Topic: Anyone here a HAM radio operator?
Anonymous A started this discussion 15 years ago #1,832
Before the internet, this would have all been a lot cooler.
Falco !PZmcClOUDk joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 53 seconds later[^] [v] #33,946
W6XXX joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 5 hours later, 5 hours after the original post[^] [v] #34,264
Not the X's but yes
Recently in Egypt when the net was shut off - Hams set up connections for groups of people.
Hurrican Katrina when all police systems crashed and all cell and telco failed, Ham radio was the only way to connect.
Later Satellite phones flown in and handed out by ME! For police and National Guard. NG systems sucked and still do.
Hams can set up net like systems on the fly. I as teen used to bounce signals off of the moon. NOT with repeatable success because I was too young to understand all the elements necessary to make it work every time. Was a terrific hobby as a kid and it also gave me a HUGE step up in Engineering field later on. One decade later after University I picked up a super job and only because of the Ham connection - ALSO Met and Married a super lovely gal who did not have a license but was in a unique situation with parents so she could pick up a mike and talk to people on ham radio anytime.
No the call letters were not X X X - I was given a unique call letter set because I passed the test more better then anyone else had in Nation ...for my age at that time.
Recently in Egypt when the net was shut off - Hams set up connections for groups of people.
Hurrican Katrina when all police systems crashed and all cell and telco failed, Ham radio was the only way to connect.
Later Satellite phones flown in and handed out by ME! For police and National Guard. NG systems sucked and still do.
Hams can set up net like systems on the fly. I as teen used to bounce signals off of the moon. NOT with repeatable success because I was too young to understand all the elements necessary to make it work every time. Was a terrific hobby as a kid and it also gave me a HUGE step up in Engineering field later on. One decade later after University I picked up a super job and only because of the Ham connection - ALSO Met and Married a super lovely gal who did not have a license but was in a unique situation with parents so she could pick up a mike and talk to people on ham radio anytime.
No the call letters were not X X X - I was given a unique call letter set because I passed the test more better then anyone else had in Nation ...for my age at that time.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 16 minutes later, 5 hours after the original post[^] [v] #34,275
@previous (W6XXX)
> No the call letters were not X X X - I was given a unique call letter set because I passed the test more better then anyone else had in Nation ...for my age at that time.
You get a unique call sign for passing the test well? Does this still apply? Isn't the test really short...?
> No the call letters were not X X X - I was given a unique call letter set because I passed the test more better then anyone else had in Nation ...for my age at that time.
You get a unique call sign for passing the test well? Does this still apply? Isn't the test really short...?
W6XXX replied with this 15 years ago, 2 hours later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #34,311
1st re CB - Sure at first a few tried it but it was so jammed up it was useless in first 15 minutes
2nd back when I took the test I wanted to get the Ham license and a commercial 1st class at the same time - Test was offered in person by FCC office and I just had to experience it that way. That turned out to be a mistake because at first they thought I had somehow cheated - Amateur Extra class which is what I got required morse code - I think 21wpm and I hated just hated learning and passing test - NO LONGER Required!! I was very young at the time and that is why they decided to give me a very old set of call letters never issued. It was great to have it re Ego boost as kid but later was pain in ass explaining it all the time.
Current test is super short - Library would have the ARRL book which makes it easy - I bought one for a friends kid and skimmed the book for fun before handing over as gift.
One advantage of Morse code is - In this super high tech word we have - Nothing beats Morse code for getting through noise and because it is super narrow bandwidth its super efficient. Another advantage I had at the time and I was 10 years old but took test at 11 - I needed to learn Algebra and Trig - Learning Trig early on was a super thing for me later on. Trolled a high school looking for a teacher to mentor me - Major boost at that age because as I just turned 11 I had attention from older girls in that high school that took me under their wing so to speak - NO It was NOT anything in that special way .. but attention from a lot of cute and older girls at that age was was was - TERRIFIC!!!
After all what 11 year old would troll a high school after hours LoL - I did cause needed to learn math skills early on to pass the test. Now I use Trig Calculus every working hour of my work day/night
2nd back when I took the test I wanted to get the Ham license and a commercial 1st class at the same time - Test was offered in person by FCC office and I just had to experience it that way. That turned out to be a mistake because at first they thought I had somehow cheated - Amateur Extra class which is what I got required morse code - I think 21wpm and I hated just hated learning and passing test - NO LONGER Required!! I was very young at the time and that is why they decided to give me a very old set of call letters never issued. It was great to have it re Ego boost as kid but later was pain in ass explaining it all the time.
Current test is super short - Library would have the ARRL book which makes it easy - I bought one for a friends kid and skimmed the book for fun before handing over as gift.
One advantage of Morse code is - In this super high tech word we have - Nothing beats Morse code for getting through noise and because it is super narrow bandwidth its super efficient. Another advantage I had at the time and I was 10 years old but took test at 11 - I needed to learn Algebra and Trig - Learning Trig early on was a super thing for me later on. Trolled a high school looking for a teacher to mentor me - Major boost at that age because as I just turned 11 I had attention from older girls in that high school that took me under their wing so to speak - NO It was NOT anything in that special way .. but attention from a lot of cute and older girls at that age was was was - TERRIFIC!!!
After all what 11 year old would troll a high school after hours LoL - I did cause needed to learn math skills early on to pass the test. Now I use Trig Calculus every working hour of my work day/night
sim !.biSsjaMxA joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 3 hours later, 12 hours after the original post[^] [v] #34,400
