I need my friends help on this one.

[Saddletramp1200]

Hi Guys, In a tender moment I bought a 2 meter set, then coax, antenna, then read, I need a license for 25 watts. Where do I go now. With a CB I was moving all the time. I have a 200 W Palomar, that I understand is for Ham use only. Can anyone dirrect me what to do? I can't eat a $10,000 fine, Thanks

 

[gewecke]

Well, until you get you ham license...don't put that palomar on your 2 meter radio! :wink:
* sarcasm*
On a serious note, the hams in your area should be able to give you dates, places to take your test. They're usually pretty eager to help guys get licensed.

73,
n9zas

 

[zz0468]

Can anyone dirrect me what to do? I can't eat a $10,000 fine, Thanks

My first suggestion would be to clarify what you're trying to find out. 2 meter radio? CB amp? What radio service are you attempting to use?

 

[Saddletramp1200]

I'm sorry, I have a Azden PCS 2000, a two M antenna, 50' rg8 coax, and now a power cord. I'm a Retired Trucker And was using a Cobra 148 GTX Worked on, and a Palomar. I made money for my family using the CB to keep the cops off my truck. Scales, ICC checks, ect. I miss the companionship of talking to the others my age. I think this will be a worthwhile hobby.

 

[zz0468]

Oh, ok. So are you looking to get your ham license?

 

[Saddletramp1200]

Absoulty! I have just looked at so far. I made my living running outlaw loads with a big radio. If you have it, a trucker brought it. FCC is not my friend. I don't swear, or abuse anyone. I just don't know what to do. I want to be legal. I just don't know how.

 

[zz0468]

Absoulty! I have just looked at so far. I made my living running outlaw loads with a big radio. If you have it, a trucker brought it. FCC is not my friend. I don't swear, or abuse anyone. I just don't know what to do. I want to be legal. I just don't know how.

You have to take a test and get a license. It's not that difficult to get an entry-level license. Start by going to arrl.org . Go through the site, there's stuff that tells you everything you need to know about ham radio, and if you dig around deep enough, you can even find people to contact for the test. Start with the "About Ham Radio" section.

When you're done poking around there for a few hours, come back here with your questions and someone will steer you in the right direction.

The FCC doesn't have to be your friend, but you do have to abide by the rules.

 

[Saddletramp1200]

I never advocate breaking the law. I never recomend anyone using more power than the radio is allowed.

 

[Saddletramp1200]

I am so greatful for any help. I love to read, I love to learn. CB just has so many pottie mouths anymore.

 

[N1XDS]

If you would want to be a ham radio operator you will have to pass the mandatory FCC technician license test which is true or false questions mostly on rules & regulations and some antenna height questions.

 

[Saddletramp1200]

I also use a Uniden BCT8 scanner. I am into knowing the world around me. If the gunfire is on X street, I ride down Y street.

 

[LtDoc]

The best suggestion I've seen so far is to find out what 'ham' radio is. One place to do that is the ARRL's web site. Ham radio isn't the same thing as CB radio. They both involve communicating by radios, but that's about where the similarity ends. Ham radio is a licensed service and that means it has rules about what you can do and how you can do it. If that aspect is a problem, then don't bother going any further.
Ham radio isn't just about talking to people. If you can imagine some means of communicating, code, voice in several different ways, TV, teletype, and others, then you can probably find other people doing it on ham radio.
It isn't 'dead nutz' simple and free. But it's also not impossible by any means. I think it's fun. If you find that you might like it, good for you, maybe I'll hear you on the air sometime.
- 'Doc

 

[jhooten]

Sam Houston Amateur Radio Club in Cleveland licensing information page:
Shark Club

 

[kb2vxa]

Fine you want to join the ranks and the advice given is stellar but a word of caution (actually several) from one who's been there, done that when it comes to outlaw activity on radio. I'm a good boy now so no comments from the peanut gallery. (;->)

First, you'll like "2M CB" but don't go overboard on the CB angle, it's informal like CB but leave the lingo behind or you'll be an outlaw trucker for the rest of your life. (That BTW is the polite definition.)

DITCH THAT ILLEGAL CB AMP! You can't use it on the ham bands due to technical limitations while you CAN run up to 1500W legally within the terms of your license. Speaking of which, get caught with it and bye bye license, if you get revoked it's for life and you'll never get ANY kind of an FCC license... EVER.

You say the FCC was never your friend which is fine BUT make it an enemy and they can make your life miserable. An FCC license is kind of like a CDL, it can work wonders for you but abuse it and the full weight of the law comes down on you and as a trucker I'm pretty sure you know what I mean when I say there goes your future.

I'll probably draw a few comments from the gallery anyway but the point is stay safe and good luck both on and off the highway. Like the song goes; the future's so bright I've got to wear shades.

 

[N8IAA]

Think of it this way: Your driver's license is a privilege, just as your amateur radio license is. Abuse it and lose it. That doesn't mean you can't have fun talking to others who are also licensed I sure have for the past 27 years.
HTH,
Larry

 

[Saddletramp1200]

Thanks so much! I have a place to start now. All my rowdy days are gone. I'm just a retired Trucker now. I will have a ball just listening to the folks out there. For right now I enjoy looking at all the pretty lights. When I get this stick in the air I hope to hear folks. If I want to talk to someone I have a cell phone & the internet. Thanks to you fine folks I will study learn and enjoy this new world that is before me. I will have a license before I plug that mike in. With age comes wisdom. The government wins 99% of the time! You guys have my respect already.

 

[John599nj]

Buy the books or tapes and study for a few weeks no code anymore it's so easy. Get ER done

 

[Jimru]

Hi Saddletramp,

Glad to hear you want to become a ham. You've received some good advice so far, all that I will add is that while you are studying and asking questions towards passing the exam (if I can do it, anyone can!) try tuning your scanner to the VHF and UHF amateur bands and listen in, just to see who's out there and what's going on. Tune between 144.000-148.000mHz for VHF and 440-450mHz for UHF. Your scanner may even have the ham bands preprogrammed in the Service Search mode.

After listening for awhile, you'll begin to become familiar with how hams operate and the lingo used, which is quite different than CB. Listening like that will make things much easier when you make your first contact. If you tune in almost any weeknight between 7:00PM-9:00PM, you'll probably hear some "nets" in progress. They usually start on the hour and half-hour and last for about a half hour or so.

As has been suggested, find a local ham club in your area and go to a meeting. Surely you will be welcomed and mentored towards taking the test. Then, when you get on the air for the first time, you will have some friends already to "ragchew" with.

In addition to the ham pages here in Radio Reference, try also the ARRL, the American Radio Relay League:

http://www.arrl.org/

Lots of good stuff there to get you started.

Again, welcome to amateur radio!

Regards,
Jim KC2LMH

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

Hi Saddletramp,

Glad to hear you want to become a ham. You've received some good advice so far, all that I will add is that while you are studying and asking questions towards passing the exam (if I can do it, anyone can!) try tuning your scanner to the VHF and UHF amateur bands and listen in, just to see who's out there and what's going on. Tune between 144.000-148.000mHz for VHF and 440-450mHz for UHF. Your scanner may even have the ham bands preprogrammed in the Service Search mode.

After listening for awhile, you'll begin to become familiar with how hams operate and the lingo used, which is quite different than CB. Listening like that will make things much easier when you make your first contact. If you tune in almost any weeknight between 7:00PM-9:00PM, you'll probably hear some "nets" in progress. They usually start on the hour and half-hour and last for about a half hour or so.

As has been suggested, find a local ham club in your area and go to a meeting. Surely you will be welcomed and mentored towards taking the test. Then, when you get on the air for the first time, you will have some friends already to "ragchew" with.

In addition to the ham pages here in Radio Reference, try also the ARRL, the American Radio Relay League:

American Radio Relay League | ARRL - The national association for AMATEUR RADIO

Lots of good stuff there to get you started.

Again, welcome to amateur radio!

Regards,
Jim KC2LMH

Good advice. That's pretty much how I learned. Was into scanners long before the ham bug bit me. When it did, I'd listen for hours on end. Pretty much figured out "how it all worked" before getting my license. When I made my first contacts, I sounded like I had been doing it for years. The tech exam, as others have implied, it pretty easy to pass. Get your license, have some fun, and then think about upgrading. I'm currently studying for my General class license. Hope to have it by the end of the month.

 

[MeddleMan]

Recap...

A) Read

B) Listen

C) Build Station

D) Listen

E) Study

F) Listen

G)Speak

H) Listen some more

10-4?

You'll get it. As with learning, everything starts out difficult at first. You got this far. You WILL succeed!