Anyone here a HAM operator?

[Batgirl]

Another thread where the author argued against being outdoors alone got me to thinking about HAM radios.

Since cell phones can be pretty useless in the boonies these sound like a nice piece of equipment to have. And they're awfully small now- the size of a sandwich but weigh a couple of pounds.

My understanding is that if you are planning on using them for emergency communications only, you don't even need a license.

Anyone here use one when they're on remote camping trips/hiking?

[Alec W]

Another thread where the author argued against being outdoors alone got me to thinking about HAM radios.

Since cell phones can be pretty useless in the boonies these sound like a nice piece of equipment to have. And they're awfully small now- the size of a sandwich but weigh a couple of pounds.

My understanding is that if you are planning on using them for emergency communications only, you don't even need a license.

Anyone here use one when they're on remote camping trips/hiking?

I think something like this will be cool (prolly a repost)
http://www.survivalmountain.com/products/spot-satellite-messenger?gclid=CMXzjbSe6JACFQ3MiQodBGw_QA

[jnschwie]

Yeah, I have one. I had to take this test.

Mostly this group I used to wheel with in WI got into them. I wasn't into it at all. I still have an Icom HT somewhere, though.


I have moved 4 times, but haven't updated my license. I cannot figure out how.

[ToyRunner1]

You do need a license, even if only planning on using them in an emergency. The license exam isn't hard, is cheap, and most local clubs offer the classes for the cost of the book. Actually, the calsses are most likely free, but the book is well worth the $25 or so. I always carry an HT when out in the woods, and have a mobile unit in the vehicle.

[ToyRunner1]

Yeah, I have one. I had to take this test.

Mostly this group I used to wheel with in WI got into them. I wasn't into it at all. I still have an Icom HT somewhere, though.


I have moved 4 times, but haven't updated my license. I cannot figure out how.If it hasn't expired yet, or you are within the 2 year gap, go to the ARRL site and they have the directions. I need to renew mine within the next month or so so that I don't have a gap.

[jnschwie]

And while what Toy said is technically true...


My understanding is that if you are planning on using them for emergency communications only, you don't even need a license.


I doubt anyone would prosecute you. That said, why are you buying/owning an HT without a license? That'd be the first question and thing that MIGHT get you prosecuted. Coming across an HT, well :shrug:

Beyond that, without understanding how an HT works (it ain't just a CB), you may not be well prepared to deal with the emergency. I know my Icom is complicated as chit.

[jnschwie]

If it hasn't expired yet, or you are within the 2 year gap, go to the ARRL site and they have the directions. I need to renew mine within the next month or so so that I don't have a gap.

I'm on about year 5 or 6 of the ten.

I went to the ARRL site. I must be a moron. The "easy" instructions didn't make sense to me. I didn't really GAF enough to call, though.

Last time I used my HT was when I was living in Charleston, SC. Power went out. It happened all the time, but I didn't know it -it was the first time it happened. Chatted with some cool people using a repeater on the USS Yorktown (aircraft carrier parked in the harbor). :)

[Dotcom]

i am one, KD0ASM i have a 2m 70cm rig in the jeep that will talk to most repeaters and transmits my gps coordinates to the internet. it will reach most places however they are not perfect and while there are some dead spots in the mountains, between it and the cell i can get through 99.9 percent of the time. the tech test is easy and you don't need to do the code part anymore. there are websites that you can use to study for the test, i studied for about a week and passed with a 95%. the hardest part was waiting for the license to be approved. now i have the ham radio, cb radio, and cell in the jeep for the trail, i guess thats the best i can do short of getting a sat phone. stu has a great writeup on his website about using a ham radio on the trail, i had sent him an email asking him some questions when i first started and he recommended the radio i have. id be happy to help you get started in any way i can. we always need more hams in the world.

here is the link to stu's site http://www.stu-offroad.com/misc/ham-1.htm

[bsaunder]

Another HAM here (KC0UHJ) - I would take the test and learn about it before just getting a radio. To be effective in the back country, you really need to know how to use the repeater networks and you will also need to know what their access tones are. I always carry my HT with me and will look up all the repeaters for a given area before I go on my trip and have them programmed into the HT to use if I need.

So far, everywhere I have gone backpacking in CO, I've been able to hit a repeater.

I am getting my code down as well though to be even better prepared and because I've always wanted to learn it anyways. Its amazing how far you can talk via cw with very little wattage.

[Batgirl]

Thanks to all of you for the great info- it's greatly appreciated. :thumbsup:

More than just for the wilderness treks, learning more about amateur radio sounds like fun, and down the road it would be nice to be able to help others in emergencies in addition to myself.

I have to start somewhere...any recommendations?

[ni0h]

I have moved 4 times, but haven't updated my license. I cannot figure out how.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home
You can do the entire thing from there, without ever getting out of your chair.

Ham radio is the only reason I'm able to go wheeling solo with my children.

It is not illegal to own one without a license, and emergencies do automatically waive the license requirement. However, unless you can actually use the radio, it will do you no good, and if you use it without a license outside an emergency, you're hosed. It's not like a cell phone, where you can just get on and call for help, with any reasonable chance of success. You have to know what frequencies are likely to have someone to answer on, based on where you are, the time of day, the terrain, the band you're using, etc.. I personally use a single-band 50watt VHF rig in my jeep, and can almost always get to a repeater with it. That's what I'd recommend for anyone for wheeling (though I LOVE how UHF SSB works in the mountains - there's nobody else on, usually), however, there are places where the only way you're getting out is with NVIS.


Ham radio is this exclusive community, made up almost entirely of people who would like to get as many good licensees trained up as possible. If you've got children who'd like to get licensed, and you can get them to Louisville for a couple hours most Saturdays, there's a dedicated ongoing program there training children to get their licenses. For adults, there's self-education, and often, classes put on by your local clubs. Anybody wanting to get started can contact me and I'll forward the messages to the right people to maybe get some classes going. I even taught one myself, back in 1989 - got 14 people their licenses (one of them couldn't even read).

[newracer]

My FIL was a HAM operator, WA0QQT. I have thought about getting a license. Lots of good info here, thanks.

[Sprnklrmn]

KC0JPV here.

I have found that amateur radio isn't all I thought it would be. It's easy to get a license; after that it becomes complicated and expensive. Plus it is rare to find other hams on the trail. The most use my radio got was retrieving weather forecasts in Moab.

Without a good Elmer (old hand who can teach you) unless you can let your inner geek out and figure out the technicalities of the system(s) you end up with a pricey piece of equipment in the rig that you can't use.

It can be amusing. I remember stopping for gas day in Boulder heading up to Carnage. I had the radio on and was listening to a couple guys chatting, I think on the Colorado Connection? (which I think is a repeater network that covers most of the state?) They were in Rifle, and their conversation was clear as a bell. My buddies were amazed.

EDIT: When I got my license I didn't read any books. I used the practice exams here:http://www.eham.net/exams/ until I could consistently pass, then went and took the test.

[ni0h]

Plus it is rare to find other hams on the trail.

That's one reason all us hams are jumping in here so enthusiastically. If se get a critical mass of hams on the trails, it'll build. CB does some of the job, but there's so much more!

[bsaunder]

KC0JPV here.

I have found that amateur radio isn't all I thought it would be. It's easy to get a license; after that it becomes complicated and expensive. Plus it is rare to find other hams on the trail. ......

This is why I would suggest reading some of the books for the test rather than just hitting the questions - the books explain a lot about the equipment, setup, etc so it isn't nearly as complicated as it originally seems. A basic dual or tri band setup would be fully covered in the texts - granted doing some dipole, yagi, etc setups for tuned and directional use generally isn't covered in the tech material, but if you study for the general or extra class then it is.

For HAMs on the trail - it depends on when and where. I've had quite a few wheeling trips where everyone was a HAM and others where I was the only one.
I haven't seen too many in CO, but there are a lot of trail runs in other states that require a HAM as well.

[jnschwie]

http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home
You can do the entire thing from there, without ever getting out of your chair.

Is it slow or permanent limbo?
I registered, they are not letting me log on. It froze my browser. Granted, I'm using a crappy XP computer with IE instead of a Mac, but still.

I have form 605. I've had it 3 times in the past. I just do not think this is an easy process at all. None of the form makes sense.


Ham radio is this exclusive community, made up almost entirely of people who would like to get as many good licensees trained up as possible. For adults, there's self-education, and often, classes put on by your local clubs.

See, I think these clubs are BS. I'm completely uninterested in RACES, emergency bullchit, fox hunts, basically all of it. When I call for help with the address, FCC is eternal hold, and with clubs, it is always the standard, "Are ya a member of our club?"

NO!

Well, then go to the FCC....

Ne'ermind.


Unless you actually are having an emergency, I've *personally* found Hams to be the least helpful group of people I've met. This is a huge reason I'll never join one of these clubs. I'm honestly ashamed to be associated by license, but again.....a group of friends I hung out with elsewhere wanted to forgo CBs. :shrug:

Just my $0.02

[Grant H.]

KB0ZQX reporting in.

Been in it for 12 years now.

[Grant H.]

Is it slow or permanent limbo?
I registered, they are not letting me log on. It froze my browser. Granted, I'm using a crappy XP computer with IE instead of a Mac, but still.

I have form 605. I've had it 3 times in the past. I just do not think this is an easy process at all. None of the form makes sense.




See, I think these clubs are BS. I'm completely uninterested in RACES, emergency bullchit, fox hunts, basically all of it. When I call for help with the address, FCC is eternal hold, and with clubs, it is always the standard, "Are ya a member of our club?"

NO!

Well, then go to the FCC....

Ne'ermind.


Unless you actually are having an emergency, I've *personally* found Hams to be the least helpful group of people I've met. This is a huge reason I'll never join one of these clubs. I'm honestly ashamed to be associated by license, but again.....a group of friends I hung out with elsewhere wanted to forgo CBs. :shrug:

Just my $0.02

Did you get "done" with a Ham Antenna? Jeezzz...

The generalizations you just made about the Ham community could be applied to the 4x4 community. Some are dicks and they are the ones that get the most noise.

Dont go bitchin about a whole community when a small portion is the problem. The FCC is NOT only Ham. They are a government bureaucracy. That is the problem, not the fact that they are associated with HAM.

[jnschwie]

Did you get "done" with a Ham Antenna? Jeezzz...


:confused: Huh?

The generalizations you just made about the Ham community could be applied to the 4x4 community. Some are dicks and they are the ones that get the most noise.

Dont go bitchin about a whole community when a small portion is the problem. The FCC is NOT only Ham. They are a government bureaucracy. That is the problem, not the fact that they are associated with HAM.

Absolutely. I hate to generalize about an entire community -Like I said, I have met some nice individuals, but overall my impression is quite negative. That's fine, I'm not asking anyone to share my opinion. :) The same is definitely true for the 4x4 community. I've seen a ton of people within that "community" I have no desire to associate with.

As to the government end of it, I agree as well.
The only problem to my own agreement is that I have little trouble with far more complex issues such as filing an IND with the FDA (look that one up), or in dealing with the DEA forms. I have no trouble with DMV forms, although those are state level.

Government as a whole is bad, and the FDA/DEA are amongst the worst. But they sure do make the FCC look bad, which is impressive in and of itself.
That's fine, I'm not asking anyone to share my opinion. :)


I did call the FCC again this morning after this thread, and after THIRTY MINUTES and FOUR people, I figured out what to put on a PAPER 605. Fawk the online shiat. I still can't make that work. (But somehow, I can make the FDA and DEA's online stuff go). Guess it is just me.

[ZappBranigan]

I'm a former Ham (KB0LOG), my license lapsed in 2004 and I never bothered to renew it.

There are a few caveats about HAM, the biggest one being that there are so many different frequencies and bands that just saying "Ham" or "amateur radio" doesn't really convey how broad the hobby is. You have guys with 50' towers in their backyards who send CW (morse code) messages around the world on HF frequencies (roughly 3-30 mhz) and then you have people who just have 2m or 440khz rigs in their vehicles and talk on them through repeaters, and a lot of HAMs do both. There are even HAMs who do bizzarre stuff like trying to bounce a signal off the moon and back to earth (really!) and a thing called Packet Radio which is sort of like a primitive wireless internet via amateur radio bands.

It sounds like what you are talking about is getting a 2m or 440khz mobile or HT (handheld) for emergency or trail use, and there are a lot of 4 wheelers who do just that. The nice thing about 2m and 440 is that there are repeaters all over the country and as long as you have line-of-sight to a repeater, you can talk to anyone else who is within line of sight of that repeater. Most amateur radio shops even sell little pocket sized books with lists of repeaters that indicate whether they are open to all or for club members only.

Now, having said all that, I let my license lapse because I could never really 'get into' the hobby. Like many hobbyists, HAMs are often very clannish and hostile to outsiders or people they perceive as being insufficiently dedicated to the hobby. They can talk for hours about minute technical aspects of their comm equipment while someone who's not as much into it just wants to be able to press the switch on the mike and find out what the weather is like 50 miles up the road.

Until recently, you actually needed to know morse code to get all but the most basic of licenses, though this requirement was dropped a few years ago.

Many old timers lamented the fact that the FCC dropped the morse requirement, not because they used it, but because it kept casual users out of the HAM community and required a considerable level of dedication in order to move to the higher license classes.

Back in the pre-internet days one of the big deals about HAM was that you could talk to people around the world (to other HAMs, of course.) That was quite a novelty in the days when overseas phone calls were both expensive and difficult to set up. HAMs would collect QSL cards from other radio operators proving just how far away they were able to communicate.

But now that we can go onto the internet and email photos of our genitals to people on every continent with the click of a mouse, it doesn't seem like such a big deal.

The bottom line is that, IMO, unless you either (a) want to really get into the hobby or (b) know a bunch of people who already have 2m radios and you want to be able to talk with them, it's probably not worth it to invest the time and money to get a HAM setup. I think you'd be just as good getting either a set of FRS radios to communicate with other people on the trail, or a good cell phone for emergencies (like those snowmobilers down in Southern CO who just climbed to the top of a mountain and called out.) The way cell coverage is increasing in the US, it's conceivable that within the next few years there will be virtually no place in the lower 48 that doesn't have some kind of cell coverage.

And if you're really paranoid, I suppose you could invest in a satellite phone. As I understand it, the prices of those are coming down but I don't know the specifics.

[Sprnklrmn]

.......

See, I think these clubs are BS. I'm completely uninterested in RACES, emergency bullchit, fox hunts, basically all of it. When I call for help with the address, FCC is eternal hold, and with clubs, it is always the standard, "Are ya a member of our club?"

NO!

Well, then go to the FCC....

Ne'ermind.


Unless you actually are having an emergency, I've *personally* found Hams to be the least helpful group of people I've met. This is a huge reason I'll never join one of these clubs. I'm honestly ashamed to be associated by license, but again.....a group of friends I hung out with elsewhere wanted to forgo CBs. :shrug:

Just my $0.02

I wouldn't go that far, but I will add that I remember being pretty frustrated with trying to figure out the whole amateur radio deal. I have found those guys who work at Ham Radio Outlet are generally unsupportive and unhelpful. I have tried to learn on internet sites and have had trouble trying to follow and learn from the technical discussions. It's kind of akin to doing gear setups. It can be a bitch to set gears by trying to learn how to do it on websites or even from books. But if you can have someone do a couple with you, you realize that it really isn't that complicated. I just haven't been able to find someone to help me with the simple questions.

[jnschwie]

Now, having said all that, I let my license lapse because I could never really 'get into' the hobby. Like many hobbyists, HAMs are often very clannish and hostile to outsiders or people they perceive as being insufficiently dedicated to the hobby. They can talk for hours about minute technical aspects of their comm equipment while someone who's not as much into it just wants to be able to press the switch on the mike and find out what the weather is like 50 miles up the road. .

Exactly my impression. Said better than I could. :thumbsup:

I like going superficially into a lot of hobbies rather than deep into any one. Of the hobbies I am more into, I certainly don't THINK that I'm hostile to any newbs. Probably, however, it is because I'm not all that deep myself. My impression from these other hobbies, however, is that there are hobbyists out there FAR more newb friendly than HAM folks.


And if you're really paranoid, I suppose you could invest in a satellite phone. As I understand it, the prices of those are coming down but I don't know the specifics.
You can rent them now if you anticipate going somewhere quite remote. :)

[ZappBranigan]

Did you get "done" with a Ham Antenna? Jeezzz...

The generalizations you just made about the Ham community could be applied to the 4x4 community. Some are dicks and they are the ones that get the most noise.

I understand what you're saying and I'm sure there are very many nice people in the HAM community, but there's a big difference between the 4x4 community and the HAM community and that is you don't need a federal government license to get a 4x4 and go off roading. That tends to greatly broaden the number of people who engage in the 4 wheeling hobby and it tends to make 4 wheelers much more open to outsiders.

My limited experience with HAM operators was that most HAMs won't talk to people they don't already know, at least on the 2m bands. I drove across the country in 1995 with a 2m rig in my vehicle and a repeater guide. I would set the repeater to scan and when I got into an area with an active repeater, I'd call out my call sign to see if anyone wanted to talk - nobody did.

I heard plenty of conversations but it was almost just like listening to people talk on the phone. It was obvious that the 2m band was being used, in essence, like a party-line phone system for HAMs who knew each other and called to shoot the breeze.

Now we all know that the plural of anecdote is not evidence, but nevertheless, it seems to me that most (not all!) HAMs are people who are really into radios, electronics and the esoteric aspects of communication, and they tend to be dismissive of anyone who doesn't share their fascination with electronics. Which is fine, no problem, but if all you want is to be able to communicate with others on the trail or on the road, HAM is probably not the best way to go.

[Steve]

You can rent them [satellite phones] now if you anticipate going somewhere quite remote. :)

We rented one for elk hunting this year since one of the guys is getting on in years. (No, NOT me. :flipoff2: ) While it wasn't cheap, it was reasonable and yes, you can literally call anyone from anywhere in the U.S. No license, no using repeaters, no nothing. Dial a phone and talk to anyone. :thumbsup: The only downside to sat phones, besides the cost, is that it's a PITA to call to a sat phone. You don't dial one like you call any other phone.

[ZappBranigan]

The only downside to sat phones, besides the cost, is that it's a PITA to call to a sat phone. You don't dial one like you call any other phone.

Well, you have to know the area code for outer space. :D

[Steve]

Well, you have to know the area code for outer space. :D

:spit:

When you consider that the handheld phone you're talking on is transmitting directly to a satellite 20,000-ish miles up in space, it's kinda cool in a geeky way. :silly:

[jnschwie]

The other aside to how complicated my HT is (and therefore, why you should know what you are doing) is how many of you ACTUALLY know how to use your GPS?


So, STHF and you need to call in for rescue. Well, OK, I've got my handy-dandy GPS.

I've heard from park rangers that MOST people who call for help have no idea how to read their coordinates. It seems silly, but I swear I was told this. And, in fact, it probably isn't silly as most GPSs now are map-based -and so you don't need to know GPS basics.

But, lets say you can figure out your coordinates. What format are they in? Bigger problem: Are you using WGS84/NAD83 or are you using NAD27? Because the same coordinate will put you in 2 different spots. The former seems to becoming more standard, but USGS maps are all the latter.

[ZappBranigan]

The other aside to how complicated my HT is (and therefore, why you should know what you are doing) is how many of you ACTUALLY know how to use your GPS?


So, STHF and you need to call in for rescue. Well, OK, I've got my handy-dandy GPS.

I've heard from park rangers that MOST people who call for help have no idea how to read their coordinates. It seems silly, but I swear I was told this. And, in fact, it probably isn't silly as most GPSs now are map-based -and so you don't need to know GPS basics.

But, lets say you can figure out your coordinates. What format are they in? Bigger problem: Are you using WGS84/NAD83 or are you using NAD27? Because the same coordinate will put you in 2 different spots. The former seems to becoming more standard, but USGS maps are all the latter.

Is that really an issue, though? I mean, suppose you give a NAD27 coordinate and they use WGS84 to find you. What would the difference be, maybe 500 yards?

So there you are, broke down and the rescue copter lands 500 yards away. Are you going to say "oh, they must be here to rescue someone else. I'll wait for the one that lands at my location"? :D

A bigger problem would be that most people probably don't know how to read a map in the first place and having a GPS with a built-in map doesn't force them to know their coordinates. If all they've ever done is use the map and mark their waypoints, they may not even know how to get to the screen that displays their coordinates.

[jnschwie]

Is that really an issue, though? I mean, suppose you give a NAD27 coordinate and they use WGS84 to find you. What would the difference be, maybe 500 yards?

So there you are, broke down and the rescue copter lands 500 yards away. Are you going to say "oh, they must be here to rescue someone else. I'll wait for the one that lands at my location"? :D

A bigger problem would be that most people probably don't know how to read a map in the first place and having a GPS with a built-in map doesn't force them to know their coordinates. If all they've ever done is use the map and mark their waypoints, they may not even know how to get to the screen that displays their coordinates.

Depends on where in the world you are.

2 miles is nothing via helicopter in Kansas.

100yds may be a big deal if you're sending help on foot in canyon country. ;)

[ZukGuy]

I've had my amateur license for 11 years now ( KC0AED ) My original rationale for obtaining it was the ability to communicate beyond what a CB can do. My
4x4 club was returning from a few days fun in the Silverton/Ouray area and we came upon a wreck on the east side of Monarch Pass. A van had lost control in the rain and hit a pole, ejecting a 4 year old thru the window and down the side of the hill. We could not contact anyone with cell or CB. I remembered we had passed some county trucks on the road earlier and knew they generally carry FM radios for their dispatching, comm, etc. They did get hold of the Sheriff and an ambulance for us. That was when we decided to get licensed. We now number about 6 - 8 in the club. Not much good for comm on a trail, as not everyone has a license or a scanner. But if you really need help, you can get it if you can hit a repeater. They also have a patch where you can get into the telephone system.

Many of the Ham groups do an awful lot of good when things go awry. The Hayman fire had alot of operators working long hours in Teller County to provide much needed comm. Most of the major races depend on the Ham groups for comm, such as the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, almost all of the
large running races, etc. Ever heard of Skywarn? A bunch of us nuts ( after proper yearly training ) sit out in the bad weather, making observations that are relayed directly to the National Wether Service in Pueblo.

I will agree that many of the older Hams are deeply into the esoteric electronic funtions and do not ( will not ) tolerate those of us that have a lesser interest. The passing requirement of Morse code infuriated many of them as it was really a good filter to keep the riff-raff out of the higher
license areas. The distances you can communicate are awesome, but if I were in trouble, I don't think I would want to rely on my sending a morse message at even 5 words a minute to get help.

There are great individuals and arseholes in most any discipline you can name, such is life.

73s

[Batgirl]

Tons of great info in this thread, thanks again.

I'm really not surprised to hear that many of the purist old-timer operators feel the way they do; that's okay. If I decide to pursue it, I have confidence I could find someone generous and patient enough to show me the ropes.

[ni0h]

Don't expect to get started from HRO. They're decent guys, but they're kind of cranky. If you know what you're looking for, they're glad to ring you up. At least, that's the reputation I was led to expect. I've been down there twice and they've been very helpful. Of course, they're not going to try to educate a non-ham just to sell a rig. They WILL try to hook you up with a group that can help you learn, though.

I don't have any contacts down your way. Monument has a decent hamfest in the spring - maybe you'd want to stop by. Anybody in Northern front-range, though, PM me and I will get you in touch with enthusiastic help.

[Digger]

KB2UJM here.... Have had my no-code tech license since '95. My Dad was big into HAM since I was 7 or 8. I got into it because 2m was an easy form of communication with him/family when I lived back east.

Played around with making various antennas. Once made a fantastic stacked dipole out of 1/2 copper pipe that would reach out 70 or 80 miles on 2 watts simplex. Cost me all of 5 bucks and a Saturday afternoon.
Participated in some event weekends, foot races, evening repeater nets, and was part of a radio club, but there wasn't any other members even close to my age group and hanging with 50 and 60 year-olds got, well, old. Other than that, never had much of an interest to advance beyond tech as Morse seems to come very hard to me.

Since moving to Colorado, the 2m has pretty much sat in a box in the garage unused, and if I hadn't come across my expired license while looking for something else, I would not have made the renewal deadline.

2 meter is a nice (expensive) form of quiet, reliable mobile communication though, and if I could get the people that I wheel most often with interested in getting a no-code tech license, I'd install it in the jeep and get busy again.

[ZappBranigan]

Back in my pre-internet days, around 1994-95 or so, I used to be on a lot of local chat boards that were part of nationwide networks (the one I was usually on was WWIVnet.) Since I had just got my HAM license I was on a couple of the amateur radio boards.

What was interesting was that even back then there was real concern that the hobby was dying. The people who continued in the hobby were getting older and older and there were a lot fewer young people getting involved. Some of the members were saying that if we didn't get more people involved in amateur radio, the FCC would start selling our bandwidth to the highest bidder. The people who said this would usually be the biggest proponents of eliminating the morse code requirement for the higher license classes.

On the opposite side, you had the old timers who's attitude seemed to be "I had to learn morse code, so anyone else who wants to get a higher class license should have to learn it, too!" In their minds, morse code wasn't so much for communicating but a way of proving dedication to the hobby: If you weren't willing to take the time to learn morse code, then you weren't very committed and therefore did not deserve a higher class license. They would also bitch a lot about all the no-code technicians coming into the hobby (not sure how long the no-code tech license had been around but they were still bitching about it in the mid-90s) and how it was "diluting" the HAM community.

I was a tech+ (tech + novice) and the only radio I had was a 2m, so I didn't really have a dog in the fight, but it was entertaining to see the back-and-forth.

I was actually in a club for a year or so, but never really participated in any events. Honestly, with the internet and cell phones being so prevalent, I wouldn't be surprised to see the hobby shrinking worldwide. That's a shame because HAMs are often the only people operating during certain emergencies (although I don't know how useful 2m would be in a Katrina-type crisis, since I would assume that all of the repeaters would be down due to lack of power.)

[Batgirl]

The antennae/dish references here reminded me of that parabolic dish farm in Castle Rock/Sedalia off of Sante Fe. The Sheriff's department doesn't have it listed in their CAD and no one seems to know what it is or who runs it. Anyone here know??

Don't expect to get started from HRO. They're decent guys, but they're kind of cranky. If you know what you're looking for, they're glad to ring you up. At least, that's the reputation I was led to expect. I've been down there twice and they've been very helpful. Of course, they're not going to try to educate a non-ham just to sell a rig. They WILL try to hook you up with a group that can help you learn, though.

I don't have any contacts down your way. Monument has a decent hamfest in the spring - maybe you'd want to stop by. Anybody in Northern front-range, though, PM me and I will get you in touch with enthusiastic help.

Thanks NiOh. :D DotCom, Zapp and others, thanks to you as well for your info and offers to help.

I think I'll start with doing some more reading online and see where that takes me. I'm such a geek, I can see myself sitting there in the wee hours of the morning messing around kind of like what i do on the internet. We'll see.

[ZappBranigan]

The antennae/dish references here reminded me of that parabolic dish farm in Castle Rock/Sedalia off of Sante Fe. The Sheriff's department doesn't have it listed in their CAD and no one seems to know what it is or who runs it. Anyone here know??

Someone on Google Earth has it described as a Comcast downlink/uplink site but I don't know. It does seem odd to have all those dishes so close together. You would assume that they are in receive-only mode since transmitting from one of those big dishes would presumably cause some interference with the other ones, if they used a significant amount of power.

Speaking of big dishes, last time I was at Buckley they had the cover off of one of the "golf balls", apparently doing some maintenance. Now that's a big dish! :eek: