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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.
Woah, woah, woah. You had me at babbling prostates...
They talk about many other illnesses too! (Not the babbling prostates, the babbling ham operators)
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.
Morse is no longer required-- yay!
And with the appearance of low cost Chinese brand radios, the equipment can be cheap for 2m, particularly.
The usual go-to for new hams is the Baofeng UV-5R and similar. The cost is about $20-30. It's not the greatest radio and is kind of messy but for $20ish who cares if it gets you on the air.
Also Hamfests are a great place to pick up cheap used gear. For example I got an entry level 2m mobile rig (an old Radio Shack model) for $10 and antenna for similar.
If you want a new higher quality handheld transceiver (HT) there are options at $100 or less from Alinco and Yaesu. (Maybe Kenwood and Icom have budget options too idk)
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.
I recently started studying for the Technician exam -- excited to see I made a good choice!
Oh wow...
I've tried to get into ham radio, but there is basically no one certified in my country, the closest place i can get certified is 270 km away... it's not fun if you are basically speaking to yourself.
I'm not sure I understand, the whole point is to talk to people very far away.
You often have to have a liscence to operate radio equipment of that type, which required you to be certified, the person that would certify him is 270km away
Wow, that's what cooler than I ever would have thought. Thanks for sharing!