CQ DX QRZ?

[HallisChalmers]

Any ham radio ops out there? Or anyone interested in becoming a amateur radio op? I've noticed some members expressing an interest and I know of at least two other members that are hams - so how about it?

[ChicoSlim803]

im interested and have no clue how to get started or anything. Help plz

[vision688]

id like to give it a shot i listen to scanners at night

[HallisChalmers]

Chico I already sent you some links.

Vision688 - you already have a start with the scanner monitoring.

Do you guys need want to communicate locally - or long distance via HF freq's?

Ck out the ARRL site here: http://www.arrl.org/

[magician59]

Always wanted to...earlier, intimidated by Morse. Now, woldn't know how or where to start.

[Riff]

I'm interested Hallis. I'm thinking it might be a bit expensive to get started though. So before I get inquire I need some dough. I think I asked you about ham radio before.

id like to give it a shot i listen to scanners at night

I'd like to start by getting into scanners. I had one as a kid and was completely fascinated by it. It had like 5 channels LOL......It was very simple to use. You just turned it on and hit scan. It would scan through the five channels with a red light moving through each channel. When the channel became in use, the red light would stop on it until the transmision was over then it would start scanning again. I bought one a couple years ago and it was so damn complicated I couldnt figure out how to use it. (and I consider myself pretty technologically informed) The instructions were just about worthless....I have never bought such a high tech piece of equipment with such minimal instrucitons. So I got frustrated and brought it back. Maybe you guys can recommend one that isnt so complicated to operate. Or at least one that comes with some descent intructions. Keep in mind that I live in a small town. So there probably isint alot going on at one time anyway. Well, I take that back. It's been like the wild west around here lately....LOL.... Thanks guys.

[the lockpickkid]

I been into radios since I was really young. I got my first base station Cb set up in my bedroom with a huge antenna when i was about 10 years old, I talked to people up to 25 miles away. When I was around 12 I got an SSB with a linear amplifier, I could talk to people on good days about 1400 miles away sometimes farther. I got into trouble one superbowl sunday because I was fuzzing out televisions the whole block around my house!! I have a few scanners I use now, but no radios anymore. I have really good luck with a Radio Shack dual trunking 1000 channel handheld, and one Uniden Bearcat triple trunking 1000 channel, I don't get trunked systems up here but I have unlimited spots to store frequencies at least with the 1000 channels.

[HallisChalmers]

Always wanted to...earlier, intimidated by Morse. Now, woldn't know how or where to start.

They've done away with Morse as a licensing requirement. It's all a matter of just passing the different license exam levels to get your ticket.

In the 90's when I was licensed, you had 5 levels with varying degrees of Morse code proficiency and radio theory:
Novice
Technician & Technician Plus
General
Advanced
Extra

Now all you have are three classes: Technician, General and Extra w/ no code proficiency required.

Here's a place to get started:

http://www.radioexam.org/

Here are some additional sources:

ARRL http://www.arrl.org/

W5YI http://www.w5yi.org/

Gordon West http://www.gordonwestradioschool.com/

Keep this in mind: Ham radio is the last line of communications in case of an emergency. When cellular towers and the power grid go down - there will be some ham radio operator with a bunch of 12 volt batteries strung together offering to help. Ham radio op's have helped since the dawn of radio comm's, during Katrina, and will continue to do so into the future

Amateur radio operators may appear to be silly, chubby little geeks with funny looking antennas on their cars and walkie talkies hanging on their belts - but their eqpt and skills are an untapped asset to the safety of the community.

[HallisChalmers]

I'm interested Hallis. I'm thinking it might be a bit expensive to get started though. So before I get inquire I need some dough. I think I asked you about ham radio before.

id like to give it a shot i listen to scanners at night

I'd like to start by getting into scanners. I had one as a kid and was completely fascinated by it. It had like 5 channels LOL......It was very simple to use. You just turned it on and hit scan. It would scan through the five channels with a red light moving through each channel. When the channel became in use, the red light would stop on it until the transmision was over then it would start scanning again. I bought one a couple years ago and it was so damn complicated I couldnt figure out how to use it. (and I consider myself pretty technologically informed) The instructions were just about worthless....I have never bought such a high tech piece of equipment with such minimal instrucitons. So I got frustrated and brought it back. Maybe you guys can recommend one that isnt so complicated to operate. Or at least one that comes with some descent intructions. Keep in mind that I live in a small town. So there probably isint alot going on at one time anyway. Well, I take that back. It's been like the wild west around here lately....LOL.... Thanks guys.

Try Scanner Masters: http://www.scannermaster.com/

They can help you find a scanner that's good for your area. The only problem is that most public safety comm's in major metro areas are going digital and using trunked radio systems. Rural communities still use analog.

Unfortunately, digital radios+ trunked systems = $$$$, not to mention you'll need a good software package and connecting cables to program the damn things. One alternative is to buy a scanner and have the dealer pre-program it for you - but that means more $$$.

But all of the above only applies to monitoring public safety - if you just want to listen to analog ham radio operators, regular business comm's on vhf & uhf, cheap scanners can be found for about $90.

[the lockpickkid]

A couple of years ago, the whole 911 dispatch system and city services went down in Nampa Idaho, they had no city police that could communicate at all as well as medical and fire, they had local ham radio operators in as many police and medical vehicles as they could find and responded to city emergencies for most of the day and night If I remember correctly. It was said that without them it would have been a disaster. They really do have the skills needed to take over such problems as they happen more often than what you think.

[aarpazthelockpicker]

i have monitored scanners since i was 8. i am very interested in becoming a licensed ham. what is the best way to study before taking the test.

[HallisChalmers]

i have monitored scanners since i was 8. i am very interested in becoming a licensed ham. what is the best way to study before taking the test.

What I did was download the question pool (for free) from the ARRL: http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html

Then start taking the free on-line test exams here: http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl

If you can afford it, get a study manual here: https://secure.qrz.com/bookstore

Then start studying! The test is simple - since the question pool gives you the exact questions that will be on the test. It's really all about memorizing now days - drawing detailed practical circuits and the requirement to know Morse code is not necessary.

The most important thing to know and learn is basic electronics and radio theory/wave propagation.

Read the study manual for an hour, then hit the practice exams. If you do that consistently, the info will sink in and passing the test is easy.

[JimL]

CQ: A general call sent by a station to any other station that may receive it. Hams and other stations "call CQ" to indicate they will answer any station replies to their call.

DX: Any station that is hard to hear or contact on a particular frequency, or is rarely heard or contacted on a particular frequency. "DX" is the old telegraph abbreviation for "distant."

QRZ: Radiotelegraph abbreviation meaning "who is calling me?" It is also used to solicit the next contact in a series of contacts.

Just in case anyone wants to know what the title of this thread means.

Jim
N0RWE

[aarpazthelockpicker]

thank you but which practice test should i take. there is 100

[JimL]

Click on this link that HallisChalmers posted.

http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl

Click on the Start Test button. And start with the Technician Class test.

It's the easiest, and they get harder from there.