Ham radio operators...

[OHHS old timer]

Curious if there are any "Hammers" up there? Been thinking real hard about becoming one.

Any info you can give would be greatly appreciated.
I just added another 400 sq. ft. to the house and I think a radio/communication room would be perfect.

[Zunardo]

Hey, OHHS old timer. My uncle who just passed away was a ham radio operator for nearly 40 years. He picked it up after 20 years as a comm specialist with the Navy. I remember his first antenna was a wire from the chimney to a tree out front. Then he bought a 50-foot pole antenna and attached to the side of his house in our neighborhood, and had a spare bedroom for his equipment.

My wife and I bought his house, he moved out in the country and got a bigger antenna for a while. When we moved in, one of the neighbors came over and demanded to know if I shared his uncle's hobby. When I asked why, he said he couldn't watch TV when my uncle was transmitting. I guess the neighbor was too cheap to get cable and used a regular set antenna. I just laughed. Had no idea a ham radio would interfere with others' electronics.

Good luck with getting into this. I remember a guy I worked with said he had a 120-foot free-standing antenna that would pick up and transmit pretty good. From what I've read, a lot of operator keep mobile equipment handy and can serve as emergency communication stations during disasters.

[OHHS old timer]

Thanks!

To be able help out in emergency situations was one area I was looking at. And being able to talk with folks is cool as well.

They changed the rules about 15 years....they dropped the Morse code requirement. Don't really know why....if I choose to do this, I will learn Morse code.

Have seen some 100ft. directional attenna. Still in the thinking about it stage.

Thanks for sharing the story! Bet your dad talked to alot of folks from around the world!! The father of a HS friend was a hammer...really got me curious about that world....over.

[noreply66]

My brother use to do this and if I remember right they got on him about too much power on something and had to reduce his antenna???????

[Omega]

OHHS, here is a good place to start:

http://www.arrl.org


Ham radio is dying a slow death with the advent of the internet and the cell phone. A lot of the old relay leagues have fallen by the wayside, but the few still in radio provide invaluable service during hurricanes. Maybe the contagion will usher in a renaissance.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I’ve considered getting into it. Idk why. Idk anyone who does it. I just think it’d be something to have if doomsday ever happens. Plus the older I get the more I start thinking more off grid stuff sounds good (as I post this on the World Wide Web). I’m pretty sure Athens County has a club or maybe it’s jackson but I’ve been tempted to go to a meeting if corona madness ever ends.