Amateur radio

[Alana Ashleigh]

Are there any amateur radio operators here? I'm studying to get my ham ticket.

[Lori Dee ✅]

That is so cool, Alana!

There is an older thread (2018) on this:
https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=239651.msg2158715#msg2158715

I'm not sure that any of those members are still active, but I thought we had some operators on here not too long ago. Hopefully, they will chime in here.

[Anne_lifetrip]

Hello @Alana Ashleigh, one here, from Spain.
How may I help you? What do you need?.

Wow, thanks @Lori Dee, I will check it out too.

There is an older thread (2018) on this:
https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=239651.msg2158715#msg2158715
I'm not sure that any of those members are still active, but I thought we had some operators on here not too long ago. Hopefully, they will chime in here.

73s (best regards)

[ChrissyRyan]

I see we are HAMming it up!




Chrissy

[Alana Ashleigh]

Hello @Alana Ashleigh, one here, from Spain.
How may I help you? What do you need?.

Wow, thanks @Lori Dee, I will check it out too.
73s (best regards)

I'm studying to get my technician license. All the information is far more interesting than I was expecting. There's far more to all of it than expected Definitely seems like more fun than just running a "barefoot" CB radio.

[MistressStevie]

For passing any of the Ham Licenses, the ARRL study guides are a wealth of information.  There is no need to buy the latest and greatest manual as the used ones for a couple bucks still have much relevant information.  The question data base changes every couple years and some questions drop out.  You can take practice exams online.  The ones I used were at:  https://www.qrz.com/hamtest/ 🔗  The ARRL runs there version here: https://arrlexamreview.appspot.com/ 🔗

I took my Technician and General Exams in the same evening. 
Extra took some extra study as algebra is more helpful than memorization.

Decades back, I took a ham radio class and could never get anywhere with Morse Code.  To this day a dot and a dash are still alien to my hearing.   

[Lori Dee ✅]

I can second the ARRL Handbook advice.

I had one from 1985, with it tabbed to various formulas and references. I used that as a study guide and reference when I went for my NICET Certifications (Level II Telecommunications).

[Anne_lifetrip]

Wow, what a surprise...so many!

Although I did not need the ARRL Handbook for my exam, I do have a copy as a guide book and reference.

Back in the day, in Spain we had 3 types of licenses, but today it is only one. In my case I had to pass a morse code exam and it took some training, until you get the music and rythm of it and suddenly you understand those dots and dashes. It took me one month 20mins a day to get to learn that new language.

Decades back, I took a ham radio class and could never get anywhere with Morse Code.  To this day a dot and a dash are still alien to my hearing.

As any other language, if you don't practice you forget and now my morse code is...in memory lane.

I would say that it is different...CB has its magic and its romanticism and Ham Radio has its own frame. Everything depends on what you are looking for.

Definitely seems like more fun than just running a "barefoot" CB radio.

I love radio for the experimentation (I build my own antennas, my equipment is interconnected, digital modes, all cables are home made...some work great, others...not so much), but I get the fun there.
And one thing that I really do enjoy is that feeling of once in a time contact.
From Spain with a simple station I have contacted New Zealand, or Australia, Suriname...and with summer time coming in, the atmosphere is charged and US is coming in great to my place.

Currently I am working more digital modes (FT8, FT4 and Dstar and DMR)...another way of enjoying.

I see we are HAMming it up!

Totally
Enjoy

[Devlyn ✅]

Almost everyone in my family is, but it just never interested me.

I recently found out about radiosonde (weather balloon) retrieval and that amateur radio people track them. I'd love to go get one when it lands.