ham radio operator

[thisGuy]

anyone a ham here?

i wanna get in on the ham radios...what kind of equipment you guys use? tips on getting the amateur radio license? any of you ever talked to the international space station? how deep did you go into the sceince/tech behind the radios

 

[WoodsWoman]

Anyone a ham here?
Yes, general license

i wanna get in on the ham radios...what kind of equipment you guys use?
I never got beyond two meter equipment - my Dad had an old boat-anchor but I never used it.

tips on getting the amateur radio license?
Get a current study guide.

The initial license, if you have any of the basic concepts and a good dose of common sense is quite easy. I got my general license just before they did away with the Morse Code requirement so I got my 13 wpm.

any of you ever talked to the international space station?
No - know some who did though.

how deep did you go into the science/tech behind the radios?
No more than required - was interested in the emergency communications angle on a local level.

Aside: Renewed the license last summer, but haven't been active on the air for about 5 years. My Dad was a big push behind getting involved to begin with and he died in '05 (and was very ill for a couple of years before that). It just hasn't been the same.