5 ms·

I live in an area [0] prone to severe weather and especially violent tornadoes. The local Skywarn [1] repeater is probably the best source of immediate first-ha

I live in an area [0] prone to severe weather and especially violent tornadoes. The local Skywarn [1] repeater is probably the best source of immediate first-hand information when things get bad. There's usually at least a few storm chasers out following the storms, and reports from various places in the area help you get a real feel for how bad a particular storm is. Moreover, the repeater is monitored by all of the local TV and radio stations as well as the city EMA (Emergency Management) and the local National Weather Service office. I'm not licensed (yet, it's on my to-do list for this year), but I still have a small handheld that I tune in whenever the weather is bad. Ham radio is still very much alive. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Alley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Alley [1] https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN

swalberg 7y ago
Since you're planning far ahead for the exam, have a look at writing both Technician and General in the same session. I took (just) my Tech a few months ago and several people at the session did both. After studying for General I'm kicking myself for not doing it myself. There's a lot of overlap and a lot of it is pretty intuitive if you have a science background.
- smabie 7y ago
  What happens if you use the ham radio without taking the test? Like, what’s the point of this whole system?
  - JshWright 7y ago
    You run the risk of getting fined by the FCC (and having your equipment confiscated).
    - brians 7y ago
      Yeah, and you also run the risk of breaking something important: your neighbor’s circuit breaker, or a nearby hospital pager system, for example. Power tools require care; you could know how to use them without the license, but if you do know how the license is $15 and an easy evening test.
      - xxpor 7y ago
        In re: the $15 I suggest checking if there's a Laurel VEC test in your area first: https://www.laurelvec.com/ https://www.laurelvec.com/ They're free and they submit results digitally to the FCC rather than mailing them off to ARRL HQ, so you'll get your ticket in a day or 2 rather than 2 weeks.
  - peckrob 7y ago
    To clarify, you can listen without a license. You just cannot broadcast.
    - tzs 7y ago
      That said, a ham radio license can actually help legally with some listening. Some US states have laws against having and/or using a scanner to monitor police or emergency services frequencies while driving. For example, in New York you cannot equip a motor vehicle with a receiver that can receive frequencies allocated for police use. There are similar laws in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, and Minnesota. The FCC, however, has ruled that Federal law preempts state laws in this area in the case of a licensed ham radio operator using a radio that can incidentally receive frequencies outside of the ham bands. For example, I have a Kenwood TH-F6A [1], a handheld transceiver for the 144/220/440 MHz ham bands. In addition to those ham bands, it can also receive on 0.1 - 1300 MHz (minus some bands in there assigned to cell phones). Since I have an Extra class ham radio license, I can go ahead and listen to police frequencies that fall in that range even in my car in those five states. [1] https://www.kenwood.com/usa/com/amateur/th-f6a/ https://www.kenwood.com/usa/com/amateur/th-f6a/
      - throw0101a 7y ago
        > listen to police frequencies that fall in that range even in my car in those five states. Haven't most services switched over to encrypted Public 25? How much is still accessible?
  - mtreis86 7y ago
    In an emergency, nothing. They define emergency as "eminent danger to life or property".
- tzs 7y ago
  > There's a lot of overlap and a lot of it is pretty intuitive if you have a science background. Same goes for General and Extra, so I'd recommend considering going for all three in parallel.

swalberg 7y ago

Since you're planning far ahead for the exam, have a look at writing both Technician and General in the same session. I took (just) my Tech a few months ago and several people at the session did both. After studying for General I'm kicking myself for not doing it myself. There's a lot of overlap and a lot of it is pretty intuitive if you have a science background.

smabie 7y ago
What happens if you use the ham radio without taking the test? Like, what’s the point of this whole system?
- JshWright 7y ago
  You run the risk of getting fined by the FCC (and having your equipment confiscated).
  - brians 7y ago
    Yeah, and you also run the risk of breaking something important: your neighbor’s circuit breaker, or a nearby hospital pager system, for example. Power tools require care; you could know how to use them without the license, but if you do know how the license is $15 and an easy evening test.
    - xxpor 7y ago
      In re: the $15 I suggest checking if there's a Laurel VEC test in your area first: https://www.laurelvec.com/ https://www.laurelvec.com/ They're free and they submit results digitally to the FCC rather than mailing them off to ARRL HQ, so you'll get your ticket in a day or 2 rather than 2 weeks.
- peckrob 7y ago
  To clarify, you can listen without a license. You just cannot broadcast.
  - tzs 7y ago
    That said, a ham radio license can actually help legally with some listening. Some US states have laws against having and/or using a scanner to monitor police or emergency services frequencies while driving. For example, in New York you cannot equip a motor vehicle with a receiver that can receive frequencies allocated for police use. There are similar laws in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, and Minnesota. The FCC, however, has ruled that Federal law preempts state laws in this area in the case of a licensed ham radio operator using a radio that can incidentally receive frequencies outside of the ham bands. For example, I have a Kenwood TH-F6A [1], a handheld transceiver for the 144/220/440 MHz ham bands. In addition to those ham bands, it can also receive on 0.1 - 1300 MHz (minus some bands in there assigned to cell phones). Since I have an Extra class ham radio license, I can go ahead and listen to police frequencies that fall in that range even in my car in those five states. [1] https://www.kenwood.com/usa/com/amateur/th-f6a/ https://www.kenwood.com/usa/com/amateur/th-f6a/
    - throw0101a 7y ago
      > listen to police frequencies that fall in that range even in my car in those five states. Haven't most services switched over to encrypted Public 25? How much is still accessible?
- mtreis86 7y ago
  In an emergency, nothing. They define emergency as "eminent danger to life or property".
tzs 7y ago
> There's a lot of overlap and a lot of it is pretty intuitive if you have a science background. Same goes for General and Extra, so I'd recommend considering going for all three in parallel.