HAM radios

[01001010]

Wow, I just did some reading about this and it's pretty interesting. I'm currently using 12-mile FRS radios but I think that as soon as I'm ready and have the $$$, I would like to get liscenced and purchase the proper equipment. At the right time of day, you can speak to someone on the other side of the world! Definitely a great piece of equipment to have while out in the bush.

Anyone a liscenced HAM user?

[Muddy Oval]

I run an Icom 208 in mine. A dual bander is the way to go- 2 meter/70cm.
It's modded to cover GMRS/FRS. "twelve mile" rated FRS is really an optimistic rating unless they have been illegally amped.

[01001010]

I thought it was werid too because a few years back anything rated for over 2 miles required a liscence. But it clearly said it on the pack...12-mile range. They are the Motorla T6500s

I was just doin some wishlisting and I'm really liking the IC-2720H

[AAXD]

Originally Posted by 01001010

I thought it was werid too because a few years back anything rated for over 2 miles required a liscence. But it clearly said it on the pack...12-mile range. They are the Motorla T6500s

I was just doin some wishlisting and I'm really liking the IC-2720H

T6500's are pretty good little radios. I bought a set last year. I've been slowly learning Morse code in my spare time. If I get stationed in Alaska a HAM license will be on my to do list as well. I'm sure as soon as TerryS sees this thread he'll be all over it. You should see the setup in his 110.

[01001010]

Originally Posted by AAXD

T6500's are pretty good little radios. I bought a set last year. I've been slowly learning Morse code in my spare time. If I get stationed in Alaska a HAM license will be on my to do list as well. I'm sure as soon as TerryS sees this thread he'll be all over it. You should see the setup in his 110.

Hey Colin! How goes it!

Yeah the 6500s are prety sweet. On the last outting, we all had some and they worked perfect and crystal clear. I don't think we got out of a mile's range from one another, but they served their purpose well. I used to mainly use T289s and those were sweet too, but if my memory serves me right, didnt have a weather channel.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, I don't think morse is required to get your ameture's liscence.

Oh man, can't wait to see what your dad's got in there!

[TerryS]

Originally Posted by 01001010

Also, if I'm not mistaken, I don't think morse is required to get your ameture's liscence.

Oh man, can't wait to see what your dad's got in there!

You're right JC, there is a class of license called "no code" But the priveledges, and frequencies are very limited. Learning the code requires about 30 minutes practice a day for a month in order to pass the exam for the average person. The exam is recieve only. there hasn't been a sending exam for about 30 years. Using it all the time iss the only way to stay proficient.
The theory part of the exam, for Novice, Tech, or no code tech is not rocket science, but unless you got some study manuals, most is foreign to the average person. The writen part of the exam for the higher classes get progressively more difficult, and the code portion requires receiving at a faster speed. I don't use CW (the code) too often, so might be a little rusty, but used to be in the 35-40wpm range in my sleep.
I have a dual bander in the 110 for local crap (2 meters and 440, aka 70cm, are primarily FM mode, as is FRS) I primarily operate SSB in the 110, single sideband, and run either 100 watts, or with the amp on, on certain bands, 500 watts. It is absolutely no problem to talk into eastern europe, all of US, and central/south america, on some band at some time in the day. Generally speaking the lower frequencies, like 160m and 75m are dusk to dawn bands. The longest transmissions are made on these bands in what is refered to as Gray Line (dawn here, dusk in OZ, NZ or western pacific)
In the old days, to do what I do in the 110 would have taken the whole back of the truck, and a generator to run it. Now, all mode HF radios are the size of a cigar box, little bigger. I got my first ticket in 1964, let it drop when I went in the Navy, and got it back in '85.
This is the only pic I could find at the moment, and it's snowing like a b***d now, but I'll post some better ones later.

[Muddy Oval]

Actually- the classes and requirements went through some major changes recently and it's easier than ever to get licensed. Code not required.

[TerryS]

Originally Posted by Muddy Oval

Actually- the classes and requirements went through some major changes recently and it's easier than ever to get licensed. Code not required.

As I said before, no code classes are very restricted in privledges and frequencies.

[01001010]

Terry, thank you for the great info. I see we share the same taste for equipment.

[p76rangie]

Due to the large distances here, the 4wd and flying doctor have their own frequencies that you do not need a license for.

[Muddy Oval]

Originally Posted by TerryS

As I said before, no code classes are very restricted in privledges and frequencies.

Many of those restrictions have now been lifted- I'm not 100% sure they are all enacted, but been passed.

[TerryS]

Originally Posted by Muddy Oval

Many of those restrictions have now been lifted

Steve, what you are refering to are the changes made by the FCC to the exam requirements to become a licensed amateur.

Each country's government licensing authority has the right to determine the requirements of the licenses it issues, but they do not dictate band allocations and modes within each band.
It is the ITU, not the FCC, who has domain over the RF spectrum. The ITU (International Telegraphic Union) allocates portions of the RF spectrum to Military, Commercial, Public Service, Broadcast, and Amateur use. There are portions allocated to GMRS (FRS is a subcategory of GMRS) where frequencies may be used by the general public, FRS restricted to non-commercial use, the balance available for commercial use. These frequencies are worldwide, and not dictated, nor are they the domain of individual governments. (the freqs. used by flying doctors and 4x4 in Oz is not the domain of OZ, and those freqs. are available for the samee purpose worldwide, they are in the GMRS catagory.
Additionally, it is the ITU who determines what modes are used by what classes withing the frequencies. For example, The 30 meter band (10mhz) is allocated for amateur use, BUT is restricted to CW mode only. CW is short for Continuous Wave, i.e. CODE.
Maximum input power is also the domain of the ITU, not the FCC, but the FCC can further limit the amount of power permited within a band.
In short, the big changes you refer to are the minimum requirements by the FCC to determine who gets an amateur license, but the licensee is limited to bands and portions of bands by the license catagory, and entirely not permitted in certain bands (by virtue of mode) by the ITU.
People have a psychological fear of learning the Int. Morse Code, but in reality, it is easier to learn than the multiplication tables (not to mention the only mode which works in many atmospheric conditions). Learning the theory and rules portion is much more difficult. Simply memorizing it to pass the exam is easy enough, but those guys may as well stick to CB, since they can't carry on much of a converstion about amateur radio once they get on the air, let alone have to knowledge to put up effective antennas. There is a limit to what you can do with your mastercard, the rest you prettymuch have to do on your own

[Muddy Oval]

I fully understand the heirarchy of international frequency allocation, just didn't think it's relevant in this context. I'm a former electronic warfare and communications officer with an advanced degree, so I 'get it.' My point here was only that the code requirements that scare off potential newbies have been relaxed and based on a discussion I had when teaching a search and rescue class Thursday with the head of Vermont's emergency radio relay league, he had mentioned there were more 'relaxations' in those requirements either already enacted or passed. The 'higher' classes were always off limits to no-code kinda guys and that's changing. Most amateurs don't use 30m anyway-
HAM radio is an interesting hobby on some levels, but they need to work on their image to get new membership.

[TerryS]

Cudos for your 'advanced degree', however you still fail to distinguish the differences between the FCC relaxing the licensing requirements, and restricted priveledges of licensees attaining those licenses.
If potential ham operators are scared off the hobby, it's not for any 'image' the hobby has, but more often because of misinformation expounded upon by non ham experts whose previous experience is relatively unrelated to the actual hobby. Or am I mistaken? Are you actually a licensed ham operator? If you're not, you don't have any excuse with all your experience. Then you might be able to expound with first hand knowledge. Pehaps you too might also become a VEC, devote 10 years to actually bringing more licensees into the fold instead of scaring them off with alot of BS.

[TerryS]

Oh, and if you're going to be teaching them, you might want to get their name right. It's Vermont Emergency Management RACES program. RACES (and ARES) are nationwide bodies of licensed hams(but you knew that). Each states Emergency Management uses their services. RACES stands for Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. You seem to have jumbled that up with some reference to the ARRL, American RAdio Relay League.
Being so highly connected, you probably also must know what a dim view the FCC takes of people using Modified ham gear for Marine SSB, and FRS. Your little Icom even in low power exceeds the leagl limits for FRS, apart from the fact that it is also not type accepted for use in that band. The only 'legal' reason to "Open up" a commercially manufactured ham radio is for use on the MARS frequencies.