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This might seem like a silly question, but what does one do with a HAM radio license? Just talk to other people? I have trouble seeing where the creative, bui

• webtechgal 10y ago
  The 'creative, build-cool-shit part' is always available to those who are so inclined in this way: Build a rig from scratch (using even discarded components for the most part) and then use it to talk to others across the town (VHF/UHF) or across the ocean (HF), completely off the grid!! How cool would that be? :-)
• Steltek 10y ago
  * Antennas are usually the first step since it's just straight up metal bent into the right length and shape. Build a QFH to receive weather satellite data directly. Build a Yagi to talk to the ISS (that is, usually people using the ISS repeater) or other satellites. * Kits for peripherals usually comes next. Antenna tuners, power meters, etc. * Kit radios themselves. Usually more complicated than regular kits but the potential for hands-on learning is huge. * Tweaking and tuning. Like squeezing every ounce of performance out of your code, you can always refine your radio setup to go farther or do more on less power. * SOTA - Summits On The Air. Assemble a radio setup that's light enough to carry to the top of a mountain then prove that it works by contacting other people with it. Typically this is a small COTS or kit radio running on AA batteries with a homebrew antenna. * EME - Create a high-gain directional antenna and a high power amplifier. Aim it the moon and see if you can hear yourself.