Posted on 09/24/2022 4:15:27 AM PDT by tired&retired
I'm looking to purchase a good Ham Radio and need guidance. Is it difficult to get a license?
Looks like we'll need one in the near future, so I may as well get started. This beginner learns fast, but needs some direction to start.
Thanks in advance.
Relatively easy to get a license. Need to study for it and take an exam, but plenty of free prep materials online.
The whole thing is a little complicated, so you need to learn it to operate it anyway, but simple memorization.
ICOM IC-7300 at this time, is the hottest selling radio. So many features and price is around $1000.00 for a used one and $1250.00 for a NEW one! There are several places to purchase one. Just google IC-7300 and you will find them! It covers the entire HF band up to 50 MHz at 100 watts!
You used to need to learn how to receive and send Morse code to pass the test for a ham license. However if memory serves that requirement may have been dropped recently but am not certain.
hamstudy.org is a great tool. Start with a simple ht Yaesu makes an affordable one https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-015573
Licensing is a breeze, at the Technician level, anyway. Take the course. When you’re licensed, you’ll get plenty of equipment catalogs in the mail.
“Lurkers” always seem to remind me of the people who hang around bus stations but never get on one to go anywhere.
I would suggest that you start by checking out the arrl.net site for info on becoming a ham.also try to see if there are any ham radio clubs around your area.I have been a ham since 1979.Its the greatest hobby in the world good luck hope to catch you on the bands sometime.AE2DX
What’s your opinion of the ICOM IC-718 HF radio?
I’ve been thinking about buying this one.
No Joe Biden over here, thank you.
But simple and much more affordable handhelds if a full set-up isn’t required—and more popular overall.
Morse no longer needed.
Depending on your intended use, you might be better off with a few GMRS radios for your family, at least to start. The license is test-free, and one license covers your entire household.
If all you want to do is have a means to get news after the SHTF, get a multi-band shortwave radio.
But if you want to join a community and deep dive into a hobby, start by looking up your nearest chapter of the ARRL.
Lots of good study materials and info out there on the web.
Start at the American Radio Relay League (ARRL.com website) for starters. I’ve had Kenwood, Yaseu and Icom radios over the years....all of em have been pretty good rigs.
That radio is a good starter radio, lots of features but limited on a few things that the IC-7300 has. If $$$ is a large decision on a radio, the IC-718 is a good choice.
I rather liked my kenwood.
No lurker here. But if I were, I'd take offense at that description...given that a good many people as you describe hang around bus stations to find young teen girls looking for a new life.
Bookmark.
The ARRL books are good learning tools, they give you the entire test bank so you will know the questions on the test beforehand.
The basic license is Technician level and a simple handheld radio which are cheap is all you really need.
In order to do most traditional ham radio functions you need a general class license which is another test, it’s also much more complicated because it’s not the radio you need, you also need an antenna and the choices are many
I have a general class license and antenna which allows me to talk to people hundreds and thousands of miles away, depending on what you want to do ham radio can be very addictive and very fun and very useful in a SHTF situation
I copied about 18 words a minute when I was licensed. Once I got my general class license, I never used code again.
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