Radio Days Are Back: Ham Radio Licenses at an All-Time High

Fox News ^ | November 22, 2011 | Michelle Macaluso

[FrogMom]

Ham ping.

[varina davis]

later

[jurroppi1]

I got my GROL in 1996, haven’t used it since. It was part of a required class for college and I did well at it, but I was always more into computers and microelectronics. What you don’t use, you lose. I know the GROL was relatively tough, but I got 99% or some such correct.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

GOOD—we may need them if things go really bad in the near future. Magnetic Pulse Attack, Massive Terrorism to the Electrical grid, War with all of its horrors. Hams a=may well be our best communications.

[prisoner6]

Bump for later. (I’ve claimed this was going to happen)

[AU72]

If you could shield your transmitter-receiver against EMP a HAM outfit would be a big asset when the SHTF.

[hinckley buzzard]

My father in law is a ham, he has a radio that is about the size of two cigarette packs side by side. He talks to people literally all over the world. I don't call that technology pathetic.

[doorgunner69]

Assuming you have a way to power the thing. The big HF ses suck up some serious amps, not a trivial task with battery power.

A true SHTF setup would have photo-voltaic charged battery banks. Major $$$ to set up, but once done, can power the house as well to some extent.

Of course, solar is not much of an option for Oregon and the like...........

[Myrddin]

Have neen licensed since 1976. Tech in 1976. Advanced in 1978. Extra in 2000. Have had First Class Radiotelephone + Ship’s RADAR endorsement since 1976. Grandfathered into GROL. Lots of fun. It morphed into a career.

[ArmstedFragg]

There’s two main manufacturers, Yaesu and Icom. There are multiple retailers online, among them www.aesham.com. I don’t think there is any standard route, but a lot of us started out with a handheld radio that operates on the two basic bands where most Technician traffic is located, 2 meters and 440 MHZ.

I’m kind of fond of Yaesu’s FT-60R. It’s straightforward, lets you get on the air, and allows you to access local repeaters, many of which offer internet based connection with other repeaters all over the world. All in all, it’s a good introduction to the hobby for under two hundred bucks. There’s similar radios offered by the other manufacturers.

Here’s the FT-60R site
http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=111&encProdID=6EC43B29CEF0EC2B4E19BB7371688B7F&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0

Lots of folks are perfectly happy sticking with the UHF/VHF bands that include most of the frequencies Technicians are licensed for. The real shortwave part of the hobby occurs on the lower frequencies, where a General class license is required. That test does take a bit more studying, but it’s not overwhelmingly difficult. Most of the folks with antenna farms in their backyards are General or Extra class hams.

The licensing process has become amazingly easy now. Most every medium sized city has a club with volunteer examiners who give the test, usually on Saturdays. In my county, there’s a test every weekend in one city or another. The testing resembles the DMV exams, and offers instant results. It also offers near-instant gratification, in that your results usually get sent to the FCC early the next week by internet feed, and their computer gets updated each night. As soon as your name appears in the record, you can get on the air, even before the license arrives in the mail. I passed my Technician on a Saturday, and got my call sign after midnight on Monday.

Not unlike golf, you can put a lot of money into the hobby if you want to, but the basics are pretty accessable.

[calex59]

Morse was what always kept me out - had a commercial third class ticket at one point many years ago. Sounds like the Ham test might now be along those lines.

I have a commercial license that I never use anymore, they lumped the 1st and 2nd class into a General class and that kind of pissed me off. I also have an advanced class Ham ticket and will never go to extra because advanced class license is now obsolete and I like the idea of having a rare license(kind of childish I know but WTH). My HF rig is lanquishing now because I am in a place I can't put up an Antenna and I have a long wire wrapped around my bedroom and can't get out very far so don't bother. 2 meter is hopping in my area though and I am thinking of getting a new rig, my old ICOM is about worn out, maybe a dual bander this time.

[maine-iac7]

In the event of an economic or national collapse, it may well be the only way to communicate

yup. and guns and ammo and emergency foods supplies - the only areas where sales have sky rocketed under this pseudo administration - they tie together and we all know why

betcha shortwave radio sales are up too

[immadashell]

GOOD—we may need them if things go really bad in the near future. Magnetic Pulse Attack, Massive Terrorism to the Electrical grid, War with all of its horrors.

You forgot the MOST terrifying -- Obummer reelected!

[Myrddin]

I lost interest in chatting on 2m. Developing packet radio software using TCP/IP caught my attention. Turned me into a UNIX kernel programmer specializing in device drivers and communications.

[PA Engineer]

Pinging to an important prep thread.

[Art in Idaho]

A fun hobby. 10 meters open to most of the world now with the higher sunspots. Always a great backup system. Check it out Here. Lots of "How to get started" links.

The American Radio Relay League, (ARRL), a good place with great books and license prep info. Start with a "no code" license and work your way up. Cost shouldn't be an issue as there's a a lot of good used gear out there and then put up wire antennas. Another feather in your preparedness cap. . .

[teletech]

Of course us old ‘sparkies’ will rule the world when the current fad of phones and internet runs its course.

Actually the interesting thing is that since the code requirement was dropped and we get newly licensed non-CW hams, they WANT to learn Morse Code. I guess it's the curiosity factor.

[calex59]

Thanks! Obviously there is a LOT to learn. Are there any small off the shelf portable units that would work better than say a CB for a SHTF scenario?

All of your VHF and UHF equipment use repeaters, which allows a huge area coverage, far better than any CB can do. If you want to check out equipment go to one of the Ham radio outlet web sites. Below is a link to AES(Amateur equipment Supply)and they have a large listing of both mobile and hand held devices, plus HF rigs of course.

The no code license allows you to talk on 2 meter and 440 I believe(since I have a code license I don't pay that much attention to the newer requirements). HF frequencies(also known as shortwave)still require a code test I believe. http://www.aesham.com/

[xrmusn]

Takes a pretty good OP to copy a bug.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
ZBM1 COMNAVFORJAPAN #5-61
I was licensed for 45WPM but could copy much faster than that....well back in the 50-60’s I could copy, still find myself ‘doing’ license plates when bored or caught in traffic and for a long while was ‘picking up code’ from electric fans and motors...
A good morse copier has to be a little knutz and I was a great one so figure how whacked out I am...ha...
I was an anomaly in that I could copy much better than I could send (well most ‘butchers’ think they are doing something but get fairly choppy). I did have a jerky ‘fist’ but the speed key made me more readable.
I had gotten a gig and the CT wanted to know my Ticket # but I was sending by hand...he then ‘accused’ me of having a ‘banana boat swing’ - which, in all my glory, I took as a compliment.

The reason I copied better than send was probably cause I went to CT school and they were more interested in copiers than senders.
I had seen the auto keyers (boehme?) with the ‘circle’ on either side but never used one (that I can recall).

[Iron Munro]

John has a long mustache. John has a long mustache. The chair is against the wall. The chair is against the wall.