Originally Posted by Ralleia (Post 1469136)

I think you hit the nail on the head. How's your morse code?

Originally Posted by Ralleia (Post 1469136)

I think you hit the nail on the head. How's your morse code?

Originally Posted by Mike Tyson (Post 1469084)

Assuming the internet and TV went down for a few weeks/months...what would be the best way of obtaining information on what's going on in the outside world?

Don't know a thing about it, but is this where HAM/Short wave would come into play?
Thanks!

Originally Posted by Bill843 (Post 1469241)

Yes.
In Illinois and using a portable receiver, I can hear broadcast stations in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. I have heard hams talking from all over the US, on the same discussion (like, one guy in Maine, another in Florida, and a third in Utah, all in on the same conversation). A good antenna is a must, but can be done cheaply and easily.

Also, to clarify a bit:
a "ham radio" broadcasts on shortwaves. A ham radio functions as a transmitter and a receiver. A transmitter needs a proper antenna to work well, just any piece of wire won't do.

A "shortwave" radio is only a receiver. A receiver antenna is much less critical than a transmitter's, even a piece of plain wire will work well.

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This brings up an interesting subject....

In the US (and pretty much every other country in the world) you are supposed to be licensed by the gov't to operate a shortwave transmitter. You pay a small fee, take a technical test and assuming you pass, that's it. You don't need to learn Morse code anymore; the test subject matter is about safely and legally operating the equipment, and some protocols that are followed.

The odd part here is that there's no license required to purchase ham radios. Furthermore, analog ham transmitting radios that are 20-30 years old but that work perfectly fine can be had very cheaply so on places like Craigslist, the local want ads or hamfests/swap meets. Radios that are 30-40 yr old and priced at $50-$100 is not unusual.

In the event the gov't turns truly tyrannical and wants to restrict ham radio operation, they already have a list of people who have ham licenses to go after. But if you buy a radio (or three) now and don't get a license, the government won't have any way to know you have it.

The downside is that you will have a hard time talking to anyone before TSHTF. Ham rules say you're not supposed to talk to anyone not giving a valid callsign. You can still use one for listening of course, but then, you could just buy a new $50 digital portable for that.

-end-

Originally Posted by Glass (Post 1470980)

Bill's right, you don't need a license to purchase a HAM radio. You only need a license to transmit. In SHTF scenarios having communications is more important that correct operator "on air protocols".

Still you would need to know how to use the radio, how to find people, how to find clear frequencies. Nothing particularly complex.

Setting up your radio, power, antenna etc can involve injury if not done correctly. You might zap yourself.

Just 1 last thing on the license. When/If TEOTWAWKI happens all of those licensed dilligent HAM radio operators are not going to have anywhere to renew their licenses anyway so they will eventually become pirates......

check out Eham.net for lots of information on radios, antennas etc. How to make emergency radio kits in tote boxes which are ideal for bug out situations.

Originally Posted by Zusn (Post 1471086)

Just about any radio equipment can be purchased without any sort of license. The whole point of getting a HAM license is to legally get experience using the equipment now. The HAM community is chock full of people waiting to help someone new. They don't look too kindly upon those operating without a license and they will not help them. There are plenty of people right now abusing the amateur radio bands. Always have been, always will. I see no point in it. The license is dirt cheap and it's good for 10 years. Many of the older HAM guys are electrical engineers and radio is more than just a hobby to them. They went though a ton of crap back in the day to get a tiny bit of frequency allowance when licenses weren't just handed out. Each license upgrade was a big challenge. All of that is gone and has been replaced by a short multiple choice test. No morse code, no drawing electrical schematics, etc. You can study for a week and pass the tests giving you the same frequency privileges they worked for years to get. To me, getting your license is a matter of respect. Sure, in TSHTF situation, all rules are off and anything goes. We're not living in that situation. Till then, I suggest to join a local group, take the test, get the license, learn as much as you can, make new contacts around the country/world.

Originally Posted by Glass (Post 1471275)

Watchout if you are caught transmitting without a license. And I promise you they will find you.

Originally Posted by Zusn (Post 1471086)

Just about any radio equipment can be purchased without any sort of license. The whole point of getting a HAM license is to legally get experience using the equipment now. The HAM community is chock full of people waiting to help someone new. They don't look too kindly upon those operating without a license and they will not help them. There are plenty of people right now abusing the amateur radio bands. Always have been, always will. I see no point in it. The license is dirt cheap and it's good for 10 years. Many of the older HAM guys are electrical engineers and radio is more than just a hobby to them. They went though a ton of crap back in the day to get a tiny bit of frequency allowance when licenses weren't just handed out. Each license upgrade was a big challenge. All of that is gone and has been replaced by a short multiple choice test. No morse code, no drawing electrical schematics, etc. You can study for a week and pass the tests giving you the same frequency privileges they worked for years to get. To me, getting your license is a matter of respect. Sure, in TSHTF situation, all rules are off and anything goes. We're not living in that situation. Till then, I suggest to join a local group, take the test, get the license, learn as much as you can, make new contacts around the country/world.

Originally Posted by Zusn (Post 1471086)

Sure, in TSHTF situation, all rules are off and anything goes. We're not living in that situation. Till then, I suggest to join a local group, take the test, get the license, learn as much as you can, make new contacts around the country/world.

Originally Posted by IGrok (Post 1471410)

Is everything transmitted today all sideband?

Originally Posted by JoBob (Post 1471438)

Well put, Zusn. I'm a code-qualified Extra and have held all the lower classes over the past 40 years. I have learned most of the really practical skills i have through association with other Hams. Anyone can buy a box and plug it in but that's going to do you no good in a crisis. Learning about propagation, antennas, and emergency operations comes best from learning through those who have gone through the "hard knocks" school before you. Hams are a good bunch if they know you want help.

No, you don't need CW but it is the very best method of communicating very reliably with minimum power. In a SHTF situation, you can work the world with two watts with CW. Wattage will be hard to come by, like food or other resources. Developing CW skills is another method of getting your preps ready.
:emotions16:

Originally Posted by IGrok (Post 1471410)

The reason license requirements were loosened was because it was a dying hobby/craft. In a attempt to increase the number of people interested in HAM radio the FCC dropped alot of the stuff that technology has passed by.

Is everything transmitted today all sideband?

Originally Posted by Glass (Post 1471482)

I wanted to ask if you could recommend any good resources for learning cw please?

Originally Posted by IGrok (Post 1471410)

...Is everything transmitted today all sideband?

Originally Posted by Zusn (Post 1469219)

The morse code requirement has been dropped for the General Class license!!! They basically give away licenses now. I'm working on upgrading to General so I can operate on the HF bands. A mormon coworker of mine says that his church is pushing many of the members to get their HAM license. They mapped where everyone lives and divided it up into small sections. There is a member responsible for each section. If/when TSHTF, the members responsible for each section will check on the families in their section and communicate the status of that section via radio.

Get into HAM radio. Find a local HAM club and learn. It's the only source of worldwide communication that no one can "turn off" on you.

The tests to get your license are as follows:
Technician (Operate 50MHz and above) - 25 question multiple choice
General (10m to 160m. Think Close to CB frequencies through shortwave) - 35 question multiple choice

www.arrl.org <- I'm not suggestion anyone join, just do a search for local clubs in your area
www.qrz.com <- HAM forum
www.aesham.com <- Download their catalog in PDF
www.hamradio.com <- Download their catalog in PDF
www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=338 <- The left frame has the links to the question pools for all 3 licenses. They are the complete pool that the actual test questions are drawn from. It doesn't take much to memorize the answers to the questions. Not the preferred method for getting started in amateur radio, but it works.

Originally Posted by Bill843 (Post 1478080)

Most of the broadcasters (like BBC and Radio Havana) transmit CW--that is, non-SSB. Any shortwave radio can receive those.

Many of the hams I've picked up were transmitting SSB. Right now, they're pretty boring to listen to, but in "interesting times" they're the ones you're going to want to hear--not the Ministry of Truth broadcasts in CW. Transmitting SSB allows sending a signal farther with a given amount of power, and still provides a recognizable voice for your listeners to hear. That's something that Morse and other digital text modes can't do.

There are various computer-generated Morse or digital things you hear going on too. Plus there is some kind of voice-type transmission that sounds kinda like what SSB sounds like when you listen to it in CW mode, but that my $140 SSB-capable radio cannot tune in properly. Anybody know what this is?

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The internet is open for most of the planet, but that could change--end-