Anyone here a ham radio operator?

[WonderMonkey]

Originally Posted by Blueser100

I've always been curious about ham radio but never had the time. I have the time now and it might be useful during emergency situations to know how to do it, when usual lines of communication go down.

Anyone here know about ham radio and/or where to go to learn more about it?

W8MRH is my call sign. I studied for and passed the first two exams to assist in being a citizen responder. We do search and rescue (SAR) in various forms, disaster services, and other responder types of training. We have slowly moved the organization to using handhelds in the field and mobile stations as needed.

Though I am sure it's been suggested in this thread, finding a few local clubs is key in keeping your interest going. It's easy to take the first few steps, but then when you say "What now?" it's nice to have some in-person people to help.

[Blueser100]

Originally Posted by WonderMonkey

W8MRH is my call sign. I studied for and passed the first two exams to assist in being a citizen responder. We do search and rescue (SAR) in various forms, disaster services, and other responder types of training. We have slowly moved the organization to using handhelds in the field and mobile stations as needed.

Though I am sure it's been suggested in this thread, finding a few local clubs is key in keeping your interest going. It's easy to take the first few steps, but then when you say "What now?" it's nice to have some in-person people to help.

Good advice. I did a search and was surprised to see many clubs in my area. Last night I even found a few amateur radio repeaters (new lingo, not sure what it means) on one of my police/fire radio apps on my iPhone. Many of the connections threw error messages so I didn't hear anything. It would be cool to be able to listen in on some hams so I can hear what it's all about.

[brad4d8]

nw1k here, mostly inactive. I see you've already found some clubs near you, so contact them and see when/if they will be having licensing classes, many do, although the COVID thing may disrupt that.
As to emergency use, when 9-11 struck, the phone lines here in CT were overwhelmed, and in NYC virtually all the emergency radio links relied on antennas on top of the WTC, so hams were a necessary part of the whole rescue operation.
Brad

[tinnitus]

Here's a fun bit of trivia to share where musicians and Morse code aficionados hang out in the same room:

Every medium to large air terminal has a radio transmitter known as the NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) continually broadcasting their unique three-letter identifier (LAX, SFO, SEA, DFW, ORD, DEN, etc., etc.) in Morse code to be used as a primitive navigational aid for aviators.

So a radio tuned into the Portland (OR) NDB would receive Morse code spelling PDX:
. - - .
- . .
- . . -

An aviator tuned into Toronto Pearson International Airport's NDB would receive Morse code for YYZ, their unique three-letter identifier. Hence the title of Rush's song 'YYZ' on their Moving Pictures album, AND that staccato Morse code tempo in the abrupt, oddball song intro.

Rush has always been rightfully proud of their affectionate "Nerd Rock" label.

[Bob Womack]

Joe Walsh is a ham with the call sign WB6ACU. He got into it when he was a teen and his family moved to New York City. As a lonely, latchkey teen he noticed a wire coming out of a neighbor's window and knocked on the guy's door to asked what it was about. The guy took him under his wing and helped him get his license. Joe collects, restores, and operates vintage tube Ham receivers and transmitters. He actually pulled a Ham joke way back in the March 1972 issue of Guitar Player Magazine (my first issue), Joe listed the gear used to record Funk #49 as a Telecaster and a Vibroplex. I spent years looking for a Fender Vibroplex before I discovered that the Vibroplex is the standard horizontal Morse code key! Joe is famous for sneaking in little secret messages in his songs and in the inner "land" of his vinyl records (the space inside the locked final circle). If you listen to "Giant Bohemoth" on the Barnstorm album you can hear him tapping out "Register and vote" in Morse code. On Songs for a Dying Planet he also taps the message "Register and vote for me." At that point he had actually officially run for vice president on the "free gas for everyone" platform. His signature Duesenberg guitar has his name inlaid in Morse code on the fingerboard.

When I was a child my father built a ham receiver. We listened to stations all over the world and used WWV to set our watches.

Bob

[srick]

Joe is quite the techno nerd. He’s very good friends with the folks at Heil and works closely with them. I know a bunch of folks who have spent tine with him as he is a frequent visitor to ARRL headquarters which is located about five miles from me. If you ever meet him, just start talking gear and you will have a friend.

Bob - the Vibroplex story is a real hoot!

Rick
WA1ISD

[Blueser100]

Originally Posted by tinnitus

Here's a fun bit of trivia to share where musicians and Morse code aficionados hang out in the same room:

Every medium to large air terminal has a radio transmitter known as the NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) continually broadcasting their unique three-letter identifier (LAX, SFO, SEA, DFW, ORD, DEN, etc., etc.) in Morse code to be used as a primitive navigational aid for aviators.

So a radio tuned into the Portland (OR) NDB would receive Morse code spelling PDX:
. - - .
- . .
- . . -

An aviator tuned into Toronto Pearson International Airport's NDB would receive Morse code for YYZ, their unique three-letter identifier. Hence the title of Rush's song 'YYZ' on their Moving Pictures album, AND that staccato Morse code tempo in the abrupt, oddball song intro.

Rush has always been rightfully proud of their affectionate "Nerd Rock" label.

That is very cool, thank you for sharing. I love stuff like this!

[tinnitus]

And I like the Joe Walsh stuff too. It's always fun to learn quirky background things about people we know mainly for their music or whatever else makes them famous.

[Blueser100]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

Joe Walsh is a ham with the call sign WB6ACU. He got into it when he was a teen and his family moved to New York City. As a lonely, latchkey teen he noticed a wire coming out of a neighbor's window and knocked on the guy's door to asked what it was about. The guy took him under his wing and helped him get his license. Joe collects, restores, and operates vintage tube Ham receivers and transmitters. He actually pulled a Ham joke way back in the March 1972 issue of Guitar Player Magazine (my first issue), Joe listed the gear used to record Funk #49 as a Telecaster and a Vibroplex. I spent years looking for a Fender Vibroplex before I discovered that the Vibroplex is the standard horizontal Morse code key! Joe is famous for sneaking in little secret messages in his songs and in the inner "land" of his vinyl records (the space inside the locked final circle). If you listen to "Giant Bohemoth" on the Barnstorm album you can hear him tapping out "Register and vote" in Morse code. On Songs for a Dying Planet he also taps the message "Register and vote for me." At that point he had actually officially run for vice president on the "free gas for everyone" platform. His signature Duesenberg guitar has his name inlaid in Morse code on the fingerboard.

When I was a child my father built a ham receiver. We listened to stations all over the world and used WWV to set our watches.

Bob

Great story! Love this stuff!