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

"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?

To answer your questions, yes, you really do need a license. When it come
to the ham bands, the hams themselves are Big Brother, and they will turn
you in to the enforcement division of the FCC, who can fine you up to
$12,000 for a first offense (they usually don't, but they do have that
option).

It's extremely easy for them to find out if you're legit, and they always
have someone who runs the calls for any newby through sites like
www.arrl.org or www.qrz.org

As for listening, no, you don't need a license for that.

To get a ham license to operate on 2m is so simple that it's almost funny.
You can buy the question pool at Radio Shack, study it for a week or so, and
go to your local VE and plonk down a few bucks, take the test, and you're
there.

Corwin, Prince of Amber wrote:
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 you learn all the lingo and invent a plausible "where did you take
your test?" story, you might get away with it. (I notice you live in
NYC. If you were in rural Kansas somewhere, where every ham knows every
other ham, it'd be far less likely to work)

You'll have to be VERY convincing. Licensing databases are freely
accessible. If I contact a station identifying as "WB9NME", and have
any reason whatsoever to be suspicious, I can put that call into
http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsS...rchLicense.jsp (among other
sites) and know in a few seconds it's not valid. [0]

At the point when it's learned you're operating without a license, you
will find contacts much more difficult to make. You will almost
certainly be reported to the FCC. I doubt (but don't promise) they'll
fine you on the first offense, but there's a good chance they'll
confiscate your radio. And you'll probably find it difficult, if not
impossible, to get a license. They might even hold it against your
application for a license for some other service. (GMRS etc.)

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.

Really, getting licensed is easy & inexpensive. Especially in New York.
(again, our theoretical Kansan might have to wait months and drive
hundreds of miles to get to a testing session. Definitely not true in NYC!)

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?

No, it's perfectly legal to listen without a license. Indeed, it would
be a very good idea to listen while awaiting your license; that way
you'll be familiar with operating procedure once the license arrives.
--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com

[0] anymore. WB9NME was my old callsign back in the 1970s, it was
surrendered to be changed to W9WI in 1977.

All you need is a technician ticket thats just a multiple choice
test.....Its so easy retards and pure morons can pass it with a few days
study time.

What callsign do you plan on using on the radio?....You can bet your gonna
get found out soon if you use someone elses call or just one person looks
you up. Finding where you live is really easy while your on the radio and
messing with repeaters could get quite a few ****ed off hams standing at
your door.

Does your mommy know your on the internet unsupervised sweetie?

Tell ya what I'll forward this to Riley Hollingsworth...a good friend of
mine and he can keep an eye out for ya ok? He's gonna get a giggle outta
this! Someone gonna break the law and they tell literally millions about it
before they do? Damn Rick! You really are stupid!

I'm not angry old buddy!....Just laughing at your stupidity!


"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

"Corwin, Prince of Amber" wrote in message
...
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.

Thats not a good idea

anyone *really* care?

Yes! Ham radio is self policing & has the FCC to back them up.

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?

You'd be amazed & fines are stiff. Jail can also be in your future for
doing so. They'll take your equipment (for keeps)


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?

No you can listen all you want ;-)

Rick Bryan
New York, NY

I had numerous hits on www.qrz.com within days of getting back on the air after
several years off ... people curious who I was and where I was.

Bootlegging isn't as easy as it used to be!

jw
K9RZZ
(go ahead, look me up)

Corwin, Prince of Amber wrote:
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.

You will either pick a callsign that is already assigned to an amateur
or maybe pick one not yet assigned. Either way a simple lookup on
QRZ.COM or the ARRl site, or the FCC data base will verify that you are
not legal.

Does
anyone *really* care?

Yes, those hams who took the time and effort to study and pass the exams
for their license and *earn* the priviledge to operate on the ham bands
certainly care and take a very dim view of what you propose.

Is 'big brother' really going to bust through
my front door with a SWAT team?

No one is going to bust through your front door, but the hams, who will
uncover you sharade rather quickly, will file a report with the FCC and
you will get one of those letters wanting to know why you are
transmitting on the ham bands without a license and to continue doing so
can result in a hefty fine.

Of the 1+ million HAM operators,

More like 680,000 in the U.S.

how
many are actually fined each year for doing what I'm considering?

By the fact that they are HAMS means they are licensed, so they won't be
doing what you are considering. However, doing what you are considering,
operating in the ham bands without a license, several. By the way, it is
very easy for the hams to DF your signal and find exactly your location.


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.

Why not just go ahead and get the license instead of the assurance of
being caught operationg illegally, in which case the FCC may deny any
request you make later to become licensed.

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?

You do not need a license to just listen.

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 13:32:59 -0600, JJ
wrote:

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?

You do not need a license to just listen.

This is not exactly true. The FCC is currently considering a
requirement for a "listener" license. The ruling is related to the
new Patriot Act and says:

Article 10:2:3a The requirement of said radio operator to be
licensed in hereto state of operation for receiving Ham bands.

See also this link: www.us.gov/radioreq/lic/listener

Regards

Bill E wrote:

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 13:32:59 -0600, JJ
wrote:


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?

You do not need a license to just listen.


This is not exactly true. The FCC is currently considering a
requirement for a "listener" license. The ruling is related to the
new Patriot Act and says:

Article 10:2:3a The requirement of said radio operator to be
licensed in hereto state of operation for receiving Ham bands.

See also this link: www.us.gov/radioreq/lic/listener

Regards

I doubt that will ever fly, but until if/when it ever does I stand by my
statement which is exactly true, you do not need a license to listen to
the ham bands or any sw bands. I could not get the link to work.

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 06:01:20 GMT, "Corwin, Prince of Amber"
wrote:

All right. I get the idea. Thanks. My radio is up at my house in
the Pocono Mountains, PA, not where I live here in NYC, so I suppose
I'll buy an antenna (good grief, not I've got to figure *that* out!)
and see if I can hear anyone talking. If I get reception I'll put in
the time and effort to understand what I'm doing. Thanks again. I'll
let you know if I succeed.

I never even considered leaving the radio here in my apartment. You
can't just stick the antenna out an open window and expect to get
results, right, or can you . . ?

Rick Bryan
New York, NY