Amateur radio. How many members use them and why

[Steveo82]

Ive had some tv aerials fitted today, got chatting to the engineer turns out he's radio mad and a member of the local amateur radio club. I've read about it on here and I quite like the idea. So was just wondering if the investment of time and money was worth it.

[Plymtom]

I've always kind of thought that it would get me in trouble with my wife for spending hours on it, but then I don't really like phones which is a drawback to when phones were really expensive to use that I never grew out of, going back some 30 odd years I worked in a house where the chap was well into it, he made trainspotting seem far more exiting by comparison so I kind of tune it out when we talk about it here, but don't let me put you off I think every community should have a comms person with an ear to the ground and a voice out there if possible, but I think it could be too much of a distraction for a family or small group to keep up and maintain all the other activities and chores if it were all hands on deck so to speak.

As a hobby or club activity if it rocks your boat and in your budget then that is the important thing, I know a fair few here do it and good for them

[Steveo82]

That's the thing it doesn't rock my boat, but would it be useful.

[Hamradioop]

I have had a license since 1981 and would not say I am dedicated to it, although over the years I have acquired the equipment. I am interested in its aspect as a communications aid as it does not really on any infrastructure to move the communication around, i.e. no telephone wires, Fiber optics or cell towers. All of the equipment can be home made, with a little application or if you have deep pockets can be shop bought. The advantage is communications over a wide area without a massive infrastructure. It is used by missionaries around the world to keep in touch and the Military are known to buy commercial equipment. They certainly bought it during the Falklands incident. It works and can be very stealthy with a bit of thought.

regards
Kev G6***

[Rearfang]

I have a couple of handies a luiton and a alinco amature sets no licence but will only be using them post shtf though would be intreasted in getting a licence

[OpSec]

I joined my local club last year to learn the basics of radio comms and to be honest I'm really glad I did. I took my foundation exam last year and I am about to take the intermediate and advanced over the next few weeks.

Many people think of amateur radio as glorified CB (I know I did) but after joining the club I soon found out that there is so much more to it than this. The guys in the club are involved with things I'd never heard of let alone considered. It's worth doing the training and joining a club even if only to learn how to set up your equipment properly and to get the very best out of it. We have members specialising in a wide range of activities, from simple FM or SSB contacts, to various data modes, to microwave, to slow and fast scan TV.

I'm particularly interested in the various data modes and CW (Morse), both would be very useful for comms pre and post SHTF and are very low bandwidth.

Give it a try, you might surprise yourself and really take to it.