Ham Radio Set-up

[Sprocket]

Hello all
I was wondering if any of you have an opinion on a ham radio set-up.
All I know is that I need to be licensed and that is about it.....hoping that tree members can help.

[LizardKing]

Originally Posted by Sprocket

Hello all
I was wondering if any of you have an opinion on a ham radio set-up.
All I know is that I need to be licensed and that is about it.....hoping that tree members can help.

I am a ham but to help I have a few questions.
Are you interested in local or distant communications?
If local, you need a tech license which is the first test and not hard to pass.
There are online tests that can help you pass the tests.
As a tech you can use repeaters and all the VHF ham frequencies which
is mostly for less than 20 mile communications.
Find a local club which gives tests and study for the Technician license.
Hams in general are VERY helpful people so once you get licensed I am sure you can find some local hams to help you with everything.

[Thunder]

Google ARRL go to their site for info. Google Amatuer radio for more info. Very large subject. There are 3 levels of license, Technician, General, Extra. Each succeeding level requires demonstation of more knowledge.

[grower]

My husband has had his Ham license since 2006 -- first Tech, then General. He says you can find out everything you need to know at these two web sites:

QTH
QRZ

[PlumBob]

In addition to the responses above, do a search here in The Tree for "ham radio," "amateur radio," "ham licenses," "ham stations," and terms like that. Be sure you have 3 or 4 hours to read You will find the time well worth it, as far as getting you started on the learning curve.

[Sprocket]

Thank you all for the helpful info... I am interested in long distance as well as short communication. Thought that ham would be the way to go since when TSHTF all other com stuff will be forced down.

[knight templar]

Helo,
You will need a radio, power supply, antenna tuner, and antenna. I like the Icom 746 as it covers many modes and freq and has a built in antenna tuner. We really need more info to be of much help. This is not a buy and store thing as you need to learn how to use it.

[RadioGeek2003]

The Technicians Class Licence will grant you privileges from 50MHz and up. It will also grant you access to some HF. 10 Meters voice from 28.300 to 28.500 as well as CW (Morse Code, which is no longer required but very much in use) on 10M, 15M, 40M and 80M (M=Meters).

This is all stuff you'll learn when studying for your test.

In a SHTF situation, all frequencies will be open to you for emergency communications. You won't even need a license.

Licensed, your voice privileges on 10M alone will let you "work" the world.

Also, if you decide to enter the hobby you'll learn so much.

Either way, spend a few bucks, buy a radio and don't buy it from one of those prepper sites. Ask a Ham for help, you'll save a bunch of money. And remember, real hams build their own antennas!

[RadioGeek2003]

Originally Posted by LizardKing

I am a ham but to help I have a few questions.
Are you interested in local or distant communications?
If local, you need a tech license which is the first test and not hard to pass.
There are online tests that can help you pass the tests.
As a tech you can use repeaters and all the VHF ham frequencies which
is mostly for less than 20 mile communications.
Find a local club which gives tests and study for the Technician license.
Hams in general are VERY helpful people so once you get licensed I am sure you can find some local hams to help you with everything.

A few inaccuracies with this post:

There are some online practice tests. You'll still need to sit for the test (Paper test in front of 3 VE (Volunteer Examiners). Here is the most popular Practice tests: http://www.qrz.com/hamtest/

Repeater range is determined by the repeater (Power level and height of the antenna). Most repeaters have at least a 50 mile range. Many are capable of 100 Miles or more and linked repeater systems can connect the whole country. The WIN System connects all of California and includes places like Omaha, ALaska, Arizonza and even Bejing (via Inernet Linking).

When operating VHF and UHF with out aid of repeaters (simplex on FM) distance depends on height of your antenna and the other stations antenna and power. If you can get a little Tropospheric Ducting hundreds of miles are possible on VHF.
If you can operate SSB even more with the right conditions.

6M (50MHz) is called the magic band. When it is open, you can work much of the world with a coat hanger for an antenna.

The rest of the quoted text is spot on!

[therosery]

Originally Posted by Sprocket

Thank you all for the helpful info... I am interested in long distance as well as short communication. Thought that ham would be the way to go since when TSHTF all other com stuff will be forced down.

agreed, Sprocket. I feel the same way and our local hams, here, give free classes, which I have just begun to take. I know NOTHING about hams,
electricity, resistors, inductors, etc but am beginning to pick up the lingo. I will get the book and take the class again, just to make sure I have a good grasp of what they are saying. I'm at the "this is a radio" stage, right now. hahaha. Most guys know much of this info, but us ladies don't usually know. We were never taught..we go to a switch and flip it..that's the extent of our electrical knowledge.
I agree that in the future, hams could be our only source of info, which is why I'm putting myself through all this torture, as well. It's very hard for me but they are wonderful people, very willing to help. ps one thing I found out...they change the book every three years, as well as the test..it has the same info but in a different way. The current book is good until 2014. good luck, rosie.