The wonderful thing about a HAM license is that it validates to others that you know something comprehensive and practical about electronics. This is great for young people. And if one wants to eventually serve in the military, it may divert one from having to serve by carrying a gun. Of course, they might just find a way to give you both a gun and a radio. But generally that would come after you screw up in electronics training.
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Ain't gadetry a wonderful thing?
In Australia, if you have an Amateur licence and a valid reason for wanting to do some tests, you can apply for a permit to do so, stating what you want to test/prove, the frequencies involved, modes and times of operation. Nothing commercial is permitted. I presume this is the same in other countries, more or less.
Most communication frequencies were first experimented with by hams. Moon bounce, etc. Amateurs even have satelites. Experiments with micro communications started in Australia in late 1976 on 2m.
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Just got finished reading the requirements for all classes of the US amateur licensure.
Sort of sad that none of them require Morris code any more. CW seemed like the heart of amateur radio. I would have expected that they would have left this requirement in for at least the Amateur Extra Class license.
Do you HAMs in other countries still have this for some level - or was this removal some sort of international agreement?
Even without it being a requirement, I think the enhanced DX capabilities of Morse code are sufficient incentive for many hams to learn it anyway. Once you learn it, you never forget it, either; although speed performance drops without practice.
Wow, the technician class practice tests are easy --- just tried three without study and got >90% on all [noparse]:)[/noparse]) ... think it's about time to find a testing center!
The first question to ask is "Is this a commercial venture?"
If yes then a Ham License will not do you any good.
You cannot use the ham priviliges for anything that will be for monetary ($$) gain.
If this is for commercial R&D work (yours or someones elses) then look into a commercial license.
But get your ticket anyway, it is lots of fun and we need the fresh blood.
Alan Bradford N1YMQ
I too have been reading about getting a Ham license. I bought the book while back in the USA last year and I have studied through most of it. There were some topics I never got to in college like antenna design, but all the basic electronic material was easy. On my next trip to the USA I hope to schedule time to take the test, but that depends on my travel schedule and the testing schedule.
One of the reason I wanted to get a license was A. to say I had one and B. to experiment with weather ballooning and tracking and the like. I think that sounds like great fun. Of course, from Singapore I won't be doing much of either, but getting the license should be enjoyable and I can meet some people for when I return to the USA.
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Timothy D. Swieter, E.I. www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT www.tdswieter.com
True, true - will do Mike. I am just now settling in to the "scene" here and will learn more about this as I meet more people and have time to check on-line.
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Timothy D. Swieter, E.I. www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT www.tdswieter.com
Regarding commercial use of a ham license: if the communication occurs in the furtherance of business activities, it's not allowed. But there must be exceptions to this rule. Otherwise it would be impossible for companies to develop ham radio equipment to sell. The likes of Yaesu and iCom would be so constrained in their R&D activities that new product introductions would grind to a halt. So, obviously, allowances have to be made for some commercial activity, at least in the realm of product testing.
Word of caution - US HAM licenses come in flavors and the now popular Technician license "on the air" activities are limited. For one to experiment with·"long distance data communications" such license class is pretty much useless. However, there are thousands of HAMS with higher classes of license and that proves that with some diligence it can be done.
My advice – find local club and a fellow ham to be your mentor – just say ” I need an Elmer”.
> Technician license ... activities are limited.
> to experiment with "long distance data communications" such license class is pretty much useless.
Vaclav,
is that due to the transmitter power limitations, or to the nature of which frequencies techs can use, or both?
RE Vanity Calls: I did look at the ARRL and FCC sites but couldn't figure out if the call signs are still issued by regions - e.g. I'm in Florida, could I get an expired call that was say from Oregon?
Word of caution - US HAM licenses come in flavors and the now popular Technician license "on the air" activities are limited. For one to experiment with "long distance data communications" such license class is pretty much useless. However, there are thousands of HAMS with higher classes of license and that proves that with some diligence it can be done.
Regarding Technician license class - I believe it is now considered an entry-level license with intent to get person interested and "on the air".
In US ham classes have different levels of·access to ham frequencies, not necessary power limitations. Power is limited according to frequencies, mode of operation etc. and it gets rather complicated - for example power is limited on certain frequencies in USA - Canadian border region.
As far as usefulness of Technician license I believe the original request was for ham license for experimenting with· "long distance data communication" and Technician license has no "privileges " in that area.·(technically - CW is not data!) The term "license·privilege" is commonly used to distinguish between ham licenses.
All of this applies only to US. Other countries have different approaches to ham licensing - some more complicated, other "just show me the money". . ·
Selecting mode of transmission and frequency depends on many factors. Ham license is one of the options.. ·
However, there are (in US)· “free” (no license required) ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) frequencies allocated just for stated purposes. Unfortunately reliable long distance communications on these frequencies would be a challenge partially due to power limitations allowed on these ISM frequencies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISM_band ·
IMHO – write yourself a specification ( even for one time fun project) and than select communication media.
Vaclav · · ·
@W9GFO: thanks for posting the link to the ARRL spectrum-use chart ... saw that a while back in an ARRL handbook. Nice that's on the web too.
Do you guys know if there's a similar chart, maybe that the FCC has, that shows the usage of the *entire* spectrum?
[noparse][[/noparse]EDIT: answering my own question:
CounterRotatingProps said...
...chart...that shows the usage of the *entire* spectrum...
I recently obtained one from OMEGA Engineering. See www.omega.com/literature/posters/; the reverse side of the poster is a listing of the dimensionless numbers.
The 12 miles or so you suggested earlier is not long distance in terms of (US) Technician class privileges. Antenna height above ground can significantly affect the 'horizon', but I am aware of VHF being used for segments for over 100 miles.
THe General class gives access to the HF bands, and thus regional (300-600 mile) and long distance (across the nation and around the world).
Get you Technician license, and also test for the General at the same sitting.
The OP did not say "data" communication, nor did he specify what he meant as "long distance". For many, long distance is anything more than FRS radio can do. To say that a Technician class license is "useless" is not a fair statement. I've talked well over 100 miles on 2 meter and the other side of the planet on 10 meters - both within Technician class privileges. BTW, Technicians have data privileges starting at 10 meters and all data privileges at 6 meters and above.
General and Extras have more options in the HF but for VHF and higher frequencies there is no difference.
Aside from the 50 meter band being limited to USB phone, it's also limited to only 50 Watts - why is that?
The 60 meter band is relatively new. It is shared with government communications and Ham's are a secondary user of those frequencies. The 50 watt limitation (would have to look it up to remember exactly) is really a 50 watt equivalent limit. In other words you can't pump 50 watts into a directional antenna because the effective output compared to an isotropichalf wave dipole antenna would be much greater than 50 watts. Usage of 60 meters is likened to walking on eggshells.
RE long distances and data: correct, W9GFO. I hope Bean doesn't mind that I/we have hijacked his original thread - but we are working it for more mileage nontheless [noparse];)[/noparse]
> Usage of 60 meters is likened to walking on eggshells.
Interesting - you can almost get a feel for that just by looking at the spectrum use chart - it's really chopped up.
RE power ratings - that's one of the area's that's always baffled me.
" At all times, transmitter power should be kept down ...
Power is rated in watts PEP output. Except where noted, the maximum power output is 1500 Watts"
> you can't pump 50 watts into a directional antenna because the effective output compared
> to an isotropic antenna would be much greater than 50 watts.
As you mention, the chart of the 60 meter, specifies:
" maximum effective radiated power of 50 W PEP relative to a half wave dipole." (A half wave dipole is an isotropic antenna, right?)
If the code/requirements don't mention 'relative to what' does that mean at transmitter output before antenna in (say with a dummy load) or is it always what's radiated (and the chart is redundantly mentioning it)?
And, thanks all HAM's for the "online Elmering" - this is great!
CounterRotatingProps said...
A half wave dipole is an isotropic antenna, right?
No — at least not if it's horizontal. A dipole antenna has directional lobes that surroound it like a doughnut. So, if horizontal, it will have enhanced directionality perpendicular to its element. A single-element vertical antenna, OTOH, is horizontally isotropic.
The key concepts are: point source & uniformity in all directions. Uniformity implies no interfering/interacting nuisances like tower supports or wires. And it is only a theoretical reality--it is considered difficult to make a practical isotropic.
About OMEGA, I find the handbooks to be quite an educational resource on sensors and measurement electromechanics.
Comments
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Ain't gadetry a wonderful thing?
aka G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse] 黃鶴 ] in Taiwan
Most communication frequencies were first experimented with by hams. Moon bounce, etc. Amateurs even have satelites. Experiments with micro communications started in Australia in late 1976 on 2m.
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Links to other interesting threads:
· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBladeProp, RamBlade, TwinBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: Micros eg Altair, and Terminals eg VT100 (Index) ZiCog (Z80), MoCog (6809)
· Search the Propeller forums (via Google)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm
Leon
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Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
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Sort of sad that none of them require Morris code any more. CW seemed like the heart of amateur radio. I would have expected that they would have left this requirement in for at least the Amateur Extra Class license.
Do you HAMs in other countries still have this for some level - or was this removal some sort of international agreement?
A pity, really.
- Howard
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-Phil
> sufficient incentive for many hams to learn
Well, I'm up to about 5 words per hour ;-P
Bean, are you moving forward on this?
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If yes then a Ham License will not do you any good.
You cannot use the ham priviliges for anything that will be for monetary ($$) gain.
If this is for commercial R&D work (yours or someones elses) then look into a commercial license.
But get your ticket anyway, it is lots of fun and we need the fresh blood.
Alan Bradford N1YMQ
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Alan Bradford ·N1YMQ
Plasma Technologies
Canaan NH 03741
www.plasmatechnologies.com
no - pure fun ! [noparse]:)[/noparse]
> But get your ticket anyway, it is lots of fun
Thanks for the encouragement, Alan
> and we need the fresh blood.
Yikes! - how do I build a VCGG? (Voltage Controlled Garlic Generator)
I didn't know that there are Amateur Radio Vampires ;-P
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One of the reason I wanted to get a license was A. to say I had one and B. to experiment with weather ballooning and tracking and the like. I think that sounds like great fun. Of course, from Singapore I won't be doing much of either, but getting the license should be enjoyable and I can meet some people for when I return to the USA.
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Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT
www.tdswieter.com
Do check with the Singapore government once you get a USA license. They may grant reciprocity.
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Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT
www.tdswieter.com
-Phil
Here's some information about a temporary Singapore license for foreign nationals:
http://www.qsl.net/oh2mcn/9v.htm
Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Word of caution - US HAM licenses come in flavors and the now popular Technician license "on the air" activities are limited. For one to experiment with·"long distance data communications" such license class is pretty much useless. However, there are thousands of HAMS with higher classes of license and that proves that with some diligence it can be done.
My advice – find local club and a fellow ham to be your mentor – just say ” I need an Elmer”.
·
Vaclav AA7EJ· Texas
> to experiment with "long distance data communications" such license class is pretty much useless.
Vaclav,
is that due to the transmitter power limitations, or to the nature of which frequencies techs can use, or both?
RE Vanity Calls: I did look at the ARRL and FCC sites but couldn't figure out if the call signs are still issued by regions - e.g. I'm in Florida, could I get an expired call that was say from Oregon?
thx
- H
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Yes, you can. W9GFO is a vanity call and I am in Seattle.
BTW, when you do get your license, use the FCC website to apply for the vanity - it will only cost $12.00.
Rich H
Indeed, any license class has limits. Technician class licensees have all the same privileges of higher class licenses at 6 meters (50 mhz) and up and some privileges at lower frequencies, even 80 meters. There are many ways to communicate long distance with a technician license. You can talk to the ISS on 2 meters, satellites, repeater networks on 2 meters are extensive, 6 meters is known as the "magic band" where long distance is good at times, tropospheric ducting, meteor scatter, moon bounce - how much longer distance can you get?
Rich H
Post Edited (W9GFO) : 7/7/2009 7:04:38 PM GMT
Mars bounce?
thanks for the reply, W9GFO [noparse]:)[/noparse]
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In US ham classes have different levels of·access to ham frequencies, not necessary power limitations. Power is limited according to frequencies, mode of operation etc. and it gets rather complicated - for example power is limited on certain frequencies in USA - Canadian border region.
As far as usefulness of Technician license I believe the original request was for ham license for experimenting with· "long distance data communication" and Technician license has no "privileges " in that area.·(technically - CW is not data!) The term "license·privilege" is commonly used to distinguish between ham licenses.
All of this applies only to US. Other countries have different approaches to ham licensing - some more complicated, other "just show me the money". .
·
Selecting mode of transmission and frequency depends on many factors. Ham license is one of the options..
·
However, there are (in US)· “free” (no license required) ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) frequencies allocated just for stated purposes. Unfortunately reliable long distance communications on these frequencies would be a challenge partially due to power limitations allowed on these ISM frequencies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISM_band
·
IMHO – write yourself a specification ( even for one time fun project) and than select communication media.
Vaclav
·
·
·
Do you guys know if there's a similar chart, maybe that the FCC has, that shows the usage of the *entire* spectrum?
[noparse][[/noparse]EDIT: answering my own question:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/United_States_Frequency_Allocations_Chart_2003_-_The_Radio_Spectrum.jpg
]
Aside from the 50 60 meter band being limited to USB phone, it's also limited to only 50 Watts - why is that?
- H
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Post Edited (CounterRotatingProps) : 7/8/2009 8:54:43 PM GMT
Venus bounce was recently a confirmed activity, see www.amsat-dl.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=166&Itemid=97. So Mars is next, I guess.
Daniel
I recently obtained one from OMEGA Engineering. See www.omega.com/literature/posters/; the reverse side of the poster is a listing of the dimensionless numbers.
Daniel
The 12 miles or so you suggested earlier is not long distance in terms of (US) Technician class privileges. Antenna height above ground can significantly affect the 'horizon', but I am aware of VHF being used for segments for over 100 miles.
THe General class gives access to the HF bands, and thus regional (300-600 mile) and long distance (across the nation and around the world).
Get you Technician license, and also test for the General at the same sitting.
Daniel
General and Extras have more options in the HF but for VHF and higher frequencies there is no difference.
Rich H
The 60 meter band is relatively new. It is shared with government communications and Ham's are a secondary user of those frequencies. The 50 watt limitation (would have to look it up to remember exactly) is really a 50 watt equivalent limit. In other words you can't pump 50 watts into a directional antenna because the effective output compared to an isotropic half wave dipole antenna would be much greater than 50 watts. Usage of 60 meters is likened to walking on eggshells.
Rich H
Post Edited (W9GFO) : 7/10/2009 3:22:43 AM GMT
> Usage of 60 meters is likened to walking on eggshells.
Interesting - you can almost get a feel for that just by looking at the spectrum use chart - it's really chopped up.
RE power ratings - that's one of the area's that's always baffled me.
" At all times, transmitter power should be kept down ...
Power is rated in watts PEP output. Except where noted, the maximum power output is 1500 Watts"
> you can't pump 50 watts into a directional antenna because the effective output compared
> to an isotropic antenna would be much greater than 50 watts.
As you mention, the chart of the 60 meter, specifies:
" maximum effective radiated power of 50 W PEP relative to a half wave dipole." (A half wave dipole is an isotropic antenna, right?)
If the code/requirements don't mention 'relative to what' does that mean at transmitter output before antenna in (say with a dummy load) or is it always what's radiated (and the chart is redundantly mentioning it)?
And, thanks all HAM's for the "online Elmering" - this is great!
cheers
- Howard
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-Phil
@Daniel - thanks for the link to omega - what a find that place is!
- H
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For a more expansive treatment, Wikipedia does a pretty good job of the definition of isotropic antenna.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotropic_antenna
The key concepts are: point source & uniformity in all directions. Uniformity implies no interfering/interacting nuisances like tower supports or wires. And it is only a theoretical reality--it is considered difficult to make a practical isotropic.
About OMEGA, I find the handbooks to be quite an educational resource on sensors and measurement electromechanics.
Daniel