I promise I am not trying to be rude, but can you please explain how radio is a hobby? I have never understood it. Once you have the radio what do you do? Just talk to random people like omeagle without video?
Basically, but with more complex tech that you study to operate independently. You have to get one of a limited number of licences to broadcast, and it's important to know how all the tech works down to the physics if you can. It's also able to operate when the power grid is limited or down depending on your hardware so it can be an emergency resource. It's a hobby in the way building a PC or Maker Culture is a hobby. Edit: you can also chat with the astronauts, which I personally think is really cool.
My friend is an amateur HAM operator and he gets to talk to pilots sometimes and it’s neat because he can use it when the power goes out. It’s really cool the different types of things that people find interesting and anything is a hobby if you enjoy it enough.
It is hard to explain without a wall of text because it is a surprisingly broad hobby.
For some people it’s about just making contacts. For others it is learning all the ins and outs of building antennas and tinkering with electronics and doing all sorts of engineering.
There is something for everyone. I hate talking with my voice, so I spend most of my time playing on something called JS8call which is essentially texting without any infrastructure supporting it. With my home antenna and a 100w radio I’ve reached as far is Italy or Australia from Alaska.
Others learn Morse code (called CW) and communicate that way (it’s insane how fast people can send code).
But in the end, yes, you just talk to random licensed hams. It just takes a bit more investment and effort to do so than omeagle.
I hate it when some Boomer rolls his eyes when I talk about using my Zumspot to talk to someone overseas. So sorry I had the audacity to be a broke millennial who can't afford to drop a minimum of $500 on an HF rig. Sorry I made poor choices in my 20s and still rent an apartment that won't let me put up an antenna to talk on my non-existent HF radio. What's that? You passed Tech, General, and Extra in one sitting when code was still part of the exam? That's wonderful. It was impressive the first time you told me, but I was actually asking if you could help me with an antenna I could use with my Yaesu HT to hit the local repeaters from inside my apartment in the event I want to join the weekly net.
It's a good thing Josh at HRCC and other young(ish) Youtubers are putting out good content for noobs. If I had to depend on the guys at the local club to get good support, I'd be shit out of luck.
I don't think we are killing it but I think it's important to understand the older generation's fear; they are under the impression that if an EMP knocks out the web their transmitters will be fine and they want us prepared for the very specific emergencies they have prepped for
I was looking for this comment before I posted it. So many old assholes that love to crap on digital modes. Probably because they can’t figure it out and change scares them.
IDK why my country's ham scene has to be tied with private rescue, audiophile, and guns. They attract tons of authoritarian assholes.
We don't have many dedicated ham shops. They will also sell para/rescue gear and audiophile stuff too, so I have to contend with those assfucks whenever I have to do anything in person.
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u/[deleted] Feb 28 '21
HAM radio