Any HAMs here?

[YosemiteSam]

Any HAM radio guys here? (I'm not asking you to post your call sign) Just asking.

I've been one for a few years now (2014 ~ and have a General license) Though I've mostly only used UHF/VHF (2m/70cm), but I've recently just purchased my first HF radio. A Yaesu FT-450D and due to currently living in an apartment with a "NO ANTENNA!!!!" restriction a Chameleon magnetic F-LOOP antenna that I can put on my balcony and remove once I'm done.

Just checking out who else might be involved in this sport.

 

[Dodger12]

Just checking out who else might be involved in this sport.

Sport?????

 

[kimrose]

My dad was very much involved in HAM radio. And also Morse code. I actually built a Morse code radio when I was 10 years old that my dad operated back in 79 and early 80s. I was part of his "radio" club back in the early 80s and loved it. I was a very nerdy kid. lol. My dad died in '08, but I have and still wear his sweat shirt that has his lifetime call letters on it, the call letters he had since the 60s.

I know this doesn't do you any good, as I am not into HAM radio, and not into Morse code anymore sadly, although I very much was when I was younger (cb radio too in the 70s, if it matters, but probably not, lol), but I just wanted you to know that somewhere else in the universe of Cowboys lovers, someone gets you and knows where you are coming from. My dad was a huge HAM radio/Morse code user, a huge lover of science and astronomy including his own telescope he would put me on when I was younger, lol, and a major Cowboys fan. I love my daddy. He was a cool cat. "Geeks Unite!" was our mantra.

 

[nobody]

Any HAM radio guys here? (I'm not asking you to post your call sign) Just asking.

I've been one for a few years now (2014 ~ and have a General license) Though I've mostly only used UHF/VHF (2m/70cm), but I've recently just purchased my first HF radio. A Yaesu FT-450D and due to currently living in an apartment with a "NO ANTENNA!!!!" restriction a Chameleon magnetic F-LOOP antenna that I can put on my balcony and remove once I'm done.

Just checking out who else might be involved in this sport.

Hobby would be a better term for it, I think. I've always wanted to mess with one, but never could justify the cost because I wasn't interested enough to really put tons of effort into it. If I used one, I might get more interested, but until then? Um, I'll just think that HAM makes me think of Bacon and drool a bit.

 

[YosemiteSam]

My dad was very much involved in HAM radio. And also Morse code. I actually built a Morse code radio when I was 10 years old that my dad operated back in 79 and early 80s. I was part of his "radio" club back in the early 80s and loved it. I was a very nerdy kid. lol. My dad died in '08, but I have and still wear his sweat shirt that has his lifetime call letters on it, the call letters he had since the 60s.

I know this doesn't do you any good, as I am not into HAM radio, and not into Morse code anymore sadly, although I very much was when I was younger (cb radio too in the 70s, if it matters, but probably not, lol), but I just wanted you to know that somewhere else in the universe of Cowboys lovers, someone gets you and knows where you are coming from. My dad was a huge HAM radio/Morse code user, a huge lover of science and astronomy including his own telescope he would put me on when I was younger, lol, and a major Cowboys fan. I love my daddy. He was a cool cat. "Geeks Unite!" was our mantra.

Sounds like your dad and I were quite a bit alike hah. Cool story Kimrose!

 

[YosemiteSam]

Sport?????

Don't be angry.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Hobby would be a better term for it, I think. I've always wanted to mess with one, but never could justify the cost because I wasn't interested enough to really put tons of effort into it. If I used one, I might get more interested, but until then? Um, I'll just think that HAM makes me think of Bacon and drool a bit.

So, study and take the test. A Boafang 2m/70cm radio for local simplex or repeater use is like $30 on Amazon.

Now for HF stuff, it can get a bit pricey, but that is a bridge that can be crossed later. I got my license in 2014, but I'm just getting HF stuff now. I've spent 2 years just on the local stuff.

 

[iceberg]

i'm slowly getting into it. something like the radio you have i have on my coffee table next to my recliner and i turn it on and listen to dallas news at times.

a friend has the same one and the night the police shootings were taking place, we were listening from the start. it was so surreal.

 

[CATCH17]

More of a turkey guy myself.

 

[YosemiteSam]

i'm slowly getting into it. something like the radio you have i have on my coffee table next to my recliner and i turn it on and listen to dallas news at times.

a friend has the same one and the night the police shootings were taking place, we were listening from the start. it was so surreal.

Yeah, when I was in Tulsa last week at a buddy's house visiting. I took my Boafang GT3-TP handheld with me. We were listening to the police radio and heard at an apartment complex just down the road from us. There was some kid in his apartment threatening to kill himself. His mother had reported it to the police.

I've listen to the ones near my house, but don't have them programmed in. I think I may do that this evening.

 

[Seven]

I don't do the HAM operator stuff but I do have a police scanner and a police scanner App.

Chicago is non-stop...............couple of cities in CO........crickets. You can hear the mike key up for a radio check once in awhile, lol.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

I don't do the HAM operator stuff but I do have a police scanner and a police scanner App.

Chicago is non-stop...............couple of cities in CO........crickets. You can hear the mike key up for a radio check once in awhile, lol.

Isn't owning a police scanner illegal? It's sounds like it would be dangerous if someone with bad intentions got a hold of one so they could tacticfuly evade police when commiting crimes.

If I sound silly, forgive me.

 

[Seven]

Isn't owning a police scanner illegal? It's sounds like it would be dangerous if someone with bad intentions got a hold of one so they could tacticfuly evade police when commiting crimes.

If I sound silly, forgive me.

They are legal and people absolutely use them.....to their advantage, let's just say. There are Apps available too.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Isn't owning a police scanner illegal? It's sounds like it would be dangerous if someone with bad intentions got a hold of one so they could tacticfuly evade police when commiting crimes.

If I sound silly, forgive me.

Nope, they are not illegal. It's illegal to broadcast on one of course and most radios do not allow it. Of course, many radios are not supposed to allow you to transmit on FRS bands, but many Chinese radios it can be done. (Like the Baofangs)

As for the police bands, some police stations use rotating frequencies to try and prevent people from listening in, but there are ways to get that too.

I'm not sure if police are allowed to encrypt transmissions. I know for HAMs that is illegal.