5 ms·

its also worth pointing out a ham radio license is not needed to transmit in an emergency so all the more reason to throw the cheap ht in tackle box

Johnny555 5y ago
If you're just going to throw it in a box and get it out in case of emergency, you may as well not bother getting it in the first place. Get your amateur license (studying for the test will help you with the basic theory and operations of the radio), but more importantly, join your local ham club, or at least participate in their monthly nets -- but it's better to join them in emergency drills and other activities. This will give you experience on how to operate your radios under real world conditions. Modern radios have so many features that it's easy to inadvertently turn on some setting that makes it unusable, especially if you're the "throw it in a box and get it out if I need it" type of user who doesn't understand all the features on the radio. If you do that today you can search the web or go to a local club meeting for help. If you do it in a disaster, you may not be able to use your radio when you need it most. The same holds true for all of your “I only need it in case of disaster” supplies. I’ve had a small tent in my earthquake kit for over a decade. Last year I figured I’d put it up to make sure it was still usable and discovered that I didn’t have the tent poles so it was pretty much useless.
KirillPanov 5y ago
If you wait until an emergency to learn how to use it, it isn't going to be very useful.
iamhamm 5y ago
In the US? If so, which Part 97 rule says you don’t need to be licensed to transmit during an emergency?
- cweagans 5y ago
  § 97.403
  - iamhamm 5y ago
    That doesn’t say you can be unlicensed. It’s emergency use of an “amateur station” without restriction of method (eg using voice in the digital bands or operating outside of licensed level). The “amateur station” is defined as “apparatus of amateur service” which is defined in 97.3 as “carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio technique…”. The “duly authorized” part would be the licensed component.
    - cweagans 5y ago
      “ No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.” You’re overthinking this. It says nothing about method. If a station is available to you, normal communication systems are not available, and there is an immediate threat to life or property, then use the station. Simple as that. This is a clarifying rule and it’s important to look at the intent, which effectively boils down to “if it’s truly an emergency, rules can be ignored”, even if it’s structured semantically in a way that the definitions do not necessarily agree.

Johnny555 5y ago

If you're just going to throw it in a box and get it out in case of emergency, you may as well not bother getting it in the first place. Get your amateur license (studying for the test will help you with the basic theory and operations of the radio), but more importantly, join your local ham club, or at least participate in their monthly nets -- but it's better to join them in emergency drills and other activities. This will give you experience on how to operate your radios under real world conditions. Modern radios have so many features that it's easy to inadvertently turn on some setting that makes it unusable, especially if you're the "throw it in a box and get it out if I need it" type of user who doesn't understand all the features on the radio. If you do that today you can search the web or go to a local club meeting for help. If you do it in a disaster, you may not be able to use your radio when you need it most. The same holds true for all of your “I only need it in case of disaster” supplies. I’ve had a small tent in my earthquake kit for over a decade. Last year I figured I’d put it up to make sure it was still usable and discovered that I didn’t have the tent poles so it was pretty much useless.

KirillPanov 5y ago

If you wait until an emergency to learn how to use it, it isn't going to be very useful.

iamhamm 5y ago

In the US? If so, which Part 97 rule says you don’t need to be licensed to transmit during an emergency?

cweagans 5y ago
§ 97.403
- iamhamm 5y ago
  That doesn’t say you can be unlicensed. It’s emergency use of an “amateur station” without restriction of method (eg using voice in the digital bands or operating outside of licensed level). The “amateur station” is defined as “apparatus of amateur service” which is defined in 97.3 as “carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio technique…”. The “duly authorized” part would be the licensed component.
  - cweagans 5y ago
    “ No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.” You’re overthinking this. It says nothing about method. If a station is available to you, normal communication systems are not available, and there is an immediate threat to life or property, then use the station. Simple as that. This is a clarifying rule and it’s important to look at the intent, which effectively boils down to “if it’s truly an emergency, rules can be ignored”, even if it’s structured semantically in a way that the definitions do not necessarily agree.