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#1
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At the risk of exposing my newbness...
I am considering a tech license and note references to "permission" levels for various bands, as well as indications of certain operating modes for particular freqs/bands (I have not bought a manual yet, still trying to determine what level of total investment will be necessary for my desired use). Based on admittedly cursory review thusfar, it appears voice comms have limited availability for a tech ticket. IF that is the case, my primary interest is in emergency voice comms during regional events...will I need to upgrade to a general license for effective use? TIA |
#2
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Beachbum wrote:
At the risk of exposing my newbness... At the risk of showing unbounded enthusiasm that there's someone who is looking into entering this fine hobby . . . WELCOME! I am considering a tech license and note references to "permission" levels for various bands, as well as indications of certain operating modes for particular freqs/bands (I have not bought a manual yet, still trying to determine what level of total investment will be necessary for my desired use). I suggest the ARRL web site. Specifically to address this question, see http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/bands.html where you can access various sizes of a graphic that will show you which bands are available and what kind of operating (phone, code, etc.) is allowed on each. Unfortunately, this is perhaps the trees when what you are looking for is the forest. If you poke around on the site, you'll find more general information that will give you background on the hobby and explain what the various frequency bands are good for. Based on admittedly cursory review thusfar, it appears voice comms have limited availability for a tech ticket. IF that is the case, my primary interest is in emergency voice comms during regional events...will I need to upgrade to a general license for effective use? The short answer to this question is, no. The Technician class license has full privileges, including voice, on frequencies that are dubbed VHF and UHF. At these frequencies, communication is "limited" to line-of-sight. However, hams have built repeaters, which generally are on some high place and are line-of-sight to a large area. The bottom line is that the Tech privileges allow you to communicate over most large urban areas. This is the mode of ham radio that is used for the vast majority of communication during disaster events and public service events. When you see a ham talking into a handi-talkie, he's using one of the frequency bands that the Technician license includes. For short- to medium-range tactical communications, this is the equipment of choice and most of the participants hold the Technician class license. The lower frequency allocations, which are not available to the Technician license, are useful for longer-range communications. At these frequencies, the radio waves bounce back from the upper layers of the atmosphere, making it possible to communicate around the world. It's quite rewarding to contact someone on the other side of the earth, using just your own equipment. As you can see, there are many aspects of the hobby, and once you get into it you may decide that you want to move into areas other than regional events. Or not . . . it's your choice. 73, Steve KB9X ("73" means "Best regards", and that's my callsign) |
#3
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On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:11:49 EST, Steve Bonine wrote:
The Technician class license has full privileges, including voice, on frequencies that are dubbed VHF and UHF. And much higher frequencies, including microwaves. At these frequencies, communication is "limited" to line-of-sight. However, hams have built repeaters, which generally are on some high place and are line-of-sight to a large area. The bottom line is that the Tech privileges allow you to communicate over most large urban areas. Some hams have added other radio equipment to link together several repeaters to cover large areas. One linked system in the western USA is the Intermountain Intertie http://utahvhfs.org/snowlink.html which covers much of central and southern Idaho, southwestern Wyoming, northern Utah, western and southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona, and northeastern and southeastern Nevada. The ultimate repeaters, range-wise, are the satellites which hams have placed in orbit. See http://www.amsat.org/ It is possible to communicate using these satellites with a hand-held 5-watt radio and a hand-held directional antenna. Amateur radio equipment is standard on the International Space Station (ISS). Most of the astronauts are licensed hams, and in their spare time they will get on the radio to have fun. The satellites and the ISS all use VHF and UHF frequencies which a Technician license covers. The ultimate long-distance path is bouncing your signals off the moon and back to earth. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EME_%28communications%29 The Technician license covers this. Dick, AC7EL |
#4
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"Beachbum" wrote
At the risk of exposing my newbness... I am considering a tech license and note references to "permission" levels for various bands, as well as indications of certain operating modes for particular freqs/bands (I have not bought a manual yet, still trying to determine what level of total investment will be necessary for my desired use). Based on admittedly cursory review thusfar, it appears voice comms have limited availability for a tech ticket. IF that is the case, my primary interest is in emergency voice comms during regional events...will I need to upgrade to a general license for effective use? If your desire is to communicate locally for Emergency Services, you would normally operate on VHF and/or UHF frequencies, which are all open to the Technician license. If you want to communicate further, where VHF/UHF simplex or repeaters won't go, then you would need to upgrade to General to be able to operate voice within the HF bands. For example, if you wanted to participate in the emergency nets for the Haiti earthquake, you must have at least a General class license. Howard N7SO |
#5
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In Beachbum
wrote: At the risk of exposing my newbness... I am considering a tech license and note references to "permission" levels for various bands, as well as indications of certain operating modes for particular freqs/bands (I have not bought a manual yet, still trying to determine what level of total investment will be necessary for my desired use). Based on admittedly cursory review thusfar, it appears voice comms have limited availability for a tech ticket. IF that is the case, my primary interest is in emergency voice comms during regional events...will I need to upgrade to a general license for effective use? Take a look at the chart at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/reg...ands_color.pdf which will show you what modes the classes of licensees can use on the various bands. I think you'll find that a Technician class license will give you full permission on all bands 50MHz and up, which is where is where you'll find almost all local event communications taking place. -- Bert Hyman W0RSB St. Paul, MN |
#6
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Bert Hyman wrote:
In Beachbum wrote: At the risk of exposing my newbness... I am considering a tech license and note references to "permission" levels for various bands, as well as indications of certain operating modes for particular freqs/bands (I have not bought a manual yet, still trying to determine what level of total investment will be necessary for my desired use). Based on admittedly cursory review thusfar, it appears voice comms have limited availability for a tech ticket. IF that is the case, my primary interest is in emergency voice comms during regional events...will I need to upgrade to a general license for effective use? Take a look at the chart at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/reg...ands_color.pdf which will show you what modes the classes of licensees can use on the various bands. I think you'll find that a Technician class license will give you full permission on all bands 50MHz and up, which is where is where you'll find almost all local event communications taking place. OK, Great! And thanks to all who responded. As I am located about 2/3rds the way up the side of Punchbowl Crater, my "line of sight" should easily cover most of my operating area in the Honolulu area, including several mil bases, multiple airports and seaports, as well as State and County HQ's. If repeaters remain operational, the rest of the island should be accessible as well, to some extent. Aside from that, I've had a scanner for over 40 years at this point, and pick up a lot, but two-way comms would become critical in a Hurricane or Earthquake scenario. Now to order the manual and start studying... |
#7
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Beachbum wrote:
Bert Hyman wrote: In Beachbum wrote: At the risk of exposing my newbness... I am considering a tech license and note references to "permission" levels for various bands, as well as indications of certain operating modes for particular freqs/bands (I have not bought a manual yet, still trying to determine what level of total investment will be necessary for my desired use). Based on admittedly cursory review thusfar, it appears voice comms have limited availability for a tech ticket. IF that is the case, my primary interest is in emergency voice comms during regional events...will I need to upgrade to a general license for effective use? Take a look at the chart at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/reg...ands_color.pdf which will show you what modes the classes of licensees can use on the various bands. I think you'll find that a Technician class license will give you full permission on all bands 50MHz and up, which is where is where you'll find almost all local event communications taking place. OK, Great! And thanks to all who responded. As I am located about 2/3rds the way up the side of Punchbowl Crater, my "line of sight" should easily cover most of my operating area in the Honolulu area, including several mil bases, multiple airports and seaports, as well as State and County HQ's. If repeaters remain operational, the rest of the island should be accessible as well, to some extent. Aside from that, I've had a scanner for over 40 years at this point, and pick up a lot, but two-way comms would become critical in a Hurricane or Earthquake scenario. Now to order the manual and start studying... Well, that was simple enough. EARCHI had a testing session this AM, and I passed! I've been listening in to a couple of the local repeater nets, getting a feel for local practices and personalities. Now comes decision time...Yaesu or Icom? I'm leaning to the Icom dual band HT's right now. For the home portable/base, would a mag mount on the corrugated metal carport roof work pretty well (vs. rooftop mag on the car)? |
#8
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![]() "Beachbum" wrote Well, that was simple enough. EARCHI had a testing session this AM, and I passed! Congratulations! Now, that wasn't so hard, was it? ;-) I've been listening in to a couple of the local repeater nets, getting a feel for local practices and personalities. Very smart: listen first, talk later. Now comes decision time...Yaesu or Icom? I'm leaning to the Icom dual band HT's right now. Everyone has an opinion.... and of course there are multiple models from each. Others with experience with them might chime in. For the home portable/base, would a mag mount on the corrugated metal carport roof work pretty well (vs. rooftop mag on the car)? Either should work well, though the corrugated metal might not give enough of a mechanical grip or enough capacitance for a good RF ground (have I got that right?) ;-) There are three common antenna lengths (that I know of) for mobile antennas: 1/4 wave, 1/2 wave, and 5/8 wave. The 1/2 wave and 5/8 wave antennas will give you a lower angle of radiation (i.e., gain over a 1/4 wave). Your QTH sounds like it's well above Honolulu proper, and you could probably take good advantage of the longer antennas. And if you can see other islands, you shouldn't have any trouble working stations on them, too. Howard N7SO |
#9
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Beachbum wrote:
Well, that was simple enough. EARCHI had a testing session this AM, and I passed! I've been listening in to a couple of the local repeater nets , getting a feel for local practices and personalities. Now comes decisio n time...Yaesu or Icom? I'm leaning to the Icom dual band HT's right now. Congratulations. For the home portable/base, would a mag mount on the corrugated metal carport roof work pretty well (vs. rooftop mag on the car)? Put a cookie tin under the mag mount on the roof, it will stabilize things. Jeff-1.0 wa6fwi -- “Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.” Frank Leahy, Head coach, Notre Dame 1941-1954 http://www.stay-connect.com |
#10
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On 3/13/2010 3:51 PM, Beachbum wrote:
Well, that was simple enough. EARCHI had a testing session this AM, and I passed! I've been listening in to a couple of the local repeater nets, getting a feel for local practices and personalities. Now comes decision time...Yaesu or Icom? I'm leaning to the Icom dual band HT's right now. Both companies make good products, but I suggest you wait a few weeks. Attend a ham club meeting, and tell the members you're looking for a rig: someone may have a loaner you can try out, or even one that they'll part with for a good price to get you started. If not, there are a lot of used rigs out there, that can be had for reasonable money. Frankly, the trick is to go slowly and build your "dream" station a little at a time, so that you don't spend your whole slush fund on one mode or one rig and then find you don't want to keep using it. Field Day and Emergency Communicaitons drills (EMCOM) are an excellent way to see various modes and rigs in action. If possible, try out all the modes your license covers, and find out if you'd be more comfortable with hilltopping, or packet, or EmCom, or even microwave, or whatever: try _before_ you buy. For the home portable/base, would a mag mount on the corrugated metal carport roof work pretty well (vs. rooftop mag on the car)? The only way to know is to try it, so buy an antenna that will work with your car and then give it a chance on the roof. Repeaters make up for most of the antenna issues that used to plague VHF operators, and so long as you're "Full quieting" into the machines you want to use, you win. If not, tell your XYL that the new DTV standard requires a tower, and go from there. ;-) 73, Bill, W1AC -- (Filter QRM for direct replies) "Where the search for the truth is conducted with a wink and a nod Where power and position are equated with the will of God" - Jackson Browne |
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