Ham Radio Forum?

As many of you know, I am an Amateur Radio Operator (commonly known as a Ham), and an active member of the [url=http://www.ab0pc.org:bjcotkfh]Park County Radio Club[/url] and [url=http://www.ares.ab0pc.org:bjcotkfh]ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) District 6[/url] (Park County), as well as a not very active member of ARES D23 (Jefferson County). I know there are a number of Hams in the area who are not members of any of the above, and was wondering if there would be interest in having a Ham Radio Forum here on 285Bound where Ham radio related topics could be discussed.

Hams are involved in the community in many ways, including providing public service communications for events such as parades, fund raisers for local non-profit organizations (Race for Peace), the burro races in Fairplay and Leadville, the Colorado Relay Race, etc. And we provide emergency communications when normal communications are down (wildland fires, blizzards, etc.).

Is there any interest in such a forum?

Count me in as one of those who is very interested in having a forum for Ham Radio. I have been licensed since I was 17 and radio is my number one hobby.

I've been working this last year getting my old equipment set back up and adding new equipment and building new antennas. My latest project is a full sized quarter wave vertical for 80 meters.

Maybe we can get some more people interested in this great hobby.

Sounds cool.

But there is alot of Ham on the radio now.

i said maybe since i don't know enough about it. it would be interesting to follow along and learn.

Just curious, how much does it cost to get set up as a Ham operator?

$15 for a Technician Class license, from about $20 - $20,000 for equipment

A good new dual band handheld transceiver runs about $300, but there is lots of good used equipment available.

And it is a somewhat addictive hobby...

If you are interested - you can read a little more about it.

http://www.ixradio.com/Amateur-radio.htm

http://www.vidiot.org/Hamstart.html

Lots of information available at http://www.datehookup.com/content-meeti ... radios.htm . Some of it is a bit dated, and a few minor inaccuracies, but a good resource.

Here's a little info from me.....

Amateur radio are segments of the radio frequency spectrum that are allocated to operators licensed by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). You study a little about things you will need to know - take a test and become licensed.

Throughout the radio frequencies there are ranges of frequencies (or channels) that we can use to communicate with each other. There are also many types of "modes" of communication. You know about AM radio and FM radio - those are two types of communication modes.

Ham radio has frequencies just above the AM radio area - and frequencies just above and below the FM radio area. Ham radio frequencies range from the lowest to the very highest frequencies. Each of those frequency ranges are good for different types of communications. Some are good for local communications - and some are good for worldwide communications.

Most of the time - Ham operators just chat with each other - in their communities - or statewide - or nationwide - or worldwide. When the crap hits the fan, hams start to pass on emergency communications.

There are so many facets to the hobby that almost anyone can find an area that interests them. Ham Radio even has digital communications- similar to the internet, where networks of computers operate over the airwaves instead of using wires or cables. Ham radio operators can even have their own TV station.

I have radios that are for communicating locally - either direct or through mountain top repeaters like the police and fire departments use. I also have radios that operate nationwide and worldwide. I have talked to the King of Jordan, Russian cosmonauts in space and the space shuttle. I've used russian spy satellites to communicate through. I have also talked to my neighbor who lives 200 yards up the road.

Ham radio operators were the first radio stations - they invented much of the technology. They also developed alot of the computer technology we all use today - Bill Gates first started learning about computers by hanging out with his high school's Ham Radio club.

You don't need to know everything to be a ham. The first level license is pretty easy to get and there are tests available about every 60 days in Bailey - so no need to travel very far. That first liscense gives you the ability to use VHF and UHF equipment and communicate all over our area with as little as a handheld radio and a few watts of power. You will be able to use the mountain top repeaters and talk for a hundred miles around.

Anyway - that's a little info about Ham Radio - we are always looking for more folks to join us.

Excellent post, Thanks!