communication

[scoobie]

Yep! The RSGB is the starting point for any info on amateur radio in GB, they can point you in the right direction with their club listings.

[Ian]

SniperBen,

I shall always 'gently suggest'. Everyone here is a free person and, I suspect, are all adults so they may do what they wish. Thus giving advice from ones own experience or education is all we may do. It is pointless telling someone or insisting on something especially as most are anonymous, so I don't.

You have obviously just left the military after, I would guess, having joined young and long service , you now have a difficult furrow to plough to understand and fit in with civilian life. From witnessing others make the same journey it may be the most difficult thing you have ever done, many fail.

You are right, I believe you have found 'the right people'. The people here are a mixture, young, old, experienced or naive, but all good people who are on your side and will support you in that transition if you will let them.

[Ian]

RSGB have (stupidly) a poor reputation for communicating and contacting a club through them often takes forever.

I should locate your nearest couple of clubs, find out when they meet and roll up unannounced to a meeting, ask to talk to whoever is in charge, ask about training courses and take it from there.

Different clubs have different and varied interests so don't be too surprised if the club does not meet your needs exactly just move on to one that does, many hams belong to two or three.

The foundation exam and (compulsory) course is very easy, if you can wire a plug you will pass, my club has eight year olds pass with ease. Having the ticket opens the door, a radio ham is a radio ham and although there is still a little snobbishness from the oldsters it is rapidly fading. You will get easy access to expert advice, second hand kit and a lot of support in really learning about the subject. Don't be too surprised when you discover many hams are preppers as well.

If you wish to get on board with radio and preparedness join RAYNET now (you don't have to be a ham) and your eyes will be opened as to what is going on in that world.

http://www.raynet-uk.net/ Again best to contact your local group directly.

http://www.raynet-uk.net/main/contact.asp

[sniperben]

SniperBen,

I shall always 'gently suggest'. Everyone here is a free person and, I suspect, are all adults so they may do what they wish. Thus giving advice from ones own experience or education is all we may do. It is pointless telling someone or insisting on something especially as most are anonymous, so I don't.

You have obviously just left the military after, I would guess, having joined young and long service , you now have a difficult furrow to plough to understand and fit in with civilian life. From witnessing others make the same journey it may be the most difficult thing you have ever done, many fail.

You are right, I believe you have found 'the right people'. The people here are a mixture, young, old, experienced or naive, but all good people who are on your side and will support you in that transition if you will let them.

Hmmm slightly off the mark there Ian....I joined when i was 23 years old and gave up a university place studying graphic design and went into the recruiting office sept 12 2001 (inspired by the twin towers) I figured i could become a war photographer (estimating that post 9-11 that several wars would break out and i wanted to get the pictures on the frontline...Robert Capa style!....which sort of happened?!?) From school to that point i had worked as a lifeguard, doorman, construction worker, escort driver (yes making sure the working girls are safe and on time! hahaha). The whole time involved photography/drawing/painting and smoking a fair amount of marijuana...you might even say i was a bit of a hippy once (true story!)
I left the Army more than 4 years ago and have, admittedly, been working in private security since...but to suggest, in a fatherly tone, that i am some PTSD striken combat vet with no social skills is pretty off the mark. I was pretty much a rebel in my battalion and have never felt indoctrinated for queen and country and all the other BS. I fought for my friends as they did for me...and just for the honour of living up to all the warriors in history (photography fell to the wayside a little by this point) Excuse me if i seem a little damning but your assessment of me is a little obtuse and very much off the mark. The military has made me more forthright and organised and i am more likely to just grab and wrestle the problem just to 'get it done' but i am completely fine in civilian robes and social circles...thanks for the concern. My only gripe is that more people were not in the military so society would be more cohesive/ public spirited/ self sufficient and cleaner! hahahaha.
Seriously....thanks for the pep-talk but i certainly never joined as a young impressionable kid and i certainly never left as a cold, bitter combat vet. I laughed and enjoyed the whole journey and thanked the gods for going to (what i regard as) the best prepping school in the world! i have lived in difficult and dangerous places and run out of food and water many times and had to make do...vehicles/comms/shelter/medical considerations had be bastardised and 'made to work' with gaffer tape and wire if needs be....it was great and i loved every minute (in retrospect). Again i dont feel like society does not understand me....just wish more people had joined and done it for the discipline (see londion riot chavs and the youth of today).

Phew....hope i filled a few blanks there pal! I understand 'not insisting' afterall there is not set prepper doctrine...just opinions and ideas and of course the whole thing hinges on the event which we prep for. That said...i do like seeing someone say 'i reckon i have the best way to do this' it makes me sit up and want to see what the method or idea is? and if it works for me too....great! if not maybe it can be tailored? either way if it works i say have the confidence in it.

And yes there are some good people on here. i have had a few nice messages and some good chats with folk...you talk of transitions, perhaps i could help people make the mental transition to a hostile environment mindset. The surveillance company i work for does 'breeching exercises' for companies who want their security tested...i wonder how many people who bug in have considered all their security options (for a worst case scenario) Personally i regret not having the money for a standalone country property that i could make a fully prepped compound where no amount of raiders could get in yet have controlled access in and out for foraging and a full security plan with fire positions covering every arc, ground and motion sensors, all the neccesary infrastructure, food storage, livestock, wind/solar power, access to water/borehole, communications/ accomodation for a likeminded group hellbent on surviving etc *wistful sigh*.....

Ok back to the point (jeez i do ramble on!) scoobie/ian thanks for the steer...i have found an RSGB rep a couple of miles from my house and shall find out what his favorite bottle is and glean as much knowledge from him as i can. Once again Gents....many thanks!

[scoobie]

Interesting post, thanks for the insight! Certainly sounds like you've had an interesting past... Let us know how you get on with the radio stuff

[sniperben]

Its been a journey thats for sure...i still have a few miles left as yet! (i hope) Thanks for all the help and comments everyone

-Ben

[Ian]

In amateur radio there is a concept known as 'Elmering' in which a student is taken under the wing of an 'Elmer' for advice and mentoring.

Feel free to use us (especially me) as your Elmer Ben.

[metatron]

If you know nothing, nothing at all about radio, you can pass a foundation in an afternoon. I've seen 12 year olds pass. People like to make the hobby sound harder than it is, to make themselves feel smarter I'd guess, bit like IT. Intermediate licence requires some basic skills, if you can solder already you could pass is directly after the foundation. Passed that if you feel like getting a advanced licence would take maybe a week to get ready for.

It's really not very hard.

[Arzosah]

Lovely post, Ian, thanks for that - I wanted to come in with something about how we all contribute in our own ways, you said it beautifully.

Sniperben - hopefully I'm one of the people you *do* feel a little bit connected to, as we've exchanged pms with friendly tones - but if you joined when you were 23 in 2001, then you're (mumble ... erm ... whatever) now, and you're young enough for me to wag my finger at you play nicely! Though we can also connect through the hippiedom and truly, I don't think Ian was implying PTSD - looked to me like he was describing somebody used to living with a routine. I'm related to quite a few ex-Army guys (of various armies!) as well as present day soldiers, and there's a manner of talking, thats all, that you have.

Ian - your middle name will be Elmer for me from now on, if I can take you up on that offer too, in due course. Communications seem to be *so* important, and all I have at the moment is dependent on public networks. If an 8 year old can pass, I can too

[Plymtom]

Nice thread , I know absolutely bugger all about radio communications, and when I saw Ben's early posts one thing I thought was how you put it yourself Ben

The military has made me more forthright and organised and i am more likely to just grab and wrestle the problem just to 'get it done'

tempted as I was to ask if this was the case, which often without intending to grates with civillians, I sat back for a day or two watching things settle and have to say thanks to you Ben and the others here, knowing how you got to be who you are from your very nice post which no doubt took a long time to put across in your own way, means the world to others who are getting to know one another and I need to say I appreciate it.

The longer I am here the more I think I/We have stumbled accross a nice little community and I like it