Kwajalein, The UN building in NYC, Italy, France, Kamchatsky Penninsula in Russia, South Korea, etc etc. Most of those were phone on 11M when it was a crazy summer back in the mid 90s, but a lot on CW as well.

I urge anyone who is getting interested in HAM radio to check out HF too, as there is a lot of fun to be had there. If I had only stayed on VHF and the repeaters, I would have missed out on a lot of fun and tinkering with antennas, etc.

Flyin Brian AKA W6BRY

[surplus-addict]

Just got my programing cable, I'm more than happy

I'm gonna return my AAA adapter though: while it turns on the radio and I can monitor, it doesn't have the juice I need to transmit.
So, that was a waste of $14...

[NoNOS67]

How much money you have invested in that $29 radio now anyway?