Perhaps this thought needs its own thread. The question would be which section to put it in.
I've learned a lot from both reading and ToolAA's class.
My original goal was comms with the wife and kids should we be separated when SHTF (and by that I mean, no phone, no cell towers and as far a license or not, no FCC to care). There are so many little things to know, there's no reason to not get the license because you would already know what is needed for the license plus some legal stuff. Like with a gun, you'll want practice to really understand how to do it right.
These are not "unpack and talk" like a kids walkie-talkie.
And...never thinking I would care...I seem to have caught the bug and am wondering how to convince the wife to dump money into and ignore the aesthetics of an antenna on the roof and a room with radio gizmos.
Local zoning and HOAs are two different things, and FCC rule provides useful, but limited relief from both for putting up antennas.re: HOA's, there actually is a regulation that infringes on local zoning prohibiting antennae all together. Often showing that is enough to get a HOA to back off.
When I say worst user experiences, I'm not talking about it not working. I didn't have functional issues. However, that site is clumsy and difficult to navigate. Our tax dollars in action...
Dumb question:
A lot of people are getting "Amateur Radios" for a SHTF situation, If that is there intended use why would they bother with a license?
To become proficient in the configuration and use of the radios before they are needed.
The ARRL (American Radio Relay League) has a publication called something like Antennas for Small Spaces or something like that which has suggestions for stealth antennas that work but are less obvious. A bunch of ideas for people concerned with HOA's and such. Some working antennae can be set up inside some attic spaces.
re: HOA's, there actually is a regulation that infringes on local zoning prohibiting antennae all together. Often showing that is enough to get a HOA to back off.
This post again, is something usually touched on in a ham Tech class and in some of the Tech and General question pools.
I was more or less making a joke about the wife and the excuses to keep me from spending money. But I will check those out when the time comes. No HOA here, but sometimes the wife is more strict.
He's probably running an amp too. But at least with that beam, maybe he can hear as far as he can SHOUT.
That's cool! Haven't hit a lot of Africa yet, but I did get a guy in the western coast of South Africa with about 30 Watts. That was cool. For 80-20 meters, I'm just running an end-fed half-wave between a couple of trees. For 10 and 6 meters I use simple dipoles made from lamp cord soldered straight to a BNC, no balun. I string them up between a couple of 1x2's bungee'd to my deck railing (total height about 20 ft). Perfectly resonant.
That was my first "base" VHF antenna. Worked just fine. Good for a cheap "stealth" attic antenna. But don't cheap-out on the coax. Losses mount quickly at VHF.
^^I doubt they are using amateur bands - probably commercial VHF/UHF frees that they have licensed. None of which precludes them being programmed and listened to on any other receiver...
Or maybe I interpreted your question/post wrong?
No, you understood perfectly and it is probably my lack of knowledge. The freq. in question is 450.3375. I just ASSumed it's in the amateur band. I just remembered I know very little details about the band plans, that they do bump up against licensed frequencies, and this is more of a learning opportunity for me.