If you are considering a Ham Radio, now may be the time

[dpAtlanta]

I have had several folks start conversations about Ham Radio when they see my license plate on my car:

Then I have to explain that "K2503" is my Chassis number:

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[Bronco21Maybe]

Talk to strange men from other places. I thought Grindr was good enough for that.

Mysteriously, my fascination has subsided.

 

[MilesTeg]

I've always been interested in this, but what do people do with the Ham radios? The setups always fascinated me.

Amateur radio lets you do the same things that you can with a CB radio, a GMRS/FRS radio, and other things but you have access to a lot more frequencies and can transmit with a lot more power (up to 1,500 watts on some frequencies with the right license). You can talk radio to radio or over a repeater network.

Amateur radio also lets you do things you cannot do with CB/GMRS/FRS:

1. Transmit on high frequency bands (3-30Mhz) which enable you to send signals thousands of miles per hop by bouncing the signal off the ionosphere. This is one of the primary things people do with amateur radio that you can't do with other radios. Whenever you see/read about someone with a huge ham antenna, it's because they are doing this kind of stuff.
2. Use digital radio signals -- radio to radio or partially over the internet. For voice communications and for data communications (position data, images, whatever you want)
3. Remote control of model aircraft/etc.
4. Communicate via satellite repeaters in orbit.
5. Talk to astronauts manning the ISS (yeah, anyone with a ham license can do this with cheap gear even, though it takes a lot of patience to do because you have to time it just right, including hoping an astronaut is off duty and willing to talk to you.)

 

[Bronco21Maybe]

Amateur radio lets you do the same things that you can with a CB radio, a GMRS/FRS radio, and other things but you have access to a lot more frequencies and can transmit with a lot more power (up to 1,500 watts on some frequencies with the right license). You can talk radio to radio or over a repeater network.

Amateur radio also lets you do things you cannot do with CB/GMRS/FRS:

1. Transmit on high frequency bands (3-30Mhz) which enable you to send signals thousands of miles per hop by bouncing the signal off the ionosphere. This is one of the primary things people do with amateur radio that you can't do with other radios. Whenever you see/read about someone with a huge ham antenna, it's because they are doing this kind of stuff.
2. Use digital radio signals -- radio to radio or partially over the internet. For voice communications and for data communications (position data, images, whatever you want)
3. Remote control of model aircraft/etc.
4. Communicate via satellite repeaters in orbit.
5. Talk to astronauts manning the ISS (yeah, anyone with a ham license can do this with cheap gear even, though it takes a lot of patience to do because you have to time it just right, including hoping an astronaut is off duty and willing to talk to you.)

As a kid, there was a DPS officer that was a friend of the family that had an in-house setup and I just remember wanting to twist all the dials. Now I just wish I had his ammo reloading setup. I could google the answer, but are these dependent upon anything but electricity or there being others out there with an antenna? Seems like a great tool when the zombies come.

 

[MilesTeg]

As a kid, there was a DPS officer that was a friend of the family that had an in-house setup and I just remember wanting to twist all the dials. Now I just wish I had his ammo reloading setup. I could google the answer, but are these dependent upon anything but electricity or there being others out there with an antenna? Seems like a great tool when the zombies come.

The long range HF communication stuff gets real complex. How well/far (or even if) you can bounce the signal depends on the time of day, atmospheric conditions, weather conditions, solar activity, etc. You also have to literally physically aim your antenna to send a (strong) signal at the right angle to bounce to where you want it to bounce (like pool, but with radio signals).

People run networks of beacons/monitors that give "propagation reports" at all times so you know which frequencies will work the best for you at any given time.

 

[Bronco21Maybe]

The long range HF communication stuff gets real complex. How well/far (or even if) you can bounce the signal depends on the time of day, atmospheric conditions, weather conditions, solar activity, etc. You also have to literally physically aim your antenna to send a (strong) signal at the right angle to bounce to where you want it to bounce (like pool, but with radio signals).

People run networks of beacons/monitors that give "propagation reports" at all times so you know which frequencies will work the best for you at any given time.

And that settles it, lol. That rabbit hole is too deep to go down! I will stick with my other overly-complicated expensive hobbies like building surf rods and arguing over guide spacing.

 

[MilesTeg]

And that settles it, lol. That rabbit hole is too deep to go down! I will stick with my other overly-complicated expensive hobbies like building surf rods and arguing over guide spacing.

Hah yeah if all you are interested in is comms for your ride.. just get GMRS, hah.

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