CB/HAM radio: where to start

[CVT]

Puwede ka pa ring sumagot, bro.... Basta observe courtesy and protocol lang...

DU1-IJA here....



21.5K:toothbr1:

[lowslowbenz]

I remember we had a DU6-***-something way back. We are still using VHF in the province.

[oj88]

An old hobby of mine as well... back in high school (late 80's to early 90's). I was on 2-meters and probably just one of the few 'geeks' that truly appreciated the hobby in all of its technicalities. Others are just along for social purposes (eyeballs and generally fooling around with pointless debates and banter)... those who don't know "squelch" from "frequency shift". While others are just plain idiots (jammers).

I confess that I didn't had an amateur license to operate any of my radios (Icom 02AT, 02N and 28H), but in my defense, I did observe proper protocol. I tried to secure a Class C license (and actually passed the written and Morse code exams) but I didn't pursue it. Why? In the words of Napoles; "I can't remember, your honor.." Must be my studies in the way or some other nonsense, I think. :D

I was reasonably active up until around '92-93, right about the time when my hobby shifted to dialup BBS. But the hobby officially died in the storm of 1995 (Typhoon Rosing), when it tore out my 70-ft. Ringo Ranger II antenna. I eventually lost interest and sold all my ham equipment shortly afterwards.

[badkuk]

What really got me interested here was a news report about how Ham radio volunteers coordinated disaster relief efforts after hurricane Katrina(and probably countless other disasters). i've never heard about the role they played before or since that report. Talk about unsung heroes

i also read somewhere that it's now possible to use the internet to "bounce" HAM radio signals across areas that radio signals won't go(between mountain ranges?). That is just so retro cool.