Anyone here have a HAM radio?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by caveman

So, do you have to go to HAM school to get a license? How does one go about getting said license? and what do you have to do to get one?

Dig up the local radio club. They usually do testing and such.

Wild stuff in the world of ham. I remember watching the old man do a moon bounce to talk to germany once

[Gas Man]

Cave.... john the dodge mechanic is BIG time in HAM. He even has one in his truck!

[Adeptus_Minor]

Originally Posted by Particle Man

Hmmm, it really HAS been a while. Apparently the Novice level no longer exists and you go right into Tech.

Better than that... they've knocked the code requirement off of not only Tech but also General class.
I was studying up for the no-code Tech class at one time but never got around to setting up my test. I think I decided I wasn't going to want to spend all the money on radios, antennae, etc.

[Particle Man]

Originally Posted by Dave

Dig up the local radio club. They usually do testing and such.

Wild stuff in the world of ham. I remember watching the old man do a moon bounce to talk to germany once

I remember sitting in the room while my dad spoke with someone in Antarctica on his 10 meter rig - that was pretty freakin' cool. They've done Mars bounces too as well as moon bounces IIRC (I don't think he ever did that).

Caveman, look up the ARRL (Amature Radio Relay Legue)... their website has a bunch of stuff to get you started.

Hell, here's the link: http://www.arrl.org/

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Particle Man

I remember sitting in the room while my dad spoke with someone in Antarctica on his 10 meter rig - that was pretty freakin' cool. They've done Mars bounces too as well as moon bounces IIRC (I don't think he ever did that).

Caveman, look up the ARRL (Amature Radio Relay Legue)... their website has a bunch of stuff to get you started.

Hell, here's the link: http://www.arrl.org/

Mars bounce, now that's impressive. I wonder what kinda power they had to stuff through that rig to get a coherent signal out that far

[Particle Man]

Originally Posted by Dave

Mars bounce, now that's impressive. I wonder what kinda power they had to stuff through that rig to get a coherent signal out that far

A lot

Venus has been done as well http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2009/eve.htm

[KSGregman]

HAM radio....Isn't it easier to fire up Skype on your mobile and be done with it?

[Trip]

Originally Posted by KSGregman

HAM radio....Isn't it easier to fire up Skype on your mobile and be done with it?

It sounds like he wants to use it for prank purposes, not actually talking to people. So all this actually using it for it's intended purpose is meaningless to him.

[Akilldema]

Indeed, I think it will be used for lulz.

[Particle Man]

Originally Posted by Akilldema

Indeed, I think it will be used for lulz.

You can't do all that much with a HT if that's what he plans on doing with it.

You'd want a 10 meter rig with a lot more power.

I'll try to dig out my old Kenwood 10 meter rig later and post a pic.