ham or cb radio
getting ready to spend this year travailing in US. Is CB radio a worthwhile investment ,also what brand best ,user with easy hook up
Forum Discussion
NinerBikes - Here is a link to the American Radio Relay League, the official national organization for amateur radio. You don't have to be a member to be a ham, but there is lots of good information at the site.
There is usually a ham club in most major cities. They can be helpful in showing you the ropes - and most provide classes on becoming a ham. Try Googling "ham radio" and the name of a town close by.
Want to include two hobbies - RVing and Ham radio? There are many forums for the two. Here are a couple:RVradionetwork and FMCA Radio Chapter
Here's some good info from the first one on becoming a ham: Becoming a Ham
Like I mentioned in previous posts, there are many different aspects of Ham Radio. You mentioned emergency communications - that is certainly one very important service of ham radio. If that interests you, you would love "field day" which is a practice exercise to hone the skills of communications in an emergency. It is usually held on a weekend and involves all types of communications. Hams from all over the country go "off the grid" and have a competition to handle traffic (messages). Hams also provide communication services to other organizations such a marathon races, cross country bike races, etc.
When it comes to real emergencies, sometimes ham radio is the only service available - not so much for tornadoes, floods and other localized disasters, but for more wide spread ones like hurricanes where cell phone towers and other repeaters are down. I've been into hurricane affected areas three times, providing communication for the Red Cross and to local towns on the Gulf Coast for several days after a hurricane. That is usually done through a request to a ham club or chapter.
Even if the emergency communications is just for you, check it out. Amateur radio is a fascinating hobby.
There is usually a ham club in most major cities. They can be helpful in showing you the ropes - and most provide classes on becoming a ham. Try Googling "ham radio" and the name of a town close by.
Want to include two hobbies - RVing and Ham radio? There are many forums for the two. Here are a couple:RVradionetwork and FMCA Radio Chapter
Here's some good info from the first one on becoming a ham: Becoming a Ham
Like I mentioned in previous posts, there are many different aspects of Ham Radio. You mentioned emergency communications - that is certainly one very important service of ham radio. If that interests you, you would love "field day" which is a practice exercise to hone the skills of communications in an emergency. It is usually held on a weekend and involves all types of communications. Hams from all over the country go "off the grid" and have a competition to handle traffic (messages). Hams also provide communication services to other organizations such a marathon races, cross country bike races, etc.
When it comes to real emergencies, sometimes ham radio is the only service available - not so much for tornadoes, floods and other localized disasters, but for more wide spread ones like hurricanes where cell phone towers and other repeaters are down. I've been into hurricane affected areas three times, providing communication for the Red Cross and to local towns on the Gulf Coast for several days after a hurricane. That is usually done through a request to a ham club or chapter.
Even if the emergency communications is just for you, check it out. Amateur radio is a fascinating hobby.
