Ham radio?

[mogs]

Hi, am looking at purchasing a Ham radio but must admit I get lost with all the jargon!

Can anyone advice as to which one is the one I should be aiming to get please, On a budget ofcourse!

[12mp82]

Have you a licence to operate mogs?

Not that you need one to just listen, but the consequences of transmitting could be severe.

[poppypiesdad]

I have a horse burger radio does that count ........I'll get my coat

[mogs]

Not yet no, am aware of it though and would be making an application/testing for one but initially I would want radio for listening and would follow the routes if I decided to transmit also!

[short circuit]

this will let you get a feel of the test
http://www.rsgb.org/arls/

CB radio is licence free since 2006 at 4 watts

the newer cbs have 80 channels 40 UK 40 EU and home base will get you out around 20 to 25 miles depending on antenna

[Hamradioop]

Hi, am looking at purchasing a Ham radio but must admit I get lost with all the jargon!

Can anyone advice as to which one is the one I should be aiming to get please, On a budget ofcourse!

To find a course near you try this link http://www.rsgb.org/clubsandtraining/

The question is what do you want to do, for local stuff up to five miles a Hand Held like these http://www.sinotel.co.uk/index.php?main ... ex&cPath=1 that also depends on terrain and can be further by use of a fixed aerial at Height or a Local repeater station.

For international traffic you will need a Hf or shortwave set. Get something like a Icom 718, http://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio ... d-2281.php Yaesu 817 http://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio ... d-2459.php Yaesu 897 http://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio ... d-2472.php

You will also need a car / Leisure battery or a Power supply unit and a aerial for the yaseu and Icom units. The benefits over CB are more capable in terms of frequency. You are not just restricted to one set of channels and a ham set will allow you to listen to international short wave broadcasters, assuming there are others alive.

if you need more info PM me Mogs

[short circuit]

I have and old YAESU ft-747gx as kit,midland 48 excel two old midland portable CB27/81 And a brick...scanner wise a yupiteru mvt7100 hand held

[Zai]

What do you want to use it for?

Look at this for a guide (disclosure: I wrote it)

http://www.m6fng.co.uk/?p=166

[short circuit]

Zai lol nice write up there, and its true fokes without a call sign on the 2m and 10m wavelenths you may as well be using paper cups and string its a shame really because without knowing 90% of the test you fail, and when you do get it there is not chatting like on a cb radio its mostley call sign size type of antenna,radio electronics and giving your call sign every 10 mins 73,s then on to the next...dont think thay suit prepping as much as cb radio but have good output so you could be seeing whos still around globely

[Zai]

Zai lol nice write up there, and its true fokes without a call sign on the 2m and 10m wavelenths you may as well be using paper cups and string its a shame really because without knowing 90% of the test you fail, and when you do get it there is not chatting like on a cb radio its mostley call sign size type of antenna,radio electronics and giving your call sign every 10 mins 73,s then on to the next...dont think thay suit prepping as much as cb radio but have good output so you could be seeing whos still around globely

Oh, I dunno, I've chatted for hours with my mates! You do have to give your call every ten minutes or so, but you slip it in as you pick up the mic and it's no bother.

I think it's better suited for prepping, because you can use the long range bands for international news and help, and the short range bands for local chat, and it's easy to choose, especially if you have a good multi band radio like an FT857D. Also, getting the licence trains you how to use the radio too which is nice when you have to cut an emergency antenna in a SHTF situation. Still, each to their own! Yeah, forgot to mention repeaters! How handy when the SHTF?

I'll let you in to a little secret all the big know it all hams don't want you to know - you only need 40% to pass, and the questions are easy multiple choice. I got 100% on my foundation and I'm borderline idiot lol!