"Corwin, Prince of Amber" wrote in message
...
New user. I know I may (hopefully not) get 9 angry replies and 1 who
understands my ignorance and will provide an articulate reponse, but
I'll take my chances.

So what if I invent my call sign, learn the lingo, and start using my
2M radio without jumping through all the hoops to get licensed. Does
anyone *really* care? Is 'big brother' really going to bust through
my front door with a SWAT team? Of the 1+ million HAM operators, how
many are actually fined each year for doing what I'm considering?

If I stick with it instead of packing the radio up and putting it next
to my photography equipment, I will get licensed, I promise.

Also, even if I *really do* need a license to transmit, I don't need a
license to turn the radio on and listen, do I?

Rick Bryan
New York, NY



You do not need a license to listen.
As far as transmitting, all I can say is that I have been running a
station for 25 years with no license and no one has figured it out yet.
I don't mean to sound rude here but the fact is that hams are a socially
challenged lot with no real social skills. Regardless of what
they tell you on this NG, they are so deprived of people to talk to that
they don't
care if you're licensed or not.
Just be sure to obay the rules and don't be an asshole on the airways.
If you can do those things, you will never be turned in.
As I said, I have been doing it for a very long time and have had no
problems.
Just enjoy yourself and learn.