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Just curious if anyone out here in the Poalverse has desires, current experience, current use, etc - of anything having to do with HAM radio and all that.

Might be a useful and productive endeavor to combine like minded with legacy tech.

Just curious if anyone out here in the Poalverse has desires, current experience, current use, etc - of anything having to do with HAM radio and all that. Might be a useful and productive endeavor to combine like minded with legacy tech.

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[–] • 4 pts

interested but no skills - story of my life

[–] • 1 pt

You can probably study for about two or three months and get a Tech license. Good place to start.

[–] • 0 pt

what book/study guide do you recc? looked into it 4 years ago & someone said the study guides change every year - so i put it off until i knew for sure i'd have the time, which never happened.

[–] • 2 pts

Check out hamradioschool.com

They have everything you need to get started.

[–] • 1 pt

The iPhone app is “Ham Radio Exam” by Roy Watson. Highly recommended.

[–] • 1 pt

The Technician PDF version of this guide is free. https://www.kb6nu.com/study-guides/

You can also get apps for the phone to allow study. I will see which ones I used. My son in law used them also with much success.

[–] • 0 pt
[–] • 3 pts

I have a General and don't use it much I have a 4 band mobile I use for local repeater stuff and a bunch of 2 meter handhelds used locally.

My advice is download the testing app and study until you pass the practice tests with an 80% or better every time. Then signup for the test to get licensed. Most repeaters have the same bunch of guys who talk everyday, you can join in or just listen.

I have it for alternative communication in my area. Good to have channels programmed in and share with like minded friends. In case they shut down phones and interweb...

[–] • 2 pts

I have my general, was studying for expert but got disillusioned by the cost of radios so kind of put that on hold. I wanted to do 20m but there were so many people saying 'get this, get that' it turned out I would've needed $800 to do it. So, for now I have a cheap ass handheld connected to a 2m J pole. I figure, if shit hits the fan and all communication goes out, HAM is where it'll be at. Also, if there's a civil war, ham will likely be very valuable to coordinate plans.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

$800 is about what I did maybe a bit more. I did a mobile yaesu ft891 a grv5 and a mfj 941. For all the same reasons. price and functionality.

I have about a dozen UV5r handhelds and created my channel list in chirp. So everyone has direct connections, repeaters and fmrs. Noaa. Ear pieces and whip is antennas spare batteries if you can,,. I collected comms for a while. I use them as job comms for work, most of my guys have technicians licences.

I. also bought a TYT 8900 which is a cross band repeater quad band 70cm, 2m, 6m, 10m. And use this for a local around the house base station for my handhelds. This uses an antenna switch for a yagi. and an omni.

I'd say antennas and location matters most. I was really heavy Into it, got it setup and working and then moved on. Using solar panels and 12v agm batteries for a power supply is good because it's always powered even when the grid goes down.

Read up on antennas and how to tune them, you can make a simple wire antenna and string it through some trees if you know how to tune it. in fact just talking about it makes me want to get back at it again.

Good luck,

Beans bullets and band aids.

[–] • 0 pt

This is also why I haven't put more effort into getting licensed. Can't afford to do a lot at the moment. How much did you spend on your cheap set up?

[–] • 3 pts

I got the Baofeng uv5 -https://www.amazon.com/s?k=baofeng+uv-5r&crid=2U9FFLD6XFPET&sprefix=bauf%2Caps%2C232&ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_1_4 For $30 it's a great intro to ham. A ham elmer gave me a J pole for free. I think I spent <$50 on the cable.

It definitely got me into ham, but for now I'm just going to wait until I'm either ready to shell out more money or I find a good deal somewhere.

[–] • 1 pt

You can look at QRZ.com and swap.qth.com for used gear. $800 is steep for used gear. It depends on what band you want to cover. You can spend about $100 for a GOOD handi-talkie for 2M and 70cm. (I don’t like Baofengs. A good Yaesu or Kenwood will do you). If you are going on in your adventure into the HF bands, you can get a decent ICom or Yaesu rig starting in the $400 range. Get a better antenna than a rig. :)

[–] • 1 pt

A quick note. Pofung or baofeng uv5 hand helds are $25 and do 70cm and 2 m. They are glorified programmable midland/motorola walkee talkees.

Its illegal by fcc to use them on those fmrs and gmrs frequencies (certain bands on 70cm set aside for non licensed use) because they have removable anntennas and are more than a 1/2 watt. But if you buy enough for your family and listen and lurk to local repeaters you can get your technicians license and have local comms. Not a bad way to dip your toe in the water. If shtf then all bets would be off at that point.

[–] • 2 pts

and I have technician licenses but I don't use it much at all

I have a bunch of old Heathkit

[–] • 2 pts

I have a combo CB/SSB/Ham radio but no one's really on them CB is dead. Haven't spent much time on SSB or HAM to be fair.

[–] • 1 pt

Disagree about CB being dead. I live in KY and made contactstoday, in Houston, WV, VA, and AL, using a bearcat 880 SSB stock radio and a Wilson 1000 antenna. (From my truck). There are lots of gods videos about CB SSB and skipping. Also you might try SW listening. I pull stations in from all over the world. A proper antenna setup is the key.

[–] • 0 pt

SSB and CB are completely different as you know (not least 4watts vs 20). I've yet to explore SSB and HAM here but it's on the agenda, thanks for the heads up.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

Nope. The bearcat 980 is a 40 channel CB with SSB. (each of the 40 channels has an Upper Side band and a Lower side band) 4 watts output. But with Skip on SSB I’m talking 1,000 miles away. Plus, if I’m not mistaken, the CB USB and LSB frequencies are in the middle of the 10 and 12 meter ham bands.

https://uniden.com/products/40-channel-ssb-cb-radio-with-7-color-digital-display

[–] • 1 pt

I would like it if somebody created a ham sub; I'd subscribe.

[–] • 1 pt

It's interesting, and a good skill to have should the internet be more heavily censored and controlled. Or go out completely.

What interests me more is mesh networks using various radio bands. Cells could be linked with various back hauls. Long distance radio links, phone lines, fiber lines. It could be completely independent of the 'internet'.

It would be wise to start setting something like this up before we need it.

[–] • 1 pt

I'm working on getting my Technician license here in the states. The more I learn about the possibilities of radio the more endless they seem. I want to start designing and fabricating my own antennas and create data links using them. Should the internet as we know it go down radio will be the best way to communicate anonymously and spread info.

[–] • 1 pt

Interested but more in the hardware than the actual usage of it. I was studying for a Tech ticket and was about to go for the test then the only local club to me stopped doing the tests. A few years go by, they start back up - and the rona hits.

I think at this point I'll just be happy with my stable of radios that I'll likely never use unless SHTF.

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