I mean, does anyone actually communicate on the ham bands? HF is for contesting and contesting only, 2 meters is for “checking in and out” on ragchew nets, 70cm is 2m again except half the range, 220 is hipster 2 meter, and I’ve never been given a reason to even think about 33cm and above. You’re more likely to find discussion about Icom vs Yaesu’s incompatible 2 meter digital things than high UHF.
Most actual communication is illegal on the ham bands one way or another so…I haven’t renewed my license.
1 the test teaches you major items you should know about how radio works
2 how to not fuck shit up for everyone else
For the bands allocated to HAM radio in the US, as long as you’re not fucking shit up for everyone else the FCC doesn’t really care. A good example of that and my personal favorite rule is the power transmission rule of “only enough power to complete the transmission”. Functionally it’s so vague that I doubt anyone would ever actually get their license suspended over it.
The group AFRL has a pretty restrictive “band plan” that I think is where the above comment’s salt is coming from. A perception I have and have heard others talk about is the HAM community has a tendency to be borderline hostile to newcomers and are very gate-keepy, which AFRL in my experience embodies.
I have a license purely to play by the rules from a legal standpoint when I’m out in the rocky mountains hiking and camping with friends, makes communicating with different groups way easier
This guy’s full of shit. You can talk all you want on the HF bands, they’re certainly not exclusively for contesting. You can do Morse code or digital modes too. The “most actual communication is illegal on ham bands” thing is wrong too, you can talk about pretty much anything you want as long as it’s not “obscene or profane,” according to the FCC.
It’s illegal to transmit music, it’s illegal to transmit anything encrypted unless you’re controlling a satellite, it’s illegal to transmit anything for commercial purposes, and it’s actually illegal to transmit anything on a regular basis that could reasonably be communicated some other way.
it’s illegal to transmit anything encrypted unless you’re controlling a satellite
True, it helps to ensure nothing illegal is going on and enforce keeping commercial interests out. It’s a self regulating space, one of the only cases I know of that tends to work due to there being no monetary interests allowed. The point is to communicate information, not hide it.
it’s illegal to transmit anything for commercial purposes.
True, the whole point is to keep commercial interests out. That’s what “amateur” means.
illegal to transmit anything on a regular basis that could reasonably be communicated some other way.
False. This is for something like a non-profit wanting to use radios for their operations, they should be steered toward another service like gmrs, FRS, murs, etc. instead of amateur radio.
I mean, does anyone actually communicate on the ham bands? HF is for contesting and contesting only, 2 meters is for “checking in and out” on ragchew nets, 70cm is 2m again except half the range, 220 is hipster 2 meter, and I’ve never been given a reason to even think about 33cm and above. You’re more likely to find discussion about Icom vs Yaesu’s incompatible 2 meter digital things than high UHF.
Most actual communication is illegal on the ham bands one way or another so…I haven’t renewed my license.
I thought about getting a ham license so are you telling me there is really no need?
Get into ham radio if you like radios, that’s pretty much the only topic you’ll find on the air.
A HAM license realistically is for two things:
1 the test teaches you major items you should know about how radio works 2 how to not fuck shit up for everyone else
For the bands allocated to HAM radio in the US, as long as you’re not fucking shit up for everyone else the FCC doesn’t really care. A good example of that and my personal favorite rule is the power transmission rule of “only enough power to complete the transmission”. Functionally it’s so vague that I doubt anyone would ever actually get their license suspended over it.
The group AFRL has a pretty restrictive “band plan” that I think is where the above comment’s salt is coming from. A perception I have and have heard others talk about is the HAM community has a tendency to be borderline hostile to newcomers and are very gate-keepy, which AFRL in my experience embodies.
I have a license purely to play by the rules from a legal standpoint when I’m out in the rocky mountains hiking and camping with friends, makes communicating with different groups way easier
Edit: formatting
So am I able to goof around on the radio till I get my license or do I really need to have my license first?
It’s illegal to push that button until you’re licensed.
(No one will search you out if you’re not being annoying)
This guy’s full of shit. You can talk all you want on the HF bands, they’re certainly not exclusively for contesting. You can do Morse code or digital modes too. The “most actual communication is illegal on ham bands” thing is wrong too, you can talk about pretty much anything you want as long as it’s not “obscene or profane,” according to the FCC.
It’s illegal to transmit music, it’s illegal to transmit anything encrypted unless you’re controlling a satellite, it’s illegal to transmit anything for commercial purposes, and it’s actually illegal to transmit anything on a regular basis that could reasonably be communicated some other way.
True, for obvious reasons
True, it helps to ensure nothing illegal is going on and enforce keeping commercial interests out. It’s a self regulating space, one of the only cases I know of that tends to work due to there being no monetary interests allowed. The point is to communicate information, not hide it.
True, the whole point is to keep commercial interests out. That’s what “amateur” means.
False. This is for something like a non-profit wanting to use radios for their operations, they should be steered toward another service like gmrs, FRS, murs, etc. instead of amateur radio.