Thread: Amateur Radio Station

funny on this one i have worked with radios for over 17 years uhf/vhf/hf and so on and im still not a ham, i however have my fcc grtol if that counts for anything.

I'm not an Amatuer radio operator, but I have every intention of getting my licences and set up as soon as I can afford it. I'm not old, but I might be by the time I can afford a radio set up


Mick

Ham radio is one of my interests. I (KB1IKD) have confirmed contacts with all 50 states and well over 100 countries. Most of my contacts are digital mode (computer generates and decodes digital signals) and Morse Code (CW mode) using 50 to 100 watts of transmit power. I have made more than 10,000 contacts since becoming licensed by the FCC.

Radio is far less certain for long distance communication (HF) than the telephone and the internet, but can be used under extream conditions when electrical power and the communications infrastructure fail. It is a little bit like fishing, one never knows where the radio signals will propagate and who you might hear, and your station is independent. Most radios today run on 12 volt power which means that they can be run off portable generators, automobile/marine/RV power, rechargeable storage batteries, and photocells, as well as at home. Ham stations are also easily transportable into the field.

Radio contesting is fun, one tries to make as many contacts as possible with as many different places as possible during the contest period (usually 24 - 48 hours). Digital signals such as RTTY and PSK31 and CW (Morse Code) get through much better than phone (voice) and are the most effective modes of long distance radio communication, especially using lower power (no external power amplifier). However, if atmospheric propagation conditions are unfavorable, even maximum legal power (1500 Watts) will not get through.

UHF/VHF mobile and hand held radios similar to those used by fire and police departments are very effective and reliable for local radio communication. These ham radios are often used for local (5 - 50 miles) voice communication by local emergency response volunteers.

Radio is far from becoming obsolete. Cell phone service is commercial radio which is rapidly replacing millions of hard wired landline connections. All cell phone communications are microwave radio signals made between personal hand sets and the nearby commercial cell phone towers interconnected by cables. Cell phones have made communication possible in third world countries where the cost of building a hard wired system to each home is unaffordable. Cell phone technology has made it impossible for political dictators to keep their people ignorant and to hide their misdeeds occurring in remote areas.

The military now rely on microwave satellite links rather than depending on less certain HF signals propagating through the atmosphere for communication.

Originally Posted by freebird

I'm not sure it's a dying hobby. I watched the series Nat Geo did on preppers, and several were getting into the hobby for a means of communicating if the grids go down. Some on YouTube talking it up as well, although I'm not sure about their being licensed.

What he said................

I been involved with ham radio since the 60's. Licensed for 25 years most recently as NS5U. Like everything else there have been many changes but by and large Amateur Radio operators are a fine bunch of gentlemen both gregarious and generous. For those of you who might have an interest it isn't expensive as one can put up a station capable of worldwide communications for less than $100. Check out Hendricks QRP Kits - QRPKits just to start. Much of my early equipment was given to me as you will find payitforward has been a popular habit with hams long before the term was coined.

A great number of hams use their communication skill by volunteering in different public service organizations. One of which is Skywarn. Very few Weathermen recognize the role that Skywarn plays in making their jobs easier. They aren't just untrained yokels with radios,they attend yearly training sessions with NWS,risk their lives, personal vehicles and radio equipment in order to keep their community safe. They learn how to judge wind speed, how to spot tornados after dark, judge the size of hail, and safety measures in case they're trapped by a twister. ( get in the ditch between the twister and the vehicle, do not put the vehicle between you and the twister...the vehicle could roll over you)

Radar is only a part of the equation, it can show a "possible" tornado. The volunteers, that are in that area, verifies the fact that there is or isn't one, whether its just cloud rotation, a funnel (not touching the ground), or a tornado (on the ground). They radio that information to the net control, who then reports it to their director, who reports it to the NWS and also sounds the siren IF it is in or near a populated area..