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Ask HN: How many of you hold an amateur radio license in your country?

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Re: Ask HN: How many of you hold an amateur radio license in your country?

#74

Post by akerl_ »

GJim wrote: post #62
Jtsummers wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the US it's a public database, and you don't get to opt out of providing your name and a mailing address ( mailing , needs to be valid but doesn't need to be your home address, PO Boxes work). https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp

Wow! I know American data protection law is pretty poor, but that really is shocking; such data should not be made public without the users explicit opt-in consent.

They have opt-in consent: it’s a known part of the US ham licensing process that the database is public and searchable, and nobody is forced to get a ham license.

In fact, several of the questions on the ham test involve the fact that you can look up operator info online.

Re: Ask HN: How many of you hold an amateur radio license in your country?

#77

Post by scarecrowbob »

srean wrote: post #14

I find the technical side of the hobby very interesting but the thought that it requires having a conversation with strangers and that too synchronously, is a personal deterrent. I don't know if there are others like me. EDIT: Glad to see that there are others around. Happy to meet you. Async acks are great. So is the joy of engaging with something intellectually challenging.

I've made all of a single contact via CQ. The tech has taught me a lot and continues to teach, but listening to folks rag chew doesn't stay interesting for very long.

Re: Ask HN: How many of you hold an amateur radio license in your country?

#78

Post by sand500 »

tablarasa wrote: post #65

I got my license because I'm an offshore sailor. It is useful as safety and communication equipment (radio nets to keep track of other boats, their weather and fishing conditions :), and let your would-be-rescuers know your position and status), but also for sending and receiving data. It is my primary interface for weather info at sea using traditional weatherfax, but also more modern GRIB extraction. I can even upd…

> Let your would-be-rescuers know your position and status

Stupid question, do search and rescue services even have equipment that can tune into HAM frequencies, are they even listening on those frequencies, and do they regularly train on communicating with the HAM community?

I'm sure there are more established ways of radioing for help in the maritime world(Aviation has the guard frequency)

Re: Ask HN: How many of you hold an amateur radio license in your country?

#79

Post by implements »

srean wrote: post #14

I find the technical side of the hobby very interesting but the thought that it requires having a conversation with strangers and that too synchronously, is a personal deterrent. I don't know if there are others like me. EDIT: Glad to see that there are others around. Happy to meet you. Async acks are great. So is the joy of engaging with something intellectually challenging.

Yeah, I’ve got a UK Foundation licence but have never actually made a call - it was more of a “have transceiver might as well be legal to use it” thing.

(Also, HF antennas - just didn’t anticipate how difficult they were to set up properly)

Re: Ask HN: How many of you hold an amateur radio license in your country?

#80

Post by subscribed »

francis_lewis wrote: post #11

I do in the UK, only foundation though

There's a very little difference between foundation and intermediate, but a lot of bands and privileges.

Jump between intermediate and full is more challenging, but IMO intermediate is well worth it (with minimal effort).

Go for it.

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