Ham Radio?

[Lumberjack98]

There's another post about who's a ham (besides Keith ) and it got me to thinking.

What is this? What is the usefulness or fun to it?

Forgive my ignorance, I don't know anything about it.

[Keith B]

Ham or Amateur Radio is a hobby of radio enthusiasts that are licensed by the FCC and can communicate via radio with other amateurs locally, across the country and around the world. There are many ways we can communicate, including voice, Morse code, and radio teletype, video and now digital methods. Amateur radio is not only a hobby, but a valuable resource during emergencies and natural disasters and many amateurs volunteer their time and skill to help law enforcement and emergency officials communicate. A good example is during and after hurricane Katrina, during severe storms and the space shuttle recovery efforts, to name a few.

A good resource to learn from is here http://www.hello-radio.org/whatis.html and http://www.arrl.org

If you will let me know your location, there may be a member on here who would invite you to their local amateur radio club meeting and you can get to know others in the area,then around the world!

Keith
Amateur Radio Station KE0FV

[KD5NRH]

What it is:
http://www.hello-radio.org/whatis.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ham_radio

What to do with it:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/emergency/
http://www.skywarn.net/
http://www.arrl.org/contests/
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/qrphome.html
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/digital.html
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/direction-finding.html
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/0004036.pdf

[numist]

Not to steal thunder or anything from Ham Radio but there is another service that is little known and constantly looked-over. It is GMRS or General Mobile Radio Service. It shares frequencies with FRS (Family Radio Service) but GMRS requires license. There is no test and a 5 year license is available online from the FCC for about 80.00.
Licensed GMRS users are allowed to use up to 50 watts with commercial grade equipement including repeaters. That is a far cry from the GMRS/FRS hybrid radios available all over the place (wally world, sporting goods stores, etc) that claim "15 mile range!" and other similar fantasy hype.
GMRS is starting to get more usage with repeaters popping up in the DFW metroplex as well as Houston and a few other cities and rural areas too.
This is a handy service for families who only need one person to be licensed in order for the entire family to use. Great for the state fair or other activities where you need to keep in touch with others when not everyone is a ham.
If anyone wants more info;
http://www.popularwireless.com/gmrsfaqa.html
http://www.provide.net/~prsg/wi-gmrs.htm
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index. ... ral_mobile

[Keith B]

Not to steal thunder or anything from Ham Radio but there is another service that is little known and constantly looked-over. It is GMRS or General Mobile Radio Service. It shares frequencies with FRS (Family Radio Service) but GMRS requires license. There is no test and a 5 year license is available online from the FCC for about 80.00.
Licensed GMRS users are allowed to use up to 50 watts with commercial grade equipement including repeaters. That is a far cry from the GMRS/FRS hybrid radios available all over the place (wally world, sporting goods stores, etc) that claim "15 mile range!" and other similar fantasy hype.
GMRS is starting to get more usage with repeaters popping up in the DFW metroplex as well as Houston and a few other cities and rural areas too.
This is a handy service for families who only need one person to be licensed in order for the entire family to use. Great for the state fair or other activities where you need to keep in touch with others when not everyone is a ham.
If anyone wants more info;
http://www.popularwireless.com/gmrsfaqa.html
http://www.provide.net/~prsg/wi-gmrs.htm
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index. ... ral_mobile

GMRS is fine for local communications up to few miles. The license fee is $75. However, with all of the handheld units that are being sold these days, there are tons of folks on the frequencies that use them without the license and don't understand radio protocol or care about shared use. There is also now an unlicensed service called MURS (Multi-use Radio Service) that allows up to 2 watts on the former Itinerant frequencies, but those are crowded by every Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc. I have also seen businesses using FRS and GMRS radios to conduct business.

Amateur radio allows you the ability to talk around the world if you have the right radio and frequencies! I have QSL cards (like post cards confirming our conversation) from stations on every continent. I even have one confirming I spoke with the MIR space station and two from the Space Shuttle. I helped lead the first SAREX (Space Shuttle Amateur Radio eXperiment) in Missouri which allowed a school students to communicate with the shuttle and ask the astronauts questions.

While there is a test, it is fairly basic to start, and there is no longer a requirement to pass a Morse Code test. Even the higher class licenses that give you more privileges and frequencies are fairly easy if you study just a little. And the license is free (just a small fee for the guys that administer the test.) an you renew it every 10 years or when you move at no cost.

So, depending on your desires and what you want to do with the radios, GMRS, FRS and MURS are fine, but have their limitations. Amateur radio opens you up to the world and space for communication!!