I know nothing, but am curious, especially given the trajectory of this country.

Is it even still a thing? Is there anyone out there to talk to in this cell phone (surveillance) era? Where does one begin with this hobby? What sort of setup costs are we talking about? Who's out there to talk to? People like one might find on the Forum?

I'm at the stage of "turn some knobs and say 'breaker breaker' into a microphone", if that tells you anything about my level of ignorance.

You may find it of value to search the forum on this subject using the google search utility. The way to do this is simple. You just have to search on a google page with the addition of the term "site:sigforum.com" as part of your search string.

We have recently had about ten threads on the same subject.

There's "some" info here:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...935/m/3110066374/p/1

There's lots of activity on the bands. Local repeaters are everywhere. You can use an inexpensive hand held or mobile rig and chat with people in and around 20-30 miles or more. HF radio is where you get into a lot of rag chewing. You will find a group of guys to your liking on 40 or 75 meters and talk away. You can get on HF for $500 if you're patient and have a place to string a wire antenna. See if there's a local club near you. Someone will be glad to be your Elmer (help you get started). K8KJB

Ham operator here. Have been for more than 20 years. It’s a great ‘hobby’ and the barrier to entry is very low.

Check your local area for a ham club

Lots of free online test prep sites, FCC license test will run $15 or so and they are now charging $35 for the license (good for 10 years).

As for gear, you can start with a CCR “Cheap Chinese Radio” for about $40 and the sky is the limit.

Warning, it can be addictive...


Yes, lots of activity still going on. Latest greatest thing is Digital Mobile Radio or “DMR”. VHF/UHF radios that hit repeaters tied into the internet to allow worldwide communications.

I’ve been dabbling since I got my license in 2018, plan to invest a lot more time and effort once I retire next year (if all goes as planned)

When I decide to take the handheld in the car I am always able to find some one on 146.520 to chit chat with during the commute.

KI7YQW

I know there are several experienced amature radio operators on here, but being a new "covid baby" ham, I'll share my point of view.

A friend of mine got me into the hobby around Spring of last year, right before the first lockdown. While studying the ARRL study material for the first level of license, the Technicians Exam. (American Radio Relay League http://www.arrl.org/home ) While studying, I also bought a Yaesu FT-65R handheld 2 Meter/70 Centimeter radio. with no license, I could listen but not transmit. Let me say that again, with no license, you can listen, only! You must not press that button! Listening is an important part of learning and at around $65.00 I figured I had little to lose. When I felt like I was ready to test, we were still locked down, so what to do? I started studying for the second level of license, the General Exam. The General material is a bit harder, especially since I have no background in any of this. I cut grass for a living. The General material was giving me fits. It was like Greek to me, so I found some YouTube sites and started watching to try and get a different perspective. I also met up with a local bunch, the Saint Charles County Amature Radio Club, they run a local repeater that is active and I've managed to get to know a few of them in the past few months.

I was finally able to test, and passed both my Tech, and General exams and was received my new call sign, KD9QGK. I'm currently studying for Amature Extra license because, why not!

It's an easy hobby to get into, the study guides are priced reasonably. You can do a lot with a hand held radio and a home built antenna, but running 5 watts from a hand held for under a hundred dollars, your just talking local. I've since added a power supply $150.00 and a HF radio a Yaesu FT-891 about $650-700.00 and a Wolf River Coil antenna $150.00. I would like to have bought a higher end unit, but at twice the money it just isn't in my budget. I also want to do a lot of portable work so that also guided my decisions.

From what I understand, the way I've gone about it (alone and on my own), isn't the normal way it's done. One would normally find a more experienced ham to mentor or "Elmer". coming through with everything shut down, that wasn't really an option for me. What did help was YouTube. Video content put out by the likes of Dave Casler KE0OG, Jim Heath W6LG, and the Ham Radio Crash Course, I got Elmered virtually!

As far as what you can do with it, As much or as little as you like. I personally don't like to talk to people very much. But I listen. I've gone out with friends to a couple of POTA activations (Parks On The Air) I've listened to a few satellite passes, and caught and decoded slow scan TV images from the International Space Station. I've built a couple of simple antennas, and I enjoy learning.

If you think it's something you might enjoy, check out some of the links and content that's available for free. Get yourself a cheap hand held radio and start listening to your local repeaters, 'Repeater book' is a free app you can get to your phone, Radio Reference https://www.radioreference.com/ is another good source for what might be happening on the air waves in your area.

Good luck and have fun!
Louieh KD9QGK

Yes it is a thing.

Our old friend JAllen was an active ham.

KJ7FTH, here. Technician and General tickets seem to be the most active hams for the least amount of outgoing cash. 5 watts may be adequate for your needs. Side band wattage is usually 100 watts or more with a more elaborate antenna being necessary.

VHF/UHF are the main high traffic frequencies via repeaters in my area. To find a listing repeaters in your area google repeaters.com. (App)

For FCC licensing info, look for Ham radio clubs in your area. Google works best for that list.

Once you get your license, investigate Echolink. You can use your computer to contact other hams around the world. (App)

For a review of any Ham Radio gear you may consider buying, link is eham.com.

If you live in an HOA community, you may have difficulty erecting a good outside antenna due to HOA regulations.

Be aware, the UHF bands some times appear to have the most jackasses messing with folks.

And good luck. Oh, one more tip, beware of used equipment sold by scammers. eham.com can give you advice on that matter.

It's a great hobby, and a useful too. As to expense, it's like any hobby that requires gear. Say like shooting. You can do it with one radio (gun) or you can spend a lot of money and every thing in between. I'm having a lot of fun with 2M and .70 CM FM bands. These are relatively short range (line of sight) but with repeaters just about everywhere in metro areas and the new digital modes, talking to people around the world is easy. The digital modes give you crystal clear voice connections. There are several versions of digital. I've been using Yaesu Fusion Wires-x. 2M & .70CM only require a technician license, where as HF requires a General and above. FWIW, my base system, radio, antenna, coax and few peripherals totaled about $750, although I did go for the top of the line Yaesu dual band radio. You can get by with a HT (handy talk... hand held) for quite a bit less (anywhere from $50 for a Chinese HT, to $350 or so for a really good one) but range is limited. Oh, and yes, I've got the expensive HT as well. That's how these things go.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Yes it is a thing.

Our old friend JAllen was an active ham.

Yup, and he even edited and published a book on the subject and made an impact in ham radio too

Soon as I saw the thread I missed JAllen.

quote:

Originally posted by Ackks:
Soon as I saw the thread I missed JAllen.

Me too.

I'm like LouieH. Got my tech and general licenses this past fall by studying with the help of Youtube. As others have noted, you can spend what you want on the hobby. I'm not a math "guy" so don't let the math scare you off. Ham radio is a technical hobby so there is learning that needs to take place but it is multifaceted and everyone can usually find an area of interest.

If you are thinking about ham radio for prepping/grid down situations, you are coming to the party a little late. There are large numbers of folks taking classes and getting licensed. They are also buying equipment. Go to any supplier (DX Engineering, Ham Radio Outlet, etc.), and you will see that equipment is short supply and they are having difficulty restocking. There a number of supply chain issues making things worse.

Overall, I enjoy learning and I'm looking forward to get my stuff together and get on the air this month. If you have an interest in radio, give it a shot. The cost is low to get the tech license and you will have a good view of the hobby.

I'm an Amaateur Extra Licensee since 1983, so I passed the 20 WPM code test that no longer exists.

Still a lot of hams out there all over the world and in fact the number is probably growing.

You can spend a little money or a lot, kind of like guns in that way.

The tests are very easy these days and even 11 year old kids have passed the Extra exam since they dumbed it down a long time ago.

Lots of different ways to go in the hobby these days, so take your time and look it over.

Have been in the hobby for a while now. There are many ways to go- just depends on what you want. It can be expensive if you are not careful and don't do your research. Lots of info on the web.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Yes it is a thing.

Our old friend JAllen was an active ham.

Yup, and he even edited and published a book on the subject and made an impact in ham radio too

You're talking jallen from NC ?

Johnny M

The technician class license is easy. Kids pass it all the time. General is almost as easy, you only need to know enough to pass the test. Each of these certificates are a License to Learn.

I used Hamexam.org to study for the tests and 'Pass Your Amateur Radio General (technician also available) Class Test' by Craig Buck available on Amazon etc.

I even took my Tech test remotely because of the covid situation. More than a few testing groups are doing this now.

I'm in Utah and we have access to the intermountain link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermountain_Intertie that stretches at least from Las Vegas to north central Idaho. You'll get to know the personalities of many regulars in various locations.

I do all this on a cheap HT (hand held) with a better than stock antenna through the repeater system. Of course direct comm to another HT is much shorter range that varies with terrain/obstructions/power/antennas/ etc, you get the idea.

I'm in this for less than $100 right now while I learn how deep I'll end up in this monetary quicksand of a hobby.

Check out Repeaterbook.com and you'll see what repeaters are available in your area. This will give you someone to talk to when you get your license.

quote:

Originally posted by Haveme1or2:

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Yes it is a thing.

Our old friend JAllen was an active ham.

Yup, and he even edited and published a book on the subject and made an impact in ham radio too

You're talking jallen from NC ?

Johnny M

JAllen lived in San Diego and then moved back to Texas four or five years ago. He passed away two or three years ago. He was a highly respected and very well-liked member here.

Beware of the Chinese made hand held Amateur bands UHF/VHF radios. Some are pure junk. Japanese radios costing more are miles ahead in quality.

Read reviews of said radios on eham.com