2aHawaii
General Topics => Preparedness and Survival => Topic started by: kala201 on February 03, 2014, 04:23:41 PM
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Anyone here have their ham radio operator license at any level? A friend and I were talking about it today. He is working on his General License. His brother on the mainland is big time into it is gifting him a setup. It got me thinking about looking into getting my licenses.
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Anyone here have their ham radio operator license at any level? A friend and I were talking about it today. He is working on his General License. His brother on the mainland is big time into it is gifting him a setup. It got me thinking about looking into getting my licenses.
jl808 is working on it
i am considering it
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Was big into CB in the late 80's time frame and I too am interested in getting into ham. I know you can do it on the relatively cheap, but this is another hobby that I could see myself getting in deep financially.
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I got my technician license in the fall. haven't used it much yet besides checking into net meetings on FM. the cool thing is that you can get a single band Chinese 5w handie talkie for like 40 bucks and sometimes hit as far away as the slopes of Mauna Kea using a good antenna. gonna go for the next level soon.
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Yup. The technician and general operator licenses are next for me. I am planning on taking both tests at the same time to save on time.
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I have had my technician class license since 2005, The test for that is quite easy. The General license test is much more difficult. I did not pass it the one time I took it. I still have my GROL test book and have thought about studying up through it and going for it again though even though I am not into Ham.
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for intra island the problem with FM simplex is line of sight. more reliable to use HF especially if your friends live behind a big mountain. there are statewide repeater networks but then everyone is listening in. basically you unlock HF with a general ticket. the way I studied last time was taking online practice tests over and over until I memorized all the answers
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Thanks everyone. I think I'm gonna do it too. My father-in-law was big time into it and still has some of his equipment. He lives in the valley by JI808. He has postcards with handles from people all over the world that he has talked to. And like Surf my other half was into CB in the 80's. Did you hang out with the group at the keyhole? At least now I know I won't be going it alone. :shaka:
Part of the reason I ask is because I want to get into kayak fishing and my friend caught me looking at VHF/UHF radios. That is how we got onto the topic of Ham radio operators.
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marine radios require a whole separate license. yachties don't want their bandwith polluted by nerds, but many of them have ham tickets and carry ham gear in plastic bags just in case.
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Been studying for a general for the last 45 years. Never took the test.
Morse code still embedded in my brain
try this: http://www.eham.net/exams/generateexams (http://www.eham.net/exams/generateexams)
got 65% without reviewing anything
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marine radios require a whole separate license. yachties don't want their bandwith polluted by nerds, but many of them have ham tickets and carry ham gear in plastic bags just in case.
Thanks hvy. That's something else I need to look into. I am still on the fence about a handheld VHF/UHF radio, but my wife tells me better safe than sorry.
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Been studying for a general for the last 45 years. Never took the test.
Morse code still embedded in my brain
try this: http://www.eham.net/exams/generateexams (http://www.eham.net/exams/generateexams)
got 65% without reviewing anything
65%? You wouldn't have passed!
I would probably need to study to pass though. :thumbsup:
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Also try qrz.com and their tests at http://qrz.com/hamtest/ (http://qrz.com/hamtest/)
Got my General a few years ago. They changed a few questions starting in 2012 or 2013 so if you get a study guide, make sure it is the newest version. I haven't been active lately. I got a used handheld and a diamond antenna for about $120 on ebay so it's not a lot of money to get started.
Lots of info on Ron Hashiro's site on Hawaii emergency communications. http://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/in-hawaii.html (http://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/in-hawaii.html)
Good luck!
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Here is an awesome video study guide on Youtube based on the book "The Ham Whisperer's Technician Class License Course"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1456484818/?tag=2ahawaii-20 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1456484818/?tag=2ahawaii-20)
MerryViking's Technician Class License Course
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7564E84F0A8082FD (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7564E84F0A8082FD)
MerryViking's General Exam Guide (warning: out of date)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF5479577E88162DA (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF5479577E88162DA)
MerryViking's Morse Code Guide (not needed for exam)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE29501CA11B567E8 (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE29501CA11B567E8)
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nice, i have my technician license. for a while, WH6FM from the big island had an awesome WIN System repeater set up on Oahu at 444.725MHz. dunno where it went recently , but it was cool to talk with him and folks from all over the world on my cheapo Baofeng UV-5R. i'm thinking of setting up my own WIN repeater
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nice, i have my technician license. for a while, WH6FM from the big island had an awesome WIN System repeater set up on Oahu at 444.725MHz. dunno where it went recently , but it was cool to talk with him and folks from all over the world on my cheapo Baofeng UV-5R. i'm thinking of setting up my own WIN repeater
LD, how far can you get across the island without repeaters using the UV-5R?
for example, PC side to HK side?
or windward side to HK side?
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You can also do echolink via voip. Very easy to sign up and you can get the app for your smartphone.
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One more thought.
Your call sign will be public knowledge. It's searchable online and your address WILL show. It's a good idea to use a PO Box as your address if you want more privacy (being on a 2a site and all).
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nice, i have my technician license. for a while, WH6FM from the big island had an awesome WIN System repeater set up on Oahu at 444.725MHz. dunno where it went recently , but it was cool to talk with him and folks from all over the world on my cheapo Baofeng UV-5R. i'm thinking of setting up my own WIN repeater
I've been looking at the Baofeng radios for emergencies. Is this the radio you would recommend? Is there a comparably cheap model that you would now selective your current one?
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as far as communicating, i think ive had a good experience with the Baofeng UV-5R, and Its good enough that i wouldnt change it.
However, my dream radio for emergencies is the Yaesu FT1DR. its got a lot of features that are helpful for emergencies, e.g. gps, multi channel spectrum monitoring. costs a lot though.
But, no handheld will beat the the range of a car/mobile station. i think the best setup is to have a handheld that can be set up with a car radio as a cross-link repeater to launch your signal a lot farther than the handheld can do on its own.
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Late to the discussion, but I have my license as well. HAM is the fall back comms for all healthcare facilities in Hawaii, and DEM uses them as well. Great skill to have and can be quite fun as well. Most HAMS are pretty helpful and welcoming, some are a bit...crusty. There are several "NETS" each week you can use for practice and networking.
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Not sure how far without repeaters, never had a partner to test with. As far as what I did, I used repeaters almost exclusively since it was kind of a gathering place for people. I just load up the whole repeater book on the radio and scan all known repeaters.
Also, there used to be the WH6FM repeater connected to the win system. I think that was on some sort of SSFM(?) building or something near Honolulu. I was able to get the signal real well across salt lake, pearl city. Although, I had problems putting a good signal into the repeater from salt lake, even with a higher gain car-mount antenna.
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Have radio, but not licensed.... yet.
In the meanwhile, is there a specific channel to tune into to listen-in on Hawaii/Maui county weather conditions?
THIS.
I have a shortwave radio. What Hz to tune into if I wanna listen to HAMS or whatever talking about weather conditions at their locations?
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Have radio, but not licensed.... yet.
In the meanwhile, is there a specific channel to tune into to listen-in on Hawaii/Maui county weather conditions?
Have you been tho this page yet?
http://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/hawaii/scd.html (http://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/hawaii/scd.html)
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Been down and out for a long time. The wife and I bought our first home and I quit my job :shaka: . Anyways, the contractors association I belong to has been working with the Honolulu DEM. They offer a class about being a HAM that helps with the test. They can also administer the test. I have become good friends with the deputy director. If we can get a bunch of guys and a place they can send someone down to do the class and hopefully the test too. Any takers?
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Count me in.
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One more thought.
Your call sign will be public knowledge. It's searchable online and your address WILL show. It's a good idea to use a PO Box as your address if you want more privacy (being on a 2a site and all).
Amen. I do not post my call sign for just this reason.
Not on ANY site, you never know, and privacy is too precious these days.
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I was gonna try and get one back in the 70's but back then you had to learn and be proficient at Morse code. I think you had to do 20 words a minute. Anyways, whatever it was, it wasn't that important for me to have it so I never made the effort to get good at it. I knew the code, I just wasn't fast enough or willing to work harder to get fast enough. Is it still a requirement? Knowing morse code that is.
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I'm interested in getting licensed. Any tips?
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First step is to get the technician's license. Next is the a General license if you want to get it too. Last is the Extra license. Each license adds to what frequency you are allowed to operate.
To get a license, you'll need to pass a test and pay a small fee which is good for 10 years.
For most people, the Technician license is enough.
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thanks
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or at least study group? I guilty of no ticket yet too. Always get started reading the book(s) but then never finish :( Got radio never even turned on since no idea how to program.
I did however get my CB license way back when :D and even a GMRS license so I'm trying to be legal.
need another hobby like a hole in the head but this is a good one, so taggaging da thread for updates
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KC7VHF here. Recently moved to Oahu. Only have a HT at the moment