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Let's talk some HAM radio -- a new potential hobby of mine.
12/31/14 | Vanity

Posted on 12/31/2014 5:22:29 PM PST by Usagi_yo

So I've thought about ham radio as a hobby in the past. I read an article on the Government having an internet 'kill switch' but really I extrapolated that out further and think they have a 'communications kill switch'. Meaning internet and phone.

In the event that national, regional, coordination and communications goes out, and a distinctive impact on neighborhood coordination, but not so much communications (sneaker net, or short haul CB's):

What types of digital ham radio services and equipment are available to build a manned digital station -- meaning it accepts TCP/IP protocol even if it needed a protocol wrapper around it? And is maintained by a properly licensed Ham radio operator?

Any links, thoughts, experiences are welcome.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Computers/Internet; Conspiracy; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: digitalham; ham; radio
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To: loungitude

They’d have to do a near field intercept and station in person inspection to prove the signal came out of your equipment. Unless you’re threatening the POTUS or attempting to jam some biggov site, don’t worry about it.


61 posted on 12/31/2014 7:03:35 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: doorgunner69

well, they WERE secret...


62 posted on 12/31/2014 7:06:48 PM PST by Mr. K (Palin/Cruz 2016)
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To: Chickensoup
But doesn’t the government have to license and approve you? Why?

Several real good reasons. Your safety and the safety of others. An untrained user can do serious injury to themselves and others via RF radiation. An untrained user can also disrupt others communications. If you want to see what elimination of license did for radio buy a CB. My first one required a license. By the time I bought my second one licenses were no longer required.

There's nothing like listening to some pilled up Moron cussing away on a CB enhanced with a 500 watt boost & a Roger Mike. Licensing helps maintain needed knowledge, skills, and disciple, needed on the radio bands for them to be functional for all. Without it anarchy would prevail. What would stop Bubba from running a TV station next door to you and coming in on every electronic piece equipment you own?

63 posted on 12/31/2014 7:11:11 PM PST by cva66snipe ((Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?))
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To: taxcontrol

The short answer is you pass a test. Different tests for different levels of operator / license / bands allowed.
____________________________________

As I understand it, the test is sort of canned (like the alien citizenship test) in the sense that you can practice taking a number of prior tests, which have questions that will be the same or similar to the one you will be taking. There are also study materials. The entry level operators test is not too difficult to pass.


64 posted on 12/31/2014 7:13:30 PM PST by iontheball
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To: Usagi_yo

65 posted on 12/31/2014 7:24:03 PM PST by DocRock (All they that TAKE the sword shall perish with the sword. Matthew 26:52 Gun grabbers beware.)
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To: ctdonath2

We sometimes travel to and through isolated locations in western states in our motor home. I carry a mobile mounted and a handheld dual band radio (2 meters and 440 mhz.) The mobile can operate on a transmitting power range of 5, 25, or 50 watts. And with the short antenna on the motorhome roof up about 12 feet above the ground, its often even easy to reach regional repeaters in the area with as little as one watt output on the handheld( walkie talkie.)

Cell phone towers are sometimes non existent to iffy in some areas. There are thousands of VHF and UHF repeaters across the country. These operate on the same principle of cell phone towers, except they rebroadcast ham radio transmissions on ham band frequencies. In addition to talking to other hams as we travel, its nice to know that communication is generally available for emergencies in many areas where you will have no bars showing on your cellphone.


66 posted on 12/31/2014 7:38:43 PM PST by Sasparilla
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To: Usagi_yo

Unless you live in a big metropolitan area or are prepared to spend $10,000 for an antenna, you will be wasting your time and money. And by time, I mean lots and lots of time. Don’t expect to drop 4 figures and spend a few hours and start enjoying ham radio. But this is only the conclusion of a computer, prepper geek. Ham radio is an all-in activity, not for the casual user. Flame away.


67 posted on 12/31/2014 7:39:13 PM PST by jlindseyx42 (Namaste)
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To: dragnet2

10-4
Some of my amateur switch-mode power supply work must radiate in a terrible way.. But it’s non-intentional and momentary. Usually ending with a burst and the loss of a few-dollar-or-so FET..


68 posted on 12/31/2014 7:50:17 PM PST by loungitude (The truth hurts.)
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To: Usagi_yo

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009MAKWC0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Buy this radio. $30 (I own it and it’s pretty cool, especially for the price).

Get your Technician license and start talking.


69 posted on 12/31/2014 7:51:22 PM PST by P-Marlowe (Saying that ISIL is not Islamic is like saying Obama is not an Idiot.)
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To: Usagi_yo

Software Packages in “wheezy”, Subsection hamradio
https://packages.debian.org/stable/hamradio/


70 posted on 12/31/2014 7:53:57 PM PST by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of corruption smelled around the planet.)
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To: jlindseyx42; Usagi_yo
$10,000 for an antenna? That's not even close to accurate. I bought an old HF rig for $400 and talk all over the world on a cheap, $40.00 G5-RV wire antenna in an inverted 'V' configuration with $50.00 worth of chain link top rail for a mast.

pics on my home page.
71 posted on 12/31/2014 7:54:38 PM PST by DocRock (All they that TAKE the sword shall perish with the sword. Matthew 26:52 Gun grabbers beware.)
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To: mylife

I am not sure if any of my old radios work or not. I do have an emergency radio which I have never opened up. still in the box. Listen to radio in the car but that’s it. Otherwise I get all my music and news — all of it through the internet.


72 posted on 12/31/2014 8:18:12 PM PST by plain talk
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To: jlindseyx42
Unless you live in a big metropolitan area or are prepared to spend $10,000 for an antenna

You're broadcasting some real bad info there lindsey....

73 posted on 12/31/2014 8:22:09 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2

I used to have a G5RV multiband horizontal, but now use a homemade small transmitting loop made from copper plumbing pipe, with a high voltage capacitor made from aluminum flashing from home depot, some pressboard I found in a dumpster, and a plastic chewing tobacco tin for a dial. Hangs from a hook in the ceiling and works like a charm. Homebrewing and fun is what ham radio is all about.


74 posted on 12/31/2014 8:39:26 PM PST by SpaceBar
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To: SpaceBar

You bet. Amateur radio people are one of the few groups keeping American ingenuity alive. Not everyone buys expensive radios, antennas, amplifiers etc...Some still design, make them and experiment.


75 posted on 12/31/2014 8:44:43 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2

Bookmark


76 posted on 12/31/2014 9:19:40 PM PST by publius911 (Formerly Publius6961)
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To: Usagi_yo

one day at a “Ham-Cram” and Ten Bucks got Me a license.

200 bucks for a 50 watt radio and antenna got Me up and running with a Great Rig !

I have yet to see a need for anything else for My 2 meter radio.


77 posted on 12/31/2014 10:27:29 PM PST by Big Red Badger ( - William Diamonds Drum - can You Hear it G man?)
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To: publius911
Also, remember the monster building (10+ acres?) suspected to be related to the NSA or some other spook secret function, and complex believed to be an isolated Federal facility in the middle of nowhere, Utah, I think. Anyone else remember that?

Last I read about it they were having design problems with the outdoor condenser coils for the server refrigeration system and the project was behind schedule.

78 posted on 12/31/2014 10:41:13 PM PST by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc OÂ’Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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To: teletech
I’ve been in the hobby 58 years and still love it as much today as I did when I got my Novice License in 1957.

Wow. I was an 11 year old listening to Radio Moscow on a 39 Philco Cathedral with an antenna running about 75 feet up a hill on a clothesline pole. I stopped when I started listening to Jean Shepherd and Long John Knebel out of WOR in New York.

79 posted on 12/31/2014 10:51:25 PM PST by Stentor ("The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.")
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To: Jet Jaguar

here is a story for you:

http://www.ewillys.com/2015/01/01/1955-generator-test/#respond


80 posted on 01/01/2015 6:18:54 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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