On the surface, it just sounds like listening to a bunch of old farts babbling on about their enlarged prostates, and tbf, there is a bit of that if you never go any deeper than 2M/70cm voice modes.
But there’s just SOOOO much you can do.
Want to see how far you can bounce a signal off a mirror laying on the surface of the moon? Yup. You can do that.
Want to launch and communicate with your own satellite? Yup. It’s a thing.
Want to remotely control devices from hundreds of miles away without using the internet? Yup.
Want to gps track your car at all times, even when there’s no cell phone service? That’s called APRS.
Want to have a conversation with astronauts on the ISS as it flies overhead? They’ve got ham equipment on board.
You can even play with broadcasting and/or receiving “secret” tv and radio stations - that is, they’re on alternate frequencies that regular TVs and radios don’t pick up.
I just can’t afford the equipment. I thought about it back in the analog days, but back then you had to learn Morse code and I just didn’t think I was up for it.
Money is the biggest issue.
I’ve had my general for years… have never been able to afford a radio to use those bands at home.
Ive had a magnetic loop antenna all ready to use in my garage for several years but no radio to run it.
The local 2m/70cm is just old guys complaining usually. Passing traffic is fun during hurricanes…
Only so many times I can enjoy trying to hit satellites that are swamped with people.
You can get a Baofeng UV5R for about $20 and it can broadcast on ham frequencies! Just don’t tell anyone I recommended that radio to you (I have 2 of them though). Morse code isn’t a requirement anymore either. Time to do it!
There’s also old farts talking about beer, motorcycles, and bears! That’s what the guys in my area like talking about. It’s pretty fun listening to them.
You can even play with broadcasting and/or receiving “secret” tv and radio stations - that is, they’re on alternate frequencies that regular TVs and radios don’t pick up.
Ham radio.
On the surface, it just sounds like listening to a bunch of old farts babbling on about their enlarged prostates, and tbf, there is a bit of that if you never go any deeper than 2M/70cm voice modes.
But there’s just SOOOO much you can do.
Want to see how far you can bounce a signal off a mirror laying on the surface of the moon? Yup. You can do that.
Want to launch and communicate with your own satellite? Yup. It’s a thing.
Want to remotely control devices from hundreds of miles away without using the internet? Yup.
Want to gps track your car at all times, even when there’s no cell phone service? That’s called APRS.
Want to have a conversation with astronauts on the ISS as it flies overhead? They’ve got ham equipment on board.
You can even play with broadcasting and/or receiving “secret” tv and radio stations - that is, they’re on alternate frequencies that regular TVs and radios don’t pick up.
It just goes so deep.
I just can’t afford the equipment. I thought about it back in the analog days, but back then you had to learn Morse code and I just didn’t think I was up for it.
Money is the biggest issue. I’ve had my general for years… have never been able to afford a radio to use those bands at home. Ive had a magnetic loop antenna all ready to use in my garage for several years but no radio to run it. The local 2m/70cm is just old guys complaining usually. Passing traffic is fun during hurricanes… Only so many times I can enjoy trying to hit satellites that are swamped with people.
You can get a Baofeng UV5R for about $20 and it can broadcast on ham frequencies! Just don’t tell anyone I recommended that radio to you (I have 2 of them though). Morse code isn’t a requirement anymore either. Time to do it!
There’s also old farts talking about beer, motorcycles, and bears! That’s what the guys in my area like talking about. It’s pretty fun listening to them.
Go on…