8 ms·

any particular recommendations for resources beginners to get in to ham radio these days? specific radios or web resources. i hear that the radios have improved

by durkie 6y ago

any particular recommendations for resources beginners to get in to ham radio these days? specific radios or web resources. i hear that the radios have improved dramatically in the past few years. my dad was really in to ham radio when I was a kid and was always setting up huge antennas in our backyard and had lots of big mysterious black metal boxes with vu meters and nice big knobs of them. i remember him making a phone call to my mom via ham radio during the 80s and it blew my mind.

seany 6y ago
/r/amateurradio isn't bad. Alternately find a sub-niche that uses radios for something, and dig in from there (SOTA if you like hiking, wspr stuff if low power digital is interesting, etc)
jes 6y ago
I like the videos by David Casler on YouTube. He has many. The videos for the Technician class license may be of interest to you. You might also want to check out the American Radio Relay League, at arrl.org. Wishing you success with your investigation.
gravypod 6y ago
What's very interesting is the licensing requirements for Ham Radio, while being dumb, are very good entry points. [1] and [2] essentially give you flash cards and tell you when you have enough of the questions memorized to pass the exam. Once you do that you can use [3] to find an exam session. These are usually hosted by radio clubs so you can immediately find a club of people who like radio and live by you. If you live in Tucson, Arizona or Dayton, Ohio you're in a lot of luck since they are the biggest clubs I know of. There's mainly a few "areas" people like: - Digital (PSK, etc) - CW (Morse Code usually over long distances) - Repeaters (VHF, a small local community, essentially TeamSpeak) If I had enough money I'd buy a FT-100D [4] since it lets you do "everything" (poorly) in a single package which is important for me since I live in a small apartment. When you get your license, go to your local radio club, tell people you're new, and ask them to participate in something called "Field Day". It's a disaster preparedness "drill" done yearly and works like a contest: talk to a bunch of people regardless of method and get points for it. You'll see everyone doing everything. There's people doing QRP (very low power transmissions usually off batter/solar) and QRO (people using very high power radios). Digital/analog, etc. [1] - qrz.com [2] - www.hamradiolicenseexam.com [3] - www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session [4] - https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/3473.html https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/3473.html
- fr0sty 6y ago
  http://HamStudy.org http://HamStudy.org is a free (and ad free) site that lets you study the amateur radio question pools. The developer also built ExamTools which many groups use to administer remote license exams. You can find sessions here: http://hamstudy.org/sessions http://hamstudy.org/sessions
  - gravypod 6y ago
    If you want something self hosted I also wrote this: https://github.com/gravypod/ButcherSchool https://github.com/gravypod/ButcherSchool The scripts there should still work for the exams.
- deepstack 6y ago
  This is only for US. Are there any for EU or other countries?
  - 7kay 6y ago
    Each country's member association of the International Amateur Radio Union[0] likely provides information on ways to get your ham radio license in the specific country. Germany: https://www.darc.de/einsteiger/amateurfunkausbildung/ https://www.darc.de/einsteiger/amateurfunkausbildung/ UK: https://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/ https://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/ France: https://promocom.r-e-f.org/ https://promocom.r-e-f.org/ Sweden: https://www.ssa.se/amatorradio/bli-radioamator/ https://www.ssa.se/amatorradio/bli-radioamator/ [0]: https://www.iaru.org/reference/member-societies/ https://www.iaru.org/reference/member-societies/
astronautjones 6y ago
go wild using SDRs and just start researching what everything does. the kiwisdr network is really impressive and amazing - http://ve3sun.com/KiwiSDR/ http://ve3sun.com/KiwiSDR/ if you live in the US, i've found that 90% of ham action is bordering on c-span call-in line territory and really off-putting and demoralizing. it's much more exciting and encouraging at first to listen in faraway locales online (and then you can eventually get some equipment that can catch those signals physically at your house too). the old tech guy factor is alive and well with the subculture which is honestly really endearing imo, especially the people that review equipment on youtube. it is a level of humble and noble pedantry - what some might call dorkiness - that seems like it barely even exists in my generation's youtube
- tal8d 6y ago
  > ...bordering on c-span call-in line territory and really off-putting and demoralizing. Is this a roundabout way of complaining that you can't block or flag people you disagree with in meatspace?
  - Rebelgecko 6y ago
    I don't want to put words in the above poster's mouth, but I think they're just saying that it isn't fun to listen to incoherent rambling and the occasional racist rant. Based off of a few hours listening to the infamous .435 in Los Angeles [1], I'm inclined to agree [1]: https://www.broadcastify.com/webPlayer/14747 https://www.broadcastify.com/webPlayer/14747
    - tal8d 6y ago
      I guess c-span got a lot more interesting since I stopped watching tv, not only allowing racist rants on air - but doing it to a degree that develops a level notoriety supporting cultural shorthand. Like Emily Post. Either that or... nah, I don't wanna put words in your mouth.
      - Rebelgecko 6y ago
jes 6y ago
It occurred to me that you might enjoy listening to amateur radio over the web while you are thinking about your next move: websdr.org
- jcims 6y ago
  websdr is a gateway drug. It's still an amazing resource but I just want to also give props to kiwisdr just because of one amazing feature: TDOA localization. go here - http://rx.linkfanel.net/ http://rx.linkfanel.net/ pick a radio and tune to a station click the 'extensions' dropdown at the bottom right and select 'TDoA' give the extension a bit to load at the bottom left pick a set of radios from the map (blue boxes) that are close enough to likely hear the station you're tuned to until you get 4-5 radios filled in the form on the bottom left. click 'Submit' if you get any red 'X' indicators click the scissors and try again. you should see a little circle clock while it collects samples, then the extension will attempt to plot likely locations for the transmitter. really cool i think (just tried it on a shortwave station transmitting out of Okeechobee, FL and got this result https://i.imgur.com/k2brLAk.png https://i.imgur.com/k2brLAk.png)
- downut 6y ago
  I know nothing. I went to several sites and the display looks functional, but all I am hearing is white noise. Is there a tutorial somewhere? It has sounded cool for years, but I need to bootstrap somehow. I am so old school that 95% of my listening is college radio stations (WREK, KFJC, WKCR...) and noncommercial stations KSDS, WFMU, WWOZ, ...). I would love to branch out.

by durkie 6y ago

seany 6y ago

/r/amateurradio isn't bad. Alternately find a sub-niche that uses radios for something, and dig in from there (SOTA if you like hiking, wspr stuff if low power digital is interesting, etc)

jes 6y ago

I like the videos by David Casler on YouTube. He has many. The videos for the Technician class license may be of interest to you. You might also want to check out the American Radio Relay League, at arrl.org. Wishing you success with your investigation.

gravypod 6y ago

What's very interesting is the licensing requirements for Ham Radio, while being dumb, are very good entry points. [1] and [2] essentially give you flash cards and tell you when you have enough of the questions memorized to pass the exam. Once you do that you can use [3] to find an exam session. These are usually hosted by radio clubs so you can immediately find a club of people who like radio and live by you. If you live in Tucson, Arizona or Dayton, Ohio you're in a lot of luck since they are the biggest clubs I know of. There's mainly a few "areas" people like: - Digital (PSK, etc) - CW (Morse Code usually over long distances) - Repeaters (VHF, a small local community, essentially TeamSpeak) If I had enough money I'd buy a FT-100D [4] since it lets you do "everything" (poorly) in a single package which is important for me since I live in a small apartment. When you get your license, go to your local radio club, tell people you're new, and ask them to participate in something called "Field Day". It's a disaster preparedness "drill" done yearly and works like a contest: talk to a bunch of people regardless of method and get points for it. You'll see everyone doing everything. There's people doing QRP (very low power transmissions usually off batter/solar) and QRO (people using very high power radios). Digital/analog, etc. [1] - qrz.com [2] - www.hamradiolicenseexam.com [3] - www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session [4] - https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/3473.html https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/3473.html

fr0sty 6y ago
http://HamStudy.org http://HamStudy.org is a free (and ad free) site that lets you study the amateur radio question pools. The developer also built ExamTools which many groups use to administer remote license exams. You can find sessions here: http://hamstudy.org/sessions http://hamstudy.org/sessions
- gravypod 6y ago
  If you want something self hosted I also wrote this: https://github.com/gravypod/ButcherSchool https://github.com/gravypod/ButcherSchool The scripts there should still work for the exams.
deepstack 6y ago
This is only for US. Are there any for EU or other countries?
- 7kay 6y ago
  Each country's member association of the International Amateur Radio Union[0] likely provides information on ways to get your ham radio license in the specific country. Germany: https://www.darc.de/einsteiger/amateurfunkausbildung/ https://www.darc.de/einsteiger/amateurfunkausbildung/ UK: https://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/ https://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/ France: https://promocom.r-e-f.org/ https://promocom.r-e-f.org/ Sweden: https://www.ssa.se/amatorradio/bli-radioamator/ https://www.ssa.se/amatorradio/bli-radioamator/ [0]: https://www.iaru.org/reference/member-societies/ https://www.iaru.org/reference/member-societies/

astronautjones 6y ago

go wild using SDRs and just start researching what everything does. the kiwisdr network is really impressive and amazing - http://ve3sun.com/KiwiSDR/ http://ve3sun.com/KiwiSDR/ if you live in the US, i've found that 90% of ham action is bordering on c-span call-in line territory and really off-putting and demoralizing. it's much more exciting and encouraging at first to listen in faraway locales online (and then you can eventually get some equipment that can catch those signals physically at your house too). the old tech guy factor is alive and well with the subculture which is honestly really endearing imo, especially the people that review equipment on youtube. it is a level of humble and noble pedantry - what some might call dorkiness - that seems like it barely even exists in my generation's youtube

tal8d 6y ago
> ...bordering on c-span call-in line territory and really off-putting and demoralizing. Is this a roundabout way of complaining that you can't block or flag people you disagree with in meatspace?
- Rebelgecko 6y ago
  I don't want to put words in the above poster's mouth, but I think they're just saying that it isn't fun to listen to incoherent rambling and the occasional racist rant. Based off of a few hours listening to the infamous .435 in Los Angeles [1], I'm inclined to agree [1]: https://www.broadcastify.com/webPlayer/14747 https://www.broadcastify.com/webPlayer/14747
  - tal8d 6y ago
    I guess c-span got a lot more interesting since I stopped watching tv, not only allowing racist rants on air - but doing it to a degree that develops a level notoriety supporting cultural shorthand. Like Emily Post. Either that or... nah, I don't wanna put words in your mouth.
    - Rebelgecko 6y ago

jes 6y ago

It occurred to me that you might enjoy listening to amateur radio over the web while you are thinking about your next move: websdr.org

jcims 6y ago
websdr is a gateway drug. It's still an amazing resource but I just want to also give props to kiwisdr just because of one amazing feature: TDOA localization. go here - http://rx.linkfanel.net/ http://rx.linkfanel.net/ pick a radio and tune to a station click the 'extensions' dropdown at the bottom right and select 'TDoA' give the extension a bit to load at the bottom left pick a set of radios from the map (blue boxes) that are close enough to likely hear the station you're tuned to until you get 4-5 radios filled in the form on the bottom left. click 'Submit' if you get any red 'X' indicators click the scissors and try again. you should see a little circle clock while it collects samples, then the extension will attempt to plot likely locations for the transmitter. really cool i think (just tried it on a shortwave station transmitting out of Okeechobee, FL and got this result https://i.imgur.com/k2brLAk.png https://i.imgur.com/k2brLAk.png)
downut 6y ago
I know nothing. I went to several sites and the display looks functional, but all I am hearing is white noise. Is there a tutorial somewhere? It has sounded cool for years, but I need to bootstrap somehow. I am so old school that 95% of my listening is college radio stations (WREK, KFJC, WKCR...) and noncommercial stations KSDS, WFMU, WWOZ, ...). I would love to branch out.