Official ONSC HAM Thread

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Can you be a bit more specific? That range covers almost literally every single wireless communications technology humans use.
 
exactly..... read my edit above
 
SDR- software defined radio, but taken to another level
 
So it's a police scanner plus a lot more. That's pretty neat but aren't police scanners regulated/illegal?

It's certainly illegal to capture cell phone transmissions.

3ghz also covers some wireless network frequencies, so can you run captures off of that as well?

Kinda neat that you can listen to HAM frequencies on it too, but at $20 it's only slightly less than a handheld radio.

Does the transmitter cover the same range of frequencies? If so, that's 100% undoubtedly illegal.
 
not quite. it does not actively scan. more like a very wide range receiver. does not capture or decode or decrypt. just lets you see and hear what is on the open waves in a wide range of frequencies
 
I am thinking about taking the Capicola technician exam tomorrow. I still haven't received the book from Amazon, but have watched enough videos on Youtube on the exam.

Now, warning, if I pass the exam, I will become an insufferable little biatch about this topic, lecturing everyone on my new found knowledge, calling people at all hours just to check if my radio works....

I do know that you don't need to retest every 10 years, you just reapply. And you have a 2 year grace period to do it too. But you are not authorized to transmit during grace period either, or if your license is not listed on the FCC website as active, even if your name is Grace.

See, insufferable....

Then might get this radio, https://smile.amazon.com/GT-3TP-Mar...7_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=5ANWYJPDH75GF7CWH049

Book not necessary. There are 426 questions in the pool .... Print them and there is your study guide.

Then go here .... randomized online sample tests:

HamStudy.org: Technician class Ham Radio practice tests, ham radio flash cards, and ham radio question pool.
 
^What Rice said. HamStudy.org is all you really need for the Technician test.


about the SDR radio's...
1. I've never seen a dongle that can transmit but.. Yes, you can get a little dongle with the right antenna and software and pick up an incredible range of frequencies.
2. It's not illegal to pick up things that are transmitted. It is illegal to break encryption or listen to a cell phone conversation but they're not analog anymore anyway.
3. There is a lot more to the ham radio hobby than getting a license to use a walkie-talkie. SDR is just one little area.

Why You Should Care About Software Defined Radio
About RTL-SDR - rtl-sdr.com
SDR as a Police and Fire radio scanner
 
The terror of the airwaves is coming at cha!

image.jpeg
 
Congrats man! Now do like the rest of us and spend ridiculous amounts of money on stuff you don't really need.
 
Congrats man! Now do like the rest of us and spend ridiculous amounts of money on stuff you don't really need.
Thanks! and thanks for the links above, did 100% of the questions more than once, that did the trick. I have been spending too much on unnecessary things for a long time, I am an expert on that!

They offered me the General exam and thought I could pass it too, but I rather build a foundation of what the heck I am doing first. Then test for it.
 
Thanks! and thanks for the links above, did 100% of the questions more than once, that did the trick. I have been spending too much on unnecessary things for a long time, I am an expert on that!

They offered me the General exam and thought I could pass it too, but I rather build a foundation of what the heck I am doing first. Then test for it.

Here are a couple quick must haves if you are using a Baofeng handheld:

external dual band magnetic mount antenna:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045EQUBK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and needed antenna adapter:
https://www.amazon.com/Maxmoral-Fem...sr=8-3-spell&keywords=baofeng+antenna+adaptor


51qtT1nn03L._SL1500_.jpg
 
And this .....

(Once you connect the external coax to the handheld it isn't as user friendly as a "handheld" .... i.e. feeling like you're stressing the antenna connector whenever you pick it up.)

THERE. Now you've spent almost enough money to buy a mobile unit! (Bonus .... when you do buy a mobile unit you can use the external antenna you already have)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Z4X3MM6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

816De0WoA1L._SL1500_.jpg
 
Congrats, Izzy. I anxiously await the HAM-related Cuban Chrome inventions that are coming!
 
Rice, all on order, thank you! Added the car charger too.

Jeremy, at least the radio is lighter than the PRC77. But that one had a nice folding antenna.....
 
Question .... for those that may wish to pre-program frequencies before LR (Even if they are unlicensed and would still like to listen) are we still using 146.460 at Uwharrie?

It appears the closest repeater in case of emergency is in Albemarle:

K4OGB 146.985 (-600 kHz) with a 100 tone.
 
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So it is safe to say that if I do any trails, etc with the NC crew most will have HAM? I had never considered HAM but if it makes more sense I would just go that route. Seems to be similar costs as well as far as equipment.

Rice, so if I get the Baofeng and the stuff you listed I will be good to go?

IzzyandSue, what car charger did you get?
 
I ordered the baofeng uv-82 after reading reviews, with an hr-660 antenna. There's a specific PTT microphone (dual input) for the UV-82 and a car charger.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E4KLY34/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

CB is still a good idea, I will bring mine too.

Rice, is that for simplex device to device? I think I get what you mean,the radio will ignore all other calls unless the carrier has the CTCSS of 100 at that frequency.

I found the repeater info for Uwharrie below. I don't have my radio yet, will figure out how to program all this stuff.

image.png
 
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So it is safe to say that if I do any trails, etc with the NC crew most will have HAM? I had never considered HAM but if it makes more sense I would just go that route. Seems to be similar costs as well as far as equipment.

Rice, so if I get the Baofeng and the stuff you listed I will be good to go?

IzzyandSue, what car charger did you get?

I don't think the word "most" applies to ONSC yet. We still have plenty CB and GMRS users plus some that have nothing. This has been a long growing curve that looks like it's starting to catch on (me included).

The handheld Baofeng even with no extras will do fine ... perhaps with the exception of pulling off the rubber-duck antenna and putting on a decently tuned whip antenna. There are many to chose from. Getting the antenna outside of the vehicle (Faraday cage) does a lot for both reception and TX but even with it inside the vehicle it is superior to CB coverage.

Because getting the tech license is so easy hopefully more HAM's will be coming on board soon.
 

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