HAM operators
I notice that at least two of you have call signs on the board.· How easy is it to get a HAM license?··Do I have to spend a lot for a license and a radio?· What enjoyment do you get out of it?· Does it take a long time to pass the test?
Comments
First it depends on the country you are from.
If I can·assume you are from the US try the American Radio Relay League at·this link:
http://www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training
The ARRL is like the trade orginazation for Ameteur Radio in the US but they also gorups in other couintries.
The liscence is not to hard. If you can figure out a Stamp and simple electronics then it should e a breeze.
The first US liscence is Technician and you only need to know rules and regulations and some high school level science.
The enjoyment is diffrent for everyone. You can talk to people on the other side of the world (Without internet or phone access)
You can bounce signals off the moon and satelites and have conversations ovedr thousands of miles.
Emergency Services is a large segment of Ameteur Radio. When the poop (or Ice, Huricanes, Tornadoes etc.)·hits the fan and phones and internet stop working, Ham radio is there to help keep communications going during the outage.
It is similar to why do you like working with Stamps...Too many reasons to list in a post.
The ARRL link can help you find a Ham Radio Club in your area.
THese local people can assist you with information and assistance.
Good Luck and hope to chat with you on the airwaves sometime soon,
Alan Brradford· N1YMQ
Twin State Radio Club Hanover NH
www . w1fn . org· (Remove Spaces)
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Alan Bradford ·N1YMQ
Plasma Technologies
Canaan NH 03741
www.plasmatechnologies.com
I bought an ARRL book titled "Now You're Talking", read it carefully and took notes, did the sample test questions both in the book and at QRZ.com and passed easily. I'd only studied for the Tech license, but since it didn't cost anything to try for the General right away as well, I took that test too, and passed it by the skin of my teeth. If you understand basic electronics, and you have·decent study skills, get the book and take a couple of months, and you will pass.
Here's the QRZ tests:
http://www.qrz.com/ham/
Test and retest·until you reliably pass with a high score, and there'll be no drama when you take the real thing.
I don't see the particular book I used in the ARRL store anymore, but the other training books here should do as well:
http://www.arrl.org/shop/Licensing-Education-and-Training/
To your other questions:
- I don't remember how much it cost to become licensed, but the license is good for 10 years, so the per-year cost is quite low.
- I use my license mainly to legally operated a small tracking transmitter, but I've also messed around with APRS (sending my GPS-derived location through a radio network to track my position on online maps), some chatting on 2-meter networks using a handheld radio (which start about $150 - mine is a nice $300 one), and a little talking on high frequency bands using a considerably more expensive radio that my older brother gave me. You can certainly talk locally - and occasionally globally, if the network is set up that way - on a radio costing you less than $200. If you want regular long-distance "contacts" you'll need an HF setup, which involves a transceiver that'll cost you several hundred dollars at a minimum, a power supply, antenna, antenna tuner, and some connecting hardware. The antenna is usually the big sticking point for HF communications - you need to learn something about them (something I don't know yet, by the way...), and have a safe and effective place to hang the thing. I'm in an apartment, which significantly dims my enthusiasm for HF, though it's quite possible to talk on those bands (BTW, HF requires the higher General class license, not just the introductory Tech license).
Paul - KC9KST
Post Edited (sylvie369) : 5/24/2010 3:04:43 AM GMT
www.rsgb.org/arls/
A radio needn't cost much if you build your own low-power (QRP) equipment, and most clubs will loan radios to beginners. A dual-band VHF/UHF handheld costs about £80 new, and an all-band multi-mode portable 5W transceiver like the FT-817ND I use costs about £450. I also have an FT-857D 100W base station, that cost me about £600. Second-hand equipment is much cheaper, of course.
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Leon Heller
Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
Post Edited (Leon) : 5/23/2010 2:16:39 PM GMT
Code is·a form of discipline and an art, and still has its place, it's very efficient power-wise. Have a look at· http://www.arrl.org/news/morse-code-at-140-wpm
Used ham gear includes some dusty old treasures with vacuum tubes that are a real joy to tinker with, and quite affordable at ham-fests & swap meets. Sure, you can run out and buy new IC/solid state stuff that works perfectly, but IMHO ham radio is more about learning. Personally, I love old vacuum tube Heathkits which were built from kits (yes, like a Boe-Bot!). Do an Ebay search on "unbuilt Heathkit" to see the fantastic prices these nostalgic items command. Built-up kits are much cheaper. Unless a kit was really butchered, you can always fix it, the assembly & troubleshooting manuals are legendary. I credit much of my interest in electronics to my ham radio days·in·my teenage·years.
73s, OM
erco de KM6DS
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·"If you build it, they will come."
-Phil
AD7YF
Rich H
W9GFO (not a good call for CW!)
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The Simple Servo Tester, a kit from Gadget Gangster.
-Phil
www.craiglook.com
'Makes it easier to find stuff on Craigslist.
-Phil
That is cool! thanks for sharing!
One popular line is the Softrock line, links follow. And, for the Softrocks, a ham works diligently to provide assembly manuals "in the style of Heathkit". And the prices are very reasonable.
groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/ A useful discussion group
www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/ The assembly guides
I'm currently waiting to receive a prototype of the 2m Softrock Ensemble receiver to do a build-up on. And I have a HF transceiver to build after that.
If you are US based, definitely find a Field Day site near you (www.arrl.org/field-day-locator), and go see real hams in one of their native environments. Every one of them will have an opinion, and will be glad to tell you why they like Amateur Radio. Not only that, they will likely supervise you in operating the radio.
daniel
KB3MUN
Post Edited (daniel) : 5/24/2010 12:02:18 AM GMT
I started in the hobby to enjoy and learn more about RF .
Me right now I am in to AO-51 (AMSAT) and T-hunting .. but I do a Ton of tinkering with all kinds of RF .
I work 2M ssb and FM . ATV and 440 stuff too . 1.2G 2.4 G ..
Peter KG6LSE
Oh and one Poiint IF you want to try it before you have a callsigne . A GOTA station on field day is a Great way to try it !
EDIT WE NEED better UIs for radios .. the fact we stilll use Windows only Software and over priced USB to Serial boxes is holding our hobby back from inovation !
give me a Spread sheet that I can save on a Micro SD card to put in a radio and I will be happy....
We Know a Prop can parse a SD card . why not a radio . .. Also I with All radios had bluetooth . this way one could do anyhthing with a radio ...
Slow scan via Cell cam phone !
APRS via a Ipod touch .
the possibilitys are endless with Full Bluetooth . and the chip is cheap !
no more over priced radio interface boxes for packet .
no Isolation issues with radio to computer interfaces ..
and saveing all those channels would be a snap ...
Peter ....
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"Carpe Ducktum" "seize the tape!!"
peterthethinker.com/tesla/Venom/Venom.html
Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway. —Tanenbaum, Andrew S.
LOL
Post Edited (Peter KG6LSE) : 5/24/2010 12:01:51 AM GMT
AMEN Brother! I'm with you on all points addressed!
Also, i'd like to add, if manufacturers (ham radio) would settle on a standard for the data transfer to/from·and even interconnection to radios would be a big help, bluetooth is a step in the right direction, but for myself, i prefer a hardwired connection to rf (bluetooth). just my preference. Granted most can be interfaced through a mic plug or other type, finding pinouts for these are a pain at times for certain brands. but hey, thats half the fun too!
Post Edited (kf4ixm) : 5/24/2010 12:58:25 AM GMT
I hate to say this but is JUST SW . and a few company's who want to be set in there old ways .
Dont get me wrong I Love haveing to Make my own stuff for my hobby . but there are times I wish things were more compatable .
and Bluetooth is the Ideal systme to do it with .
Peter KG6LSE
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"Carpe Ducktum" "seize the tape!!"
peterthethinker.com/tesla/Venom/Venom.html
Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway. —Tanenbaum, Andrew S.
LOL
Post Edited (Peter KG6LSE) : 5/24/2010 1:24:06 AM GMT
Thanks for asking this question! I've been thinking about this so I could meet other electronics folks in my area. I know that there are plenty of HAM folks - Not many Robotics folks - but I am working on it.
@ everyone - thanks for the great responses.
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Whit+
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
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Links to other interesting threads:
· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz
http://www.dxsoft.com/en/products/cwget
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·"If you build it, they will come."
Can anyone recommend a beginner's radio or brands to try if I were to get my license?· Are there brands of ham radios to stay away from?
Are you free to talk about what you want to talk about on HAM radio or are you drafted to communicate if there is an emergency?· I suppose if there was an emergency, people would just pick up the phone and call police in most cases.
This is not true. Tech class has limited HF privileges, but they are there: www.arrl.org/getting-your-technician-license
There's no "draft" per se in emergencies, but I would say a moral obligation exists to help out, if you have the license and equipment.
In some emergencies, there may be no phone or internet service available. The reason ham radio is so valuable in these situations is that it does not rely on intermediaries, which could also be knocked out in an emergency, to communicate. The only things required are your radio and the one on the other end.
As an example, when I was in high school, the local telephone exchange burned down. 40,000 people were immediately put out of service. Because I had a ham license, I was excused from classes to help forward emergency communications and to assist the phone techs at opposite ends of various trunk lines in connecting to a temporary switchboard.
-Phil
www.raynet-uk.net/
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Leon Heller
Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
I certainly don't want to imply that the Tech license is trivial or too limited to bother with: I suspect most people would be perfectly happy with it for quite a while.
The "big three" brands are Icom, Kenwood, and Yaesu, with various other minor brands out there as well. If you're in the States, try to pick up a copy of QST Magazine at a bookstore and peruse the ads.
- Jerry, W6UV
Basically, it's a worldwide club competition where points are awarded for contacts in different countries and on different bands.
I'm just getting back in to the hobby and am the camp cook for Field Day....I've threatened to burn the eggs if I don't get to play a little too!
Find your local club and check out field day....some clubs are quite welcoming....some are a bit stodgy.
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<FONT>Steve
What's the best thing to do in a lightning storm? "take a one iron out the bag and hold it straight up above your head, even God cant hit a one iron!"
Lee Travino after the second time being hit by lightning!
The reason I got it was actually so that I could legally use my 1W video transmitter...
Rafael
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UC Berkeley '12 EECS
CalSol: UC Berkeley Solar Car
http://calsol.berkeley.edu
KJ6AWU