Posted: 5/28/2005 4:06:23 PM EDT
| how many of you have your license? are any of you members of a MARS CLUB?. how hard is it to get a license?what handheld radio would you suggest................... add anything else that you think is appropriate, I am thinking of getting into it. |
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KD7HGK here. I would suggest going for your No Code Tech license first. That is what I did. The Tech written exam is 35 questions long. get a hold of a copy of "Now You're Talking". That is the study guide for the exam. Later on, if you feel like upgrading, you will have to learn Morse Code to pass a 5 word per minute test. The ARRL has many aids for this too. Go to www.arrl.org for more info. *edit* I'm not a part of MARS so I can't speak to that question. *another edit* As for HT choices, I have a dualband 2meter/440 Icom ICW32A handheld. 5 watts of power and aftermarket MFJ antenna. I really like it. In my opinion, and this is just my opinion, the stock rubber ducky antenna that the radio comes with isn't the best, I would suggest taking it off and replacing it with something from MFJ or some other manufacturer. Another amateur radio thing you might consider is EchoLink. I have that running in the background as I type this post. Basically, if you don't have the space to put up some sort of antenna, this is a handy computer based mode of voice communication. You can find out more at www.echolink.org |
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Ham here. No MARS. Handheld choice is very subjective. I like simple units, with maximum transmit power and a wide choice of battery packs and power source options. A good receiver that is immune to strong signal overload is a must. I'm not impressed by blinking lights, flourecent orange cases and a bunch of options that I'll never use. |
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The ITU and many countries have dropped the requirements. The US is on the verge of the debate. Whatever the outcome, I urge everyone to learn morse code. It's fun, reliable, and goes further than a voice signal with the same output power. fwiw Scott |
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The basic license is a snap to get. Go take the practice tests here and when you consistently get 90% right you are ready. Look on the left side of the page about halfway down there is a link for practice tests. It's free. Should take a week or 2 at the most to prepare. That gets you the Technician license, no requrement for Morse, and allows you to get on the VHF frequencies, where most of the local info and nets are anyway. I've had my license since I was in high school. Had to take the Morse code back then..... I am using a Yaesu HT-60 handheld, have had good luck with it. Most of the HTs will need an antenna besides the rubber duckie thing that comes with the radio. Those are close to worthless. Get a small mag mount antenna for the car, makes a world of difference. |
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I can recommend the Kenwood TH-F6A handheld radio with no reservations. It has proven to be a workhorse and an awesome rig. It has 2m, 220 and 440mhz in one small package, with all the features I could imagine wanting and plenty of power out. If you want to start a little less expensive, each of the major manufacturers has a small 2m handheld that has decent specs and even more power output than my F6A. Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom, and Alinco are the major players in the HT (Handie-Talkie, handheld) arena. Jim |
+1 A great radio with plenty of cool features and HF receive (perfect, except for the whole grounding requirements for HF listening)! |
| What does 2m, 6m, 10m, etc. mean? What is the purpose of a HAM radio? With all the different types of radios out there, is there one type that does everything? Will a HAM work with the cheap two-way radios? Will the same radio word with the more expensive commercial two-way radios? Forgive me for my lack of knowlege, but I never heard of a HAM radio until a year or two ago, and even then I never asked anybody what they do. |
That is the wavelength of the radio frequency. A wavelength is the linear distance a radio signal travels to complete one cycle ("period") of its waveform. Radio waves are actually just high frequency alternating current electrical energy. Wavelength is expressed as the speed of light in a void, divided by the frequency in Hertz. 300 million meters per second / 29 MHz = 10.34m 300 million meters per second / 146 MHz = 2.05m etc. |
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HAM Radio is amateur radio. Basically use of radios by hobbyists. Radio Frequency transmission is controlled by governments based on international treaties. Back when radio first became feasible it was in what was considered longwave and shortwave. Those frequency ranges are all able to propagate long distances, into other countries, hence the treaty development. Now they are considered HF or High Frequency. International Shortwave is both commercial, government and amateur. BBC, Voice of America, Radio Moscow, down to the AM radio bands. Now days there is a lot of radio work in the V(ery)HF, U(ltra)HF and higher frequencies. These signals are all line of sight and relatively short range. Radios in these frequency ranges weren'y particularly practical till the end and after WWII. The government allocates frequency ranges to various users based on international treaty. Radios covered by one type of service rules and regulations generally can't communicate with those for other services. This is primarily due to the transmit and/or receive frequency limitations. And with todays radios these limitations are mechanically or software set. Most radios can handle a broader range than is applicable to their service, the restrictions are artificial to meet legal requirments and not capability limitations. In years past gear capability was more restriting. In any case can you with a low power FMRS Family Radio Service communicate with Hams on that radio, NO unless they are also using an FMRS radio. By law you can't operate outside the bands you are licensed to operate in. Now do the laws get followed by all? no. Because of the stricter testing and knowledge required, you are allowed to operate on many frequency bands and at higher power levels than other services that have minimal or no requirements. In the past I assisted with the MARS Station at work, MARS has greatly diminished with the advent of various worldwide inexpensive telephone services. MARS Military Amateur Radio Service, operates on HF bands just outside the amateur bands in the government allocated frequencies and uses the HF signal to communicate from overseas to stateside stations which patch into the phone system allowing servicemen to communicate with families. Basically being overtaken by other technologies. |
 CW |
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Go ahead and study for the Tech license and find a VE group near you and take the test; usually any Amateur Radio club gives the tests. There you will meet some local hams and make some new friends. Then you can find out which direction you want to go. There are many aspects of Amateur Radio to get involved with. Also you can get some tips on what radios to get. Got my first license in the mid 70s and have been enjoying it ever since. I don't do very much 2m operating but I do have several 2m radios and a handheld (every time I go to use it, the battery is dead). I mainly operate HF and 20m is my favorite band but also operate 15 and 40 meters and a little 12, 17 and 10 meters. I don't get on 75/80m or 160 very much. Sometimes I do just to listen around. |
So, basically a 2 meter radio operates on the VHF channels, while a shorter wavelength radio would be UHF, am I correct? Is it possible to buy a radio that works through a wide range of wavelengths? Thanks for taking the time to explain this to me. |
Yes, yes and yes. Here's an example of a multi-band amateur radio transceiver. |
DE AAV4TP Good post! One thing you have missed is the fact that MARS has changed it's primary mission from 'Health & Welfare' (ie. Marsgrams and phone patches), to communications support for Dept of Homeland Defense and FEMA. Army MARS now uses some high tech comms including digital. We practice on a daily basis on passing traffic including Esential Elements of Information Reports (EEI's), Support Requests, and Information Request Responses. We are now preparing for Grecian Firebolt 2005 which is a world wide Military Communications excersise that lasts a week. This begins around Jun 10. MARS requires 12 hours of on-air participation per quarter, and monthly participation reports, but a no-code Technician aquires HF privilidges on MARS freqs via membership. If you have ever wanted to learn how to be a professional caliber communicator...MARS will teach you. Most HAMS just don't get past the 'ragchew' phase. MARS takes a commitment. AAV4TP out |
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KI4Dxx here. +1 on all the advice here to study for and take your Tech license. A good 2 m ham radio will cost only $200 or so cheaper if you find a used one from a friendly ham, known as "Elmers". Take the test, get the license, get'er done! ETA: here's what I have in Toy 4Runner: www.kenwood.net/indexKenwood.cfm?do=ProductDetails&ProdID=5024&Group=5 Highly recommended. Merlin |
Thanks for the link and info. While I have your ear, I have another question: If I buy a hand held 5 watt radio, can I "dock" it into something which will allow it to transmit at 50 or 100 watts? Does such a thing exist? |
Yes, there are "docks" and plain amplifiers available. The dock (usually)replaces the battery and incorporates a common power supply for the radio and included amplifier. With an amplifier, you need to power it separately and also power the radio. I've thought about going that route but I ended up getting another mobile.
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Depending on where you live, there's a good chance you will never need more than 5 watts. If you are in any type of urban environment you will likely be able to hit several repeaters on 2 meter. Once you can talk to the repeater, your 5 watts is plenty. I have a 50W capable VHF unit in my car and I rarely use more than 5 watts. I am within 60 miles of Fort Worth Texas and I can reliably get into 30+ repeaters. A good roof antenna and 5 watts is a great starting place. My little 1.5w handheld can hit 20+ repeaters from my front yard. |