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Thanks..
I've ordered the books and I will look for the local HAM radio club. I'll ask for help if I have trouble with that one...
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NITEMAN3D
9/20/06 12:52 P
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ARRL is advertising the hobby on the radio now too, which I thought was a pretty cool use of dues money. Doing something to keep the hobby alive.
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Two great websites are qrz.com and arrl.com
QRZ even has practice tests online.
Look around for a Ham club in your area. You should be able find one off these sites. If you have trouble, I can help you look.
Also either buy or borrow "Now You're Talking" - it's a basic ham book. Great information and great study guide.
Ham radio is an awesome project for scouts. They'll love it!
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| I have a nine year son who would love it. Something we could do together and fits in with his boy scouts. My father was into this big time years ago. How does one get started...?
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Just a little ole tech here. ha ha Haven't even taken a step toward General yet.
Niteman, I'm also into photography some and you're right about the money...I started with a $500 camera and thought that was just outrageous, but I had recently sold a piece of property so I had a little extra dough. Well, now I want something bigger and better...or rather, smaller and better. ha ha
Ain't hobbies great?
Definitely get your tech license. Ham radio is a lot more dependable than a cell phone. When the powers out or there's not tower around (of course repeaters are nice! ha ha) we can talk!
I think it's QRZ.com that has the practice tests. I just did the practice tests over and over and over until I had it down. The test has the exact same questions on it as QRZ was using! So I finished my test in about 5 minutes. ha ha
And you also HAVE to go to some Ham Fests. What a blast! ANd what a wacky crowd! ha ha I've seen guys walking around with antennae on their hats and all sorts of gadgets. And these folks know no strangers. I tested at one and when some of the guys (mostly men in this hobby) found out I was testing, they ALL decided to cheer me on and help me. ha ha
GOOD LUCK! And keep us up to date with your class. Burn a few vacation days...why not! It's really worth it!
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Wow! Somehow, I never saw Jeff's reply to my original post, so I'm really glad you dug this one out of mothballs Angy. What a timely post. A neighbor who is a ham recently gave me an invitation to a weekend licensing blitz class the local radio club is putting on. Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday and they guarantee you'll leave with a tech license... so even though it'll mean I have to burn a couple vacation days, I think I'm gonna' do it. Pretty exciting after having thought about it all these years! The killer is, I'm into photography too, so I'll need a third job to support a new addiction.
I'm getting the e-mail notifications on this thread now, so hopefully I'll respond if it takes off anywhere. Don't know what happened the first time. Good to know you're still around Jeff and welcome Angy and Powerguy!
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Hey Powerguy,
You should it is a fun hobby that has lots of electronic gadgets. I have met some pretty cool people on the air
Jeff KE7CWM
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THEPOWERGUY
9/12/06 11:19 P
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Gezz, I didn't know such a thread exsisted.
I have been thinking of getting my Tech, Ham has always intersted me
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Hey There ANGYBONE
I didnt think this would ever get brought back to the top of the list. I am a general class in Oregon.
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I dug this one up out of the archives, didn't I?
I was thinking of Ham radio (I have net control the next couple of weeks) and thoughts I'd see if any Sparks were Sparkling Hams.
And there ya'll were!
Howdy!
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| Hey Nightman, Having gear to transmit on is probly more than half the battle, getting the tech license is easy. You should look in to it. I have a Yeasu vx-5 3 bander HT, an Icom 208H dual bander mobile rig in my truck and I Icom 746 pro all band all mode as a base station. I have met alot of neet people on the airwaves. There are lots of local clubs in my area including the Lane County Sherrif Amature Radio Operators (LCSARO). Basicly a volunteer sheriff's position to help out during times of emergence or disaster. We also do communication for local events, parades and the like. Lots of fun.
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This is in response to a post elsewhere, but anybody interested in Ham Radio (or any radio, for that matter), feel free to jump in.
Jeff,
As I said, I got interested in Boy Scouts, which was in the late 50's and early 60's. I just never stuck with it long enough to get my ticket. My interest fell away with time, but in the middle seventies I had a studio apartment next door to a local photographer who was into the radio hobby in a big way. He had an Extra Class license and had been at it for a long time. He had a fantastic ham shack with a radio for just about every band (most of which he built). He gave me a code tape and was going to coach me to get my General License, but then he died and my interest did too.
Some time later I bought a Realistic multi-band portable (made by Sangean) that I've listened to on and off ever since. I also have a Realistic 200 channel scanner that picks up all the emergency channels, phones and some ham bands. One of these days I'll find the time to get the tech license. I used to enjoy CB before it turned into the silliness it ended up being.
The importance of the hobby was once again pointed out during the recent disasters in New York, Louisiana and Texas and it would be great if more people got interested.
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