UTMC

I've decided to go after my Technician class HAM radio license. Has anyone sat for one? Are they very difficult?

Wow, radio. How ... 20th century!
Does that class involve Morse-code, tippity-tappy and all?

Morse code is no longer part of the exam requirements. I'm not sure I'll bother to learn it.

What the hell...everyone needs new hobbies now and then.

I'm surprised you need a license. You get assigned a frequency or something? We used to hear HAM radio operators all the time when at sea; we'd listen to them chat on the SSB radio late at night when there was nothing else going on.

Oh, yeah...you need a license. You don't need to be licensed to own the equipment for receiving purposes, but you have restrictions on broadcasting on certain frequencies.

There is purpose behind this. I often find myself out in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no cell phone reception. If something unfortunate were to happen on a trail, I might have a chance to get out via portable radio if I'm in the right place.

I can check with my F.I.L., but I'm not sure how relevant his experience will be for ya as he got his license back in the 60's.

The scoop from F.I.L.

The test is not that difficult. It can be passed simply by memorization, but that's not the preferred method. ;<)
Local radio clubs usually give classes. Susan took a class before passing her tech. Here is a good place to start getting info. http://www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training. Carrying a small handheld radio is a good idea when one is going to be outside cell coverage. Just tell your friend to be on guard against those that would try to convert him to nerdism.

Edit: Susan is his current wife, who got her license fairly recently.

rc26 wrote: There is purpose behind this. I often find myself out in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no cell phone reception. If something unfortunate were to happen on a trail, I might have a chance to get out via portable radio if I'm in the right place.

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=116" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When I was a licensed mariner, the vessel had a radio station license because we could and did transmit. It was an unenforced rule that anyone using the equipment had to have an FCC license as well. Only recently have they begun checking to see if captains held said license, and even then not all that seriously. Buy the radio, learn how to use it, use proper etiquette, and if you must--pay the $50 or whatever it is for the license.

F.I.L. threw me. Father-in-law...with ya now.

That satellite system looks a little pricey, but could be worth it?

The licensing is almost in place to keep HAM from going the way 11 meter (CB) did. I was looking at handheld CB units, but they really aren't worth a shit...so, 2 meter seems to be a better option.

I bought a piece of shit Baofeng UV-5R + for $39 shipped on ebay. There are a shit ton of them being used world-wide...they have big following. Many, many ways to hack them. What the hell, I thought I'd give it a shot and see how it does.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfjrVWvEeeY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah, he's a pretty big HAM geek. Has a 75' antenna by the front door of his house, mobile units for all their cars, and has his callsign on his license plate. I give him crap about it as much as I can get away with.

The Spot technology is pretty cool stuff, but I have a hard time swallowing the subscription requirement given how much I'd be likely to need it. I keep thinking about HAM. Maybe when I get a dualsport in the garage.

One of the benefits I've been told is being able to get your call sign on your plate. Our old friend beemer pat avoided at least a few tickets when the officer couldn't locate the proper plate info in the database........ they know it's legit, but I guess it's filed differently and sometimes officers don't know how to access it.

Some people get pretty serious about it. ET could phone the fuck home with this.



http://www.k3dav.com/yourantennas.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I got my technician class license when I was eleven, study and it'll be cake.

/RM