Posted: 5/11/2014 4:50:28 PM EDT
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There was a thread here a while ago regarding a cheap BaoFeng hand held unit. I bought one, still don't have my license, will one of these days. My point is though, they are awesome for local weather. Some fun weather passing through at the moment and they are great tools to learn what is happening locally. The weather net guys will report trees down on specific intersections, power lines down on specific roads and real time weather conditions where they are and which direction it is headed. Even if you never plan on getting your license, you don't have to use the transmit button. They are great listening tools for real time very local information.
Edit for usefulness: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1488810_Got_45_bucks__You_can_afford_to_own_a_ham_radio_.html |
| I do not understand the unlicensed radio part, you do not need to possess a license to own a radio. You need a license to transmit on the frequencies that you are going to use. It is illegal to transmit on frequencies that you are not licensed for. To the tune of $10,000 a violation. |
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If you don't intend to get a license to transmit, get a scanner instead. Unlicensed transmitters in the hands of people who don't know much about radio are a BAD idea. There is no apostrophe in "ham radios" in the plural sense. Don't see what is such a bad idea, if I want to get my license later, I already have the hardware, it's not difficult to not press the transmit button. Thread title corrected, my fault. |
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I do not understand the unlicensed radio part, you do not need to possess a license to own a radio. You need a license to transmit on the frequencies that you are going to use. It is illegal to transmit on frequencies that you are not licensed for. To the tune of $10,000 a violation. I don't understand the point you are trying to make, I am aware that it's fine for me to own and listen to a ham radio without having a license as long as I do not transmit. I thought I made that clear in my OP. Sorry if I didn't. |
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Quoted: Don't see what is such a bad idea, if I want to get my license later, I already have the hardware, it's not difficult to not press the transmit button. Thread title corrected, my fault. Quoted: Quoted: If you don't intend to get a license to transmit, get a scanner instead. Unlicensed transmitters in the hands of people who don't know much about radio are a BAD idea. There is no apostrophe in "ham radios" in the plural sense. Don't see what is such a bad idea, if I want to get my license later, I already have the hardware, it's not difficult to not press the transmit button. Thread title corrected, my fault. I wouldn't want them sold at walmart to people who may not know the correct frequencies to use, and wouldn't know you need a license, but I don't have a problem with any mature adult buying one. (but get your lisecense anyway, its an easy test.) |
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For some people, having a transmitter is a temptation. A BAD temptation that will lead to trouble. I recommend that people who don't intend to get licensed should not get a transmitter. It's simply a recommendation. Take it as you will. If you cannot resist a "temptation" to press a button when you should not, I would recommend not owning a gun... It's a radio man. |
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If you cannot resist a "temptation" to press a button when you should not, I would recommend not owning a gun... It's a radio man. Quoted:
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For some people, having a transmitter is a temptation. A BAD temptation that will lead to trouble. I recommend that people who don't intend to get licensed should not get a transmitter. It's simply a recommendation. Take it as you will. If you cannot resist a "temptation" to press a button when you should not, I would recommend not owning a gun... It's a radio man. cmjohnson is very passionate about all of his endeavors. He has a lot of knowledge on the subjects that interest him. That being said, don't click the transmit button. Go buy the new ARRL technician class book with the question bank that kicks in on June 30, 2014. (The current book/question bank is only around for another 45 days. So, unless you are planning on studying hard AND finding a testing location before 6/30, get the new book.) |
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For some people, having a transmitter gun is a temptation. A BAD temptation that will lead to trouble. I recommend that people who don't intend to get licensed should not get a transmitter gun. It's simply a recommendation. Take it as you will. I like what you usually post, but no one suggested transmitting without a license, especially the OP..... Your line of thinking is exactly the way anti-gunners FEEL |
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cmjohnson is very passionate about all of his endeavors. He has a lot of knowledge on the subjects that interest him. That being said, don't click the transmit button. Go buy the new ARRL technician class book with the question bank that kicks in on June 30, 2014. (The current book/question bank is only around for another 45 days. So, unless you are planning on studying hard AND finding a testing location before 6/30, get the new book.) Quoted:
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For some people, having a transmitter is a temptation. A BAD temptation that will lead to trouble. I recommend that people who don't intend to get licensed should not get a transmitter. It's simply a recommendation. Take it as you will. If you cannot resist a "temptation" to press a button when you should not, I would recommend not owning a gun... It's a radio man. cmjohnson is very passionate about all of his endeavors. He has a lot of knowledge on the subjects that interest him. That being said, don't click the transmit button. Go buy the new ARRL technician class book with the question bank that kicks in on June 30, 2014. (The current book/question bank is only around for another 45 days. So, unless you are planning on studying hard AND finding a testing location before 6/30, get the new book.) Lets say I choose not to study and get my license to transmit, for any reason, it's not a "BAD" idea to own a cheap ham radio. The point of this thread was to share an experience I had tonight in which owning one and listening to one as I drove home became advantageous to me. I learned about it from GD and I was sharing that information in GD so that others might benefit from it as I did. As "passionate" as your friend there might be about the subject, I never advocated doing anything illegal or assumed that others that might read what I wrote would be incapable of not pressing a button. Push come to shove if a tornado came tonight and my cell was down and I needed help, a scanner isn't going to do me much good, licensed or not. It's a radio, we are gun owners, not sure who he thinks he is preaching to. |
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I bought a Baofeng myself, and like the OP haven't taken the test yet. I will, I've studied a bit, just haven't studied enough to feel comfortable enough to take the test(s).
But even with that little HT I've listened to folks from Japan, UK and all over Texas and the west coast. Via repeaters of course. The best laughs tho are from listening in to the local school bus operations in the afternoon. Holy crap! |
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not for nothing if you have half an idea of how to program them... just have them setup in duplex so if you accidentally hit the TX button it transmits on 000.0000 LOL yep, if he accidentally kerchunks a repeater the HAM helicopters will be over his house in just minutes. 
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I'd also argue, why spend extra for a transmitter, but those cheap chinese radios are cheaper than most scanning receivers. Just be careful. And don't think that you won't get caught if you transmit on frequencies you're not licensed for. The odds may be with you in the short term, but people who persistently interfere with licensed users often DO get caught. |
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Now that you have the radio, why not go ahead and get your license? The Technician and General tests has been dumbed down so much even Democrats can pass them. Dammit!
All you need to know to get your technician license |
| Here is the ham radio thread. Be sure to check out the sticky for studying and getting a license. 73, Rob |
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Quoted: Now that you have the radio, why not go ahead and get your license? The Technician and General tests has been dumbed down so much even Democrats can pass them. Dammit! And the hobby is suffering for it.  At least at the entry level.It usually doesn't take too long for the types that don't fit into amateur radio to get bored and wander away. When all the other hams just flat out stop talking to them, the hobby loses its luster. |
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And the hobby is suffering for it. At least at the entry level.
It usually doesn't take too long for the types that don't fit into amateur radio to get bored and wander away. When all the other hams just flat out stop talking to them, the hobby loses its luster. Quoted:
Quoted:
Now that you have the radio, why not go ahead and get your license? The Technician and General tests has been dumbed down so much even Democrats can pass them. Dammit! And the hobby is suffering for it. At least at the entry level.
It usually doesn't take too long for the types that don't fit into amateur radio to get bored and wander away. When all the other hams just flat out stop talking to them, the hobby loses its luster. all real estate is local. ar-jedi |
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I'd also argue, why spend extra for a transmitter, but those cheap chinese radios are cheaper than most scanning receivers. Just be careful. And don't think that you won't get caught if you transmit on frequencies you're not licensed for. The odds may be with you in the short term, but people who persistently interfere with licensed users often DO get caught. I don't understand your insistence that I or others have the inability to not press a button that you think is so alluring. I don't need to be careful of anything. You are basically warning me not to steer my car into oncoming traffic, shoot my neighbor or point my gun to my head. Thank you for your concern I guess. Sleep well man, I won't broadcast unless dying....or licensed. Your super special club is safe. |
| Heh, ham guys get so funny about unlicensed people owning radios. I passed my technician exam on Saturday and went straight to Ham Radio Outlet's store here to pickup a radio. When I was checking out, the guy asked for my callsign and I said, "I don't have one yet." and I shit you not, the guy grabbed the box with the radio in it off the counter like I was some sort of criminal about to do a snatch and grab. I was a bit curious how far he was prepared to go to defend the airwaves but decided to put his mind at ease and told him I'd just passed the exam and wanted to start programming and learning the radio for when my call-sign appears in the database. I guess that did the trick because he un-bladed his body, quit yelling "YOU WILL NOT TOUCH MY RADIO", and finished checking me out. |
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And the hobby is suffering for it. At least at the entry level.
It usually doesn't take too long for the types that don't fit into amateur radio to get bored and wander away. When all the other hams just flat out stop talking to them, the hobby loses its luster. Quoted:
Quoted:
Now that you have the radio, why not go ahead and get your license? The Technician and General tests has been dumbed down so much even Democrats can pass them. Dammit! And the hobby is suffering for it. At least at the entry level.
It usually doesn't take too long for the types that don't fit into amateur radio to get bored and wander away. When all the other hams just flat out stop talking to them, the hobby loses its luster. lol, I have a few Ham radio's but you are the exact reason I will NEVER get a license. The whole community is just a down right atrocious, you guys are snobs to the highest degree. |
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I don't understand your insistence that I or others have the inability to not press a button that you think is so alluring. I don't need to be careful of anything. You are basically warning me not to steer my car into oncoming traffic, shoot my neighbor or point my gun to my head. Thank you for your concern I guess. Sleep well man, I won't broadcast unless dying....or licensed. Your super special club is safe. Quoted:
Quoted:
I'd also argue, why spend extra for a transmitter, but those cheap chinese radios are cheaper than most scanning receivers. Just be careful. And don't think that you won't get caught if you transmit on frequencies you're not licensed for. The odds may be with you in the short term, but people who persistently interfere with licensed users often DO get caught. I don't understand your insistence that I or others have the inability to not press a button that you think is so alluring. I don't need to be careful of anything. You are basically warning me not to steer my car into oncoming traffic, shoot my neighbor or point my gun to my head. Thank you for your concern I guess. Sleep well man, I won't broadcast unless dying....or licensed. Your super special club is safe. some are Doing a lot to keep up the perception that ham ops will die virgins |
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There was a thread here a while ago regarding a cheap BaoFeng hand held unit. I bought one, still don't have my license, will one of these days. My point is though, they are awesome for local weather. Some fun weather passing through at the moment and they are great tools to learn what is happening locally. The weather net guys will report trees down on specific intersections, power lines down on specific roads and real time weather conditions where they are and which direction it is headed. Even if you never plan on getting your license, you don't have to use the transmit button. They are great listening tools for real time very local information. Edit for usefulness: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1488810_Got_45_bucks__You_can_afford_to_own_a_ham_radio_.html Reposting this so the thread maintains it's original intent. To help others, it helped me tonight. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/646491_the_CAN_T_FAIL_thread_for_getting_a_ham_radio_license_and_learning_basic_VHF_UHF_operations.html&page=1 |
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lol, I have a few Ham radio's but you are the exact reason I will NEVER get a license. The whole community is just a down right atrocious, you guys are snobs to the highest degree. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Now that you have the radio, why not go ahead and get your license? The Technician and General tests has been dumbed down so much even Democrats can pass them. Dammit! And the hobby is suffering for it. At least at the entry level.
It usually doesn't take too long for the types that don't fit into amateur radio to get bored and wander away. When all the other hams just flat out stop talking to them, the hobby loses its luster. lol, I have a few Ham radio's but you are the exact reason I will NEVER get a license. The whole community is just a down right atrocious, you guys are snobs to the highest degree. ignore him. he is a single datapoint. a lot of folks conclude from his posts that he is a fucking idiot. ar-jedi |
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ignore him. he is a single datapoint. a lot of folks conclude from his posts that he is a fucking idiot. ar-jedi Quoted:
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Now that you have the radio, why not go ahead and get your license? The Technician and General tests has been dumbed down so much even Democrats can pass them. Dammit! And the hobby is suffering for it. At least at the entry level.
It usually doesn't take too long for the types that don't fit into amateur radio to get bored and wander away. When all the other hams just flat out stop talking to them, the hobby loses its luster. lol, I have a few Ham radio's but you are the exact reason I will NEVER get a license. The whole community is just a down right atrocious, you guys are snobs to the highest degree. ignore him. he is a single datapoint. a lot of folks conclude from his posts that he is a fucking idiot. ar-jedi Thank you ar-jedi, I leaned alot from your posts. |
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Thank you ar-jedi, I leaned alot from your posts. Quoted:
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Now that you have the radio, why not go ahead and get your license? The Technician and General tests has been dumbed down so much even Democrats can pass them. Dammit! And the hobby is suffering for it. At least at the entry level.
It usually doesn't take too long for the types that don't fit into amateur radio to get bored and wander away. When all the other hams just flat out stop talking to them, the hobby loses its luster. lol, I have a few Ham radio's but you are the exact reason I will NEVER get a license. The whole community is just a down right atrocious, you guys are snobs to the highest degree. ignore him. he is a single datapoint. a lot of folks conclude from his posts that he is a fucking idiot. ar-jedi Thank you ar-jedi, I leaned alot from your posts. and you are welcome. amateur radio, just like firearms, is a broad hobby with lots of little niches and there is something for everyone. ar-jedi |
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I don't understand your insistence that I or others have the inability to not press a button that you think is so alluring. I don't need to be careful of anything. You are basically warning me not to steer my car into oncoming traffic, shoot my neighbor or point my gun to my head. Thank you for your concern I guess. Sleep well man, I won't broadcast unless dying....or licensed. Your super special club is safe. Quoted:
Quoted:
I'd also argue, why spend extra for a transmitter, but those cheap chinese radios are cheaper than most scanning receivers. Just be careful. And don't think that you won't get caught if you transmit on frequencies you're not licensed for. The odds may be with you in the short term, but people who persistently interfere with licensed users often DO get caught. I don't understand your insistence that I or others have the inability to not press a button that you think is so alluring. I don't need to be careful of anything. You are basically warning me not to steer my car into oncoming traffic, shoot my neighbor or point my gun to my head. Thank you for your concern I guess. Sleep well man, I won't broadcast unless dying....or licensed. Your super special club is safe. Lots of people buy transceivers before they get licensed, enjoy your radio OP....maybe someday we'll meet on the air 
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Heh, ham guys get so funny about unlicensed people owning radios. I passed my technician exam on Saturday and went straight to Ham Radio Outlet's store here to pickup a radio. When I was checking out, the guy asked for my callsign and I said, "I don't have one yet." and I shit you not, the guy grabbed the box with the radio in it off the counter like I was some sort of criminal about to do a snatch and grab. I was a bit curious how far he was prepared to go to defend the airwaves but decided to put his mind at ease and told him I'd just passed the exam and wanted to start programming and learning the radio for when my call-sign appears in the database. I guess that did the trick because he un-bladed his body, quit yelling "YOU WILL NOT TOUCH MY RADIO", and finished checking me out. this is pretty funny, bro.  
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| I can attest to the fact that most of the people in the hobby I have met are all very willing to help...I joined the local club and have become active in helping Marshal some of the local events and I am having a blast.....study for your test and get your Tech license you wont regret it..... |
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Quoted: I don't understand your insistence that I or others have the inability to not press a button that you think is so alluring. I don't need to be careful of anything. You are basically warning me not to steer my car into oncoming traffic, shoot my neighbor or point my gun to my head. Thank you for your concern I guess. Sleep well man, I won't broadcast unless dying....or licensed. Your super special club is safe. Quoted: Quoted: I'd also argue, why spend extra for a transmitter, but those cheap chinese radios are cheaper than most scanning receivers. Just be careful. And don't think that you won't get caught if you transmit on frequencies you're not licensed for. The odds may be with you in the short term, but people who persistently interfere with licensed users often DO get caught. I don't understand your insistence that I or others have the inability to not press a button that you think is so alluring. I don't need to be careful of anything. You are basically warning me not to steer my car into oncoming traffic, shoot my neighbor or point my gun to my head. Thank you for your concern I guess. Sleep well man, I won't broadcast unless dying....or licensed. Your super special club is safe. for the most part. With a few exceptions, most hams are very limited in the range and scope of their radio related interests. It's the most clique-ish hobby I've ever encountered. Some of those cliques are, in their own way, as batshit crazy as horse chicks or ICP followers. I've become thoroughly disillusioned with MOST of the aspects of the hobby. The only ones that I can really enjoy talking to for an extended time are those who have a wealth of technical knowledge and understand electronics well enough that given the appropriate tools, a service manual, and a broken radio, they could most likely fix the radio. Which is what I do every day at work. I'm technically oriented and play best with those who ALSO understand how a radio works. I'm more concerned about people unintentionally (or, worse, intentionally) interfering with public safety services. |
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lol, I have a few Ham radio's but you are the exact reason I will NEVER get a license. The whole community is just a down right atrocious, you guys are snobs to the highest degree. Stop by the ham sub forum here. It's a great, helpful and very cordial group who will help you out along the way. http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_10/22_Ham_Radios.html |
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Quoted: To be blunt about it, I don't give much of a shit about people messing around on the amateur frequencies. I am extremely bored with amateur radio for the most part. With a few exceptions, most hams are very limited in the range and scope of their radio related interests. It's the most clique-ish hobby I've ever encountered. Some of those cliques are, in their own way, as batshit crazy as horse chicks or ICP followers. I've become thoroughly disillusioned with MOST of the aspects of the hobby. The only ones that I can really enjoy talking to for an extended time are those who have a wealth of technical knowledge and understand electronics well enough that given the appropriate tools, a service manual, and a broken radio, they could most likely fix the radio. Which is what I do every day at work. I'm technically oriented and play best with those who ALSO understand how a radio works. I'm more concerned about people unintentionally (or, worse, intentionally) interfering with public safety services. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I'd also argue, why spend extra for a transmitter, but those cheap chinese radios are cheaper than most scanning receivers. Just be careful. And don't think that you won't get caught if you transmit on frequencies you're not licensed for. The odds may be with you in the short term, but people who persistently interfere with licensed users often DO get caught. I don't understand your insistence that I or others have the inability to not press a button that you think is so alluring. I don't need to be careful of anything. You are basically warning me not to steer my car into oncoming traffic, shoot my neighbor or point my gun to my head. Thank you for your concern I guess. Sleep well man, I won't broadcast unless dying....or licensed. Your super special club is safe. for the most part. With a few exceptions, most hams are very limited in the range and scope of their radio related interests. It's the most clique-ish hobby I've ever encountered. Some of those cliques are, in their own way, as batshit crazy as horse chicks or ICP followers. I've become thoroughly disillusioned with MOST of the aspects of the hobby. The only ones that I can really enjoy talking to for an extended time are those who have a wealth of technical knowledge and understand electronics well enough that given the appropriate tools, a service manual, and a broken radio, they could most likely fix the radio. Which is what I do every day at work. I'm technically oriented and play best with those who ALSO understand how a radio works. I'm more concerned about people unintentionally (or, worse, intentionally) interfering with public safety services. I would rank radio right up there with having the most passionate followers, you definitely meet some characters. I've been a radio/electronics tech for about 15 years and have very little interest in the hobby side so I get what you are saying. However I did buy one of the BAOFENG UV-82L handhelds and currently use it as a police/fire/EMS scanner since my county and city police are still just conventional VHF/UHF repeaters, it does pretty well for $45. As far as illegal use, the worst offenders up here are the deer/hog hunters that still run dogs. In the last 15 years or so they have gotten away from the CBs and linears and moved to VHF setups. At first it was popular for them to throw a 25W marine radio in the hunting truck. In the last 5 years or so it got popular for them to get 75W 2 meter Yaesu or ICOM mobiles with keypad mics for easy programming. These cheap Chinese models are probably gaining in popularity with them for sure. |
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I haven't talked on a ham radio for probably five years, at least. I did, however, reup my license late last year, so now I'm good to at least 2023, I think.
Unfortunately, I stopped by that damn Arfcom $45 ham radio thread and it snared me into buying one of those beofong BV-5/BF-5/B-something or another radio for like $29. I figured with the crappy cell phone service out here on my farm, having a cheap, dependable(?) ham radio would be a good backup in case of a tractor accident or snake bite or chainsaw disfigurement or who knows what. The Ebay seller says it's being shipped from China, so I *assume* it's on a mega-container ship as we speak. After I get it, I'll have to check into the $45 thread and figure out what accessories to get for it so I can use it (literally) out in the field. OP, good luck, you're on the path to another good hobby! OP, one other thing concerning ham radios and opsec: Your ham radio call sign will be posted to a FCC.gov site for everyone to see. Hence, if you give out your call sign on a forum such as Arfcom etc., anyone can find out your name and address. Here's the site: FCC ULS system Good luck! |