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Portable, Affordable, 10 Mile Coverage
Is there such a thing as a portable, affordable, two-way radio system
with 10 mile coverage or better? What about something that is slightly secure? Here's the need that is driving this: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. BTW, I don't know much about HAM radio, so please forgive my ignorance. |
Secure -- Well anytime you put something on the airways -- others can
tune in --- many with scanners hear all Ham radio would require all parties to have a Ham License - don't think this would work for you. But all about obtaining a Ham Ticket at URL: http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html The So Called "Personal Radio Services" are summarized at URL: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconVall...54/radio2.html Only thing that comes to mind is GMRS -- see URL: http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/per...generalmobile/ Pricey and you might have to build a repeater to get the range you want. -- 73 From the Spurious Noise ';';;';x":.,";"' "Google Mike" wrote in message om... Is there such a thing as a portable, affordable, two-way radio system with 10 mile coverage or better? What about something that is slightly secure? Here's the need that is driving this: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. BTW, I don't know much about HAM radio, so please forgive my ignorance. |
Secure -- Well anytime you put something on the airways -- others can
tune in --- many with scanners hear all Ham radio would require all parties to have a Ham License - don't think this would work for you. But all about obtaining a Ham Ticket at URL: http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html The So Called "Personal Radio Services" are summarized at URL: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconVall...54/radio2.html Only thing that comes to mind is GMRS -- see URL: http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/per...generalmobile/ Pricey and you might have to build a repeater to get the range you want. -- 73 From the Spurious Noise ';';;';x":.,";"' "Google Mike" wrote in message om... Is there such a thing as a portable, affordable, two-way radio system with 10 mile coverage or better? What about something that is slightly secure? Here's the need that is driving this: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. BTW, I don't know much about HAM radio, so please forgive my ignorance. |
On 29 Sep 2003 09:20:32 -0700, Google Mike wrote:
Is there such a thing as a portable, affordable, two-way radio system with 10 mile coverage or better? What about something that is slightly secure? - nuh uh! not according to the FCC! one cannot obscure the meaning of a message (IIRC, the only exception is satellite control?) Here's the need that is driving this: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. mike - get everyone licensed! study one day, then put the family in the car, go to the local VEC test, get 26 questions out of 35 multiple-choice questions correct, then go to Denny's and celebrate! a couple days later everyone's license will appear in the FCC's ULS and you can set up a base station and 2M comms in each car! doesn't have to cost a whole lot, either! BTW, I don't know much about HAM radio, so please forgive my ignorance. |
On 29 Sep 2003 09:20:32 -0700, Google Mike wrote:
Is there such a thing as a portable, affordable, two-way radio system with 10 mile coverage or better? What about something that is slightly secure? - nuh uh! not according to the FCC! one cannot obscure the meaning of a message (IIRC, the only exception is satellite control?) Here's the need that is driving this: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. mike - get everyone licensed! study one day, then put the family in the car, go to the local VEC test, get 26 questions out of 35 multiple-choice questions correct, then go to Denny's and celebrate! a couple days later everyone's license will appear in the FCC's ULS and you can set up a base station and 2M comms in each car! doesn't have to cost a whole lot, either! BTW, I don't know much about HAM radio, so please forgive my ignorance. |
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Zoran Brlecic wrote:
wrote: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. Get a CB radio. mike - get everyone licensed! study one day, then put the family in the car, go to the local VEC test, get 26 questions out of 35 multiple-choice questions correct, then go to Denny's and celebrate! a couple days later everyone's license will appear in the FCC's ULS and you can set up a base station and 2M comms in each car! doesn't have to cost a whole lot, either! Yeah, that's what ham radio needs: more people with no clue what ham radio is, no desire to use it for amateur, technological, dxing or emergency service purposes, and whose only motivation is to save on cellphones. There's already a band in place for such purpose and it's called CB. 73 ... WA7AA And we wonder why ham radio is not growing. With sweet-talkers like you on the welcoming committee... Excuse me while I get back to my technological, dxing and emergency services work. mike -- Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below. laptops and parts Test Equipment 4in/400Wout ham linear amp. Honda CB-125S 400cc Dirt Bike 2003 miles $550 Police Scanner, Color LCD overhead projector Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head... http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/ |
2 out of 10 on the trollometer....
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2 out of 10 on the trollometer....
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mike wrote:
Yeah, that's what ham radio needs: more people with no clue what ham radio is, no desire to use it for amateur, technological, dxing or emergency service purposes, and whose only motivation is to save on cellphones. There's already a band in place for such purpose and it's called CB. And we wonder why ham radio is not growing. With sweet-talkers like you on the welcoming committee... What is our goal? To preserve amateur radio for all the ideas that it was originally established, enhanced with contemporary technological features? Or is it growth at all cost? If it is the latter, then why even bother with testing - let's simply give away licenses on the street corner. Excuse me while I get back to my technological, dxing and emergency services work. I entered amateur radio for the love of the hobby/service itself, for experimenting, contesting and dxing. So did a majority of my ham radio friends and acquaintances. You, otoh, feel that ham radio can benefit from people who want to use it only to talk to their grandmother and order a pizza. As I said - there's already a perfect band for this and it's called CB. 73 .... WA7AA -- Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly |
mike wrote:
Yeah, that's what ham radio needs: more people with no clue what ham radio is, no desire to use it for amateur, technological, dxing or emergency service purposes, and whose only motivation is to save on cellphones. There's already a band in place for such purpose and it's called CB. And we wonder why ham radio is not growing. With sweet-talkers like you on the welcoming committee... What is our goal? To preserve amateur radio for all the ideas that it was originally established, enhanced with contemporary technological features? Or is it growth at all cost? If it is the latter, then why even bother with testing - let's simply give away licenses on the street corner. Excuse me while I get back to my technological, dxing and emergency services work. I entered amateur radio for the love of the hobby/service itself, for experimenting, contesting and dxing. So did a majority of my ham radio friends and acquaintances. You, otoh, feel that ham radio can benefit from people who want to use it only to talk to their grandmother and order a pizza. As I said - there's already a perfect band for this and it's called CB. 73 .... WA7AA -- Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly |
GoogleMike:
Amateur radio service would be great in an "ideal" world. However it is unrealistic to expect that everyone in your family will want to learn code or study the theory. (two entry level options). And unfortunately for the ham service, many in the ham ranks tend to turn off many potential hams. CB service is, well just awful and painful to monitor for days on end. There is another such service that the family can enjoy without getting a "Ham" license. It is called GMRS, a private UHF FM radio service where up to 50 watts and repeater operation are permitted. Don't get this confused with low cost FRS/GMRS (FRS is family radio service), those units are low power and good only for a few miles. Check "google" for "GMRS, PRSG (Personal radio steering group) and other GMRS links and you will learn from what is available on the web. The last I checked there were over a dozen GMRS repeaters listed in the PRSG repeater guide (red book). Whether or not any of these are in operation is anyones guess. Check with PRSG for repeater operators in your area and see if any exist with coverage that will suffice for your locale. If not, you might want to install your own if you have access to mountain top property. At each house you install a "control station" with a yagi antenna so that all homes are linked to the repeater. With proper selection of frequency and squelch code, only those in your group will hear each other. But don't be mistaken, this is still radio, so someone with a scanner can tune you in. The advantage is that you won't have to listen to garbage on the channel beacause of the tone squelch code, You can also search the FCC database for other GMRS users in your area. Unfortunately the FCC doesn't keep track of repeater installations anymore, but you can still seek out others in the community with such a system. If the cost is out of your range, you can forgo the repeater idea and install base stations at each of your relatives houses, and rely on the limited range (a sort of cellular approach) and hope you don't get a flat tire in the dead spot between Billy Bob's house and Sally Mae's place. Here are some basics: Mobile radios $500-1200 new, (portables same range, but far less effective coverage) Control or Base station, similar to mobile, add power supply $125 and yagi or omnidirectional antenna $100. Repeater station $2500 to $9000 new (or cost share with a group) Antenna tower for repeater or base station, $500 to $3000 and up depending on ... everything. FCC License $75 for 5 years (covers entire family, even in the south) Telephone interconnection - Not permitted Secure, Encryption - Not permitted If this won't work, your other choice is to hook up with a commercial land mobile repeater operator. Certainly someone in your area is providing coverage for joe the plumber. One hitch, these services are for business users, so keep that in mind for FCC license eligebility as well as when considering monthly expense. Joe K4SAT, WPXM352 (GMRS) AKA The RFI-EMI-GUY If you want more info look up my real e-mail address through my ham license via : http://www.buck.com/cgi-bin/do_hamcall Google Mike wrote: Is there such a thing as a portable, affordable, two-way radio system with 10 mile coverage or better? What about something that is slightly secure? Here's the need that is driving this: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. BTW, I don't know much about HAM radio, so please forgive my ignorance. -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "Jazz is not dead. It just smells funny." -F.Z. |
GoogleMike:
Amateur radio service would be great in an "ideal" world. However it is unrealistic to expect that everyone in your family will want to learn code or study the theory. (two entry level options). And unfortunately for the ham service, many in the ham ranks tend to turn off many potential hams. CB service is, well just awful and painful to monitor for days on end. There is another such service that the family can enjoy without getting a "Ham" license. It is called GMRS, a private UHF FM radio service where up to 50 watts and repeater operation are permitted. Don't get this confused with low cost FRS/GMRS (FRS is family radio service), those units are low power and good only for a few miles. Check "google" for "GMRS, PRSG (Personal radio steering group) and other GMRS links and you will learn from what is available on the web. The last I checked there were over a dozen GMRS repeaters listed in the PRSG repeater guide (red book). Whether or not any of these are in operation is anyones guess. Check with PRSG for repeater operators in your area and see if any exist with coverage that will suffice for your locale. If not, you might want to install your own if you have access to mountain top property. At each house you install a "control station" with a yagi antenna so that all homes are linked to the repeater. With proper selection of frequency and squelch code, only those in your group will hear each other. But don't be mistaken, this is still radio, so someone with a scanner can tune you in. The advantage is that you won't have to listen to garbage on the channel beacause of the tone squelch code, You can also search the FCC database for other GMRS users in your area. Unfortunately the FCC doesn't keep track of repeater installations anymore, but you can still seek out others in the community with such a system. If the cost is out of your range, you can forgo the repeater idea and install base stations at each of your relatives houses, and rely on the limited range (a sort of cellular approach) and hope you don't get a flat tire in the dead spot between Billy Bob's house and Sally Mae's place. Here are some basics: Mobile radios $500-1200 new, (portables same range, but far less effective coverage) Control or Base station, similar to mobile, add power supply $125 and yagi or omnidirectional antenna $100. Repeater station $2500 to $9000 new (or cost share with a group) Antenna tower for repeater or base station, $500 to $3000 and up depending on ... everything. FCC License $75 for 5 years (covers entire family, even in the south) Telephone interconnection - Not permitted Secure, Encryption - Not permitted If this won't work, your other choice is to hook up with a commercial land mobile repeater operator. Certainly someone in your area is providing coverage for joe the plumber. One hitch, these services are for business users, so keep that in mind for FCC license eligebility as well as when considering monthly expense. Joe K4SAT, WPXM352 (GMRS) AKA The RFI-EMI-GUY If you want more info look up my real e-mail address through my ham license via : http://www.buck.com/cgi-bin/do_hamcall Google Mike wrote: Is there such a thing as a portable, affordable, two-way radio system with 10 mile coverage or better? What about something that is slightly secure? Here's the need that is driving this: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. BTW, I don't know much about HAM radio, so please forgive my ignorance. -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "Jazz is not dead. It just smells funny." -F.Z. |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
mike wrote: Yeah, that's what ham radio needs: more people with no clue what ham radio is, no desire to use it for amateur, technological, dxing or emergency service purposes, and whose only motivation is to save on cellphones. There's already a band in place for such purpose and it's called CB. And we wonder why ham radio is not growing. With sweet-talkers like you on the welcoming committee... What is our goal? To preserve amateur radio for all the ideas that it was originally established, enhanced with contemporary technological features? Or is it growth at all cost? If it is the latter, then why even bother with testing - let's simply give away licenses on the street corner. Excuse me while I get back to my technological, dxing and emergency services work. I entered amateur radio for the love of the hobby/service itself, for experimenting, contesting and dxing. So did a majority of my ham radio friends and acquaintances. You, otoh, feel that ham radio can benefit from people who want to use it only to talk to their grandmother and order a pizza. Thank you very much for telling me what _I_ feel. I'll put you on my speed dial so you'll be close at hand next time I think I might want a feeling. It's not my place to tell people how or why to use ham radio. As long as they do it within the rules published by the FCC (NOT what YOU think the rules should be), more power to them. There's no question on the test that weeds out those who are obnoxious!! Maybe there should be... 'nuff said! mike As I said - there's already a perfect band for this and it's called CB. 73 .... WA7AA -- Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below. laptops and parts Test Equipment 4in/400Wout ham linear amp. Honda CB-125S 400cc Dirt Bike 2003 miles $550 Police Scanner, Color LCD overhead projector Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head... http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/ |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
mike wrote: Yeah, that's what ham radio needs: more people with no clue what ham radio is, no desire to use it for amateur, technological, dxing or emergency service purposes, and whose only motivation is to save on cellphones. There's already a band in place for such purpose and it's called CB. And we wonder why ham radio is not growing. With sweet-talkers like you on the welcoming committee... What is our goal? To preserve amateur radio for all the ideas that it was originally established, enhanced with contemporary technological features? Or is it growth at all cost? If it is the latter, then why even bother with testing - let's simply give away licenses on the street corner. Excuse me while I get back to my technological, dxing and emergency services work. I entered amateur radio for the love of the hobby/service itself, for experimenting, contesting and dxing. So did a majority of my ham radio friends and acquaintances. You, otoh, feel that ham radio can benefit from people who want to use it only to talk to their grandmother and order a pizza. Thank you very much for telling me what _I_ feel. I'll put you on my speed dial so you'll be close at hand next time I think I might want a feeling. It's not my place to tell people how or why to use ham radio. As long as they do it within the rules published by the FCC (NOT what YOU think the rules should be), more power to them. There's no question on the test that weeds out those who are obnoxious!! Maybe there should be... 'nuff said! mike As I said - there's already a perfect band for this and it's called CB. 73 .... WA7AA -- Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below. laptops and parts Test Equipment 4in/400Wout ham linear amp. Honda CB-125S 400cc Dirt Bike 2003 miles $550 Police Scanner, Color LCD overhead projector Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head... http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/ |
If this is a Troll, I will give it the benefit of a doubt.
There is one way to get by as cheaply as possible. That way is to get a pager and if relatives want to talk to you, they can page you. And you may call them back using any public coin phone near by. If none can afford a phone which is as secure as anything unless its cordless then drive to their house/trailer etc. to visit. If this is a troll, oh well, we need a little humor once in a while. "Google Mike" wrote in message om... Is there such a thing as a portable, affordable, two-way radio system with 10 mile coverage or better? What about something that is slightly secure? Here's the need that is driving this: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. BTW, I don't know much about HAM radio, so please forgive my ignorance. |
If this is a Troll, I will give it the benefit of a doubt.
There is one way to get by as cheaply as possible. That way is to get a pager and if relatives want to talk to you, they can page you. And you may call them back using any public coin phone near by. If none can afford a phone which is as secure as anything unless its cordless then drive to their house/trailer etc. to visit. If this is a troll, oh well, we need a little humor once in a while. "Google Mike" wrote in message om... Is there such a thing as a portable, affordable, two-way radio system with 10 mile coverage or better? What about something that is slightly secure? Here's the need that is driving this: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. BTW, I don't know much about HAM radio, so please forgive my ignorance. |
mike wrote:
It's not my place to tell people how or why to use ham radio. As long as they do it within the rules published by the FCC (NOT what YOU think the rules should be), more power to them. Is that right? Well, let's review these rules, shall we? 97.1 Basis and purpose The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles: (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art. (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts. (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill. ....... (4) Amateur service. A radiocommunication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. ===================================== I think that should do it. Now, let's review what the original poster's requirement was: "I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get." ===================================== Would you care to explain just how his communication requirements are in any way compatible with what amateur radio represents? Is amateur radio a substitute for a cellphone? Nope. Is it a communication system for a family? Nope. A private and exclusive radio band that outsiders could not monitor? Nope. Therefore, in spite of all your arm waving and tap dancing, the recommendation for him to take a ham radio test is way off the wall, especially considering the fact that the man doesn't even know what it is *and* there is already a perfect band for his needs: CB or even FRS. There's no question on the test that weeds out those who are obnoxious!! Maybe there should be... There's apparently no question on the test either that weeds out the people who would gladly turn amateur radio into a three ring circus just so we can have artificially inflated "numbers". Do you actually believe that guy would ever join the ARRL, for example? ARES? A local club? Anything? What possible benefit can the global amateur community have from such entrants? 73 .... WA7AA -- Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly |
mike wrote:
It's not my place to tell people how or why to use ham radio. As long as they do it within the rules published by the FCC (NOT what YOU think the rules should be), more power to them. Is that right? Well, let's review these rules, shall we? 97.1 Basis and purpose The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles: (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art. (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts. (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill. ....... (4) Amateur service. A radiocommunication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. ===================================== I think that should do it. Now, let's review what the original poster's requirement was: "I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get." ===================================== Would you care to explain just how his communication requirements are in any way compatible with what amateur radio represents? Is amateur radio a substitute for a cellphone? Nope. Is it a communication system for a family? Nope. A private and exclusive radio band that outsiders could not monitor? Nope. Therefore, in spite of all your arm waving and tap dancing, the recommendation for him to take a ham radio test is way off the wall, especially considering the fact that the man doesn't even know what it is *and* there is already a perfect band for his needs: CB or even FRS. There's no question on the test that weeds out those who are obnoxious!! Maybe there should be... There's apparently no question on the test either that weeds out the people who would gladly turn amateur radio into a three ring circus just so we can have artificially inflated "numbers". Do you actually believe that guy would ever join the ARRL, for example? ARES? A local club? Anything? What possible benefit can the global amateur community have from such entrants? 73 .... WA7AA -- Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
mike wrote: It's not my place to tell people how or why to use ham radio. As long as they do it within the rules published by the FCC (NOT what YOU think the rules should be), more power to them. Is that right? Well, let's review these rules, shall we? 97.1 Basis and purpose The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles: (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art. (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts. (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill. ....... (4) Amateur service. A radiocommunication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. ===================================== I think that should do it. Now, let's review what the original poster's requirement was: "I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get." ===================================== Would you care to explain just how his communication requirements are in any way compatible with what amateur radio represents? Is amateur radio a substitute for a cellphone? Nope. Is it a communication system for a family? Nope. A private and exclusive radio band that outsiders could not monitor? Nope. Therefore, in spite of all your arm waving and tap dancing, the recommendation for him to take a ham radio test is way off the wall, especially considering the fact that the man doesn't even know what it is *and* there is already a perfect band for his needs: CB or even FRS. There's no question on the test that weeds out those who are obnoxious!! Maybe there should be... There's apparently no question on the test either that weeds out the people who would gladly turn amateur radio into a three ring circus just so we can have artificially inflated "numbers". Do you actually believe that guy would ever join the ARRL, for example? ARES? A local club? Anything? What possible benefit can the global amateur community have from such entrants? 73 .... WA7AA I merely responded to your rant by suggesting that the ham radio welcoming committee get a new spokesperson. I never suggested that ham radio was the RIGHT solution to his problem. And we all know that scrambling would not be legal. Someone already pointed that out in a non-threatening manner. BUT The ham radio bands are open to anyone who can pass the test for any legal and non-commercial purpose THEY (NOT YOU) see fit. FWIW, I've been a ham for 40 years. I don't belong to ARRL, ARES, or a local club. It's not MY primary objective to be of benefit to YOU! But if you asked nice, I'd gladly help you with a specific issue. I have CB and FRS radios. I don't have a cellphone. I routinely contact friends via ham radio and have conversations that do not relate to ANY of the points above. The word "beer" comes up far more often than "emergency". You want me to turn in my ham license? mike I do love a good troll. |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
mike wrote: It's not my place to tell people how or why to use ham radio. As long as they do it within the rules published by the FCC (NOT what YOU think the rules should be), more power to them. Is that right? Well, let's review these rules, shall we? 97.1 Basis and purpose The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles: (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art. (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts. (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill. ....... (4) Amateur service. A radiocommunication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. ===================================== I think that should do it. Now, let's review what the original poster's requirement was: "I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get." ===================================== Would you care to explain just how his communication requirements are in any way compatible with what amateur radio represents? Is amateur radio a substitute for a cellphone? Nope. Is it a communication system for a family? Nope. A private and exclusive radio band that outsiders could not monitor? Nope. Therefore, in spite of all your arm waving and tap dancing, the recommendation for him to take a ham radio test is way off the wall, especially considering the fact that the man doesn't even know what it is *and* there is already a perfect band for his needs: CB or even FRS. There's no question on the test that weeds out those who are obnoxious!! Maybe there should be... There's apparently no question on the test either that weeds out the people who would gladly turn amateur radio into a three ring circus just so we can have artificially inflated "numbers". Do you actually believe that guy would ever join the ARRL, for example? ARES? A local club? Anything? What possible benefit can the global amateur community have from such entrants? 73 .... WA7AA I merely responded to your rant by suggesting that the ham radio welcoming committee get a new spokesperson. I never suggested that ham radio was the RIGHT solution to his problem. And we all know that scrambling would not be legal. Someone already pointed that out in a non-threatening manner. BUT The ham radio bands are open to anyone who can pass the test for any legal and non-commercial purpose THEY (NOT YOU) see fit. FWIW, I've been a ham for 40 years. I don't belong to ARRL, ARES, or a local club. It's not MY primary objective to be of benefit to YOU! But if you asked nice, I'd gladly help you with a specific issue. I have CB and FRS radios. I don't have a cellphone. I routinely contact friends via ham radio and have conversations that do not relate to ANY of the points above. The word "beer" comes up far more often than "emergency". You want me to turn in my ham license? mike I do love a good troll. |
On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 19:03:07 GMT, Zoran Brlecic wrote:
wrote: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. Get a CB radio. - hmmm... that's cynical, isn't it? mike - get everyone licensed! study one day, then put the family in the car, go to the local VEC test, get 26 questions out of 35 multiple-choice questions correct, then go to Denny's and celebrate! a couple days later everyone's license will appear in the FCC's ULS and you can set up a base station and 2M comms in each car! doesn't have to cost a whole lot, either! Yeah, that's what ham radio needs: more people with no clue what ham radio is, no desire to use it for amateur, technological, dxing or emergency service purposes, and whose only motivation is to save on cellphones. There's already a band in place for such purpose and it's called CB. - but maybe, just maybe, someone who gets involved with ham radio just might, and this is just a supposition, just might want to be more involved, develop new skillsets, learn CW, and become a responsible radio operator? - of course, if i had run into you when i first started getting involved, i might, and i say just might, think that ham radio was populated with ignorant, cynical, sarcastic, unfriendly, non-elmering, un-educated losers? 73 (yea, right, like you mean it?) 73 ... WA7AA -- Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly |
On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 19:03:07 GMT, Zoran Brlecic wrote:
wrote: I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get. Get a CB radio. - hmmm... that's cynical, isn't it? mike - get everyone licensed! study one day, then put the family in the car, go to the local VEC test, get 26 questions out of 35 multiple-choice questions correct, then go to Denny's and celebrate! a couple days later everyone's license will appear in the FCC's ULS and you can set up a base station and 2M comms in each car! doesn't have to cost a whole lot, either! Yeah, that's what ham radio needs: more people with no clue what ham radio is, no desire to use it for amateur, technological, dxing or emergency service purposes, and whose only motivation is to save on cellphones. There's already a band in place for such purpose and it's called CB. - but maybe, just maybe, someone who gets involved with ham radio just might, and this is just a supposition, just might want to be more involved, develop new skillsets, learn CW, and become a responsible radio operator? - of course, if i had run into you when i first started getting involved, i might, and i say just might, think that ham radio was populated with ignorant, cynical, sarcastic, unfriendly, non-elmering, un-educated losers? 73 (yea, right, like you mean it?) 73 ... WA7AA -- Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly |
No one has mentioned MURS. What is it....2 W or 5W. out or so? With decent
antennas, a couple of watts out on 150 mhz will go aways. Heck, RatShak has some mobile MURS for what....$40 or so? Don't know about licensing requirements....google for MURS and license and see what comes up. Of course, if you get the radio itch, DO study and take the amateur exam, and we'll welcome you to the hobby (well, at least most of us!) Fun hobby with benefits to the community, esp. when comms are most needed. A "...if one tolerates bad manners, they grow worse. I must find the oaf who did this thing, explain to him his offense, give him a chance to apologise, then kill him." (R.A. Heinlein, "The Cat Who Walks Through Walls") |
No one has mentioned MURS. What is it....2 W or 5W. out or so? With decent
antennas, a couple of watts out on 150 mhz will go aways. Heck, RatShak has some mobile MURS for what....$40 or so? Don't know about licensing requirements....google for MURS and license and see what comes up. Of course, if you get the radio itch, DO study and take the amateur exam, and we'll welcome you to the hobby (well, at least most of us!) Fun hobby with benefits to the community, esp. when comms are most needed. A "...if one tolerates bad manners, they grow worse. I must find the oaf who did this thing, explain to him his offense, give him a chance to apologise, then kill him." (R.A. Heinlein, "The Cat Who Walks Through Walls") |
MURS at URL:
http://www.provide.net/~prsg/murs_faq.htm AND http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/ Summary of "Personal Radio Services" http://www.geocities.com/SiliconVall...54/radio2.html Includes: Amateur Radio Service(ARS), Family Radio Service(FRS), General Mobile Radio Service(GMRS), Mulit-Use Radio Service(MURS), Citizens Band(CB) Radio Service. -- 73 From the Spurious Noise ';';;';x":.,";"' ----------------------------------------------------- "AA" wrote in message ... No one has mentioned MURS. What is it....2 W or 5W. out or so? SNIP |
MURS at URL:
http://www.provide.net/~prsg/murs_faq.htm AND http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/ Summary of "Personal Radio Services" http://www.geocities.com/SiliconVall...54/radio2.html Includes: Amateur Radio Service(ARS), Family Radio Service(FRS), General Mobile Radio Service(GMRS), Mulit-Use Radio Service(MURS), Citizens Band(CB) Radio Service. -- 73 From the Spurious Noise ';';;';x":.,";"' ----------------------------------------------------- "AA" wrote in message ... No one has mentioned MURS. What is it....2 W or 5W. out or so? SNIP |
On Tue, 30 Sep 2003 06:54:59 GMT, Zoran Brlecic
wrote: mike wrote: It's not my place to tell people how or why to use ham radio. As long as they do it within the rules published by the FCC (NOT what YOU think the rules should be), more power to them. Is that right? Well, let's review these rules, shall we? 97.1 Basis and purpose The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles: (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. This happens. Those people who do not have cellphone access just might need that. (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. When I hear some of the people on 2 meters locally, I wonder just exactly what is being advanced. Considering, however, the restrictions on development, I wonder just exactly what good this does.. How, for instance, is contesting helping? Not the WAS or WAC, but the DX pileups...? (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art. Like morse code....sigh, like the provisions for not using ASCII until the FCC got browbeaten into allowing it. BAUDOT anyone? (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts. This does not happen very much, IMHO (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill. Now this does happen, but working rare countries with a DX party is probably not what they had in mind. And for that matter, the frequencies from 50 on up are not too good at that... Perhaps we ought to give them back? ...... (4) Amateur service. A radiocommunication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. This is probably more like what everybody is. ===================================== I think that should do it. Now, let's review what the original poster's requirement was: "I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get." ===================================== Would you care to explain just how his communication requirements are in any way compatible with what amateur radio represents? Is amateur radio a substitute for a cellphone? Nope. Is it a communication system for a family? Nope. A private and exclusive radio band that outsiders could not monitor? Nope. Therefore, in spite of all your arm waving and tap dancing, the recommendation for him to take a ham radio test is way off the wall, especially considering the fact that the man doesn't even know what it is *and* there is already a perfect band for his needs: CB or even FRS. You know, if he/they did get a ticket, perhaps they would be more interested, and actually try to do some of the things you mention. There's no question on the test that weeds out those who are obnoxious!! Maybe there should be... There's apparently no question on the test either that weeds out the people who would gladly turn amateur radio into a three ring circus just so we can have artificially inflated "numbers". Do you actually believe that guy would ever join the ARRL, for example? I'm not sure that the ARRL is always to our benefit. ARES? A local club? Possibly so, if there is one. He might just talk to some friendly people who would get him interested in the hobby as a hobby. You can't really tell. There might not be a local club, either. Anything? What possible benefit can the global amateur community have from such entrants? Why does a person have to contribute to the global amateur community to have a license? How about 1) they buy equipment, keeping the manufacturers in business (what happened to all of them, and why?) 2) He could join the pileup on a rare station and contribute to the technology of hearing and understanding a pileup. 3) He could serve as an example of someone who has a ticket, uses a ham rig, and perhaps enjoys it. 4) He could actually respond to an emergency in that 40 mile stretch. 5) He could respond to a weather net situation. 6) He might be interesting to talk to. 7) He and they might be able to provide some emergency communications. 8) They might enjoy themselves. 9) They might learn something. The bottom line to me is that there are a lot of things done in amateur radio that do not advance the state of the art, yet we do have people out there who can help others as is needed, and have the capability of doing the emergency stuff that is part of part 97.1 This kind of thing happens in more places than you might consider, and has an analog in the "on topic" and "off topic" debates on some news groups. I've seen the debates. I'd rather have off topic. Yes, the CB craze was not too useful, and made 11 meters a bit of a joke. However, the theory exams (and perhaps the code, it could be debated) will keep out people who are not motivated. I think that for the most part, the desire of the whole community that people obey the rules and have manners is probably more important than the tests. Even the tests do not keep out the idiots and fools. Can you say "porkbutt song"? Fortunately, the number of these people is few.. Just some opinions. 73 .... WA7AA Harvey 73 ... de WB3KSE |
On Tue, 30 Sep 2003 06:54:59 GMT, Zoran Brlecic
wrote: mike wrote: It's not my place to tell people how or why to use ham radio. As long as they do it within the rules published by the FCC (NOT what YOU think the rules should be), more power to them. Is that right? Well, let's review these rules, shall we? 97.1 Basis and purpose The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles: (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. This happens. Those people who do not have cellphone access just might need that. (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. When I hear some of the people on 2 meters locally, I wonder just exactly what is being advanced. Considering, however, the restrictions on development, I wonder just exactly what good this does.. How, for instance, is contesting helping? Not the WAS or WAC, but the DX pileups...? (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art. Like morse code....sigh, like the provisions for not using ASCII until the FCC got browbeaten into allowing it. BAUDOT anyone? (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts. This does not happen very much, IMHO (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill. Now this does happen, but working rare countries with a DX party is probably not what they had in mind. And for that matter, the frequencies from 50 on up are not too good at that... Perhaps we ought to give them back? ...... (4) Amateur service. A radiocommunication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. This is probably more like what everybody is. ===================================== I think that should do it. Now, let's review what the original poster's requirement was: "I can't really afford cell phone bills. I live near 5 families of relatives in South Carolina USA, each within 1 mile of me. Each morning and evening, I travel a long 40 mile road with no cell phone tower in sight -- zero coverage, even if I bought a cellphone. I would love to have a device that each of us keep in our cars, always turned on, as well as in our homes, and it would only provide communication among myself and my relatives. I would prefer to have something that could not be eavesdropped very easily, but I would take whatever I could get." ===================================== Would you care to explain just how his communication requirements are in any way compatible with what amateur radio represents? Is amateur radio a substitute for a cellphone? Nope. Is it a communication system for a family? Nope. A private and exclusive radio band that outsiders could not monitor? Nope. Therefore, in spite of all your arm waving and tap dancing, the recommendation for him to take a ham radio test is way off the wall, especially considering the fact that the man doesn't even know what it is *and* there is already a perfect band for his needs: CB or even FRS. You know, if he/they did get a ticket, perhaps they would be more interested, and actually try to do some of the things you mention. There's no question on the test that weeds out those who are obnoxious!! Maybe there should be... There's apparently no question on the test either that weeds out the people who would gladly turn amateur radio into a three ring circus just so we can have artificially inflated "numbers". Do you actually believe that guy would ever join the ARRL, for example? I'm not sure that the ARRL is always to our benefit. ARES? A local club? Possibly so, if there is one. He might just talk to some friendly people who would get him interested in the hobby as a hobby. You can't really tell. There might not be a local club, either. Anything? What possible benefit can the global amateur community have from such entrants? Why does a person have to contribute to the global amateur community to have a license? How about 1) they buy equipment, keeping the manufacturers in business (what happened to all of them, and why?) 2) He could join the pileup on a rare station and contribute to the technology of hearing and understanding a pileup. 3) He could serve as an example of someone who has a ticket, uses a ham rig, and perhaps enjoys it. 4) He could actually respond to an emergency in that 40 mile stretch. 5) He could respond to a weather net situation. 6) He might be interesting to talk to. 7) He and they might be able to provide some emergency communications. 8) They might enjoy themselves. 9) They might learn something. The bottom line to me is that there are a lot of things done in amateur radio that do not advance the state of the art, yet we do have people out there who can help others as is needed, and have the capability of doing the emergency stuff that is part of part 97.1 This kind of thing happens in more places than you might consider, and has an analog in the "on topic" and "off topic" debates on some news groups. I've seen the debates. I'd rather have off topic. Yes, the CB craze was not too useful, and made 11 meters a bit of a joke. However, the theory exams (and perhaps the code, it could be debated) will keep out people who are not motivated. I think that for the most part, the desire of the whole community that people obey the rules and have manners is probably more important than the tests. Even the tests do not keep out the idiots and fools. Can you say "porkbutt song"? Fortunately, the number of these people is few.. Just some opinions. 73 .... WA7AA Harvey 73 ... de WB3KSE |
No one has mentioned MURS. What is it....2 W or 5W. out or so? With decent
antennas, a couple of watts out on 150 mhz will go aways. Heck, RatShak has some mobile MURS for what....$40 or so? Don't know about licensing requirements....google for MURS and license and see what comes up. 19-1206 (portable) and 19-1210 (mobile) have been discontinued and are in real short supply. Good luck finding them. |
No one has mentioned MURS. What is it....2 W or 5W. out or so? With decent
antennas, a couple of watts out on 150 mhz will go aways. Heck, RatShak has some mobile MURS for what....$40 or so? Don't know about licensing requirements....google for MURS and license and see what comes up. 19-1206 (portable) and 19-1210 (mobile) have been discontinued and are in real short supply. Good luck finding them. |
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Harvey White wrote:
[big snip] Why does a person have to contribute to the global amateur community to have a license? Oh, sweet mother of mercy! He doesn't. You guys are completely missing the point: the original poster was looking for a radio substitute for a cellphone so that he could talk to his family. That's it. To recommend taking a ham radio test for this is ludicrous and ridiculous. === === === FCC rules: §97.113 Prohibited transmissions. (a) No amateur station shall transmit: (5) Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be furnished alternatively through other radio services. === === === All else you wrote is irrelevant because he's not looking to become a ham to begin with. I can't believe I'm having this discussion. Would we be talking about all this if someone came in asking for a radio communication advice for his business? Would it be reasonable to offer him to take a ham radio test? If not, then why is this reasonable in the original example? 73 .... WA7AA -- Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly |
Harvey White wrote:
[big snip] Why does a person have to contribute to the global amateur community to have a license? Oh, sweet mother of mercy! He doesn't. You guys are completely missing the point: the original poster was looking for a radio substitute for a cellphone so that he could talk to his family. That's it. To recommend taking a ham radio test for this is ludicrous and ridiculous. === === === FCC rules: §97.113 Prohibited transmissions. (a) No amateur station shall transmit: (5) Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be furnished alternatively through other radio services. === === === All else you wrote is irrelevant because he's not looking to become a ham to begin with. I can't believe I'm having this discussion. Would we be talking about all this if someone came in asking for a radio communication advice for his business? Would it be reasonable to offer him to take a ham radio test? If not, then why is this reasonable in the original example? 73 .... WA7AA -- Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
Harvey White wrote: [big snip] Why does a person have to contribute to the global amateur community to have a license? Oh, sweet mother of mercy! He doesn't. You guys are completely missing the point: the original poster was looking for a radio substitute for a cellphone so that he could talk to his family. That's it. And there ain't nothin' wrong with that. To recommend taking a ham radio test for this is ludicrous and ridiculous. He was presented with several alternatives. How about you let HIM decide what's ridiculous! === === === FCC rules: §97.113 Prohibited transmissions. (a) No amateur station shall transmit: (5) Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be furnished alternatively through other radio services. === === === I haven't had a radio conversation that couldn't have been handled by a cellphone...at least not since the cellphone was invented. I'd better go tear up my ham licence right now!!! Just for you... All else you wrote is irrelevant because he's not looking to become a ham to begin with. I can't believe I'm having this discussion. Would we be talking about all this if someone came in asking for a radio communication advice for his business? Would it be reasonable to offer him to take a ham radio test? If not, then why is this reasonable in the original example? I agree that it's mostly irrelevant to him. I'm bitchin' at YOU for telling him (and me) what we should and shouldn't do. And 'cause I like a good troll. mike 73 .... WA7AA |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
Harvey White wrote: [big snip] Why does a person have to contribute to the global amateur community to have a license? Oh, sweet mother of mercy! He doesn't. You guys are completely missing the point: the original poster was looking for a radio substitute for a cellphone so that he could talk to his family. That's it. And there ain't nothin' wrong with that. To recommend taking a ham radio test for this is ludicrous and ridiculous. He was presented with several alternatives. How about you let HIM decide what's ridiculous! === === === FCC rules: §97.113 Prohibited transmissions. (a) No amateur station shall transmit: (5) Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be furnished alternatively through other radio services. === === === I haven't had a radio conversation that couldn't have been handled by a cellphone...at least not since the cellphone was invented. I'd better go tear up my ham licence right now!!! Just for you... All else you wrote is irrelevant because he's not looking to become a ham to begin with. I can't believe I'm having this discussion. Would we be talking about all this if someone came in asking for a radio communication advice for his business? Would it be reasonable to offer him to take a ham radio test? If not, then why is this reasonable in the original example? I agree that it's mostly irrelevant to him. I'm bitchin' at YOU for telling him (and me) what we should and shouldn't do. And 'cause I like a good troll. mike 73 .... WA7AA |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
snip Maybe... who cares? Maybe, just maybe, if we gave away amateur radio licenses on street corners, some of the new licensees would do all that stuff that you mention. That is beside the point. He's not looking to become a ham radio operator - he's looking for a cellphone substitute. Ham radio ain't it. We DO give away amateur radio licenses on street corners. When I was a kid, we had to walk 10 miles to school in the snow... oops, wrong speech... When I was a kid we had to actually take a test, do some math, read a circuit diagram, know a tiny bit about the technology. Weren't no multiple choice question pool with the answers given out for us to memorize. Today, anybody with the attention span of a two year old can get a...oooh shiny radio... mike |
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