Posted on 02/04/2012 12:36:51 PM PST by DCBryan1
ham radio makes sense as part of an infrastructure for survivalists after the fall, that is for sure.
I’m looking into it.
good idea
get one and keep it in a faraday cage or something and break it out after the fall, so the government doesn’t have you on a list.
They are having an exam session right here in my town next Saturday....my one Sat. day off, woohoo.
I am going! Thanks for the info!
Think you’ll need a license after the collapse?
I understand what you are saying about the Faraday cage. Right now my Wouxun is on the desk and connected to the tri-band antenna outside to listen to the repeaters. I’m not much of a talker anway; haven’t talked on the phone for ten years other than “Please pick up some milk. OK, I will”. This summer I will take the Wouxun HT on offroad motorbike trips in the remote mountains; would be willing to pay an FCC fine if I needed help badly enough!
No but you won't know how to use them if you wait until post shtf to learn how. Ham, though not overly difficult, isn't plug-n-play.
So I to want to get into HAM to be the RTO for our prepper group. There is lots of advice on the internet, little of which I trust. Since you seem to know what you are doing, perhaps you can provide a path for someone getting started? I only have a layman’s / home repair level of understanding of electricity.
Thanks
So, yeah, if you're gonna talk to your pals and the SHTF, you could get by without a license but until that point you'll probably want to talk to folks - which means a license. If you were using the ham bands without a license before the SHTF somebody would probably report you as an unlicensed station and with the FCC amateur auxillary, DX'ers, and the bored Intel ELINT weenies sitting on their Trojan Spirits believe it or not, the FCC does investigate that stuff and you might find yourself the recipient of fines and gear confiscation. I'd get the license if you are on the fence about it.
....but that's just my $0.02 ;)
FReegards!
Well, I don't think I need to fill out ATF Form 4s, and pay a $200.00 tax for an M16 rifle that cops and soldiers get for free, BUT I DO IT ANYWAYS even though it is unconstitutional.
I understand your reluctance, however ham radio enthusiasts generally won't play well with somebody they think is unlicensed. Should you be in a life threatening/shtf situation it's conceivable that folks won't respond or think they are getting "spoofed".
The benefits outweigh the detriments IMHO, and I'm a former MI soldier so I know that by being legally licensed, you'll pick up the lingo, have the equipment, know how it works, and know how to communicate and what to say, etc. Not only that, you'll have a network of "ham" friends ready to be your cavalry in a storm, etc.
So, yeah, if you're gonna talk to your pals and the SHTF, you could get by without a license but until that point you'll probably want to talk to folks - which means a license.
If you were using the ham bands without a license before the SHTF somebody would probably report you as an unlicensed station and with the FCC amateur auxillary, DX'ers, and the bored Intel ELINT weenies sitting on their Trojan Spirits believe it or not, the FCC does investigate that stuff and you might find yourself the recipient of fines and gear confiscation. I'd get the license if you are on the fence about it.
....but that's just my $0.02 ;)
FReegards!
Did I not just say:
1) I DON’T TALK ANYWAY
2) I WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY A FINE IF I USED THE HT IN EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES
BTW, if a HAM (like the operator of a repeater or the clubs here that monitor them) refused to respond to a call for help, licensed or not, they could be sued bigtime.
As though I don’t know “how it works” after 40+ years of reading about this stuff and using it in DX mode with sophisticated antennas, etc.
Yes, I guess the FCC could confiscate my $108 Chinese handheld after I made an emergency call about a broken back. Big loss.
jeesh
LOL! I'm no ham expert! I have no background in electronics! I am a history major, not an electronics person! Thanks though, I'm fattered! I just studied for the exam, and am only 6 months into ham radio. Trust me, if I can get licensed, even a Demoncrat can!
Anyways, If I were to start at ZERO: I would start HERE and buy the tech and general at the same time, spend 10 days studying for it (studying = 1-2 hrs/day) and take the test(s). Buy an entry level 2m radio for a hundred bucks (less if used), and get on your local repeaters.
I joined Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Network and learn something new every single day. I'm embarrased to say, but I just learned last week what "picking someone up on SIMPLEX" means. Basically, you make contact walkie talkie to walkie talkie and not through a repeater!
Just pass the Tech License 14 Jan 2012 and will sit in April for the General exam. Just retired on 31 Jan so life is good. This is KK4GEJ out.
Congratulations!
their is a list of clubs on their site look and find one close start going to meetings lot of helpful people there
once you get your license check out any two meter nets good place to start talking
First of all, radio was all about wireless information transfer from its early days.
Secondly, using RTTY, PSK31, Olivia and other digital modes you can send information from one computer to another in large quantities, high reliability and with very little training.
Thirdly, when zombies start attacking you will not need to send megabytes of data around. You will need simple and reliable means of communication. Given that most ham radios are designed to work from a car battery (13.8V) (except HTs, which only charge from that power) you are all set.
Digital modes will be very handy in larger communities of survivors. Hams will set up a national communication network which will be doing largely news and announcements - something that you won't get from anywhere else. You can run Internet over packet radio as well, especially on V/UHF, but voice or RTTY transmissions are really all that is needed.
Getting a license today allows people to buy radios and to learn how to use them. It's not a rocket science, but training helps in operating them correctly when there is no time for experiments.
It is already legal to use any communication means at your disposal when human life is in danger. This means if you have a transmitter you can transmit at any frequency calling for help. Transmitting on the sheriff's repeater's input frequency makes a lot of sense because their network covers the whole county. Most commercial HTs are blocked from transmitting out of band (or else they can't be sold.)
-PJ
There’s an upcoming zombie apocalypse? I wasn’t told.
Thanks for the input.
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