Ham radios
One or twice the subject has come up but the FRS and the other channels are not a great idea. When out on the road in the middle of nowhere and the cells don't work and the CBs, now rare, and you don...
Forum Discussion
Another point of view: Choice is good. The more choices you have the better.
So when I'm on the road I have two CB's one on 13 (very bad antenna) one on 19 (Much better antenna, also a better radio)... I have a dual band dual watch 2 meter/70cm D-Star/FM ham radio (Icom ID-5100) I have a D-Star "Terminal" (ID-51A+2 in Terminal mode feeding a Raspberry Pi running qnetgateway software wi-fi to my phone and the internet) I have the phone if I need it. and if I pull over and park the TS-2000 (160 meters (useless with the antennas I have) 80,40,20,15,10,6,2, and 70cm multi-mode. With assorted antennas. That one generally can contact someone.
If you are interested in Ham radio and not yet licensed I will give you the path to knowledge
www.arrl.org
From there you can find a club near you and you can go to the store link and order study guides (there is a test you have to pass. it was easy In fact there are 3 of them each one harder than the last you need only pass 1 for CW and UHF/VHF adn 10 meters 2 for Lower frequency Voice I passed all 3. Missed 2 (out of 50) on the hardest one)
You may be able to take a class courtesy of your local ham club (I DID well 2/3 of it)
YOU NO LONGER NEED TO KNOW MORSE CODE.. They eliminated that just after my last upgrade :)
To the test take
A pocket calculator (Optional)
Some #2 Pencils (take 2 or 3 in case one breaks)
15 dollars (I think you will get change back)
ID (Driver's license, School ID. State ID card)
I did use the calculator for one question on the Extra class.
It has been too long since I took the General Written Exam (1968) and it has changed since.
So when I'm on the road I have two CB's one on 13 (very bad antenna) one on 19 (Much better antenna, also a better radio)... I have a dual band dual watch 2 meter/70cm D-Star/FM ham radio (Icom ID-5100) I have a D-Star "Terminal" (ID-51A+2 in Terminal mode feeding a Raspberry Pi running qnetgateway software wi-fi to my phone and the internet) I have the phone if I need it. and if I pull over and park the TS-2000 (160 meters (useless with the antennas I have) 80,40,20,15,10,6,2, and 70cm multi-mode. With assorted antennas. That one generally can contact someone.
If you are interested in Ham radio and not yet licensed I will give you the path to knowledge
www.arrl.org
From there you can find a club near you and you can go to the store link and order study guides (there is a test you have to pass. it was easy In fact there are 3 of them each one harder than the last you need only pass 1 for CW and UHF/VHF adn 10 meters 2 for Lower frequency Voice I passed all 3. Missed 2 (out of 50) on the hardest one)
You may be able to take a class courtesy of your local ham club (I DID well 2/3 of it)
YOU NO LONGER NEED TO KNOW MORSE CODE.. They eliminated that just after my last upgrade :)
To the test take
A pocket calculator (Optional)
Some #2 Pencils (take 2 or 3 in case one breaks)
15 dollars (I think you will get change back)
ID (Driver's license, School ID. State ID card)
I did use the calculator for one question on the Extra class.
It has been too long since I took the General Written Exam (1968) and it has changed since.
