"abr" wrote in message ...
Hi, after almost 42 years I have renewed my interest in amateur radio. I
am
now 57 and am excited about getting into the hobby. I asked the same
question in another (the other) newsgroup and got not much help, one asked
how I found the group and why I asked this question there,,, not too
friendly.... anyway..... If (when) I get my tech license, is there a band
I
can work voice that will cover some distance, not just local (I live in
South Dakota) like other states or countries. When I asked this question
in
the other group, no one answered me. I looked at the arrl site and it
doesn't give me much info on this. And............... what kind of a rig
would anyone suggest I start out with, used is fine with me as I am not
interested in spending a lot at this point....... and shoot me if you want
to, I am not really interested in learning code. Well there it is in a
nutshell, I hope someone can be of help to me,, Thank you all so much for
your time in reading this, Gary Cooper



Welcome back.

50 MHz (6 meters) has occasional "openings" which allow you to work long
distance. However, these openings do not occur every day. Using SSB or
better yet (gasp) Morse Code will be MUCH better for DX than FM. With a good
antenna system and lots of patience, 144 MHz (2 meters) will occasionally
allow relatively long distance contacts. This is mostly via Morse Code,
however.

As far as a rig goes, well, that depends upon what you want to use it for.
I'd suggest a used Icom 746.

I'd also suggest biting the bullet and passing the 5 WPM Morse Code test. If
you really insist on not learned code, you can wait a bit until the FCC
kills the code requirement -- which appears to be more than likely to happen
within the next several years. (Note: That comment refers only to what is
likely to happen and speaks neither for nor against code testing).

73

Paul AB0SI