HAM Radio Operators

[Birdie]

I just saw where Vickie P and Mitch are both HAMs. I, too am a HAM. Was just wondering how many more HAMs we might have out there. My call is KC5CBZ. And you wouldn't know it but I do have code at 5 wpm.

[VickieP]

KooL, KE5HNX here

[avalen]

wow, how cool, I got nuthin

[mitch5252]

wow, how cool, I got nuthin

Thanks for the morning chuckle!! That was funny!

I passed the 13wpm code test, and the Extra written. I just couldn't get the 20wpm code, which surprised the heck out of me because I type (used to, anyway) at over 100 wpm. I thought code would be a breeze. Ha - WRONG! I HATED CODE. Worked code maybe 3 times in my life. But man, I had a beautiful, all stainless-steel keyer!

Birdie, I see we got our licenses at almost exactly the same time. I think you were just less than a month before me!

You guys aren't leery of putting your call-sign out here on the internet? I am. I guess I just hate having my exact address (including GPS coordinates) published for everyone in the world to see. That, along with my full name. Call me paranoid. Most of my friends do (just kidding! My friends call me anal, not paranoid.).

Michelle


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[VickieP]

Mitch, unfortunately we are all out there, a simple search on the FCC, ARRL, QRZ websites (among others) list everything. Even searching the local HAM clubs listed on the ARRL web site, alot of them even show pics with call signs in the descriptions of their members. It can be searched by city, name, call sign, whatever. Everytime you identify your station, anyone can look you up. I AM surprised that someone hasn't pushed this issue of security yet, as it is kinda just thrown out there for anyone and everyone. I DO understand your concern. My CB handle is "Annie Oakley" I'm a REALLY good shot! (Just in case someone comes round, lol) But that doesn't help in idenity theft (unless I can find them)

[mitch5252]

Mitch, unfortunately we are all out there, a simple search on the FCC, ARRL, QRZ websites (among others) list everything. Even searching the local HAM clubs listed on the ARRL web site, alot of them even show pics with call signs in the descriptions of their members. It can be searched by city, name, call sign, whatever. Everytime you identify your station, anyone can look you up. I AM surprised that someone hasn't pushed this issue of security yet, as it is kinda just thrown out there for anyone and everyone. I DO understand your concern. My CB handle is "Annie Oakley" I'm a REALLY good shot! (Just in case someone comes round, lol) But that doesn't help in idenity theft (unless I can find them)

I just a few minutes ago found out you could search by zip code! I've tried to keep my call sign and my last name off the internet, but my city/state is out there. How frustrating is that? Jeez.

So, then my call is (let's see if I remember this - november nine xxxxxxxxxx).
Now you all have my street address, so come on down/over/up for a visit.
Doors are always open to intelligent, fun/funny women, and the occasional buff male!!

And, Ms. Annie Vickie Oakley - here is a picture of my target from my CCW class last year. It's filed on my hard drive as "Annie Oakley". We think alike!





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[Birdie]

Shucks, you guys are way ahead of me. I was planning a CCW class this fall. I already gave my hand gun away, but I have been eyeing a pretty, Glock and Mag 357, and have a friend, (actually 3 friends) who say they will teach me the basics before I go embarrass myself in a real live instructed class. Never did get to the Annie Oakley stage. More like Calamity Jane!

I licensed in early 1992, I think. What with CRS I am not sure. Then upgraded about 1994. They jerked the Tech Plus and I never went for General. The HAM runs in my family - 2 brothers and nephew are Extras, SIL is General, neices and other SIL were/are no-code techs. Bird watching is what got me into that hobby. We would be in the field and couldn't tell each other where we were. I suggested Walkie T's and my brother suggesed I get my license as they already had dual-band HT's. So here I R! Used to be a Storm Chaser when I lived in Dallas - what scary fun!

Mitch, I have both yahoo and hotmail under kc5cbz. Never had a problem. We know that you and the other Annie O won't have any problems either.

[mitch5252]

I already gave my hand gun away, but I have been eyeing a pretty, Glock and Mag 357,

Have you checked the price of guns these days????? YIKES!!!!!

And you're thinkin' BIG, huh? We both have Ruger 357s (his has the MANLY length barrel - you know how that is...mine is more 'dainty', if you could ever call a 357 magnum, dainty!). But only load them with 38s. I carry smaller calibers (you know - the smaller size that'll just piss 'em off, not stop 'em...) in the car/van (that's legal in TN, can you believe it??? In Illinois (where I spent most of my life), if you even think about carrying a gun, you'll end up in jail...). And I believe TN just passed, or is in the process of passing, a law allowing carry in restaurants and bars...hmmmm, wonder how that's gonna work - alcohol and guns? And did it pass to be able to carry in National Parks?

(there, did that sound mean enough to keep away anyone who now has my street address and wishes me harm??? I'm just kiddin'...I'm NOT paranoid. I keep telling you - I'm ANAL!)



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[VickieP]

Well, I've got a cute little S&W Lady Smith 357 that I've had for years and just got a Springfield XD-40 that I haven't even fired yet. I prefer shooting rifles, got a sweet Weatherby 300 that's my baby. Shamed 3 guys off the shooting range one day with it, they were complaining about sore shoulders from shooting some muzzle loader, when I put a couple rounds through the 300 they packed up and left Good thing we didn't have the Weatherby 338/378 at that time

[islandmomma]

You ladies all scare the heck out of me sometimes. You seem to know lots about things with which I have NO familiarity!

They are making me get a CB radio for my caravan later this month so I will have to learn a minimum I think...like how to turn it on lol? A trucker hubby of a friend of mine said buy a cheap Cobra 25, I think that's what he said anyway. Any other ideas? Seems my secondhand rig has an antennae and coaxial cable already in it...

jan

PS Does a casual user have to learn codes and stuff or is that just if you want to be a Ham operator?

[mitch5252]

You ladies all scare the heck out of me sometimes. You seem to know lots about things with which I have NO familiarity!

They are making me get a CB radio for my caravan later this month so I will have to learn a minimum I think...like how to turn it on lol? A trucker hubby of a friend of mine said buy a cheap Cobra 25, I think that's what he said anyway. Any other ideas? Seems my secondhand rig has an antennae and coaxial cable already in it...

jan

PS Does a casual user have to learn codes and stuff or is that just if you want to be a Ham operator?

Good morning!

A cb radio requires no testing and no licensing. And boy, has cb'ing changed since we first started on the bands MANY years ago...the language is unbelievable! At least it was when I took a quick listen over a decade ago. I can't believe it's gotten any better. Maybe someone with more current experience can tell us differently?

A HAM radio (amateur radio) does require licensing, including passing a test...you get more privileges (more frequencies available for transmission) as you climb the test ladder!

I see you can get the Cobra 25 Classic on Amazon for $80, no shipping, no tax. I found 4 5-star reviews on that unit (I'm not sure which specific model of the 25 they were).

[Birdie]

Jan one of the differences between CBers and HAMs is if you get ugly talking on the HAM, they pull your license. If you get caught doing illegal transmitting, they confiscate your equipment. They is the Feds who run the FCC whom gives you the right to use those air waves. So you rarely hear dirty talk on our freqs (frequencies) like you will on the CB freqs. However, you and your caravan will probably drop off to a freq that isn't being used much if at all and then you will be okay. You can always control stuff with the "on/off" switch

I have been caravaning with a friend on bird trips and we use our radios all the time on the road and use HTs (Handy Talkies) while on the ground. Some of our birding takes us to mountain lion and bear country. It is better to be able to stay in touch just in case.

Mitch, one of the guys that goes with us wears his pistol holstered on his waist when we go down into one of the canyons. Lots of drugs and people stuff and at least two mountain lion kills spots down there. He is licensed for both concealed and open carry. Arizona normal is open carry. Down in Texas normal is concealed. Another forum I belong to got on a big discussion about the various weapon laws...I decided to not carry my pistol and gave it to my sister.

Vickie I like the idea of a shotgun. I don't want to make anyone coming at/after me mad and I want to make them gone. A little pistol would probably hurt them and make them madder than an old wet hen and they would then really hurt me. So just make them gone....you hire out for body guard?

Mitch you do shotgun stuff?

[VickieP]

Jan, Like the others have said the HAM operators are much more regulated and respectful of their privilege to have that license, whereas lots of CBers don't really care because they can get away with it easier (unless someone reports them to the FCC).

As Nancy said you will probably be on a little used channel just to talk between yourselves, BUT, if you use Channel 19 which in most places is the trucker's channel (somewhere we were it was 17) you will have the road info for any problems ahead.

Just a few things you might want to learn is of course 10-4 is okay, 10-100 is potty break, 10-200, well, that is just too much information and you can just go with the 10-100 and that should cover it

Don't call anybody "Good Buddy" as it doesn't mean what it used to, now days a trucker may meet a "Good Buddy" in the back of a truck stop parking lot or dark rest area, if you know what I mean. BUT, if you should forget and call a trucker that, when you see his big rig next to you, glaring at ya through the window, here's what'cha do,

#1 Quickly point at yourself while shaking your head NO
#2 Point at the rig in front of you while remembering how all the pics you tried to snap while driving, of the beautiful scenery, has the back side of their rig right smack in the middle of all your pics. And how they volunteered "Oh, me and Jan will bring up the rear of the caravan" and they ran right through the light as it turned red and you knew there were 5 turn offs coming up,,,(sorry, I had to stop and laugh a minute, whew, okay I'm ready) and you were left behind,,, just go ahead and point at them and mouth the words "bad, bad person" Then get out of the way!

And unless you're in the south, if someone says on the CB that there's alligators in the road up ahead, don't bother grabbing your camera, it's just pieces of tires on the road and anyway, your pics would just have the rear end of the rig up ahead of ya anyway!

[Nasoosie]

WOW! Now this is an interesting thread on here! Do ham operator licenses and gun licenses go hand-in-hand?

I use walkie-talkies when there is someone around to walkie-talk with! And I suppose I would feel more comfortable hiking in foreign territories with a weapon on me. I am a crack shot with a semi-automatic 22 Mossberg rifle, and can wield a mean double-barrelled 12-guage shotgun when/if necessary!

I think it's interesting to see just how many of us are gun-savvy...who'd a thunk it?

[islandmomma]

Thanks,, everyone, for the thoughts and chuckles LOL. And Vicki? I do "innocent" really well; it has carried me much of my life LOL!!

10-4

jan