purpose of amateur radio in cars?

[CCHLLM]

Ham radio is far too diverse to call it all liver and onions. I agree there are facets and people and groups of people in amateur radio that really put me off, but there are also obnoxious and ignorant people here that can't spell radio that will argue "anecdotal theory" and misinformation with a graduate engineer who's forgotten more about RF than some here will ever know. That's just how it is with people everywhere and in every hobby and in every other facet of life. Screw 'em, just move on to the better sides of the hobby.

In my frequent travels, I can name areas I go on a regular basis where I don't even bother to turn on the radio because of what I consistently encounter there, but for the most part, amateur radio is a pleasure. And I do agree that a helluva lot of what goes on is crappy mindless drivel conversation about the equipment and what it sounds like. I'm as guilty of that as anybody, but the people I'm discussing that with are people I know personally and with whom I have a common interest in the particular subject or piece of equipment, and because the huge majority of these people I converse with are also public safety sector professionals or volunteers.

I may be 62 years old and I feel old as hell sometimes, but ya wanna know what will make me change the channel or turn the damn radio off faster than anything else? How about the long winded, one-upmanship of rambling geriatric exchanges comparing infirmities, surgeries, constipation, difficulties urinating, bad doctors, bad nursing, the indignities of drug side effects, medical insurance, and *****ing that the ubiquitous nickel loaf of bread of yesteryear is now 3 bucks. Did I mention that these conversations are taking place on a wide coverage repeater by two people that live within 100 mw simplex range of each other, or worse, on HF while running 1000 watts? That's what pisses me off, but I'm still a ham because the public service faction is what I do, and I stick to what and who I know.

Bottom line for me is that while there are many, many aspects and demographics of ham radio that hold absolutely no interest for me, others I want absolutely nothing to do with, and many that I find fun and fascinating, it is that diversity in all aspects of amateur radio that allows me to pick and choose my poisons and associations. For that reason, ham radio still appeals to me in spite of the many involved who seem to be determined to ruin it for everyone.

And yes, I came to amateur radio from the public safety sector 15+ years ago and I'm in it to stay. So sue me.

 

[robertmac]

Heh, I love liver and onions! Discussing what ham radio/antennas one uses if probably no different than comparing how fast your computer is; how many Gbs it has; what size HD you have; what size screen you have, etc., etc., etc.,. Same as people like to discuss weather; type of automobile you use; etc., etc.. If one likes a subject and wants to learn from other people, then discussions will occur. You won't increase your knowledge if you remain in a "box". One gets out of it what they want. If not try, something else. Besides, CB will again be largely abandoned with the next sunspot cycle, except for those that like to DX. Local conditions will be like FRS, limited to a couple of blocks. Enjoy whatever your hobby is.

 

[andrewccm]

I use the Internet for my chatting/long distance communications these days..(or cell phone.. ) Whether it be mobile or at home. I am more a voyeur when it comes to radio. However, I do feel like I want to learn more about HAM and what "I" can get/give from/to it. Seems like the natural progression of things... Got into scanning...and now quickly have become interested in HAM. Having said that, I have no clue what I'd use it for....but that's not to say I won't find out eventually. I am a technical tinkering type at heart.

 

[Don_Burke]

Presenting an unpopular or controversial point-of-view to some does not make one a Troll.

True enough, but that is not the case at hand.

Let the first HAM who has talked on the air this month and not talked once about his radio or someone elses radio or antenna be the first to throw a Bird Watt Meter or a ream of QSL cards at me.

I do not own a Bird and I am not a paper chaser, so even though I have met your requirements, your head is safe.

Honestly, come on, be honest- you have talked about these things on the air and recently.

See above.

HAM radio is about the radios and love of the off-the-shelf technology for the most part- not the hot chicks, the food, camaradierie or even creativity anymore.

As near as I can tell, it never was about the hot chicks.

The days when you built your own radio from rock salt and a blade of grass are mostly gone and most folks could not and would not undertake this task were it a condition of getting a 'ticket'. Thats fine, lets just be honest it is a love of the off-the-shelf technology and not the undying love of public service that drive the hobby.

It would be easy to conclude from your statements that you have no concept of "honesty."

From experience- I was in the Hobby for a time. I found it to be pointless and less than enlightening. Kinda like an Egalitarian REACT with Legal Linears- to be completely candid. Wish I felt differently but I do not. It all seemed so corny, purposeless, and overblown.

My deepest sympathy for your experience.

I tried very hard to fall in love with Hobby AMatuer radio but Just could not. I enjoy collaborative projects and endeavors, but ,the egos over the smallest things between 'friends' who I saw screw one another over a couple of bucks and some notoriety was the final and complete dealbreaker for me. I can see/get that at work.

I left an Amateur Radio club for that reason. I also left a SCUBA club for that reason and chose not to join a motorcycle club for that reason. I have quit jobs for that reason.

It was not the radios, the drysuits, the bikes, or the businesses. It was the people.

Different strokes for different folks, I am glad the hobby is there and that it is a wonderful outlet for so many. In Closing, no intent to hi-jack, just wanted to clarify and confirm my previous post as a serious point of view.

Fair enough, understand that I can not take you seriously.

Your viewpoint reminds me of an old story of several blind men and an elephant.

Leave ham radio if you wish.

Dislike whatever you wish.

Do not expect me to believe that one person or group of persons can describe 99.9% of Amateur Radio, especially considering that well over .01% of hams go years without operating voice.

Having said that, your views line up nicely with what I have heard on 80 meters, although the 99.9% is a gross overstatement and I would not presume that what I heard is an accurate sampling of 80 meters, let alone amateur radio.

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

A simple question. If you want to talk to your friend for fifteen minutes, why wouldn't you call them on the phone?


I was not surprised a bit to see what the poster above said, as I have heard quite a few older people talking about sometimes disgusting health issues on the repeaters here locally, going into all sorts of details I wouldn't want to give out over the air, including one guy talking about explosive diarrhia. Constipation and urination difficulties seemed routine subjects also. I wanted to consider amatuer radio but after monitoring both of the main bands for a while, the stuff I heard was a turn-off.

In fairness I am sure there are much more interesting things happening on amatuer bands, I just haven't heard them around here. What's up with UHF high amatuer? I never hear ANYTHING, although I undertand it could be antenna issues at work in my case, I am not set up for that range properly.

Had the cell phone revolution not come to pass, things might be different, but it seems a bit odd to have thousands of dollars of equipment to talk to someone across town that you could just call on a $3 cellphone for virtually nothing. The skip stuff I understand, but not the ramblings of VHF / UHF guys. I have no issue with those who have this hobby, it beats gambling or many other things, but I just haven't been able to fully see the point for me personally. To each his own though.

 

[KF4ZTO]

I have had both CB and VHF ham radios in my car...along with my scanner set up.

For highway information....CB channel 19 is still the best, and provides the best highway information. I've got 146.520 in my scanner (that's the National Calling frequency for all you non-elitist ham radio guys - and before someone stabs me on that, that comment in tongue-in-cheek, I agree with a lot of what you guys are saying, a lot of crap heard on ham radio repeaters is just that...crap), but I rarely hear anyone on .52 - I call on it every time I'm on the interstate but have only gotten replies a few times.

Therefore I do NOT see the point of having a ham radio in my car, only when I'm driving up to the mountains and doing 2m simplex work from a ridge or something do I see the point. That's what I've always thought ham radio was about...radio experimentation. Having fun trying to do 110 miles on FM simplex with 20 watts. Listening to lowband skip with my scanner or listening to all of South America yell at each other on 26.715 MHz. I can listen to a 2 meter repeater with my scanner. But I usually don't. Highway/Directions information? Channel 19 on the 'CB. yeah, its annoying, but it works. More than 146.520. There is a reason every single semi trailer in the country has a 27 MHz radio in it.

just my 2 cents...and yes, I am a licensed ham radio operator and yes I do use my radio...I just use my scanner and CB more. I see ham radio as a hobby, an extension of my radio hobby in general. It's just a hobby, something that I enjoy doing in my free time. Some people see it as more than that, which is fine. Seeing people get angry at each other about stuff concerning "elitist" ham radio operator types (yes, this forum is filled with them) and various other people who seem to be very close-minded about anything related to radio...well, it discourages me and probably discourages other young people looking to get into the radio hobby. I used to be very much into ham radio in my younger years (I'm 20 now, going to school and everything, I got my license at age 10 and just renewed it about a month ago) but the more and more I got exposed to ignorant and one-sided radio people the more I didn't want to be associated with them. Scanning is more interesting, the CB is more fun, but ham radio can still be cool...from time to time.

 

[steveh552]

Cell phones are great. Minutes are coming to be unlimited, phones are getting cheaper, coverage is expanding.

When I am traveling down the interstate, and I am in need of road directions, detours, and finding my way out when I am lost, who do you suggest I call if I do not know anyone in that region? With the HAM, I can dial up that preprogramed repeater, or go onto simplex and find SOMEONE that can assist me.

Sure, I can use my incar navigation for that, BUT it is NOT always correct either, it does not always know of road closures, with the radio, someone local usually can help out in that aspect. ALSO, I can use the radio, and find a dining establishment that has food that is worth eating, my in car nav does not always provide that.

 

[zz0468]

A simple question. If you want to talk to your friend for fifteen minutes, why wouldn't you call them on the phone?

Not practical when a group of 3 or more wants to chat for 15 minutes.

In fairness I am sure there are much more interesting things happening on amatuer bands, I just haven't heard them around here. What's up with UHF high amatuer? I never hear ANYTHING, although I undertand it could be antenna issues at work in my case, I am not set up for that range properly.

There's a LOT of UHF activity in Arizona. Like California, much of it is on closed, private repeaters, but it's quite busy. You're just not listening to the right place at the right time.

Had the cell phone revolution not come to pass, things might be different, but it seems a bit odd to have thousands of dollars of equipment to talk to someone across town that you could just call on a $3 cellphone for virtually nothing. The skip stuff I understand, but not the ramblings of VHF / UHF guys. I have no issue with those who have this hobby, it beats gambling or many other things, but I just haven't been able to fully see the point for me personally. To each his own though.

I actually LIKE the ramblings on UHF. Imagine a tight knit group of friends, all of our wives are licensed, we work in the same field, we socialize outside of ham radio activities, and we have some nice quiet repeaters to use as an intercom to coordinate our gatherings, talk on the commute to work, hash over some technical problem, or just yack. For us, having the radio to talk on adds to the fun.

Like I said on a previous post, for repeater activity, it all boils down to what group you get involved in. A repeater can serve as a hub for social gatherings, and if you can find one with like minded people, it can be a great deal of fun. If you're an outsider, or the repeaters in your area don't have the social network attached to it, it can get pretty boring and pointless.

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

3 People could conference call.

By UHF High I meant the 33 and 23 centimeter bands. Those appear to be dead as doornails. Why are there two bands that nobody in a large metropolitan city uses? Now as I said I may not have the right setup to copy them, but it sure is dead in those bands from what I can tell.

As far as those of you enjoy chatting and having the hobby that is all good, no disrepsect, I just don't see it for me. But fortunately we are all different.

Good point above about finding good directions from a local who knows the ins and outs, as well as where to get a good meal.

 

[jon_k]

do people use this for just long distance travelling or weather chasing instead of CB/frs or ?

i cant imagine they try and get long distance skip to europe to chat with their buddies while driving!

I hope this isn't a heckling post. :lol:

What in the world is the purpose of amateur radio in a house even? Who would want to talk on the radio in their house base station? They have even less reason to than in cars. People talk about the same things the same way, just they're just going to work or to the grocery store while doing it. I've got a friend who got on HF the other day on 100 watts in Texas here, and was talking to California one day and Missouri the next. He's heard Florida, etc.

Why would you talk to random old men hundreds of miles away though while traveling the freeway?
Why would you talk to random old men using a base station at the house on 2 meters?

I leave that as an exercise for the reader.

 

[slicerwizard]

I asked a simple question and most of the people have been kind in their response, but a few, to be bluntly, are dicks. I hope if i go amateur radio i find the 90% that are nice and not the 10% that take everything personally.

You should take the viewpoint of educating and give me facts, and not personally attacking because you think i insulted your hobby, i dont know anything about it so thats why im trying to learn.

Don't you have a scanner? Doesn't it cover the ham bands? Why haven't you done your own research?

 

[Don_Burke]

A simple question. If you want to talk to your friend for fifteen minutes, why wouldn't you call them on the phone?

Actually, I would use the phone for that.

I was not surprised a bit to see what the poster above said, as I have heard quite a few older people talking about sometimes disgusting health issues on the repeaters here locally, going into all sorts of details I wouldn't want to give out over the air, including one guy talking about explosive diarrhia. Constipation and urination difficulties seemed routine subjects also. I wanted to consider amatuer radio but after monitoring both of the main bands for a while, the stuff I heard was a turn-off.

There is quite a bit going on on more than two bands.

Personally, I leave 80 to the ache and pain set and 20 to the potty mouths, although the bad activity is in the minority there.

In fairness I am sure there are much more interesting things happening on amatuer bands, I just haven't heard them around here. What's up with UHF high amatuer? I never hear ANYTHING, although I undertand it could be antenna issues at work in my case, I am not set up for that range properly.

Much depends on your area. 440 is not nearly as lively here as 2 meters.

Had the cell phone revolution not come to pass, things might be different, but it seems a bit odd to have thousands of dollars of equipment to talk to someone across town that you could just call on a $3 cellphone for virtually nothing. The skip stuff I understand, but not the ramblings of VHF / UHF guys. I have no issue with those who have this hobby, it beats gambling or many other things, but I just haven't been able to fully see the point for me personally. To each his own though.

The appeal for me is to meet new people. If all I needed was to talk to people I already knew a few at a time, I would not bother with ham radio.

For big round tables that can let strangers join in on and traveling, it would be difficult for the cellphone networks to match ham radio.

 

[AK9R]

By UHF High I meant the 33 and 23 centimeter bands. Those appear to be dead as doornails. Why are there two bands that nobody in a large metropolitan city uses?

There is a lack of commercially-available amateur radio gear for those bands. Icom used to make a 1.2GHz handheld, but it's no longer available. One of the Kenwood mobile radios I have had a 1.2GHz band module available for it, but it's no longer available. I'm not aware of any equipment for the 902MHz band from the major Japanese amateur radio manufacturers.

It's a chicken vs. egg thing. The radio manufacturers don't want to produce equipment for which there is little demand. Likewise, the general population in amateur radio tends to not experiment with new bands or modes unless they can go to their favorite amateur radio store and buy the equipment over the counter.

Having said that, there are parts of the country where 902 MHz and above see heavy use during contest weekends. That activity primarily uses CW and SSB modes, so you will have a hard time decoding them with a typical scanner.

Yes, amateur radio is supposed to be about experimentation with technology. However, few amateur radio operators actually fulfill that part of amateur radio's purpose. There are a some that do, and the rest of us in amateur radio appreciate their efforts.

 

[zz0468]

I think PHOENIX_SCANNER and the OP are missing the point entirely. For people who enjoy playing with radios, we'll chose to talk there over the cellphone, even if cellphones are available. It's a hobby. It's what we like to play with. Build systems, make 'em work, then use them for whatever mundane use we can think of. It's not about utility, or talking, or even public service for a lot of us. It's about playing with radios... it's about entertainment. If that's not what you're interested in, fine. But don't expect the rest of us to justify it to YOUR satisfaction. We can't.

 

[af5rn]

As near as I can tell, it never was about the hot chicks.

LOL! Ain't that the truth! Best I can tell, the radio hobbies have hurt a lot more relationships than they have helped! :lol:

Cell phones are great. Minutes are coming to be unlimited, phones are getting cheaper, coverage is expanding.

That reminds me of why I became a Ham in the first place. One word: autopatch!

Of course, this was back when only the richest doctors, lawyers, and real estate crooks could afford a mobile phone. These days, everyone in the welfare line has a cellphone. That pretty much negates one of the biggest draws of Ham radio from years past.

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

I think PHOENIX_SCANNER and the OP are missing the point entirely. For people who enjoy playing with radios, we'll chose to talk there over the cellphone, even if cellphones are available. It's a hobby. It's what we like to play with. Build systems, make 'em work, then use them for whatever mundane use we can think of. It's not about utility, or talking, or even public service for a lot of us. It's about playing with radios... it's about entertainment. If that's not what you're interested in, fine. But don't expect the rest of us to justify it to YOUR satisfaction. We can't.

That is an honest, logical answer. I fully understand the experimentation part of it, and that is exactly what WOULD get my interest in the hobby. I was just carping about all the weird things I hear the locals saying on ham bands and musing about their use of the amatuer bands I guess. It just seems odd to discuss personal health issues in great detail, in the clear, over the radio for God knows who to hear.

 

[jon_k]

I was just carping about all the weird things I hear the locals saying on ham bands and musing about their use of the amatuer bands I guess. It just seems odd to discuss personal health issues in great detail, in the clear, over the radio for God knows who to hear.

Old people do this for some reason. I guess it's the one thing all older people have in common.

I myself usually jump on and start calling to see if my friends are on. Other times, I just throw out my call while driving to pass the time on my commute with a random HAM.

There's many real things amateur radio can help with. I've had friends call me to see where I am when I'm driving to their house, or other things like that. It can certainly be used for personal coordination and such. I also like jumping in debates or discussions.

Then there's lots of technology to experiment with. Many people experiment with everything. CW, digital, dstar, etc.

To get a feel for the people an their attitude, visit an amateur radio club in your area. Go to a meeting. I took the test in part because "Why not?" I'd like to upgrade to the extra just to feel the accomplishments along the way.

 

[mtindor]

do people use this for just long distance travelling or weather chasing instead of CB/frs or ?

i cant imagine they try and get long distance skip to europe to chat with their buddies while driving!

A lot of people do it, for a lot of reasons.

Some do it because they are whackers.

Some do it because they talk to local ham friends on VHF/UHF. Some work HF from their cars, either for the sheer enjoyment of working people all over the world from their car or for the purpose of working towards an award (like county hunting). Some do it to provide others [who are looking for awards] with a contact from specific counties. Some do it while competing in contests (state QSO parties, larger worldwide contests, field day, etc.)

If you're working HF, you aren't working "skip" a lot of the time. It's not an anomaly but rather the norm... depending on the time of day or night, and depending on your location, you can often anticipate reliable communications with various other parts of the world simply because of propogation [how/where transmissions on certain frequencies propogate across the world].

So it's not always an odd thing to be talking to people outside of the states when you are driving around, depending on the frequencies you're using, the time of day, weather conditions, the time of year, etc., etc.

Mike

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

I can't say I never hear anything interesting on 440 now. I was actually monitoring this morning and some guys were coordinating the unloading of trucks on 446.2. I could tell they were nearby and that they weren't using a repeater, but they definitely weren't hams. I guess even the amatuer bands have some degree of piracy now with all of the cheap "program from the keypad" chinese radios sold on ebay now. Anybody can pick a few up for under $30 each, then just pick whatever frequency they want to run their business with. The 440 band isn't used much so I guess it is a logical spot around here to hoist the jolly roger.

 

[SCPD]

Hey commstar.... I can't remember the last time I talked on 2 meters and discussed my radio or antenna. Once I install a new radio/antenna system and check it out on the air then there's no reason to ever have to discuss the setup again, unless someone notices something different with my signal.

Our local 2 meter "watering hole" is just that.... our watering hole. We get together at various times of the day and discuss differenct topics, sometimes just to touch base with our friends that are elderly and/or have health problems. I can have discussions with ALL my friends at ONE TIME when I use 2 meters and I DON'T have to burn my cell minutes to do that. Actually, some of our 2 meter repeaters have better rural coverage than my cell phone provider.... beat that!

HAM radio might not have been for you but it's still a better alternative for me when I want to get in touch with some of my friends..... to each his own I suppose. BTW, I own a Bird wattmeter and it's waaay too valuable to me throw it at you. I have an old Radio Shack SWR meter, will that do? DUUUUCK!!!