School me on Ham Radios.

[eaglegolfj]

I know you are to supposed to have a license to operate them.
Looking for dependable, and not trying to break the bank.

[MillsJake]

are you looking for a hand held or mobile rig for the car?

[60 Deluxe]

I can't speak for other brands. My dad, uncle, brother, and myself have had Kenwood gear for well over forty years now. I haven't heard of any of them failing. Dad had his 520 recapped a couple of years back because it was getting a little fuzzy. It has tube finals in it and he asked the tech to replace them. The tech called and said there wasn't anything wrong with the tubes so he was going to leave them in and just send a couple of new ones back with the unit. That old stuff lacks some conveniences found on the new gear, but those tuners are hard to beat. Personally, I like twisting knobs and even bought some vintage receivers and tuners to play music on.

[Pineywoods]

I've also had some interest in learning more about them.

[Laszlo]

Start here. http://www.arrl.org/

[TxKronik]

Don’t get caught up in baofang. There is a lot of hate or love. The truth is they are ok. They are cheap and convenient but they aren’t all that rugged and have some issues associated with being cheap. If you can afford it try to get up into the 100$+ arena for entry level equipment. If money isn’t an issue name brands like kenwood etc for 300-500$ have some really nice features.

Dual band with digital is a nice feature.

You need a license to broadcast not to listen. License is cheap test is $15 given by volunteers. The book from arrl is not to expensive. But the material is in depth.

[DarrellS]

I have a lot of HAM equipment I'm about to put on the market if your interested. All of it is ICOM brand.

Sent from my SM-A516V using Tapatalk

[Hills of Texas]

I have interest in this as well, just never pulled the trigger. What’s needed for a vehicle unit? How does the licensing work and what kind of range can I get? I have a place out in the big bend that coms are next to impossible and have often thought this could maybe be an emergency communication if need be. Don’t want to break the bank but think it’s a great item to have on hand.

[Stick bow]

I’m a radio operator, you can have and will hear some great conversations on HF ( high frequency) the best thing is “they” can’t shut down the radio waves . The entry level test was easy and that will give you some HF privilege, but if you want to get into the good talk . Go for your general class or above license to get on the active bands . The cost of equipment can get pricey so what I recommend for us budget guys is. Buy one or two pieces of equipment at a time eventually you will build the station you want. You will be looking at a transceiver, antenna tuner possibly, power supply, antenna and coax cable . That’s the basic equipment there is more but not necessary. I would also say buy once cry once , if you go with cheap equipment the sound quality can get poor under environmental conditions.

[Hills of Texas]

Ok so this topic yesterday peaked my interest. I’ve thought about the ham radio thing in the past, just never jumped in. What’s a decent startup mobile unit that doesn’t break the bank? If I enjoy messing with it I could put more money towards it in the future. I looked at the Baofeng units and reviews are all over the map from junk to great. Also have started looking for licensing class in my area. I’m having a hard time finding the class locally. Sounds like they may have been postponed do to covid.

[SharpEnd]

In for the learning from the experience here.

[Stan R]

Originally Posted by Hills of Texas

Ok so this topic yesterday peaked my interest. I’ve thought about the ham radio thing in the past, just never jumped in. What’s a decent startup mobile unit that doesn’t break the bank? If I enjoy messing with it I could put more money towards it in the future. I looked at the Baofeng units and reviews are all over the map from junk to great. Also have started looking for licensing class in my area. I’m having a hard time finding the class locally. Sounds like they may have been postponed do to covid.

I studied on line. I think it is ham test dot
com. Lessons the lots of practice test.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hills of Texas]

Originally Posted by Stan R

I studied on line. I think it is ham test dot
com. Lessons the lots of practice test.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m there now. Thank you

[Bdunn]

I've been interested in getting back into it as well. Got my Tech no code in high school and let it lapse years ago. I think I'm finally at a point in my life where it will be both fun and practical, as well as needed in emergency situations.

[MadHatter]

If anyone needs ariel work done, holla

[Man]

Ok...I'll break the ice. Is this something along the lines of a good starter ham? Also why do some models say amateur?

[TxKronik]

Originally Posted by Man

Ok...I'll break the ice. Is this something along the lines of a good starter ham? Also why do some models say amateur?

Amateur radio is the real name for Ham radio. Amateur basically in that you can not broadcast for profit.

Icom is an average - good brand.

For a mobile unit I wouldnt get the radio you linked personally. My main issue is it looks like it’s single band and I would look for a Dual band VHF and UHF 136-174MHz, 400-520MHz ranges. Digital is also something I would be looking for if it’s in your budget but not required.

Not bad entry mobile units below.

[TxKronik]

What you buy depends on what you want out of it.

[MadHatter]

Originally Posted by TxKronik

What you buy depends on what you want out of it.

Yep.
Like fishing poles .
Are you gonna make short cast, or really long cast?
Big fish, or little fish?
Freshwater or salt lol?
I do work for a ton of hamm clubs, and individual hamm guys, they are always buying more .

[cmanning]

I used the HAM TECH app (blue background with a handheld unit and an A+ on it) on my phone to study for the test... All questions and answers are there that can appear on the issued exam.

[Man]

I used to sit in our attic with my dad and talk to people on Ham way back in the day before internet and cell phones and everything came about. My question is....with all internet technology, phones, apps etc....what are people talking about these days on ham? What are the discussions about?

[Death from Above]

Baofeng 5r. Add a good antenna.

Learn from there before dropping lots of $

[Death from Above]

Originally Posted by Man

I used to sit in our attic with my dad and talk to people on Ham way back in the day before internet and cell phones and everything came about. My question is....with all internet technology, phones, apps etc....what are people talking about these days on ham? What are the discussions about?

Mine is a prepping component. I can talk to my son 50 miles away using repeaters.

[ColinR]

What is the license for? I mean like do you have to show your license to buy the radio? I’m guessing not because you can buy everything on amazon. How does anyone know if you have a license on not?

[Hills of Texas]

Originally Posted by Death from Above

Baofeng 5r. Add a good antenna.

Learn from there before dropping lots of $

The Baofeng looks like a cheap intro with decent reviews. I’m mainly inter in using it for communication in west Texas but can see value for emergency situations as well. I’m guessing you’ve used one. What was your impression of it?

[TxKronik]

Originally Posted by ColinR

What is the license for? I mean like do you have to show your license to buy the radio? I’m guessing not because you can buy everything on amazon. How does anyone know if you have a license on not?

FCC requires a test which is 15$ and License which is more like registering to broadcast. Listening doesn’t require a license. This equipment can be very powerful and interfere with emergency channels, aircraft and marine channels. It can also interfere with other airwave devices. Think WiFi and telephone etc. there are a lot of ways to interfere some minor some major.

Heck if a ham operates to close to a wireless weather station the station can drop its connections.

If you broadcast illegally it is possible to locate you and most ham clubs have the equipment to do it. Fines are pretty hefty.

No license need for purchase

[ColinR]

Originally Posted by TxKronik

FCC requires a test which is 15$ and License which is more like registering to broadcast. Listening doesn’t require a license. This equipment can be very powerful and interfere with emergency channels, aircraft and marine channels. It can also interfere with other airwave devices. Think WiFi and telephone etc. there are a lot of ways to interfere some minor some major.

Heck if a ham operates to close to a wireless weather station the station can drop its connections.

If you broadcast illegally it is possible to locate you and most ham clubs have the equipment to do it. Fines are pretty hefty.

No license need for purchase

Gotcha thanks.

So like someone else asked what kinda conversations are on ham radio. Back in high school I had a cb, lots of friends did to. Some very interesting conversations back then. Now on cb it’s nothing but Spanish garbage.

Are there amps or linears for ham like we used to have for cb? Without a linear, just a regular store bought ham radio mounted in a truck and a good truck antenna on average, not counting skip, what is the range of a ham radio?

[ColinR]

Originally Posted by Death from Above

Mine is a prepping component. I can talk to my son 50 miles away using repeaters.

Using repeaters.....are these the repeaters you have to pay a service fee for like company’s use for there field guys? Or are there ham radio repeaters that don’t cost anything? How do you use them?

[TxKronik]

Originally Posted by ColinR

Using repeaters.....are these the repeaters you have to pay a service fee for like company’s use for there field guys? Or are there ham radio repeaters that don’t cost anything? How do you use them?

Repeaters are installed by clubs and enthusiasts and have no cost.

[Death from Above]

Originally Posted by Hills of Texas

The Baofeng looks like a cheap intro with decent reviews. I’m mainly inter in using it for communication in west Texas but can see value for emergency situations as well. I’m guessing you’ve used one. What was your impression of it?

You are spot on.

It will do everything you need it to do unless you wanna go all "HAM"

I bought a 5rs as well as the 8watt F8HP

I also added Nagoya NA771 antennas and extended battery packs. while technically illegal you can use FRS radio channels and GMRS. buy the license with GMRS and you are good to go.

[Death from Above]

Originally Posted by ColinR

Using repeaters.....are these the repeaters you have to pay a service fee for like company’s use for there field guys? Or are there ham radio repeaters that don’t cost anything? How do you use them?

Originally Posted by TxKronik

Repeaters are installed by clubs and enthusiasts and have no cost.

Both...some repeaters come with a subscription

TO learn to use them you will need to learn some radio. THere are offesets that many use that can be preprogrammed and makes your life easy.

Chirp software works great with Baofengs

[Pedernal]

Originally Posted by MadHatter

If anyone needs ariel work done, holla

Curious do you put up towers/antennas??

[Death from Above]

Youtube

Ham Radio Crash Course

[Chew]

Depending on where you live, a handheld can just be an expensive walkie-talkie. You need to be able to hit repeaters and know how to use them and program for them.

You're not going to be talking to Italy or Spain on a cheap handheld.

Download a repeater app where you can search for local repeaters. Or do a search for local ham clubs they usually have the regional repeaters with all the info listed.

[eaglegolfj]

Keep the info coming in guys, thanks.

[Man]

Originally Posted by Chew

Depending on where you live, a handheld can just be an expensive walkie-talkie. You need to be able to hit repeaters and know how to use them and program for them.

You're not going to be talking to Italy or Spain on a cheap handheld.

Man I am still confused. If I am looking for one to talk to Russian woman....i mean Russian people, which ones will reach out that far?

[TxKronik]

Very expensive ones

[BuckySWT]

I've been studyinhg for my technician off and on using the HamStudy app and online.

I DID, however; drop the $70 for my GMRS License and picked up a Midland 15w unit for the truck and some midland hand helds for the family, since the GMRS covers family members. Mom, wife, and in-laws are gonna get a radio for emergencies. Nice knowing we can communicate should phones or anything else go down.

Looking forward to getting the rest of the licensing done in the near future.

My wife's grandpa did a bunch of amatuer radio stuff back in the day.
Was devastated to hear all his equipment got sold in an estate sale

WRKG641

[Chew]

Originally Posted by Man

Man I am still confused. If I am looking for one to talk to Russian woman....i mean Russian people, which ones will reach out that far?

Just order your Russian Bride and you can save money on the radios. =)

[MadHatter]

Originally Posted by TxKronik

FCC requires a test which is 15$ and License which is more like registering to broadcast. Listening doesn’t require a license. This equipment can be very powerful and interfere with emergency channels, aircraft and marine channels. It can also interfere with other airwave devices. Think WiFi and telephone etc. there are a lot of ways to interfere some minor some major.

Heck if a ham operates to close to a wireless weather station the station can drop its connections.

If you broadcast illegally it is possible to locate you and most ham clubs have the equipment to do it. Fines are pretty hefty.

No license need for purchase

Yep, there is no end to the frustration they cause me

Originally Posted by Pedernal

Curious do you put up towers/antennas??

All the above

[dxtbowhunter]

I bought the beafoug uv5r. Been listening to other operators. Been taking the practice test.

[Hills of Texas]

I’m thinking about the baofeng f8 hp as an intro radio. I’ve been studying for the technicians licensing exam for a week now. I need to find an exam locally if there is one coming up.

[kc5rkg]

I got into HAM radio in the late 90's in my teens. Got pretty heavy into it, especially the HF side and talked to over 125 different countries. Met a lot of good people along the way. I haven't talked on one in a few years now, but still keep my license active.