Ham Radio

Anyone here have a ham license?

I got my first Technician license at around 14 years old.
At the time, a Novice license required passing a Morse Code test, which failed me miserably.
I say it failed me, because I knew the code. I was just horrible at taking tests in crowded rooms.

They've done away with the Novice license, and the Morse Code test. Be that as it may.

My license had expired, but I found myself living in the hills of AZ, with a direct line-of-site to Green's Peak, a mountain 19 miles away, with at least 3 active radio repeaters in my sight.

So, I found a wonderful coach, locally, who not only gave me the materials to retest for the license, he also ended up being one of three volunteer examiners to administer the test.

I thought ham radio had been dead for years.
Not so... Definitely still a pretty vibrant community on the nets. Mostly older, some younger, but all interested in the actual mechanics of communicating with a radio.
I have had so many frustrating moments with cell phones, that, at the price point, I really wonder whether it's even worth the time or money.

Was a trip getting back into radio. I'm still only a Tech, so most of my communications are on 2m, but it's been exciting to see that people are still utilizing it.

Anyway, would love to see if there are any other hams on permies.

Kindly,
N1XDW

Where I live in Bendigo there is an active Ham group.
I have often wondered about joining them having seen the massive arrays some blokes have had in the suburbs in the past.

I picked up my license maybe a year ago. I picked up the Tech and the General as well as a GMRS.  What got me going was that I bought a couple of GMRS radios that also crossed over into ham.  I wanted to be sure I knew were the cut offs were. I don’t spent much time on ham….the equipment is out of my budget at present.

John F Dean wrote:I picked up my license maybe a year ago. I picked up the Tech and the General as well as a GMRS.  What got me going was that I bought a couple of GMRS radios that also crossed over into ham.  I wanted to be sure I knew were the cut offs were. I don’t spent much time on ham….the equipment is out of my budget at present.

I get that.
In fact, I contacted my first radio mentor after 25 years, and he mentioned the same thing, that the hf hobby had gotten pretty expensive.
Well, I still love the idea that I can get a signal out, and I'm amazed at how far-reaching the repeater networks are here.
Thanks for the response!

This is on my list. I have the books. Just loathe studying. I need to find a mentor I suppose.

I originally got my license using the paper-back ARRL manual when I was maybe 15 y/o. But if you want a good study guide, look up Roy Watson. Study app. I aced the exam with no sleep, living off-grid in the hills. They told me I was the first to get 100% in that particular club.
It was really a whole lot of budweiser and rollie cigarettes in my 16' trailer. I don't care, it was a function of winter : )
You'll get it. Buy  2m handheld and learn to build antennas. It's pretty amazing what you can do;)

Hi Betty,

The Ham license can be gotten without buying the books. I did pick up two books, but I found the free online resources to be excellent. I suspect that just taking a bunch of practice tests will do the job.

John F Dean wrote:Hi Betty,

The Ham license can be gotten without buying the books. I did pick up two books, but I found the free online resources to be excellent. I suspect that just taking a bunch of practice tests will do the job.

Indeed it will. Radio is like any other science... You can scratch the surface,  or you can get very technically involved. What makes it a fun hobby.
I got my license back for more utilitarian purposes. Was living in the mts without good phone service,  but I could see the radio repeaters from my property.  It only made sense to have that line of communication as an emergency outlet. Plus, service is free. They did this during WWII for that very purpose. I wish more people would learn to utilize it!