In article , maria wrote:

What do I need to transmit voice and receive voice on the ham radio
bands?

A ham radio license, a transceiver of some sort, and an antenna.

I am reading the postings and see that you are all experts, but I have
no idea where to start, and do not just want to go into Radio Shack and
ask them without first having some idea.

This would be rather futile. Radio Shack has, for all intents and
purposes, abandoned the amateur-radio business. You can still get
some wire and connectors there, but they no longer sell the radios...
and the chance that any given Radio Shack employee knows anything
about ham radio is asymptotically closer to zero.

You'll probably end up mail-ordering your radio from one of several
chains who have good reputations (Ham Radio Outlet, and Amateur
Electronic Supply the two biggies, I believe). Since you're just
getting started, you might consider buying a used transceiver of some
sort from a ham in your area.

I do not wnat to buy
unncessary equipment or the wrong things. I want to be able to hear and
respond to people around the world when atmospherics allow, and not just
my region.

For that, you'll almost certainly need an HF radio and a license to
use it, which means you'll need a General-class license, which means
you'll probably need to do some studying. The simpler
Technician-class license (very simple exam) currently does not allow
for transmission privileges on the HF bands - it's usable only for
VHF/UHF frequencies, which probably won't get you more than 100 miles
or so. This may change sometime later this year, depending on how the
FCC decides to act on several petitions currently active.

Also, please suggest a magazine that is readily available
that will give me the basics that I can start out understanding what
equipment is needed, what it does, and what does it best.

The two major monthly magazines are 73 (published by the ARRL,
available as a part of an ARRL membership, and I believe it can also
be purchased separately) and CQ (an independent magazine).

I'd suggest going to http://www.arrl.org and taking a look at their
offerings, both on-line and via their store. The book "Now You're
Talking" gives an introduction to ham radio, and has sufficient
educational material to enable you to pass the Technician exam. They
have many additional books available which explain the more involved
aspects of ham radio - licensing (General and Amateur Extra), HF
operations (country- and world-wide), etc.

Also, how I
can do this without an outside antenna, or with just stringing up some
wire around the apartment?

The book "Stealth Amateur Radio" has a bunch of suggestions for indoor
and "covert" HF antennas. It's definitely possible to have country-
and world-wide contacts using an indoor antenna, although it's
certainly going to be easier if you have a full-sized outdoor antenna
of some sort.

I also get the idea that some of this can
now be done with a computer? How?

One common way is to hook a computer's sound card interface up to an
HF radio - in effect, using the computer's CPU and sound card as a
specialized modem. This allows for digital "keyboard to keyboard"
contacts, using modes like PSK31. These can be very efficient,
allowing contact even at very low power levels and under adverse
propagation conditions.

And if there are some groups in the
Northern Virginia region that will allow beginners to sit in on their
meetings and go to field events to see how things operate, I would
appreciate that information as well.

Almost certainly! The ARRL has a list of ARRL-affiliated ham clubs
(see their web site) and there are quite a few nonaffiliated clubs
around. Almost all clubs welcome visitors and new members (many quite
eagarly so!).

Your timing is good. ARRL Field Day is coming up at the end of June.
If you can find a club running a Field Day operation in your area, I'd
strongly encourage you to visit it. It's quite possible that they'll
allow you to get on the air, for either local or long-distance
contacts (this is legal even if you don't have a license, as long as
their's a licenced ham operator in control of the radio).

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

In article , maria wrote:

What do I need to transmit voice and receive voice on the ham radio
bands?

A ham radio license, a transceiver of some sort, and an antenna.

I am reading the postings and see that you are all experts, but I have
no idea where to start, and do not just want to go into Radio Shack and
ask them without first having some idea.

This would be rather futile. Radio Shack has, for all intents and
purposes, abandoned the amateur-radio business. You can still get
some wire and connectors there, but they no longer sell the radios...
and the chance that any given Radio Shack employee knows anything
about ham radio is asymptotically closer to zero.

You'll probably end up mail-ordering your radio from one of several
chains who have good reputations (Ham Radio Outlet, and Amateur
Electronic Supply the two biggies, I believe). Since you're just
getting started, you might consider buying a used transceiver of some
sort from a ham in your area.

I do not wnat to buy
unncessary equipment or the wrong things. I want to be able to hear and
respond to people around the world when atmospherics allow, and not just
my region.

For that, you'll almost certainly need an HF radio and a license to
use it, which means you'll need a General-class license, which means
you'll probably need to do some studying. The simpler
Technician-class license (very simple exam) currently does not allow
for transmission privileges on the HF bands - it's usable only for
VHF/UHF frequencies, which probably won't get you more than 100 miles
or so. This may change sometime later this year, depending on how the
FCC decides to act on several petitions currently active.

Also, please suggest a magazine that is readily available
that will give me the basics that I can start out understanding what
equipment is needed, what it does, and what does it best.

The two major monthly magazines are 73 (published by the ARRL,
available as a part of an ARRL membership, and I believe it can also
be purchased separately) and CQ (an independent magazine).

I'd suggest going to http://www.arrl.org and taking a look at their
offerings, both on-line and via their store. The book "Now You're
Talking" gives an introduction to ham radio, and has sufficient
educational material to enable you to pass the Technician exam. They
have many additional books available which explain the more involved
aspects of ham radio - licensing (General and Amateur Extra), HF
operations (country- and world-wide), etc.

Also, how I
can do this without an outside antenna, or with just stringing up some
wire around the apartment?

The book "Stealth Amateur Radio" has a bunch of suggestions for indoor
and "covert" HF antennas. It's definitely possible to have country-
and world-wide contacts using an indoor antenna, although it's
certainly going to be easier if you have a full-sized outdoor antenna
of some sort.

I also get the idea that some of this can
now be done with a computer? How?

One common way is to hook a computer's sound card interface up to an
HF radio - in effect, using the computer's CPU and sound card as a
specialized modem. This allows for digital "keyboard to keyboard"
contacts, using modes like PSK31. These can be very efficient,
allowing contact even at very low power levels and under adverse
propagation conditions.

And if there are some groups in the
Northern Virginia region that will allow beginners to sit in on their
meetings and go to field events to see how things operate, I would
appreciate that information as well.

Almost certainly! The ARRL has a list of ARRL-affiliated ham clubs
(see their web site) and there are quite a few nonaffiliated clubs
around. Almost all clubs welcome visitors and new members (many quite
eagarly so!).

Your timing is good. ARRL Field Day is coming up at the end of June.
If you can find a club running a Field Day operation in your area, I'd
strongly encourage you to visit it. It's quite possible that they'll
allow you to get on the air, for either local or long-distance
contacts (this is legal even if you don't have a license, as long as
their's a licenced ham operator in control of the radio).

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

I am reading the postings and see that you are all experts,

=============================

What gives you THAT idea ?
How do you judge ?

I am reading the postings and see that you are all experts,

=============================

What gives you THAT idea ?
How do you judge ?

"Dave Platt" wrote in message
...
In article , maria
wrote:

[snip]
Also, please suggest a magazine that is readily available
that will give me the basics that I can start out understanding what
equipment is needed, what it does, and what does it best.

The two major monthly magazines are 73 (published by the ARRL,
available as a part of an ARRL membership, and I believe it can also
be purchased separately) and CQ (an independent magazine).


The ARRL magazine is QST not 73. Once upon a time, QST could be purchased
at book stores but this was discontinued as the ARRL did not very many
copies this way. Now you have to be a member to get QST.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Dave Platt" wrote in message
...
In article , maria
wrote:

[snip]
Also, please suggest a magazine that is readily available
that will give me the basics that I can start out understanding what
equipment is needed, what it does, and what does it best.

The two major monthly magazines are 73 (published by the ARRL,
available as a part of an ARRL membership, and I believe it can also
be purchased separately) and CQ (an independent magazine).


The ARRL magazine is QST not 73. Once upon a time, QST could be purchased
at book stores but this was discontinued as the ARRL did not very many
copies this way. Now you have to be a member to get QST.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 14:12:37 -0400, "Dee D. Flint"
wrote:

"Dave Platt" wrote in message
...
In article , maria
wrote:

[snip]
Also, please suggest a magazine that is readily available
that will give me the basics that I can start out understanding what
equipment is needed, what it does, and what does it best.

The two major monthly magazines are 73 (published by the ARRL,
available as a part of an ARRL membership, and I believe it can also
be purchased separately) and CQ (an independent magazine).

The ARRL magazine is QST not 73. Once upon a time, QST could be purchased
at book stores but this was discontinued as the ARRL did not very many
copies this way. Now you have to be a member to get QST.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Au contraire. I can find QST and QEX at several places which sell
magazines, including some electronics shops.

Also, 73 magazine officially shut down down a year or so ago.

For what the OP wanted, the ARRL book used to prep you for the Tech
exam, "Now You're Talking", covers equipment with a decent overview,
although not specific models and what not.

Choosing which area of ham radio interests you will narrow the amount
of research needed.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 14:12:37 -0400, "Dee D. Flint"
wrote:

"Dave Platt" wrote in message
...
In article , maria
wrote:

[snip]
Also, please suggest a magazine that is readily available
that will give me the basics that I can start out understanding what
equipment is needed, what it does, and what does it best.

The two major monthly magazines are 73 (published by the ARRL,
available as a part of an ARRL membership, and I believe it can also
be purchased separately) and CQ (an independent magazine).

The ARRL magazine is QST not 73. Once upon a time, QST could be purchased
at book stores but this was discontinued as the ARRL did not very many
copies this way. Now you have to be a member to get QST.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Au contraire. I can find QST and QEX at several places which sell
magazines, including some electronics shops.

Also, 73 magazine officially shut down down a year or so ago.

For what the OP wanted, the ARRL book used to prep you for the Tech
exam, "Now You're Talking", covers equipment with a decent overview,
although not specific models and what not.

Choosing which area of ham radio interests you will narrow the amount
of research needed.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

In article , maria wrote:

Thanks. How does this new FCC proposal for BPL? that some or many of
you are opposing and that i read about on another newsgroup affect the
amateur radio operators?

Certain forms of BPL could render HF operations difficult or
impossible. There's a strong concern in the amateur-radio and SWL
communities that [1] BPL could kill HF ham operations in many areas,
[2] the manufacturers of the equipment, and the prospective users of
it are being less than fully honest about its possible effects and its
economic benefits, and [3] that the FCC's current political makeup
makes it quite possible that the FCC will turn a semi-blind eye to
actual interference problems caused by BPL operations, and will refuse
to protect licensed operators against interference as their legal
mandate requires.

How it will all actually work out, remains to be seen.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

In article , maria wrote:

Thanks. How does this new FCC proposal for BPL? that some or many of
you are opposing and that i read about on another newsgroup affect the
amateur radio operators?

Certain forms of BPL could render HF operations difficult or
impossible. There's a strong concern in the amateur-radio and SWL
communities that [1] BPL could kill HF ham operations in many areas,
[2] the manufacturers of the equipment, and the prospective users of
it are being less than fully honest about its possible effects and its
economic benefits, and [3] that the FCC's current political makeup
makes it quite possible that the FCC will turn a semi-blind eye to
actual interference problems caused by BPL operations, and will refuse
to protect licensed operators against interference as their legal
mandate requires.

How it will all actually work out, remains to be seen.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!