Questions of Amateur Radio??

[HBARleatherneck]

Hello, I know little to nothing about amateur radio. Except, when I was in Desert Storm, I talked to my family via a MARS station, that was relayed via Ham operators in the states to my family.

So, Hoosier brought up the egypt thing. If they cut off the internet and phones, should we have amateur radio?

Cant the government cut that off too? Or how does it actually operate, that it could still be run independent of the governement?

I have looked at some HAM sites, and am thinking about it.

[jmg8550]

I don't think the government can shut down or jam a radio station that is broadcasting on its own. They would have to shut down the transmitter. I don't believe radio transmissions could just be blocked out.

[Wulf202]

Ham would be incredibly hard to jam the entire grid since there's a huge amount of regular channels and plenty of gray area, the entire ham grid is independent of any gov input other than the FCC policing them occasional. They could potentially jam a couple of hundred areas but short of JBT knocking doors it would be impossible to take the HAM out of the equation. HAM guys know their electronics better than most engineers. There's a thread on getoffthex about it and they're saying that it's been done to bounce a signal off the moon or meteors using sharks with friggin lasers on their heads or some such technical stuff.

It's on my list of future hobbies.

[Hoosier]

HBAR, there are free classes offered. I got the book and am reading it now. I have a friend who is an "Extra Class" ham, which means the most privileges available to amateur radio users. I'm going for Technician, which lets you use the little handheld radios. I'll find the info about the guy offering that free class and send it to you in a bit.

H.

[Hoosier]

I don't think the government can shut down or jam a radio station that is broadcasting on its own. They would have to shut down the transmitter. I don't believe radio transmissions could just be blocked out.

It's certainly possible to jam radio transmissions, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_jamming

H.

[ChunkyMonkey]

HBAR, there are free classes offered. I got the book and am reading it now. I have a friend who is an "Extra Class" ham, which means the most privileges available to amateur radio users. I'm going for Technician, which lets you use the little handheld radios. I'll find the info about the guy offering that free class and send it to you in a bit.

H.

Could you post it here as well please?

[gnihcraes]

Another expensive hobby. Just ask me. KB0xxx Ham since 1995. There are several radio operators on the forum. Thread: http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showth...hlight=amateur

[zteknik]

being a former commo sgt myself,i know there are ways of jamming signals
but to incapacitate the whole ham band is practicly impossible
theres just so many different repeaters and transmiters
sure you can block a few of them at a time but never realy turn it off
i keep saying to myself one of these days ill go for the liscense
lord knows i have enough gear and know how-just need to get off my duff and do it

[jerrymrc]

.
i keep saying to myself one of these days ill go for the liscense
lord knows i have enough gear and know how-just need to get off my duff and do it

Me too. I downloaded the study guides and in my case it should not be too hard. Just one of things on the list.

[mx'r]

I was thinking about picking up a handheld for my BOB. They use repeaters correct? If so, they wouldnt be worth shit if the towers are down would they? Not sure how they work, and no need to worry about illegal use if it's in a SHTF scenario.