Getting your ham radio license -- from scratch

Discussion in 'Survival Communications' started by WA4STO, Aug 11, 2013.


  1. WA4STO

    WA4STO Digital Communications Monkey

    I've licensed well over 200 nine and ten year olds.

    We make it exceptionally easy.

    We've modified the rules and regulations, over many years, so that -- now -- you don't really need to understand any theory, any rules, or any lists of frequencies. You merely need to be able to memorize the correct answers to the questions on the exams.

    Blasphemy! (sez the olde pharts who would bellow the loudest). Hogwash!

    But it's a fact. The rules call for you to pass the exam. Period.

    It gets better.

    We provide you (right here, just ask) with ALL the answers to ALL the questions, in advance, long before you head off to the exam session, which -- by the way -- is run by volunteers who are motivated toward helping you become licensed. They WANT you to join in on the fun, and they're offering their time to make it happen for you.

    After having successfully done that, we will grant you the free use of millions and millions of frequencies, all up and down the radio spectrum. In fact, there is an infinite number of frequencies available to you, a point that the survivalist would do well to remember. It's an important concept. So is "free".

    In addition to the unlimited frequency spectrum, we will give you the use of dozens of different 'modes' of operation. Personally, I'm only interested in a few of the modes, and y'all will find me spending a lot of time trying to enable the survivalist to understand WHY those modes are of particular use to your prepping efforts.

    Questions? Rants?

    73 de "Luck", WA4STO
     
  2. DarkLight

    DarkLight Live Long and Prosper - On Hiatus

    Well, I'm a extra and if I can do it, ANYBODY can do it. I do admit that for the higher-end electronics questions...I memorized. I still don't have all of the theory down and it's been a year of off-and-on studying after passing.

    However, I'm still studying. I'm not just sitting back on my laurels now that I've passed. I'm learning morse (very, very slowly) and I've got a MUCH better understanding of antenna theory and propagation than I used to.

    Trying to get my kids interested in it but just can't seem to do it. Maybe once the antenna gets here and I'm making contacts more than 30 miles away on VHF they'll see it's more than just a "walkie-talkie".
     
  3. WA4STO

    WA4STO Digital Communications Monkey

    DarkLight -- point(s) taken; we make it SO easy and we give the newcomer SO much.

    There may be a way, or three, to get the kiddos interested.

    From your perspective, maybe the ability to get messages flowing between a dozen or more BOLs, relatives' homes, or friends' places is of interest, if "only" for pre-SHTF planning purposes, would prove to be enabling.

    For the kids, maybe that very same purpose translates into their love of computers. It's not an unreasonable stretch to suggest to them that they can utilize the ham radio digital infrastructures to send 'pen pal' messages to those far-away spots and to determine, in time, which of them are most likely to respond and thus to keep up the exchange.

    To do that, you wouldn't even need the amateur radio portion of it. We do accept third party messages, certainly.

    But your biggest thrill, perhaps, would be the point where you do the very same thing on your own, with your own WINMOR or maybe Pactor system. At that point, everything will become radio-all-the-way and the kids will notice no difference except for the guidance that you give them, showing how better prepared your family is, than when they were just relying on the email - to - ham method that you started out with.

    Confused yet? :)

    Best 73

    Luck, WA4STO
     
  4. Idahoser

    Idahoser Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Byron, we try to discourage people from giving their callsigns out here away from the ham forums, because anybody who knows how can go find out exactly where you live there in Wilber. And here you are talking about the things you store in case SHTF, could make you a tempting target.

    Still I agree with your post, thanks for mentioning it! I think everybody should have a carry permit and a ham license, even if they never intend to use it. You just never know when you might change your mind.
     
  5. WA4STO

    WA4STO Digital Communications Monkey

    Thanks for the consideration. But I figured out, 40 some odd years ago, how to prevent folks from finding me by way of my amateur radio callsign. Hiding in plain sight is SO easy to accomplish! [peep]

    As for the 'tempting target', I'm not really very familiar with Uncle Smith or Granny Wesson. But my wife and I sure do know cousin Ruger and Uncle Beretta quite well. We're intimate with them, ya might say. [wannamesswitme]

    Best 73

    Luck, WA4STO
     
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