im a know it all but man enough to admit when he doesnt know anything about somthing. Id really like to get in to amateur radio, if any of the canucks here can point me where to go, the CB in the car is getting quieter and quieter as the years go by so im looking for a new toy.

I've been a member of UER for a while, but just got active and found this board. I realize this thread is old and you have probably received your answer long ago. I am posting a response for any explorers interested to ham radio.

I'm highly opinionated and have two points regarding who would enjoy amateur radio:

Ham radio is a tinkering hobby. In the old days, hams had to "homebrew" their own equipment. Few build their own tranceivers these days, but we are still generally guys who like to experiment with different radios, antennas, microphones; different modes, explore new frequencies. We generally mess with our set up and get on the air where we talk about... radios and antennas!

Ham radio operators are generally rule followers. Many are almost anal about on-air procedures. You have to accept that and be willing to adapt to it to enjoy the hobby.

Regarding how to follow through and stick with ham radio:

Start with a friend who shares an interest. Study for your test with your friend. Go to the radio shop with your friend.

Join a club. Expect to be "the young guy" at the meetings. Get to know the guys. When you get your ticket, get on the repeater and talk to the guys. Make friends with other hams on your local repeater.

It is a great hobby.

Screw repeaters! HF, and DX are real radio, at least for me. Nothing wrong with VHF, but it's very different than the HF bands. VHF and UHF I find, is full of douche-bag cop wanna be's, who are into it for the bat belts, rather than radio itself. The days of the old "Boys club" are over. Sadly, many hams would rather the hobby die than have free thinkers on the air. Most anal radio operators won't talk with me, and that's fine, I wouldn't have it any other way. We have circles of HF groups that are VERY informal, and have daily/nightly "round tables" (such as the little peoples net, and 3.840, as well as the entertaining 14.313, 14.272 or so) and are relaxed rag-chewers. I enjoy DX, and mobile operations too. Not all of us are in it for the rules, formality, nor the "whacker" syndrome so many hams think define ham radio. While I agree, my attitudes are the exeption for ham radio, we are still plenty, and are very capable operators. Many of us are in it for the love of radio, antenna's, the magic of the sun, and voices through the ether.

Posted by SteamPunk Screw repeaters! HF, and DX are real radio, at least for me. Nothing wrong with VHF, but it's very different than the HF bands.

I like HF much more than VHF too. I'm addressing those unlicensed folks who are thinking of getting their first license. Most of them are going to start out on VHF.

Posted by SteamPunk VHF and UHF I find, is full of douche-bag cop wanna be's, who are into it for the bat belts, rather than radio itself.

Don't know that I'd say "full of", but they are certainly there and they are very vocal.

Posted by SteamPunk Most anal radio operators won't talk with me, and that's fine, I wouldn't have it any other way. We have circles of HF groups that are VERY informal...

Perhaps I shouldn't have said "anal". Those guys who are really anal, I don't talk to them/ they don't talk to me. I'd call myself informal too, but I do use my call sign, I do ID when I'm supposed to, I don't cuss on the air. There are rules and we hams do follow them. I just want newbies to know before they invest time and money, that it isn't like what you hear on CB.

Posted by SteamPunk Many of us are in it for the love of radio, antenna's, the magic of the sun, and voices through the ether.

When someone tells me they have an interest in ham radio, I ask "When you were a kid, did you ever lie awake at night and listen to a broadcast station for far away?". If they didn't and they were not fascinated by the magic of it, ham radio may not be the hobby for them.

Not sure what the ham radio climate is up North.

VHF and UHF analog is pretty much dead in Iowa. The people that are on are generally OK, but I rarely find anyone on. There is a sizable amount of activity on VHF and UHF digital (APCO-25), but it's made up mostly of the old farts (that includes me) that meet for lunch every Friday. People come out of the woodwork for the Sunday night nets.

VHF/UHF picks up for storm chase season and drops off about mid-July.

My interest is hacking computer controlled radios (hence the handle Radio2600).

Posted by Radio2600 My interest is hacking computer controlled radios (hence the handle Radio2600).

When I read this story, my first thought was "That's some guy who attended 2600 meetings then got his ham ticket.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,484326,00.html

Posted by Keaven "That's some guy who attended 2600 meetings then got his ham ticket.

Pretty much right-on.

I got my ham ticket on a whim. I was at the Trenton Computer Fest (big, outdoor computer fleas market) and it started raining. So I went in the building and saw they were doing VE testing. I took the test and voila, I got a ham license.

As for those signs...

ADDCO signs the default password is DOTS.

If they changed the password, you can reset it by holding <ctrl> + <shift> and entering DIPY.

Posted by Radio2600 If they changed the password, you can reset it...

Gotta love a wide open back door.

I was at a 2600 meeting years ago. One of the guys brought a handheld he has moded to receive and transmit out of band. He kerchunked the police department's repeater and freaked out when dispatch replied "Unit calling 10-9". Scared him so much he turned his radio off.

Surprises me that there aren't more 2600 type guys into ham radio.

Posted by Keaven I was at a 2600 meeting years ago. One of the guys brought a handheld he has moded to receive and transmit out of band.

I do the opposite. I modify commercial radios to work in the ham bands.

Posted by Keaven He kerchunked the police department's repeater and freaked out when dispatch replied "Unit calling 10-9". Scared him so much he turned his radio off.

If you screw around on ham radio, people will work around the clock, 7 days a week to hunt you down.

If you do that on police frequecies, your chances of getting caught are close to zero.

There was a guy in the area South of Minneapolis known as "The Burnsville Burper" who would periodically transmit a 5-10 second long belch over the air. This went on for years. He did get caught, but by random coincidence. A cop on foot, saw a guy burping into a microphone at the same time he heard a burp on his radio. BUSTED!

Posted by Keaven Surprises me that there aren't more 2600 type guys into ham radio.

The main stumbling block has been the code, but with that gone now, I think the general not wanting to go take a test keeps people out. However, it also keeps ham radio from becomming like CB radio was in the 1970's.

Posted by Radio2600 If you screw around on ham radio, people will work around the clock, 7 days a week to hunt you down

True, it's how i got my ham ticket. I was a pirate, and Industry Canada had me write my ham test. Not a problem now.

Posted by Radio2600 The main stumbling block has been the code, but with that gone now, I think the general not wanting to go take a test keeps people out. However, it also keeps ham radio from becomming like CB radio was in the 1970's.

Like the CB radio? you mean like 14.313Mhz, 14.272....3.840...on and on the list goes. WORSE than CB radio. Personally, i like it! Jam on!

Decade old threads never die!

In light of someone broadcasting "Fuck Tha Police" on the Chicago PD's frequencies over the weekend, I recalled this less than stellar intrusion of yesteryear.

Posted by Radio2600 There was a guy in the area South of Minneapolis known as "The Burnsville Burper" who would periodically transmit a 5-10 second long belch over the air. This went on for years. He did get caught, but by random coincidence. A cop on foot, saw a guy burping into a microphone at the same time he heard a burp on his radio. BUSTED!

Googling "Burnsville Burper" only yields 2 relevant results: this thread on UER and a thread on QRZ.

https://forums.qrz...-gets-busted.6469/