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Congratulations on passing Tech Level. I apologize for interrupting your post. l will start a new thread.
I am now a Ham.................... :)
- Thread starter Curmudgeon
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I get where you're going with this and I don't entirely disagree. In fact, I resisted getting my amateur license partly because I was a little bent out of shape over the licensing requirement.
The amateur radio community won't tolerate anyone without a valid call sign using repeaters or broadcasting on digital modes. If you were to broadcast infrequently and not use repeaters, chances are good you could get away with that. I don't condone it, but it's true.
Your radios aren't registered and I seriously doubt anyone will be knocking your door down to confiscate your UV5R. Worry more about the NICS 4473 form!
What really helps, though, is in learning how to get the most out of your rig - and how to effectively set up and use emcomms.
Since the licensing is free (well, it was ... I think it's $35 now) and the tests are usually free and the study material is free, I don't see a real barrier. It's up to you, though.
I held a Tech for a couple years before getting my General. I rarely use just 2m/440 anymore; it's almost exclusively HF. HF really opens up a very big world and it's huge fun.
For emcomms, I'm looking at using JS8call with an NVIS antenna a short distance above the ground. That should get me what I was originally after: reliable communications within 150 miles or so. And I don't have to worry about point-to-point issues.
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I moved my question to it's own thread. Thanks for your informative reply.
For the same reason you need a license to drive a car. You can certainly drive a car without one. But part of the licensing process, when you are learning and getting your first license, teaches you how to get along with other drivers on the road safely and courteously. e.g., How do you resolve the conflict of "who goes first?" at a four way stop sign when both cars arrive at the same time? e.g., What are you supposed to do when an emergency vehicle needs to access the part of the road that you are currently occupying?
FWIW, it is very obvious when a rogue moron starts transmitting without having a license. You can spot them a mile away. Actually much farther than that if you have a good antenna
They stick out like a turd in a punch bowl. And just like at a Christmas party, these punch bowl turds are quickly shunned.
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Congratulatons! My dad was a ham. He was a radio operator in WWII and after he returned to civilian life he still loved his radios. I remember hearing him late into the night "CQ .. CQ .. this is K5CFT". He had cards with his call signs printed and exchanged them with people he talked to. He had a wall covered in cards from all over the world. My siblings and I all learned Morse code as children but I don't remember any of it now. Not a dot nor a dash.
Have one what?
No interruption, it's all good.
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I am a clueless blonde, though Ham meant Ham radio....
It does, and there's nothing stopping you from purchasing as many amateur (ham) radios as you want right now. You just shouldn't transmit without having a license, but you can listen all you want.
Got my call sign today. Not bad for a .gov agency. 6 days.
KE8QKA
KE8QKA
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That was fast. I'm KF5LEG
No, it's not a leg thing, not a vanity call sign. Luck of the draw.
No, it's not a leg thing, not a vanity call sign. Luck of the draw.
Congratulations and good going with the PO Box for an address. I never owned a PO BOX till after I got my license so I had to use my current adress.
Wow 6 days is fast!
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I used a P.O.Box, too, evidently. I just looked myself up. But I moved. So when I update, I'll use my new PO box. Ha.
Note that IF they try to send something to your P.O. Box, and it bounces back to them as "undeliverable" or "not at this address", your license will be canceled immediately. I would recommend updating your FCC records to list your new P.O. Box right away.
We were instructed on this in my class. Our instructors said, if you don't want your real address available forever on the public record, set up a P.O. Box and use that for the very first transaction with the FCC, which is usually to get your FRN number. It doesn't work to change to a P.O. Box later, because your initial address will always be there in the historical part of the record for everybody to see. Then they pointed out the downside of the FCC records - you must keep your address up to date at all times (including P.O. Boxes obviously). With the FCC, any bounced mail they tried to send you will result in your license being canceled immediately. I don't remember if there is some remedy to fix that short of applying for an entirely new license. They probably told us that in class, but I don't remember. Luckily, I don't think the FCC sends you physical mail very frequently. The only thing I can think of is when you get a new license, and possibly a renewal notification. But the FCC just changed the cost of a license to $35, and they very well may do some kind of mailing regarding that to let all license holders know. You wouldn't want something stupid like that to bounce and end up triggering a license cancellation.
Also, note that by posting your callsign on the internet, you are effectively posting your real name and your address. Because anybody can look up the details of your callsign online in the FCC database (it's considered a public record). I am intentionally not providing the link to the FCC license search so as not to expose anyone here who may wish to remain anonymous, but it's not difficult to find the website link.
So don't post your callsign if it bothers you for people to know your name and address.
So don't post your callsign if it bothers you for people to know your name and address.
PO Box was the only option. USPS doesn't deliver mail to my residence at all, so it isn't an option. I asked them about this when I took the test.
Since the call sign is announced via the airwaves, not much difference lol.
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Our forwarding mail is still good for another 6 months, so I'll get to the new P.O. Box change. Thanks for the reminder. And we were also in that predicament about the P.O. Box being the option and it wasn't a problem. Same with at the driver license place, they do record your physical address somewhere, but the P.O. Box is used. Come to think of it, our checks are also printed with the P.O. Box, although the bank does have our physical address.
I not worried about anyone knowing about myself. But some people are more private than me. There is a difference between announcing your callsign over the air in a conversation that is heard by only a small number of people and only at the exact moment that you transmit - and putting it up on the internet in a post that can be viewed by everyone, across the globe, and it will remain archived there for just about all of eternity.
Again, this doesn't bother me personally, but for those who it might, I was just providing a public service announcement. In case they had forgotten that these FCC records are all public.
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Yep. Just go on QRZ.com Always happy to hear/meet a fellow ham.
Lol once I realized anyone could look it up I was like shoot. Oh well most of the general population doesn't know that.
Bingo. I worry though but that's why I'm not sharing that here or any forums. I'm only a technician anyway so it's not like I'm trying to say I'm higher up than I am lolol.
I just don't want some one on google reading through the forum who isn't even a member seeing that. Again though I like to over think some things
Can't you register as a corporate station that would hide your address? Only the corporate name would be published.
No. The license is given to an individual, not a business entity.
Echolink works very well. I put the app on my phone, went through the verification process and within 30 minutes I had approval.
Being able to communicate with that is going to be handy, once I learn how it all works. I was on last night and chatted with MO, TN, AL and CA.
Being able to communicate with that is going to be handy, once I learn how it all works. I was on last night and chatted with MO, TN, AL and CA.
I decided to park this here. Pirate radio may not be your choice right now but awareness is always a good choice. Copy and save this article, or better yet print it out and keep it with your radio books.
https://survivalblog.com/2021/01/24/pirate-radio-sea-land-tunnel-rabbit/
https://survivalblog.com/2021/01/24/pirate-radio-sea-land-tunnel-rabbit/
Nice! Bookmarked for future reference.
I copied and saved it to my desk top. I'll have it as long as I have electricity, but I may not have the net.
