There’s plenty of fun to be had with ham radio even if you don’t have a license.
You can get a handheld radio to listen in on what’s going on while you are out and about or get a base station/desktop radio.
You can listen to activities on local repeaters. Repeaters allow ham radio operators to talk locally, they send a signal to a repeater and it transmits the signal to other radios in the area. You can listen in to their conversations or to Nets, regular ham meet us on repeaters that discuss a certain topic.
A larger desktop radio with a longer antenna will also be able to receive amateur HF communications sent directly from ham radios around the world, you can listen to conversations from places like Germany, Kazakhstan, or Japan.
You could start to learn morse code. http://www.justlearnmorsecode.com Although no longer a requirement morse code is an efficient means of communication and will work when other modes will not.http://www.g4fon.net/CW%20Trainer.htm
A PDF introdution to Amateur radio can be found here: http://thersgb.org/publications/alex-di ... -radio.pdf
Don't be put off by the cartoons it is full of good relevant info.
what can i do with a ham radio licence
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what can i do with a ham radio licence
Last edited by Hamradioop on Fri Oct 24, 2014 11:25 am, edited 2 times in total.
“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.” ― Edward R. Murrow
"Remember Politicians are like babies diapers they both need changing often for the very same reason" - Mark Twain
If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.
"Remember Politicians are like babies diapers they both need changing often for the very same reason" - Mark Twain
If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.
Re: what can i do without a ham radio licence
Hamradioop,
Do you know if morse is still required for the foundation licence ?
Wulfshead
Do you know if morse is still required for the foundation licence ?
Wulfshead
Area 4 Coordinator
For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack
For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack
- Briggs 2.0
- Posts: 675
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 11:35 am
Re: what can i do without a ham radio licence
A basic understanding is required. Your examiner will relay a message in morse and you have to translate, and vice versa. You can have the alphabet open in front of you so it's not necessary to know all the letters and numbers, however a bit of knowledge will give you a better chance of keeping up with the code.Wulfshead wrote:Hamradioop,
Do you know if morse is still required for the foundation licence ?
Wulfshead
Off-Grid & Living Outdoors
Re: what can i do without a ham radio licence
Thanks Briggs
I best get studying.
Wulfshead
I best get studying.
Wulfshead
Area 4 Coordinator
For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack
For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack
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- Location: Area 1: north wessex
Re: what can i do without a ham radio licence
Part of the Foundation examination is talking on a HF radio and VHF Radio and a morse appreciation. The examiner will give you a crib sheet to translate Morse to English at about 5 words a minute. and unless it has changed you will be required to use a Morse key to send a short message in Morse code.
The Morse code can be found here http://www.nadars.org.uk/morse.asp and common Morse code abbreviations can be found Here http://www.nadars.org.uk/cwabbs.asp
The Morse code can be found here http://www.nadars.org.uk/morse.asp and common Morse code abbreviations can be found Here http://www.nadars.org.uk/cwabbs.asp
“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.” ― Edward R. Murrow
"Remember Politicians are like babies diapers they both need changing often for the very same reason" - Mark Twain
If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.
"Remember Politicians are like babies diapers they both need changing often for the very same reason" - Mark Twain
If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.
Re: what can i do without a ham radio licence
Thanks Hamradioop, very helpful
Wulfshead
Wulfshead
Area 4 Coordinator
For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack
For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack
- SkyWatcher
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Re: what can i do without a ham radio licence
Just out of curiosity, who "polices" the airwaves and how would they know if you have a licence or not?
Area 11
Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Once the SHTF thousands of other people are gonna want the same as you. What do you think your chances are of getting it?.......
Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Once the SHTF thousands of other people are gonna want the same as you. What do you think your chances are of getting it?.......
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- Posts: 2089
- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:21 am
- Location: Area 1: north wessex
Re: what can i do without a ham radio licence
the Government body is Ofcom and there are Volunteer Monitors and usually you will fall foul of the local Hams who guard their treasure as fierce as any Dragon LOL.SkyWatcher wrote:Just out of curiosity, who "polices" the airwaves and how would they know if you have a licence or not?
“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.” ― Edward R. Murrow
"Remember Politicians are like babies diapers they both need changing often for the very same reason" - Mark Twain
If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.
"Remember Politicians are like babies diapers they both need changing often for the very same reason" - Mark Twain
If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.