A Thread for Amateur Radio

[starkruzr]

Anybody else 'round these parts a ham? I got my license back in '02 but JUST got a little VHF HT to talk with. The problem is, it seems like there are about 15 repeaters in the area and about 2 other hams.

CQ CQ CQ CQ CQ DE KC2KOA DE KC2KOA DE KC2KOA K

[mosc]

KC2KOA DE N3XKG UR 599 here.

[LE4dGOLEM]

So tell me.

What do I need to do to get a callsign/frequency/license?

[Maseiken]

A guy at my school is trying to start up a school-based radio-thing,
Dunno how it'll turn out...

[Akira]

So tell me.

What do I need to do to get a callsign/frequency/license?

Pass the test.

They recently did away with the code requirement, so you can get a full Technician license:

Technician
The privileges of a Technician Class operator license include operating stations while transmitting on channels in any of 17 frequency bands above 50 MHz with up to 1,500 watts of power. To pass the Technician Class examination, at least 26 questions from a 35 question written examination must be answered correctly. A Technician Class licensee who also has passed a 5 words-per-minute (wpm) telegraphy examination receives privileges in four long distance shortwave bands in the HF range (3-30 MHz) (Refer to Section 97.301).

Link to page.

Somewhat outdated. You can operate the last bands mentioned without taking the code test, to my understanding.

Edit: link.

[starkruzr]

So tell me.

What do I need to do to get a callsign/frequency/license?

Pass the test.

They recently did away with the code requirement, so you can get a full Technician license:

Technician
The privileges of a Technician Class operator license include operating stations while transmitting on channels in any of 17 frequency bands above 50 MHz with up to 1,500 watts of power. To pass the Technician Class examination, at least 26 questions from a 35 question written examination must be answered correctly. A Technician Class licensee who also has passed a 5 words-per-minute (wpm) telegraphy examination receives privileges in four long distance shortwave bands in the HF range (3-30 MHz) (Refer to Section 97.301).

Link to page.

Somewhat outdated. You can operate the last bands mentioned without taking the code test, to my understanding.

Edit: link.

Then it's just a matter of securing yourself a radio, which is not at all as expensive as I thought it would be when I started. You can find good used units on eBay all over the place.

Then you can enjoy doing voice, Morse, all kinds of packet (yes, lots of fun to be had on the digital modes), and just about anything else you can think of.

[Maseiken]

So tell me.

What do I need to do to get a callsign/frequency/license?

Pass the test.

They recently did away with the code requirement, so you can get a full Technician license:

Technician
The privileges of a Technician Class operator license include operating stations while transmitting on channels in any of 17 frequency bands above 50 MHz with up to 1,500 watts of power. To pass the Technician Class examination, at least 26 questions from a 35 question written examination must be answered correctly. A Technician Class licensee who also has passed a 5 words-per-minute (wpm) telegraphy examination receives privileges in four long distance shortwave bands in the HF range (3-30 MHz) (Refer to Section 97.301).

Link to page.

Somewhat outdated. You can operate the last bands mentioned without taking the code test, to my understanding.

Edit: link.

Then it's just a matter of securing yourself a radio, which is not at all as expensive as I thought it would be when I started. You can find good used units on eBay all over the place.

Then you can enjoy doing voice, Morse, all kinds of packet (yes, lots of fun to be had on the digital modes), and just about anything else you can think of.

Porn?

[BlochWave]

You could also man up and make your own radio!

[The LuigiManiac]

Using nothing but a paperclip and a few pieces of string...

[Teshi]

Heard any aliens yet?

[Akira]

Heard any aliens yet?

No aliens in particular, but you can talk to the guys on the International Space Station

[bbctol]

Heard any aliens yet?

No aliens in particular, but you can talk to the guys on the International Space Station

Are you serious? Because if you are, I'm getting a ham radio right now.

[Phenriz]

Heard any aliens yet?

No aliens in particular, but you can talk to the guys on the International Space Station

Are you serious? Because if you are, I'm getting a ham radio right now.

qft

if this is serious, i'm doing the same.

[Akira]

Absolutely serious. Many of the astronauts on the station are Hams, and I'm sure you can even look thier call signs up online.

Edit: There are programs you can get, too, that tell you when the space station will be within range to speak to.

[Tomlidich]

ok, so i didn't see this fiiting anywhere else, certainly not into the analytical engines threads, so mods help me out if you know of a better place to put this.

How many xkcders are also amateur radio operators?

i am one. my callsign is Kg6hcn, and im a part of the scran repeater on pv, covering most of the southbay and losangeles.

im curious to find out what the people who are not hams think as well.


sidenote: if you are just going to come here to flame, or yammer on about how amateur radio is obsolete, or you can hear us through your toaster, your going to get roasted with facts, charts, graphs, articles, and any other cite-able data i can throw at you. i will not just throw the book at you, i will get a crane and drop the damn library on your head. that is all.


Edit: i want to thank the mods for moving/combining my thread, this helps alot. so everyone, same questions

[SecondTalon]

Don't double post. It's not even been an hour and a half on an international forum. A significant chunk of the user base is asleep, at work, or otherwise busy. Give it a day or so.

[Tomlidich]

Don't double post. It's not even been an hour and a half on an international forum. A significant chunk of the user base is asleep, at work, or otherwise busy. Give it a day or so.

ok sounds good.