Just a quick link today: WNTYAHR in 17 minutes at youtube. TLDW, somewhat paraphrased:
- The hobby is huge, with all kinds of sub- and sub-sub-hobbies.
- For longer ranges you'll need HF and a General license (i.e., 2nd level of 3).
- Help is increasingly online, decreasingly face-to-face, though that's still around too.
- It ain't cheap. (Though much of it can be surprisingly affordable.)
- Some hams are down on radios in prepping – or any other practical use. Sad Hams exist.
- No encryption – it's a big illegal no-no, might be the one thing that gets you noticed (see #8).
- No real (or legal) crossover with GMRS, CB, or other types of radio.
- But it's not exactly like the FCC is enforcing, or even really looking. (except possibly #6)
- An amateur radio license covers the person, not the radio.
- Amateur radio gear is a lot of DIY, plug-and-play, figure it out yourself. In a nutshell, it's STEM, not consumer electronics.
On the off chance this wasn't enough for you, get a copy of Ham Radio for Dummies* through your local bookstore. Or read my Quick & Dirty Guide to Getting a Ham License.
I truly have many more interesting things brewing around in my brain today, though many of them are not blog-appropriate, and others will take a little more time to process out into suitable forms here on the interweb. For example, a passage through New Orleans East in billowing clouds of marsh smoke. Hang in there, interesting stuff is on the way. Today's post... just seemed like worthwhile content.
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*Yes, real book, and yes, I have been cussed out by someone who thought I was calling him a dummy when I recommended it. A clear case of auto-diagnosis.
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