It was a (non-licensed) prepper that indirectly got me re-interested in getting my amateur radio license. Now I regularly talk with people all over the world and my prepper buddy can barely figure out how to punch in a simplex frequency. Simply having the tools does nothing if you actually need them.
I've long said this. If someone thinks they're simply going to throw a couple of Baofengs in an ammo can and be "prepared" for whatever SHTF scenario they're envisioning, they're going to be in for a very rude awakening if something bad ever comes to pass.
@@natem3438 Check for a club in your area. The one in my area does a weekly check in on their repeater. They welcome anyone to participate. Most people just give their call sign, name, and say "no traffic". No pressure.
Holy smokes! This couldn’t be more relative to right now if you tried. I’m in Austin, TX and the temp hasn’t been above freezing in over a week. Power has been out since Sunday and my pipes burst two days ago. I have been helping several guys get their baofengs programmed to the the local repeater that is ARES activated. I advised them to listen to what’s going on and if they have helpful traffic, to call “Net Control, I’m unlicensed with information”. I can’t get over how helpful a bunch of dudes with baofengs (Feng Gang?) have been to finding gas stations that are open. Boil water notices. Where the rolling black outs are and are not. I’ve heard several people pass emergency assistance required. This week has shown me the most important aspect of why I have an amateur radio license. And if I was a betting man, I’m sure all the other guys who participated as unlicensed, saw the value too and will pursue their license Thanks Josh for what you do. 73
FT.Worth Texas yeah the weather can suck here and Encore takes there sweet ass time getting the power turned back on I've gone 3 days to a week. Back when we had that Snow Storm come through last year I'm in 20 degrees for a week freezing my ass off i was pissed. Thank's to Greeg Abbott he got the power turned back on. I've lost a tun of food and hundreds of dollars worth of fish so i decided to sell my fishtank off to this idiot i grew up with.
I used to say the same thing. I don't need a license for emergency. Had the crappy BoCrap UV5R. Years later I got my Technician License and I'm glad I did. I could not connect to any repeater with the UV5R after I got my license. I ended up having to get a better HT, and eventually a mobile unit. I can now transmit 50+ miles to repeaters on mountains, and receive almost 100 miles from repeaters at high elevations, all on 2 meters. I'm studying for the General exam. Can't wait to try 10 and 40 meters.
My favorite for those who have an HF rig and no license. "I will just turn it to the main channel like on my CB..." *beats head on desk* without knowing where we are in the sunspot cycle, time of year, time of day, etc., they won't have a clue what frequency to pick for local in state, across the USA, or around the world comms!
Thanks to you and Jason (KC5HWB) I went ahead and added this tool to my bag. 6 weeks ago I couldn't have told you the difference between my trunked Motorola at work, and ham. Today I received my general call sign KF0DUT. You guys made it easy and fun. I now have 3 radios and a license to use, so thanks!
I'd like to add another comment, that here in Florida, I experienced my first actual statewide emergency- hurricane Irma in 2017. The largest storm ever recorded in history, I had the misfortune in having to travel statewide one day prior to landfall looking for an open hospital. Days before landfall, STATEWIDE, places- including hospitals were closed and boarded up, hotels were full, gas stations ran out of gas everywhere, ATM's were empty, water was gone from grocery store shelves, and highways were jammed to a crawl all the way into Georgia. Cars with families were on the side of the road and in parking lots because there was no gas to be found. The day prior to landfall, I found an open hospital in Daytona that I could get X-rayed, in the middle of constant tornado warnings and high winds after driving from Tampa. Throughout this ordeal, ham radio activity was NIL. ZIP. ZERO statewide. Driving for hours with my VFO on constant scan, rarely a peep was heard. During the time that the hurricane hit me at 2:30 am, now in Jacksonville where I FINALLY found a hotel room because I was low on gas and could find none, there was no one on any local repeater. The morning after, power was out for two days, cell service was gone for over one day, and therefore, internet access was non-existent. Antennas and towers were blown down EVERYWHERE. THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON on a local repeater the day after, relaying important information from police, fire and other Jacksonville government resources and took reports, and I wish I remembered his call- he deserved an award from the ARRL. My point? Amateur Radio failed MISERABLY during the largest emergency I have ever experienced. The reason is very simple- Amateur Radio operators were also busy evacuating, boarding up their homes, and protecting their families, and completely off the air waves on a statewide basis. If you think buying an HT for use only in an emergency, and as an unlicensed operator, is a good move- I've got some very serious news for you. I've been a ham for nearly thirty years, and I never heard my radio as quiet as I did during Irma- the complete opposite I expected.
When preppers say, "I don't need a license in an emergency," I wonder - who will you call? You may have a life-or-death emergency, but if you don't have a callsign, you'll have to convince me it's a real emergency at your end, and not one of the growing number of people just screwing around, before I can legally answer you! (Per Part 97.111 in the US.) That's after you figure out which of your "channels" will actually reach someone, at what times, from what places. If you're not interested in learning the technical side and practicing, that's OK, but you'll get help much more quickly calling on a GMRS or FRS channel, where anyone responding is likely close enough to respond quickly.
Very well said Josh! We hear a lot of this at Ham Radio Prep too. Licensing is also very important to avoiding interference with commercial and military operations, and protects the airwaves for all of us. If we want to keep our frequencies, we need to get licensed, use them, and encourage others to do the same!
@@nunyadambidniss Yes, you can learn very much. But you won't have any experience as a licensed ham operator. You will be missing critical knowledge, help from some amazing people, and may end up on the wrong side of the law. The Tech license is pretty simple, especially if you have been "learning anyways".
We call the sorts of described as tacticool operators. If the ones who are serious about being prepared but dont know the basics, HELP THEM! Point them in the right direction! I'm going to take my tech exam this Sunday, km new to ham radio, I've ordered a Btech uv50x2 and some accessories, I am not good with technology, but I have oiled my other skills, I am encouraging my friends to get their ham license. I dont think your shaming anyone. You are opening eyes. Thanks again Josh for getting me motivated to take the exam.
I appreciate all your videos. Thank you. I don't understand when HAMs say "You can do so much more than GMRS/FRS." Most of us don't need to to "so much more." I've mentioned elsewhere, that I got interested in radio communications during the aftermath of the death of George Floyd when I was the block captain of my neighborhood and led patrols during the two weeks of riots and looting while the Blackhawk helicopters flew overhead. GMRS/FRS would have easily kept me in touch with my neighborood. I recently got hooked up with the local Gopher Radio UofMN Amateur club. The person that gave me over the air access to the club repeaters, after I told him I was interested because of my neighborhood watch experiences, said that the club lent to Baofengs to people during the civil unrest. He also said I didn't have to have an amateur's license to join the club. Some folks want to use radios to assist in other activities, not as a separate hobby. In modern life we are blessed and cursed by choices. Sometimes you impose a set of restrictions to help you focus.
Don't forget, this is a great hobby and learning experience. Locally I have Doctors, Pilots, LEO's, Firemen, Engineers, Active and Retired Military members that are always happy to help new people get a license and learn to use a radio. Almost everywhere in the world you would be surprised by who has an amateur radio license and you can always find someone that you have something in common with.
No worries. I'm preparing for the licence. But what do memorizing resistor colours and answering tricky voltage-résistance algebra questions have to do with it? It's convoluted and silly. The licencing is layer of foolishness to keep people out of the "club".
Yep...guilty as charged...Everytime I look at my radio sitting proudly atop my shelf im overwhelmed with a sense of uselessness....I must make amends and get licensed or at least learn how to use it😨👍
I got my wife to get her Tech. Her friend was all "You have a ham license?" And my wife was "Like it's hard?" That's my take on it. If you really want a radio in your kit, get your Tech license. It's not that hard. I'll just fly that plane in an emergency. People taut GMRS, but it really doesn't have a community, at least not around here. Maybe some places it has a community. It's like using proper radio technique. Oh, I'll use it correctly during an emergency. Not. If you don't use automatically all the time you won't use when the old adrenaline if flowing.
GMRS in a real emergency is sort of a joke. Sure, you want it, but imagine something really going down and everyone being limited to 8 or so effective channels. That's the problem with GMRS. VHF propagation will always be better for most people as even the minor 'skip' means it goes twice the distance for the wattage. HF is great, but too many environmental factors to its use you have to start knowing when 10 meters and 6 meters do anything and so on, lol. Those bands in particular are really unreliable, though all HF has huge time/environment/etc concerns. Not really as valuable as 2m-23cm in emergency use. HF is likely to get you contacts with people who are too far away to do anything for you, so I don't think there is as much point. But, yeah, getting the Tech I think is massive for your survival. Around me the GMRS frequencies are either too far away, or filled with ragchew meanwhile there are 5x as many 2m repeaters alive and kicking and basically empty though people are monitoring. HF is basically the nerd band and a place for the hobbyist, and I get it -- those people need their place. Hell, I love it for that reason, but for an emergency VHF/UHF are better.
I agree. i would add one more for a total of three unrelated subjects: practical operation (emergency or not), licensing and harm are unrelated. I scored 70 to 80 before I know what two meter or 70cm were. That is because I had a couple of years of highs school electronics shop. After about two hour of speed reading I was scoring 85 on the tech practice tests. I had everything I needed to pass the test and the studying had no bearing whatsoever on my ability to even correctly simplex, or stay off of military, police, or other emergency bands on my $20 HT. Nor any bearing on being able to use it in an emergency or even any practical use. What I have taught my wife, and had her practice, so she is competent on our HTs, is also utterly unrelated to any question on the tech ticket.
Do I need to know all the bs triva? I dont care about breaking the law or being frowned upon by the community. I just need to be able to check on my mom.
@RadespotosR In virtually every US jurisdiction, you do not need a license to own or practice shooting a riflle. you do not need a license to own and practice shooting a handgun in the vast majority of US jurisdictions either. You do need a license to carry a gun concealer in public spaces in about 2/3 of the US.
@RadespotosR Do you need a license to practicing using a baofeng for ham? Not really. I would say to chirp program, or field program and use simplex in the field and familiarize yourself with 95% of the operation you do not need a license. As far as repeaters people practice kerchunking open ones. Anyway in half or more of emergencies repeaters are going to be offline
Hosh, thanks for getting me interested in HAM radio ! Just what I needed, another expensive hobby !!! Already have a scanner, FRS radios and a NOAA Weather radio ! Just bought a Yaesu FT-70DR. Got my FRN # and signed up for an online exam this Wednesday ! Gonna try and see if I can at least do 2/3 of it ! Love your channel 👍
Right on time with this advice Josh. This video should be required viewing for all those RUclips prepper channels that recommend just getting a $30 Baofeng and throwing it in their bug out bag or get home bag.
No worries. I'm preparing for the licence. But what do memorizing resistor colours and answering tricky voltage-résistance algebra questions have to do with it? It's convoluted and silly. The licencing is layer of foolishness to keep people out of the "club".
@@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793 I get what you're saying but... . Amateur radio licenses around the world are issued on the basis that the applicant is a "radio hobbyist". The equipment that one uses is potentially harmful (very) to one's self and others and may interfere with other important services. The licensing layer isn't there to keep people out of the club, it's there to endorse people that have a sufficient understanding of radio and electronics so as they will not cause harm to themselves or others. Memorising resistor colours may be somewhat outdated, so might certain algebraic equations but they do sought the men out from the boys. I don't know if you're old enough to remember the days of 27 mhz. CB but if you are, you'll appreciate when you get on the ham bands the absence of the old bozos that littered the air back in "the olden days". As an added bonus you'll certainly gain confidence and skills to identify and repair faults in other, non radio equipment. Enjoy the journey and savor the knowledge. Good luck with your exams and enjoy your time on the air.
Y'all realize that David Brayshaw is Exactly proving all of Trucker Daddy's points ? To only slightly exaggerate David's arguments " It isn't really necessary to function with today's equipment , but it's a gate to keep the riff raff away from us Elite Operators ."
@@filianablanxart8305 don't skip the part about amateur radio operators are capable of causing harmful interference to vital services. Our maximum allowed power output is quite high compared to other services. I have the tech license and I would rather not have to work so hard to get the next two levels of licensing. But I understand that what I'm licensed for, and I'm willing to do the work. And keep in mind, this is all multiple choice. It's a challenge, but you don't need a PhD in engineering to pass.
I bought a Baofeng on March 1st for just that reason, and immediately realised I'll need to use it in anger so that I'm ready for any emergency situation. Passed my UK foundation license exam yesterday, and now I have an ICOM 7300 on order, and my intermediate exam booked - this got expensive fast!!
No worries. I'm preparing for the licence. But what do memorizing resistor colours and answering tricky voltage-résistance algebra questions have to do with it? It's convoluted and silly. The licencing is layer of foolishness to keep people out of the "club".
@@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793 Many of the questions have to do with safety, etiquette, regulations, preventing interference, RF quality techniques, and trouble shooting problems. Hopefully this would be helpful for everyone, especially those without electronics/RF experience and knowledge.
Thanks for today's video, I am starting to do a training session with a Disaster Coalition in my area. I am going to start tonight's session with this video. Again Thanks
Taking Technician & General tests on 3/20. A few weeks ago my wife asked me why I want to get a radio and get licenced so I pretty much said the same talking points you mention in this video. I just played the video for her and my "street cred'" has shot through the roof! LOL! Great points!
Even radioamateurs are not prepared (except for a few) to act in a Emergency or SHTF situation (telling you this on 50 years plus of emergency and ham radio comms), so imagine untrained people..... But it is true that they can use it to ask for help, but they have no garanties. They will mess ongoing comms.... Altough, they should not use the licence in a utilitarian way. Of course, if they really are into helping people they are welcome on the ham radio world.
it almost impossible to get a gun here in Australia but at least I have a ham radio and I'm newly licenced. Also have some UHF CB's too. Next is upgrade ham licence and get a formal first aid cert. Great points you make Josh, I have some friends with a Baofeng just as you said, waiting for an emergency. 📻🤷♂️
One of my brothers thinks like that. “When SHTF I don’t need a license”. I said: “Nope, you don’t.” I asked him what radio he has experience with, what freqs does he use? Repeaters, offsets etc ect? Ironically ,same brother that decided to start reloading and blew up my phone with 8 months of text questions about every aspect of the game. I asked him if he could have just whipped out his brand new turret press and cranked out M193 clones all day long with no experience or practice. Got the blank stare.
I will be getting a license but I do not like the fact that my name and address will be published publicly. That is the same reason I have not bought any NFA item's like suppressors for my firearms.
This is very true. Getting a ham license is one thing but learning how to operate on different frequencies and set up field expedient stations is another. Also agree with your overall prepping analogy. I'm a Wilderness EMT and I've seen a lot of people carrying medical equipment who do not know how to use it. I used to teach trauma classes and there are a lot of people carrying kits but when they open them, they are lost for the most part.
Great video, I have some coworkers who have been saying that exact thing and I have been trying to convince them that getting their license is best. Also congrats on receiving the Bill Leonard W2SKE Professional Media Award, much deserved. 73 W4WYR
this is a great video. Exactly what people need to hear. Ham radio is way more challenging than the basics of shooting in terms of technical learning but lots of people think it is more like FRS/GMRS/ CB but they are chanelized, very different world.
I used to think I could just turn it on and call for help, but from recent experience, even with a license, there's still a large chance that you won't get someone. Especially if you aren't familiar with local repeaters and when people are active, you may be waiting for hours to get someone, and they might be too far away to help. Good luck catching someone on a VHF/UHF calling frequency too, if that's all you have set up. I spent a weekend in Indianapolis, kept my radio on and checked regularly, and didn't make a single contact the entire time.
I took my license 3 years ago. But I always found myself to be a bit of an outcast among HAMs. HAMs in general are always so righteous and picky about what you should or should not do. Licensed gun owners almost never bug anyone about that and a whole bunch of other groups aren't picky either. But HAMs, they never hesitate to be on you "oh you need to get licensed, oh you this, oh don't do that". The question is, why?
People love to gatekeep. It feels like there's a lot of that type on ham due to the barriers of entry. Makes it hard to keep the hobby up and get new blood. Personally I would love to see the licenses relaxed to just paying a fee to register.
Totally untrue. You show up on the range, load the gun and put your finger on the trigger while pointing it at the other range users and see how they will remain non judgmental. Watch how fast they snatch that rifle, unload it, remove the bolt, put it in the case and send you packing. Licensing is a way to preserve the privilege of using these radios. You cant legally drive without a test and then a license. Then you musty operate that vehicle in a way that shares those roads so everyone can share them safely. Well it's the EXACT SAME THING WITH HAM RADIO. You learn and take a test to get a license. This allows you to know the rules of the road with radio use. Bands are divided and specific areas are set aside for specific uses. The rules are there to preserve their use for everybody. If you want to drive 150mph in the opposite lane of traffic it is a real problem for the others who operate within the rules (the band plan). It's not judgmental when the system preserves the privilege for all licensed users. Without the Hams self regulating and creating their own rules these privileges could easily be lost or at a minimum be taken back by the government to be administrated ass they see fit. Nobody wants that. Get your licenses. Even with UHF/ VHF there is the national calling frequency, space allotted for CW, slow scan TV, or earth to moon comms/ satellite work. The band plan are the rules of the road. That is why. You should know this if you read the materials for the test.
Funny thing is that I got my license and put my radio on the shelf for more than a decade. Lol. Last year made me think that I probably should learn how to use it again.
@@4acae86 Roger, glad to hear it. I only use mine occasionally. Sometimes participate with the local club on their weekly check in. They always welcome anyone to check in. Probably the same in your area.
I have over 50 years of experience and training with firearms, first aid, etc., with instructor level certification in several areas. Of all the “prepper” type skills I’ve studied, ham radio is definitely one of the most complex. Someone who buys a Baofeng off Amazon, throws it into their bag, and then pulls it out and tries to use it in an emergency without ever having learned to use it is going to be in for an extremely unpleasant surprise. The license is just the START of the whole process. It’s essentially a learner’s permit. They’d probably have much better results with the Glock or the CAT-T without practice than they would the radio.
I agree, got many friends with that mentality and will make up cheap excuses to come train when I offer. The main issue around my way with vhf/uhf repeater is, "members only" mentality and will shun new callsigns. All the while complaining their club is literally dying, one club lost 4 members since Jan 1 due to old age. And that they can't seem to get new members, geeee, I wonder why that is. Have been thinking about putting up a repeater and starting a club that focuses on noobs to ham radio and those who want to get licensed.
I've been involved with comms since the mid 60's with commercial 2-way radio, Chicken Band in the seventies, military comms and crypto in the eighties, the infancy of cellular as well as my own commercial and RCC frequencies late 80's-early 90's, finally licenced as a Ham since 91 and a licensed radio tech since mid 80's for the civilian world. Knowledge is power, practice until you can do it in your sleep! But for gods sake, know when and on what frequencies to transmit on when an emergency arises. You Do Not want to transmit on any of the frequencies used by any US Federal agency or the US Military! Its a sure trip to Club Fed! If a human life is at stake one can call on regular municipal or law enforcement frequencies but be ready for some flack. There is also an issue with these frequencies where most agencies use trunking or digital trunking technology that cannot be accessed by a conventional radio, they will hear nothing and you will not get a response other than perhaps the FCC locating you and fining you for interfering with public safety communications. Ones best bet is to try contacting others on conventional repeater channels used by business or on the simplex channels allocated to business on both UHF and VHF. As for the Ham bands try the repeaters in your area. State your emergency, who the victim is, your immediate location and your name, any other descriptions of your location might help if you are unfamiliar with the location. Please don't make any false emergency transmissions. There is technology that has been in use since the nineties that can fingerprint transmitters and in many major metro areas the FCC has automated equipment that can determine a general area where interference may have originated from.
Haha I think that was my response 👽 And my one-liner stands "I Don't Need a Ham Radio License In An Emergency!".. That does not automatically mean I put the device in the cupboard and never look back, of course, I can use the legal band with a amateur-radio to. Here in the Netherlands, a license is a lot more difficult to obtain with many exaggerated technical questions nobody is waiting for. As a result, the number of pirates is much greater than radio amateurs, but the amateur band has died out here. There have been plenty of repeaters run by a couple, elderly, but that's another discussion...
Agree...no replacement for actually USING the radio. With today's nested menu systems in the radios, it will only come with repetition to learn where various settings are and how to change them. Great point with knowing how to always be able to manually program if necessary.
The most compelling argument I see regarding not getting licensed centers around the fact that, by getting licensed, you are submitting your address and other info to the government.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse In the same respect that you would avoid a gun registry. I heard the argument from Black Scout Survival's channel. For the record, I am licensed. I attribute that mostly to watching your video by the construction site explaining how the complexities of Ham radio can't be learned at a whim and took preparation/learning. So I was a prepper 1 day who catapulted into a General license holder 6months later with dozens of radios, antennas, raspberry pi's, hotspots etc etc. So thank you for the motivation, because I enjoy the hobby way beyond prepping.
All of your whereabouts and basic info is already essentially public domain. A simple Google search and it shows up on one of the many background check websites, the Feds know every detail about you.
Also the other problem with the 5 watt HT's. Is they are very limited in range, unless you know how to use a repeater. Even my 10 watt TYT is limited to maybe 8 miles simplex, and thats if I'm using a good antenna, and not the rubber duck that comes with the radio. These are things you will learn when you get a license and join a club.
I'll stay with my original statement: people need to know some good emergency protocols: which radios are for what purposes, who to listen to (in the beginning) and when to listen, then how to call for help using which radio. Your eye-phone won't help you if there is no functioning electrical system. The LAST thing emergency crews need is for people turning on a ham radio and yelling "HELP!" even if the radio happens to be on the right frequency. (like in a 'Rambo' movie.)
I agree. Have a radio without using it equal to not having it. I got a license, but I was not able to find any friends who use it. Radio was in the car and served one purpose, then a poor guy ran out of money he stole it and maybe bought the food for family or just drugs. So it was used for a sort of emergency ))) I know then i am in range of the repeater. I bought a few FRSes that i can give to friends then we are driving into black out area. I can legally talk to them only by another toy radio. And they nor able to use repeaters and prefer to use a phone, becase "toy radio work only 200m away". Often, they will leave the radio in the car or keep switches off. A bit of prostration, why i need the radio? Only to be stolen again.
Here in the UK, and for general, not for emergency use, many people advise people to get their licence. It's well worth doing, and if there's an emergency, especially if it's an SHTF situation... 73 M7TUD
Here in Holland (eu) i have baofeng radio, i am 61 jears and start learning for Novel. When i was 14 jear we made 3 meter radio transmitters and send Reaggy music :) today i want my own communication for emergency and we have a Starlink, is sat phone and so much more. But a fam network with baofeng and some repeaters will do the trick. I have basic electronicus paper from Dirksen and i am now just a member of Veron, you know them i think.
Agree 100%. I decided to get a HAM license after the last election. “Just in case”. Passed Tech Jan 16.... passed General Feb 13. Lots of study, but not an insurmountable task. Now I have access to 1.25 m and most HF .... no HF radio yet.... but the whole world is available to me with the right equipment.... legally! PS... passing the tests just means you might be ready to start actually learning all that HAM radio has to offer. Put on your thinking caps my brothers!
I tell people that they don't need a license in a TRUE emergency, but I immediately tell them, especially my prepper friends who are into firearms, that you SHOULD get at least a Technicians license. The reason being is that sure, in a SHTF situation it won't matter if you are licensed, but you need a license to practice. Would you go out and drop $1000+ on a shiny new AR-15 and never practice with it until you actually need it? That usually makes the lightbulb go off in their heads when I explain it that way.
Something that many may not take into consideration is that there are established protocols for operation, even in emergencies. The '....but in an emergency, I can...' folks should consider that while they may find personal justification for operating without a license, doing so without understanding (and maybe even practicing, with a license) those protocols may do way more harm than good....to themselves and possibly many others! 73 de W1NLJ
I am going to make sure so, so many people I know see this. I got a handful studying for the Tech, and have a few on the edge. This will help them to see the not-a-touch-lamp light.
That Wouxun has been the best purchase I have made as far as HTs go. The KG-UV9D Mate is a beast! I have experimented further with this. Aside from the high TX power on VHF and UHF, it can transmit in FM and AM on the ham bands ( 2m/70cm). Also, the crossband repeat functionality is SOLID. With agreement from my club, I linked the VHF repeater to the UHF repeater using my HT. Using two simplex frequencies, in a pinch you can in effect set up an ad-hoc repeater especially if you have the means to get an antenna high enough. The ~10W TX power makes it a viable repeater in an emergency situation. This got me thinking that with two of these you could extend the range say using 146.400 in, 444.300 out on HT A and 444.300 in with 146.400 out on HT B. Two HTs on two different peaks can help get some users on the ground to talk to each other that otherwise couldn't. Again, I am thinking in terms of an emergency situation or just plain experimenting... this is what amateur radio is all about after all! This is why I ended up ordering a second one. ( For those who are wondering, I am not sponsored by Wouxun. My call is VA2OH ).
You make some really great points. Let me also add a couple of quips or a shallow points. Fail to plan then plan to fail. Train as you fight. (Survival is not a camping exercise... it’s a fight.) Part of planning and training is to test your equipment. 1. Is your firearm zeroed? Does it cycle the ammunition. There is much more. 2. Did the tourniquet fit your thigh? Does it have any destructive flaws? (I know, none of your watchers buy chinesium or other countries that make crapulous products. 3. Does your camp stove light and work with the fuel you have? Does it work with the cooking set you have. And a lot more. 4. I won’t go through the entire list of critical equipment. You see where I am going. Quite similar to your point but adding the notion of planning and training. As for the radio, it does have a unique benefit that buying guns doesn’t. A detailed instruction manual. However, you don’t know if it works or even how to use it or what it will even do (distance of transmission over terrain) until you test (fire) the radio. I was a Green Beret for 20 years. My MOS was 18D40 and then promoted to 18Z50. I served in 2 wars. I was awarded the Bronze Star during Iraqi Freedom because my team’s radioman taught me how to use the team radios including HF, VHF, UHF, ALE and SatCom. I had many different antenna systems and power systems and cryptographic systems (especially for the ALE) that were simple to very complex. War is like an emergency. I was a medic. I could have stowed the commo gear in the GMV and rode out with everybody else. But I also had the responsibility to send information back to HHQ, make comms with other ODAs and help keep US aircraft from killing other SF personnel on the ground so I NEEDED to be able to use all of my equipment. I planned and trained for 3 months to be competent with all of my equipment. My performance and ability were rewarded by my team mates and yes HHQ. If you think you can buy equipment, put it in your kit and save it for a rainy day, you won’t be competent with that equipment, you might get hurt, someone else might get hurt and or you just might FAIL hence my shallow quips. Fail to plan, plan to fail Train as you fight
Highly recommend going through a prep course for the initial license so you know enough to stay out of trouble even if you don't get licensed. Will you get experience with repeaters, DMR, hf etc... no. But frankly that's not what a lot of people who are buying the baofengs are going to use them for. Buy a couple radios, program them to local dispatch, ems frequencies, weather and lock out the transmit on those and stay away from VFO. In a emergency situation, do you really think the FCC is going to track people down who are using chinese radios to transmit using higher power than specified for frs, gmrs and murs... nope.
You will just transmit onto frequencies allotted for other uses that you are unaware of. I cant say that in an emergency that the government will track you down but some bored hams can sniff you out on a fox hunt using directional antennas and triangulate onto you and turn you in. This is a regular thing that clubs practice for fun. They practice it just for folks just like you. That is a real possibility. It's better to get a license
Hoshnasi, you always make good points. I still don't have a license but my only intention is this: I would use my existing handhelds as GMRS in an SHTF situation, to communicate with specific people on low use frequencies (I've researched my area) and I'd communicate in code. Also, would just listen in on others. This plan has kept me relatively pacified as far as a license is concerned. I agree that it is still needed no matter what. But there are plans which can work without it. In a SHTF you'd be doing more listening, anyways.
You can't just charge a battery pack and put it in a drawer or a bag and expect it to be fully-charged 8- months later! Batteries need to be stored DISCHARGED, except for Lithium, NiMH and Alkaline, and then charged or cycled periodically.
@Thomas Jefferson One only needs a license to transmit legally. Not having a license does not stop criminals from doing anything they want. Be it operating a radio, driving a car, owning a gun or whatever. Licenses are only for those willing to respect the law.
Relatable . This has been a terrible year to be a shooter. I have shot maybe 100 rounds of .22. I guess I'll just keep doing dry fire drills. . . Things aren't looking like they will be any better any time soon for the 2A community.
The issue I have with getting a licence for a ham radio is that when a government wants to start doing bad stuff, they limit communication. Giving them a list of people with the equipment and knowledge to use it is double plus ungood
If an national emergency arises like war the government may shut down all ham radio operations EXCEPT for those who have trained and are part of the Emergency preparedness groups. This is exactly what has happened in Ukraine. If you are worried about getting outed to the government I can tell you that the ATF has already admitted to have kept a secret gun registry that they supposedly don't look at. The point is that they know who you are already. The government will not send sheriff's to confiscate radio gear. They might try it with guns though. It's not as if they can track the private sale of radios so there is no way to know where they are. They only know that someone is licensed to operate a station at an address. Your argument does not hold water. If you want to use a radio and keep it in an emergency then get licensed, join a club that is involved with the emergency preparedness groups in your state and county GET TRAINING and be on the inside. Hide in plain sight. Your way of thinking leaves you untrained and unable to effectively use that little radio. The emergency traffic is not generally on those bands anyway. You will want an HF radio with 80-60 and 40 meters with a NVIS antenna (local/ short distance antenna, under 300 miles). That Baofeng radio will be nearly useless without some knowledge to use it and if you don't know how to get on your local repeaters then you might as well have a couple of tin cans with a string between them.
So, you buy a guitar. You tune it up and get shown a few chords. You put it back in the case and listen to the radio for 3 years. You pull it out of the case and go on stage to perform in front of the crowd and the broadcast and video cameras. What could possibly go wrong??
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Josh, walking out on that stage you'll want to know that you know that you know everything is right. That's only due to having massive public embarrassment, if it goes wrong. However, you'll live unlike when preparation for horrible events is wrong due to negligence.
Oh and thank you for the training series. My father is an Amateur Extra and I have been listening to him since age 7 (age 50 now) so I figure I can learn quickly. :)
You brought up a good point, it is all too easy nowadays to buy something for prepping, yet few will spend time, me included, to master whatever it is. I play around with my Ham radio, no transmit, and my Baofengs but I have yet to get a license. I transmit on the MURS frequencies with a narrow band on the Baofengs, the MURs frequencies don't require a license and don't have restriction on the radio features. The FRS frequencies also don't require a license BUT they require that the transmitting radio not have a numberpad to dial in the frequencies. Yet, how would the FCC know one is using such a Baofeng if all they can see is the signal on their spectrum analyzers? They would have to have visual confirmation that the radio is broadcasting on FRS and has a numberpad
Excellent video. I'd think it would make a lot of sense to make radio friends and build your own network of go-to people you can count on when you need help in an emergency. Else, what is your plan? To get on the radio and shout, "Help! Help!", expecting a stranger to come to your rescue? I just got a Baofeng GT-5R because an unlicensed friend asked me to. I'll get the license the "cheater's" way {memorization) and learn as I go. I did CB as a teen a short 50+ years ago, and got an A in an FCC class in college many moons ago --- but never took the licensing test. My friend doesn't want to get a license because he doesn't want to get on any FCC hit lists, I guess. Am I wrong to assume that since I've had my fingerprints taken to serve in the military, to be an instructor for the state education system, to drive school bus, and to register my pistol, that getting an FCC license isn't going to make a bit of difference if they ever wanted to hunt me down? : )
I use my radio a lot, just so I can easily set it up and know how to use it in cases of emergencies! Also Un-Licensed Emergency communications are only legal during Life and Death situations! If you are unlicensed, and you get on your Baufang, and transmit on a local Ham repeater, to complain about your house turning into a 2 story Ice Skating Rink, do NOT expect to get ANY help! :)
I agree with what you are saying, what would happen if you don't have to licence yet. I think it should be program to use. If you have a life and death problem I don't think it will matter. Should work on getting your license
One of the crapiest thing about not being licensed yet is not being able to respond to CQ of people hittibg repeaters from really far away when nobody else is answering. Kinda want to be like "dude I'm here and can hear you."
I am not licensed, plan to be soon. 3 weeks ago it did save me, snow was to deep and I was sliding off the edge of a cliff. Used APRS droid to locate another user 10km north of me and saw what frequency he was on. Took him and his team 2 and half hours to get to me and by the time they did my vehicle was inches from the edge.
If you go gmsr you can stay in touch with your family. 35$ for 10 years fcc license covers whole family. No test. Baofeng UV -5G. Note: Ham radio license does not permit transmitting on GMSR. Baofeng UV-5R is no go. Has to be GMSR radio.
I find myself in that shelf situation. I've got 2 HT one analog and one dmr and cant transmit because public services in my country sucks. I've been waiting for my test schedule since december. Chile sucks.
Do you also recommend practicing with a fire extinguisher? Where, safely? Most of the 'Elmers' around here are just rag-chewers, not interested in helping get new Hams up to speed. Culture is a big consideration. Also, most of the 'Elmers' are anti-Chinese startup equipment. Unless you buy their $1000 setups, they don't want to get involved with you... Kevin KD9EFV p.s. I have several 2/70 hand helds, a 2/70 mobile, several antennas, like a tape measure yagi, copper pipe j-pole, and a number of mag-mounts & adapters. Asked a number of locals for help, but they couldn't even be bothered to point me somewhere, or let me know if there was a local club... Depressing. I've helped 2 of those looking for info, even though I don't consider myself an 'Elmer' and got them to get their license...
No worries. I'm preparing for the licence. But what do memorizing resistor colours and answering tricky voltage-résistance algebra questions have to do with it? It's convoluted and silly. The licencing is layer of foolishness to keep people out of the "club".
@@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793 Well, those requirements came from 'back in the day' when Hams built and modified their equipment. The only home-built stuff today seems to be QRP stuff. For most users today, I agree. Shift those requirements to higher class licenses. Put more band usage and legal into the Tech license, or restrict tech to GMRS/MURS/Commercial like equipment...
If they're not helping, they're not "elmers." And if you're helping others - you are! But the prejudice against Chinese radios is well-earned. Most of the Chinese dual-banders do not meet legal suppression for harmonics and spurs on 2m (despite claimed specs) and the Baofengs usually have audio which is of poor quality and under-deviated.
@@paulplack490 Never had any of the issues you mention, but I don't buy the REALLY cheap refurbed ones, all the ones I have are original issue, 'first flight', not the rejects that are bought in bulk, 'fixed', and sold as new OEM by others.
@RadespotosR Yes ,Fire Extinguisher Training exists . Has anyone ever recieved it except for Intro to Vol FF 101 , and a handful of Government employees ? No . . Grab fire extinguisher available to you ( never in real world will you have two different ones to choose between ) . Spray at base of flames . By the time extinguisher is empty , either pat yourself on the back , or run quickly away .
Hence the reason once you get your Technician ticket, you soon realize that you need to get your General ticket. Maybe they are the smart ones, financial ruin soon fallows Ham radio licensing 😝😝😝😝
It was a (non-licensed) prepper that indirectly got me re-interested in getting my amateur radio license. Now I regularly talk with people all over the world and my prepper buddy can barely figure out how to punch in a simplex frequency. Simply having the tools does nothing if you actually need them.
Perfect example.
I've long said this. If someone thinks they're simply going to throw a couple of Baofengs in an ammo can and be "prepared" for whatever SHTF scenario they're envisioning, they're going to be in for a very rude awakening if something bad ever comes to pass.
Will HAM radios work in an EMP situation? That's
basically why I want one, besides a CB, Short Wave, or
transistor radio
@@ChavaAyanna Faraday cage is your friend.
Hey, "I'll have it when I need it!" is how I justify a new piece of ham gear to the wife!
Same buddy. But ya gotta make sure you know how to use it 🙃
Just passed my Tech exam last week!
Congratulations!
Good job! Welcome, make some contacts and have fun.
@@akaruchoose2693 thanks! Yeah I gotta get the nerves out and do that!
@@natem3438 Check for a club in your area. The one in my area does a weekly check in on their repeater. They welcome anyone to participate. Most people just give their call sign, name, and say "no traffic". No pressure.
👍👍👍
Holy smokes! This couldn’t be more relative to right now if you tried. I’m in Austin, TX and the temp hasn’t been above freezing in over a week. Power has been out since Sunday and my pipes burst two days ago.
I have been helping several guys get their baofengs programmed to the the local repeater that is ARES activated. I advised them to listen to what’s going on and if they have helpful traffic, to call “Net Control, I’m unlicensed with information”.
I can’t get over how helpful a bunch of dudes with baofengs (Feng Gang?) have been to finding gas stations that are open. Boil water notices. Where the rolling black outs are and are not. I’ve heard several people pass emergency assistance required. This week has shown me the most important aspect of why I have an amateur radio license. And if I was a betting man, I’m sure all the other guys who participated as unlicensed, saw the value too and will pursue their license
Thanks Josh for what you do. 73
FT.Worth Texas yeah the weather can suck here and Encore takes there sweet ass time getting the power turned back on I've gone 3 days to a week. Back when we had that Snow Storm come through last year I'm in 20 degrees for a week freezing my ass off i was pissed. Thank's to Greeg Abbott he got the power turned back on. I've lost a tun of food and hundreds of dollars worth of fish so i decided to sell my fishtank off to this idiot i grew up with.
I used to say the same thing. I don't need a license for emergency. Had the crappy BoCrap UV5R. Years later I got my Technician License and I'm glad I did. I could not connect to any repeater with the UV5R after I got my license. I ended up having to get a better HT, and eventually a mobile unit. I can now transmit 50+ miles to repeaters on mountains, and receive almost 100 miles from repeaters at high elevations, all on 2 meters. I'm studying for the General exam. Can't wait to try 10 and 40 meters.
My favorite for those who have an HF rig and no license. "I will just turn it to the main channel like on my CB..." *beats head on desk* without knowing where we are in the sunspot cycle, time of year, time of day, etc., they won't have a clue what frequency to pick for local in state, across the USA, or around the world comms!
Thanks to you and Jason (KC5HWB) I went ahead and added this tool to my bag. 6 weeks ago I couldn't have told you the difference between my trunked Motorola at work, and ham. Today I received my general call sign KF0DUT. You guys made it easy and fun. I now have 3 radios and a license to use, so thanks!
Now I’m thinking I need a new G19 🤔 and some tourniquets!
Because you do
I'd like to add another comment, that here in Florida, I experienced my first actual statewide emergency- hurricane Irma in 2017. The largest storm ever recorded in history, I had the misfortune in having to travel statewide one day prior to landfall looking for an open hospital. Days before landfall, STATEWIDE, places- including hospitals were closed and boarded up, hotels were full, gas stations ran out of gas everywhere, ATM's were empty, water was gone from grocery store shelves, and highways were jammed to a crawl all the way into Georgia. Cars with families were on the side of the road and in parking lots because there was no gas to be found. The day prior to landfall, I found an open hospital in Daytona that I could get X-rayed, in the middle of constant tornado warnings and high winds after driving from Tampa. Throughout this ordeal, ham radio activity was NIL. ZIP. ZERO statewide. Driving for hours with my VFO on constant scan, rarely a peep was heard. During the time that the hurricane hit me at 2:30 am, now in Jacksonville where I FINALLY found a hotel room because I was low on gas and could find none, there was no one on any local repeater. The morning after, power was out for two days, cell service was gone for over one day, and therefore, internet access was non-existent. Antennas and towers were blown down EVERYWHERE. THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON on a local repeater the day after, relaying important information from police, fire and other Jacksonville government resources and took reports, and I wish I remembered his call- he deserved an award from the ARRL. My point? Amateur Radio failed MISERABLY during the largest emergency I have ever experienced. The reason is very simple- Amateur Radio operators were also busy evacuating, boarding up their homes, and protecting their families, and completely off the air waves on a statewide basis. If you think buying an HT for use only in an emergency, and as an unlicensed operator, is a good move- I've got some very serious news for you. I've been a ham for nearly thirty years, and I never heard my radio as quiet as I did during Irma- the complete opposite I expected.
One of the best videos you've ever produced. I've been trying to spread this word for a while - now, I can just send my friends this link!
Thanks Lee!
When preppers say, "I don't need a license in an emergency," I wonder - who will you call? You may have a life-or-death emergency, but if you don't have a callsign, you'll have to convince me it's a real emergency at your end, and not one of the growing number of people just screwing around, before I can legally answer you! (Per Part 97.111 in the US.) That's after you figure out which of your "channels" will actually reach someone, at what times, from what places. If you're not interested in learning the technical side and practicing, that's OK, but you'll get help much more quickly calling on a GMRS or FRS channel, where anyone responding is likely close enough to respond quickly.
Very well said Josh! We hear a lot of this at Ham Radio Prep too. Licensing is also very important to avoiding interference with commercial and military operations, and protects the airwaves for all of us. If we want to keep our frequencies, we need to get licensed, use them, and encourage others to do the same!
Thank you!
absolutely, i convinced a "prepper" of some of your arguements...he says he plans on taking his test soon.
I was listening to an audio book today and it occurred to me a tourniquet would be a great thing to have in a go bag.
I have a couple, to go in my Go bag, and gun cases. I am a former EMT, but keep my skills up...
and coagulant media.
@@teo2975 yup quick clot or some similar product...
That's sound reasoning. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
Just because you're not licensed DOES NOT mean one can't learn anyways ;)
@@nunyadambidniss Yes, you can learn very much. But you won't have any experience as a licensed ham operator. You will be missing critical knowledge, help from some amazing people, and may end up on the wrong side of the law. The Tech license is pretty simple, especially if you have been "learning anyways".
We call the sorts of described as tacticool operators. If the ones who are serious about being prepared but dont know the basics, HELP THEM! Point them in the right direction! I'm going to take my tech exam this Sunday, km new to ham radio, I've ordered a Btech uv50x2 and some accessories, I am not good with technology, but I have oiled my other skills, I am encouraging my friends to get their ham license. I dont think your shaming anyone. You are opening eyes. Thanks again Josh for getting me motivated to take the exam.
Great video man! Just passed my Technician, patiently waiting for my call sign.
I appreciate all your videos. Thank you.
I don't understand when HAMs say "You can do so much more than GMRS/FRS." Most of us don't need to to "so much more." I've mentioned elsewhere, that I got interested in radio communications during the aftermath of the death of George Floyd when I was the block captain of my neighborhood and led patrols during the two weeks of riots and looting while the Blackhawk helicopters flew overhead. GMRS/FRS would have easily kept me in touch with my neighborood. I recently got hooked up with the local Gopher Radio UofMN Amateur club. The person that gave me over the air access to the club repeaters, after I told him I was interested because of my neighborhood watch experiences, said that the club lent to Baofengs to people during the civil unrest. He also said I didn't have to have an amateur's license to join the club.
Some folks want to use radios to assist in other activities, not as a separate hobby. In modern life we are blessed and cursed by choices. Sometimes you impose a set of restrictions to help you focus.
Don't forget, this is a great hobby and learning experience. Locally I have Doctors, Pilots, LEO's, Firemen, Engineers, Active and Retired Military members that are always happy to help new people get a license and learn to use a radio. Almost everywhere in the world you would be surprised by who has an amateur radio license and you can always find someone that you have something in common with.
No worries. I'm preparing for the licence. But what do memorizing resistor colours and answering tricky voltage-résistance algebra questions have to do with it? It's convoluted and silly. The licencing is layer of foolishness to keep people out of the "club".
Yep...guilty as charged...Everytime I look at my radio sitting proudly atop my shelf im overwhelmed with a sense of uselessness....I must make amends and get licensed or at least learn how to use it😨👍
I got my wife to get her Tech. Her friend was all "You have a ham license?" And my wife was "Like it's hard?" That's my take on it. If you really want a radio in your kit, get your Tech license. It's not that hard. I'll just fly that plane in an emergency. People taut GMRS, but it really doesn't have a community, at least not around here. Maybe some places it has a community. It's like using proper radio technique. Oh, I'll use it correctly during an emergency. Not. If you don't use automatically all the time you won't use when the old adrenaline if flowing.
GMRS in a real emergency is sort of a joke. Sure, you want it, but imagine something really going down and everyone being limited to 8 or so effective channels. That's the problem with GMRS. VHF propagation will always be better for most people as even the minor 'skip' means it goes twice the distance for the wattage. HF is great, but too many environmental factors to its use you have to start knowing when 10 meters and 6 meters do anything and so on, lol. Those bands in particular are really unreliable, though all HF has huge time/environment/etc concerns. Not really as valuable as 2m-23cm in emergency use. HF is likely to get you contacts with people who are too far away to do anything for you, so I don't think there is as much point. But, yeah, getting the Tech I think is massive for your survival. Around me the GMRS frequencies are either too far away, or filled with ragchew meanwhile there are 5x as many 2m repeaters alive and kicking and basically empty though people are monitoring. HF is basically the nerd band and a place for the hobbyist, and I get it -- those people need their place. Hell, I love it for that reason, but for an emergency VHF/UHF are better.
Well getting licensed and learning to operate a radio are 2 very different subjects. The test is pretty easy ; )
I agree. i would add one more for a total of three unrelated subjects: practical operation (emergency or not), licensing and harm are unrelated. I scored 70 to 80 before I know what two meter or 70cm were. That is because I had a couple of years of highs school electronics shop. After about two hour of speed reading I was scoring 85 on the tech practice tests. I had everything I needed to pass the test and the studying had no bearing whatsoever on my ability to even correctly simplex, or stay off of military, police, or other emergency bands on my $20 HT. Nor any bearing on being able to use it in an emergency or even any practical use.
What I have taught my wife, and had her practice, so she is competent on our HTs, is also utterly unrelated to any question on the tech ticket.
Do I need to know all the bs triva? I dont care about breaking the law or being frowned upon by the community. I just need to be able to check on my mom.
@RadespotosR In virtually every US jurisdiction, you do not need a license to own or practice shooting a riflle. you do not need a license to own and practice shooting a handgun in the vast majority of US jurisdictions either. You do need a license to carry a gun concealer in public spaces in about 2/3 of the US.
@RadespotosR Do you need a license to practicing using a baofeng for ham? Not really. I would say to chirp program, or field program and use simplex in the field and familiarize yourself with 95% of the operation you do not need a license. As far as repeaters people practice kerchunking open ones. Anyway in half or more of emergencies repeaters are going to be offline
Hosh, thanks for getting me interested in HAM radio ! Just what I needed, another expensive hobby !!! Already have a scanner, FRS radios and a NOAA Weather radio ! Just bought a Yaesu FT-70DR. Got my FRN # and signed up for an online exam this Wednesday ! Gonna try and see if I can at least do 2/3 of it ! Love your channel 👍
Right on time with this advice Josh. This video should be required viewing for all those RUclips prepper channels that recommend just getting a $30 Baofeng and throwing it in their bug out bag or get home bag.
No worries. I'm preparing for the licence. But what do memorizing resistor colours and answering tricky voltage-résistance algebra questions have to do with it? It's convoluted and silly. The licencing is layer of foolishness to keep people out of the "club".
@@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793 I get what you're saying but... . Amateur radio licenses around the world are issued on the basis that the applicant is a "radio hobbyist". The equipment that one uses is potentially harmful (very) to one's self and others and may interfere with other important services.
The licensing layer isn't there to keep people out of the club, it's there to endorse people that have a sufficient understanding of radio and electronics so as they will not cause harm to themselves or others.
Memorising resistor colours may be somewhat outdated, so might certain algebraic equations but they do sought the men out from the boys. I don't know if you're old enough to remember the days of 27 mhz. CB
but if you are, you'll appreciate when you get on the ham bands the absence of the old bozos that littered the air back in "the olden days". As an added bonus you'll certainly gain confidence and skills to identify and repair faults in other, non radio equipment.
Enjoy the journey and savor the knowledge. Good luck with your exams and enjoy your time on the air.
Y'all realize that David Brayshaw is Exactly proving all of Trucker Daddy's points ?
To only slightly exaggerate David's arguments " It isn't really necessary to function with today's equipment , but it's a gate to keep the riff raff away from us Elite Operators ."
@@filianablanxart8305 don't skip the part about amateur radio operators are capable of causing harmful interference to vital services. Our maximum allowed power output is quite high compared to other services. I have the tech license and I would rather not have to work so hard to get the next two levels of licensing. But I understand that what I'm licensed for, and I'm willing to do the work.
And keep in mind, this is all multiple choice. It's a challenge, but you don't need a PhD in engineering to pass.
@@filianablanxart8305 haha. I only want an appliance test for 2021, not 1950 😇😮😅😂👍🇨🇦❤️
I bought a Baofeng on March 1st for just that reason, and immediately realised I'll need to use it in anger so that I'm ready for any emergency situation. Passed my UK foundation license exam yesterday, and now I have an ICOM 7300 on order, and my intermediate exam booked - this got expensive fast!!
This is one of my biggest pet peeves.
No worries. I'm preparing for the licence. But what do memorizing resistor colours and answering tricky voltage-résistance algebra questions have to do with it? It's convoluted and silly. The licencing is layer of foolishness to keep people out of the "club".
@@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793 nothing tricky about memorizing the answers. Try that, worked for me.
@@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793 Many of the questions have to do with safety, etiquette, regulations, preventing interference, RF quality techniques, and trouble shooting problems. Hopefully this would be helpful for everyone, especially those without electronics/RF experience and knowledge.
Thanks for today's video, I am starting to do a training session with a Disaster Coalition in my area. I am going to start tonight's session with this video. Again Thanks
100% Agree! "If your not doing it now, you won't be doing it then" has been the motto of real preparedness for many years. Keep up the good work!
Taking Technician & General tests on 3/20. A few weeks ago my wife asked me why I want to get a radio and get licenced so I pretty much said the same talking points you mention in this video. I just played the video for her and my "street cred'" has shot through the roof! LOL! Great points!
Great minds think alike! 👍
Even radioamateurs are not prepared (except for a few) to act in a Emergency or SHTF situation (telling you this on 50 years plus of emergency and ham radio comms), so imagine untrained people.....
But it is true that they can use it to ask for help, but they have no garanties.
They will mess ongoing comms....
Altough, they should not use the licence in a utilitarian way.
Of course, if they really are into helping people they are welcome on the ham radio world.
it almost impossible to get a gun here in Australia but at least I have a ham radio and I'm newly licenced. Also have some UHF CB's too. Next is upgrade ham licence and get a formal first aid cert. Great points you make Josh, I have some friends with a Baofeng just as you said, waiting for an emergency. 📻🤷♂️
Yup.. I bought three... same reason I stocked up on ammo a couple of years ago!!
I train often!!
One of my brothers thinks like that. “When SHTF I don’t need a license”. I said: “Nope, you don’t.” I asked him what radio he has experience with, what freqs does he use? Repeaters, offsets etc ect?
Ironically ,same brother that decided to start reloading and blew up my phone with 8 months of text questions about every aspect of the game. I asked him if he could have just whipped out his brand new turret press and cranked out M193 clones all day long with no experience or practice. Got the blank stare.
I will be getting a license but I do not like the fact that my name and address will be published publicly. That is the same reason I have not bought any NFA item's like suppressors for my firearms.
Use a PO box for your license. You can also use that PO box for G&A stuff.
@@davidm8371 Good advice looks like I got no excuses now.
This is very true. Getting a ham license is one thing but learning how to operate on different frequencies and set up field expedient stations is another. Also agree with your overall prepping analogy. I'm a Wilderness EMT and I've seen a lot of people carrying medical equipment who do not know how to use it. I used to teach trauma classes and there are a lot of people carrying kits but when they open them, they are lost for the most part.
Great video, I have some coworkers who have been saying that exact thing and I have been trying to convince them that getting their license is best. Also congrats on receiving the Bill Leonard W2SKE Professional Media Award, much deserved. 73 W4WYR
this is a great video. Exactly what people need to hear. Ham radio is way more challenging than the basics of shooting in terms of technical learning but lots of people think it is more like FRS/GMRS/ CB but they are chanelized, very different world.
just found your channel a few days ago and man let me say am I glad I did. Will be joining monthly.
Thank you!
I am soo happy you made a video about this. In an emergency the last thing you wanna wonder is. Is this thing working??
I used to think I could just turn it on and call for help, but from recent experience, even with a license, there's still a large chance that you won't get someone. Especially if you aren't familiar with local repeaters and when people are active, you may be waiting for hours to get someone, and they might be too far away to help. Good luck catching someone on a VHF/UHF calling frequency too, if that's all you have set up.
I spent a weekend in Indianapolis, kept my radio on and checked regularly, and didn't make a single contact the entire time.
I took my license 3 years ago. But I always found myself to be a bit of an outcast among HAMs. HAMs in general are always so righteous and picky about what you should or should not do. Licensed gun owners almost never bug anyone about that and a whole bunch of other groups aren't picky either. But HAMs, they never hesitate to be on you "oh you need to get licensed, oh you this, oh don't do that".
The question is, why?
People love to gatekeep. It feels like there's a lot of that type on ham due to the barriers of entry. Makes it hard to keep the hobby up and get new blood.
Personally I would love to see the licenses relaxed to just paying a fee to register.
Totally untrue. You show up on the range, load the gun and put your finger on the trigger while pointing it at the other range users and see how they will remain non judgmental. Watch how fast they snatch that rifle, unload it, remove the bolt, put it in the case and send you packing.
Licensing is a way to preserve the privilege of using these radios. You cant legally drive without a test and then a license. Then you musty operate that vehicle in a way that shares those roads so everyone can share them safely.
Well it's the EXACT SAME THING WITH HAM RADIO. You learn and take a test to get a license. This allows you to know the rules of the road with radio use. Bands are divided and specific areas are set aside for specific uses. The rules are there to preserve their use for everybody. If you want to drive 150mph in the opposite lane of traffic it is a real problem for the others who operate within the rules (the band plan). It's not judgmental when the system preserves the privilege for all licensed users. Without the Hams self regulating and creating their own rules these privileges could easily be lost or at a minimum be taken back by the government to be administrated ass they see fit. Nobody wants that. Get your licenses. Even with UHF/ VHF there is the national calling frequency, space allotted for CW, slow scan TV, or earth to moon comms/ satellite work. The band plan are the rules of the road. That is why. You should know this if you read the materials for the test.
Funny thing is that I got my license and put my radio on the shelf for more than a decade. Lol. Last year made me think that I probably should learn how to use it again.
If it's been a real decade it's time to renew your license as well...
@@akaruchoose2693 I kept it up to date with the fcc, just didn't touch the radio.
@@4acae86 Roger, glad to hear it. I only use mine occasionally. Sometimes participate with the local club on their weekly check in. They always welcome anyone to check in. Probably the same in your area.
@@akaruchoose2693 yup. I've been listening and getting a feel for things again. I'm in Los Angeles so there is a lot around.
I have over 50 years of experience and training with firearms, first aid, etc., with instructor level certification in several areas. Of all the “prepper” type skills I’ve studied, ham radio is definitely one of the most complex. Someone who buys a Baofeng off Amazon, throws it into their bag, and then pulls it out and tries to use it in an emergency without ever having learned to use it is going to be in for an extremely unpleasant surprise. The license is just the START of the whole process. It’s essentially a learner’s permit. They’d probably have much better results with the Glock or the CAT-T without practice than they would the radio.
I agree, got many friends with that mentality and will make up cheap excuses to come train when I offer. The main issue around my way with vhf/uhf repeater is, "members only" mentality and will shun new callsigns. All the while complaining their club is literally dying, one club lost 4 members since Jan 1 due to old age. And that they can't seem to get new members, geeee, I wonder why that is. Have been thinking about putting up a repeater and starting a club that focuses on noobs to ham radio and those who want to get licensed.
I've been involved with comms since the mid 60's with commercial 2-way radio, Chicken Band in the seventies, military comms and crypto in the eighties, the infancy of cellular as well as my own commercial and RCC frequencies late 80's-early 90's, finally licenced as a Ham since 91 and a licensed radio tech since mid 80's for the civilian world.
Knowledge is power, practice until you can do it in your sleep! But for gods sake, know when and on what frequencies to transmit on when an emergency arises. You Do Not want to transmit on any of the frequencies used by any US Federal agency or the US Military! Its a sure trip to Club Fed! If a human life is at stake one can call on regular municipal or law enforcement frequencies but be ready for some flack. There is also an issue with these frequencies where most agencies use trunking or digital trunking technology that cannot be accessed by a conventional radio, they will hear nothing and you will not get a response other than perhaps the FCC locating you and fining you for interfering with public safety communications. Ones best bet is to try contacting others on conventional repeater channels used by business or on the simplex channels allocated to business on both UHF and VHF. As for the Ham bands try the repeaters in your area. State your emergency, who the victim is, your immediate location and your name, any other descriptions of your location might help if you are unfamiliar with the location.
Please don't make any false emergency transmissions. There is technology that has been in use since the nineties that can fingerprint transmitters and in many major metro areas the FCC has automated equipment that can determine a general area where interference may have originated from.
Haha I think that was my response 👽 And my one-liner stands "I Don't Need a Ham Radio License In An Emergency!".. That does not automatically mean I put the device in the cupboard and never look back, of course, I can use the legal band with a amateur-radio to.
Here in the Netherlands, a license is a lot more difficult to obtain with many exaggerated technical questions nobody is waiting for.
As a result, the number of pirates is much greater than radio amateurs, but the amateur band has died out here. There have been plenty of repeaters run by a couple, elderly, but that's another discussion...
Omg, first look at a new vid! Membership has its perks. 😂
There’s a gun in this video. *clutches pearls*
Agree...no replacement for actually USING the radio. With today's nested menu systems in the radios, it will only come with repetition to learn where various settings are and how to change them. Great point with knowing how to always be able to manually program if necessary.
Some people wrongly think they will rise to the occasion rather than default to their training.
This is true.
The most compelling argument I see regarding not getting licensed centers around the fact that, by getting licensed, you are submitting your address and other info to the government.
How is that compelling? They already have loads of info on everyone.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse In the same respect that you would avoid a gun registry. I heard the argument from Black Scout Survival's channel.
For the record, I am licensed. I attribute that mostly to watching your video by the construction site explaining how the complexities of Ham radio can't be learned at a whim and took preparation/learning. So I was a prepper 1 day who catapulted into a General license holder 6months later with dozens of radios, antennas, raspberry pi's, hotspots etc etc. So thank you for the motivation, because I enjoy the hobby way beyond prepping.
All of your whereabouts and basic info is already essentially public domain. A simple Google search and it shows up on one of the many background check websites, the Feds know every detail about you.
Good stuff, thank you. I'm studying for the licensing exam now.
Stick with it. You got this!
Also the other problem with the 5 watt HT's. Is they are very limited in range, unless you know how to use a repeater. Even my 10 watt TYT is limited to maybe 8 miles simplex, and thats if I'm using a good antenna, and not the rubber duck that comes with the radio. These are things you will learn when you get a license and join a club.
I'll stay with my original statement: people need to know some good emergency protocols: which radios are for what purposes, who to listen to (in the beginning) and when to listen, then how to call for help using which radio.
Your eye-phone won't help you if there is no functioning electrical system.
The LAST thing emergency crews need is for people turning on a ham radio and yelling "HELP!" even if the radio happens to be on the right frequency. (like in a 'Rambo' movie.)
I agree. Have a radio without using it equal to not having it. I got a license, but I was not able to find any friends who use it. Radio was in the car and served one purpose, then a poor guy ran out of money he stole it and maybe bought the food for family or just drugs. So it was used for a sort of emergency ))) I know then i am in range of the repeater. I bought a few FRSes that i can give to friends then we are driving into black out area. I can legally talk to them only by another toy radio. And they nor able to use repeaters and prefer to use a phone, becase "toy radio work only 200m away". Often, they will leave the radio in the car or keep switches off. A bit of prostration, why i need the radio? Only to be stolen again.
And this is why I bought 2 UV-5Rs. One is my scanner and the other is for emergency transmission on 2 meters and 440.
Here in the UK, and for general, not for emergency use, many people advise people to get their licence. It's well worth doing, and if there's an emergency, especially if it's an SHTF situation...
73 M7TUD
buys gun
doesn't practice
needs to use it
takes out part of hand from slide reciprocating
"At least I was prepared though"
The dreaded slide bite. Happened to me once...once.
uses tourniquet
didn't know how to use it
ends up needing to have his arm amputated
Just saying
@@chuckzechman7390 Part of the inherent nature of tourniquets . Only use them when the choice is losing a limb vs losing a life .
Very convincing video Josh! I plan on sharing it with some non-hams who are into preparedness as well as some hams who are not active on the air.
Here in Holland (eu) i have baofeng radio, i am 61 jears and start learning for Novel. When i was 14 jear we made 3 meter radio transmitters and send Reaggy music :) today i want my own communication for emergency and we have a Starlink, is sat phone and so much more. But a fam network with baofeng and some repeaters will do the trick. I have basic electronicus paper from Dirksen and i am now just a member of Veron, you know them i think.
Agree 100%. I decided to get a HAM license after the last election. “Just in case”. Passed Tech Jan 16.... passed General Feb 13. Lots of study, but not an insurmountable task. Now I have access to 1.25 m and most HF .... no HF radio yet.... but the whole world is available to me with the right equipment.... legally!
PS... passing the tests just means you might be ready to start actually learning all that HAM radio has to offer. Put on your thinking caps my brothers!
I tell people that they don't need a license in a TRUE emergency, but I immediately tell them, especially my prepper friends who are into firearms, that you SHOULD get at least a Technicians license. The reason being is that sure, in a SHTF situation it won't matter if you are licensed, but you need a license to practice. Would you go out and drop $1000+ on a shiny new AR-15 and never practice with it until you actually need it?
That usually makes the lightbulb go off in their heads when I explain it that way.
Right on Josh.
But wait,I have Google on my IPhone to help me use my radio when a tornado hits...😂😂😂
Something that many may not take into consideration is that there are established protocols for operation, even in emergencies. The '....but in an emergency, I can...' folks should consider that while they may find personal justification for operating without a license, doing so without understanding (and maybe even practicing, with a license) those protocols may do way more harm than good....to themselves and possibly many others! 73 de W1NLJ
Yes indeed.
We don't rise to the level of our expectations... We fall back to the level of our training.
I am going to make sure so, so many people I know see this.
I got a handful studying for the Tech, and have a few on the edge. This will help them to see the not-a-touch-lamp light.
That Wouxun has been the best purchase I have made as far as HTs go. The KG-UV9D Mate is a beast!
I have experimented further with this. Aside from the high TX power on VHF and UHF, it can transmit in FM and AM on the ham bands ( 2m/70cm). Also, the crossband repeat functionality is SOLID. With agreement from my club, I linked the VHF repeater to the UHF repeater using my HT. Using two simplex frequencies, in a pinch you can in effect set up an ad-hoc repeater especially if you have the means to get an antenna high enough. The ~10W TX power makes it a viable repeater in an emergency situation.
This got me thinking that with two of these you could extend the range say using 146.400 in, 444.300 out on HT A and 444.300 in with 146.400 out on HT B. Two HTs on two different peaks can help get some users on the ground to talk to each other that otherwise couldn't. Again, I am thinking in terms of an emergency situation or just plain experimenting... this is what amateur radio is all about after all!
This is why I ended up ordering a second one.
( For those who are wondering, I am not sponsored by Wouxun. My call is VA2OH ).
You make some really great points. Let me also add a couple of quips or a shallow points.
Fail to plan then plan to fail.
Train as you fight. (Survival is not a camping exercise... it’s a fight.)
Part of planning and training is to test your equipment.
1. Is your firearm zeroed? Does it cycle the ammunition. There is much more.
2. Did the tourniquet fit your thigh? Does it have any destructive flaws? (I know, none of your watchers buy chinesium or other countries that make crapulous products.
3. Does your camp stove light and work with the fuel you have? Does it work with the cooking set you have. And a lot more.
4. I won’t go through the entire list of critical equipment.
You see where I am going. Quite similar to your point but adding the notion of planning and training.
As for the radio, it does have a unique benefit that buying guns doesn’t. A detailed instruction manual. However, you don’t know if it works or even how to use it or what it will even do (distance of transmission over terrain) until you test (fire) the radio.
I was a Green Beret for 20 years. My MOS was 18D40 and then promoted to 18Z50. I served in 2 wars. I was awarded the Bronze Star during Iraqi Freedom because my team’s radioman taught me how to use the team radios including HF, VHF, UHF, ALE and SatCom. I had many different antenna systems and power systems and cryptographic systems (especially for the ALE) that were simple to very complex.
War is like an emergency. I was a medic. I could have stowed the commo gear in the GMV and rode out with everybody else. But I also had the responsibility to send information back to HHQ, make comms with other ODAs and help keep US aircraft from killing other SF personnel on the ground so I NEEDED to be able to use all of my equipment. I planned and trained for 3 months to be competent with all of my equipment. My performance and ability were rewarded by my team mates and yes HHQ.
If you think you can buy equipment, put it in your kit and save it for a rainy day, you won’t be competent with that equipment, you might get hurt, someone else might get hurt and or you just might FAIL hence my shallow quips.
Fail to plan, plan to fail
Train as you fight
Highly recommend going through a prep course for the initial license so you know enough to stay out of trouble even if you don't get licensed. Will you get experience with repeaters, DMR, hf etc... no. But frankly that's not what a lot of people who are buying the baofengs are going to use them for. Buy a couple radios, program them to local dispatch, ems frequencies, weather and lock out the transmit on those and stay away from VFO. In a emergency situation, do you really think the FCC is going to track people down who are using chinese radios to transmit using higher power than specified for frs, gmrs and murs... nope.
You will just transmit onto frequencies allotted for other uses that you are unaware of. I cant say that in an emergency that the government will track you down but some bored hams can sniff you out on a fox hunt using directional antennas and triangulate onto you and turn you in. This is a regular thing that clubs practice for fun. They practice it just for folks just like you. That is a real possibility. It's better to get a license
Good stuff, Josh...I needed this!!!
Hoshnasi, you always make good points. I still don't have a license but my only intention is this: I would use my existing handhelds as GMRS in an SHTF situation, to communicate with specific people on low use frequencies (I've researched my area) and I'd communicate in code. Also, would just listen in on others. This plan has kept me relatively pacified as far as a license is concerned. I agree that it is still needed no matter what. But there are plans which can work without it. In a SHTF you'd be doing more listening, anyways.
I generally agree with your approach. This video was not at all targeting someone like you who has a plan and knows how to implement it. Cheers. 👍
You can't just charge a battery pack and put it in a drawer or a bag and expect it to be fully-charged 8- months later!
Batteries need to be stored DISCHARGED, except for Lithium, NiMH and Alkaline, and then charged or cycled periodically.
Well put Also got my license after watching your stuff !!
Like buying a car in case you "need" it. No license, no practice, no familiarity. False sense of security.
@Thomas Jefferson One only needs a license to transmit legally. Not having a license does not stop criminals from doing anything they want. Be it operating a radio, driving a car, owning a gun or whatever. Licenses are only for those willing to respect the law.
Amen, brother!
Excellent video! Thank you. You made some very good comparisons.
I haven't been able to find ammo for nearly a year. My guns are basically decorations at this point.
Relatable . This has been a terrible year to be a shooter. I have shot maybe 100 rounds of .22. I guess I'll just keep doing dry fire drills. . .
Things aren't looking like they will be any better any time soon for the 2A community.
The issue I have with getting a licence for a ham radio is that when a government wants to start doing bad stuff, they limit communication. Giving them a list of people with the equipment and knowledge to use it is double plus ungood
If an national emergency arises like war the government may shut down all ham radio operations EXCEPT for those who have trained and are part of the Emergency preparedness groups. This is exactly what has happened in Ukraine. If you are worried about getting outed to the government I can tell you that the ATF has already admitted to have kept a secret gun registry that they supposedly don't look at. The point is that they know who you are already. The government will not send sheriff's to confiscate radio gear. They might try it with guns though. It's not as if they can track the private sale of radios so there is no way to know where they are. They only know that someone is licensed to operate a station at an address. Your argument does not hold water.
If you want to use a radio and keep it in an emergency then get licensed, join a club that is involved with the emergency preparedness groups in your state and county GET TRAINING and be on the inside. Hide in plain sight. Your way of thinking leaves you untrained and unable to effectively use that little radio. The emergency traffic is not generally on those bands anyway. You will want an HF radio with 80-60 and 40 meters with a NVIS antenna (local/ short distance antenna, under 300 miles).
That Baofeng radio will be nearly useless without some knowledge to use it and if you don't know how to get on your local repeaters then you might as well have a couple of tin cans with a string between them.
Then don’t. Get a CB or GMRS.
So, you buy a guitar. You tune it up and get shown a few chords. You put it back in the case and listen to the radio for 3 years. You pull it out of the case and go on stage to perform in front of the crowd and the broadcast and video cameras. What could possibly go wrong??
Lol. That’s a good one too!
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Josh, walking out on that stage you'll want to know that you know that you know everything is right. That's only due to having massive public embarrassment, if it goes wrong. However, you'll live unlike when preparation for horrible events is wrong due to negligence.
Thank you
Oh and thank you for the training series. My father is an Amateur Extra and I have been listening to him since age 7 (age 50 now) so I figure I can learn quickly. :)
What is far more interesting is what the definition of emergency is.
The Technician test is so easy no reason not to get one! 73 KG5LTL
You brought up a good point, it is all too easy nowadays to buy something for prepping, yet few will spend time, me included, to master whatever it is.
I play around with my Ham radio, no transmit, and my Baofengs but I have yet to get a license.
I transmit on the MURS frequencies with a narrow band on the Baofengs, the MURs frequencies don't require a license and don't have restriction on the radio features. The FRS frequencies also don't require a license BUT they require that the transmitting radio not have a numberpad to dial in the frequencies.
Yet, how would the FCC know one is using such a Baofeng if all they can see is the signal on their spectrum analyzers? They would have to have visual confirmation that the radio is broadcasting on FRS and has a numberpad
Spot on ... again!
Excellent video. I'd think it would make a lot of sense to make radio friends and build your own network of go-to people you can count on when you need help in an emergency. Else, what is your plan? To get on the radio and shout, "Help! Help!", expecting a stranger to come to your rescue?
I just got a Baofeng GT-5R because an unlicensed friend asked me to. I'll get the license the "cheater's" way {memorization) and learn as I go.
I did CB as a teen a short 50+ years ago, and got an A in an FCC class in college many moons ago --- but never took the licensing test.
My friend doesn't want to get a license because he doesn't want to get on any FCC hit lists, I guess. Am I wrong to assume that since I've had my fingerprints taken to serve in the military, to be an instructor for the state education system, to drive school bus, and to register my pistol, that getting an FCC license isn't going to make a bit of difference if they ever wanted to hunt me down? : )
I use my radio a lot, just so I can easily set it up and know how to use it in cases of emergencies! Also Un-Licensed Emergency communications are only legal during Life and Death situations! If you are unlicensed, and you get on your Baufang, and transmit on a local Ham repeater, to complain about your house turning into a 2 story Ice Skating Rink, do NOT expect to get ANY help! :)
This is just as good advice for would be hams that are already "preppers" as it is for would be "preppers" that are already hams. Cheers!
I agree with what you are saying, what would happen if you don't have to licence yet. I think it should be program to use. If you have a life and death problem I don't think it will matter. Should work on getting your license
Great stuff as always!
I have a video recorded but not posted that is similar to this. Interested to hear what you have to say.
Love the context. Just like only trying to cook when shtf. Burned beans are expected. Same with the lead items.
One of the crapiest thing about not being licensed yet is not being able to respond to CQ of people hittibg repeaters from really far away when nobody else is answering.
Kinda want to be like "dude I'm here and can hear you."
I am not licensed, plan to be soon. 3 weeks ago it did save me, snow was to deep and I was sliding off the edge of a cliff. Used APRS droid to locate another user 10km north of me and saw what frequency he was on. Took him and his team 2 and half hours to get to me and by the time they did my vehicle was inches from the edge.
Thank you Josh for introducing us to some good sound logic!!!!! These are all great examples! K9LRG
If you go gmsr you can stay in touch with your family. 35$ for 10 years fcc license covers whole family. No test. Baofeng UV -5G.
Note: Ham radio license does not permit transmitting on GMSR. Baofeng UV-5R is no go. Has to be GMSR radio.
In an emergency all bets are off.
I find myself in that shelf situation. I've got 2 HT one analog and one dmr and cant transmit because public services in my country sucks. I've been waiting for my test schedule since december. Chile sucks.
Do you also recommend practicing with a fire extinguisher? Where, safely?
Most of the 'Elmers' around here are just rag-chewers, not interested in helping get new Hams up to speed. Culture is a big consideration. Also, most of the 'Elmers' are anti-Chinese startup equipment. Unless you buy their $1000 setups, they don't want to get involved with you...
Kevin KD9EFV
p.s. I have several 2/70 hand helds, a 2/70 mobile, several antennas, like a tape measure yagi, copper pipe j-pole, and a number of mag-mounts & adapters. Asked a number of locals for help, but they couldn't even be bothered to point me somewhere, or let me know if there was a local club... Depressing. I've helped 2 of those looking for info, even though I don't consider myself an 'Elmer' and got them to get their license...
No worries. I'm preparing for the licence. But what do memorizing resistor colours and answering tricky voltage-résistance algebra questions have to do with it? It's convoluted and silly. The licencing is layer of foolishness to keep people out of the "club".
@@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793 Well, those requirements came from 'back in the day' when Hams built and modified their equipment. The only home-built stuff today seems to be QRP stuff. For most users today, I agree. Shift those requirements to higher class licenses. Put more band usage and legal into the Tech license, or restrict tech to GMRS/MURS/Commercial like equipment...
If they're not helping, they're not "elmers." And if you're helping others - you are! But the prejudice against Chinese radios is well-earned. Most of the Chinese dual-banders do not meet legal suppression for harmonics and spurs on 2m (despite claimed specs) and the Baofengs usually have audio which is of poor quality and under-deviated.
@@paulplack490 Never had any of the issues you mention, but I don't buy the REALLY cheap refurbed ones, all the ones I have are original issue, 'first flight', not the rejects that are bought in bulk, 'fixed', and sold as new OEM by others.
@RadespotosR Yes ,Fire Extinguisher Training exists . Has anyone ever recieved it except for Intro to Vol FF 101 , and a handful of Government employees ? No .
. Grab fire extinguisher available to you ( never in real world will you have two different ones to choose between ) . Spray at base of flames . By the time extinguisher is empty , either pat yourself on the back , or run quickly away .
Hence the reason once you get your Technician ticket, you soon realize that you need to get your General ticket. Maybe they are the smart ones, financial ruin soon fallows Ham radio licensing 😝😝😝😝
Passed my Technician test last weekend. Joined the local ham club. Looking for an elmer.