Hand Radio's

Chris · 11-15-2007, 07:27 AM

Anyone have a license to operate these guys?

I saw them in use last night...I was pretty amazed.

Oxford · 11-15-2007, 09:12 AM

For deer hunting last weekend and this coming weekend I bought a pair of Cobra, 22 channel, Lithium battery, 2 watts, 15 mile range hand held radios from Wall Mart for around $75 total. They worked great.

Included were :switchable hi/low power output, VOX hands-free operation, 10-channel memory, scan, battery saver circuitry, maximum range extender, key lock, auto squelch, illuminated LCD display, speaker mic/charge jack, and call alert with 10 selectable tones. Desktop charger.

No FCC license was required to operate most of the 22 channels allowable...but the direction sheet said a license was required to operate certain bands when operating on "hi" power.

I found the Cobra easy to use, clear to hear, and had plenty of distance range for us to communicate between our spread out deer stands...and also with someone back at our deer camp.

Here's a link showing the radio's I was using:

Overton's - Cobra Li 3900-2 DX VP GMRS/FRS Two-Way Radio

Chris · 11-15-2007, 09:19 AM

I was referring to a different type of radios...but yes...I love the radios you speak of too.

I was talking to someone about an hour away from me...and my friend was mentioning it will go to europe if you pay a yearly license fee.

Amateur radio operators...

Oxford · 11-15-2007, 09:28 AM

Ok, Chris, I'm familiar with Amateur Radio to a degree. Several years ago I started to prepare for a Novice license...but didnt spend the proper time to learn Morse Code at 5 words/min, which was required then. In addition, then, an examination of Amateur Rules, and basic radio theory was required to pass, too.

It is my understanding now that the Morse Code requirement has been dropped and other qualifications have been reduced.

This allows one to communicate on channels which may reach other "ham" radio operators all over the world when sufficiant wattage is used. I still have a receiver in my home work shop on which I can listen in on ham operator's conversations.

Mooseman684 · 11-15-2007, 09:50 AM

You can get a study Guide for the Amateur Radio "technician Test" at most libraries and find a local Ham radio club that holds a testing session. It is a 35 question test , that is pretty basic, multiple choice , and once you pass it and get your license, you can operate VHF and UHF from 2 meters to up in the Gigahertz(Microwave) range.
I'm not sure which Handheld radio would talk to Europe unless you are using it to go through an IRLP Node which is VOIP , or using a computer program called Echolink . A lot of info is available on QRZ.Com as well as practice tests ,technical info, etc.
I'm a General Class Ham
Rich

Deersniper · 11-15-2007, 01:00 PM

CB's, hams, and shortwave radios and hand helds may me key to our survival some day and it is a great way to get views from around the world. These methods in some countries are vital to staying informed. The Sony AM,FM,SW radio is a best buy. I have a pair of Motorola Talkabouts for hunting and the manual says any radio operating on the GMRS frequencies must fill out FCC forms 605 and 159, faxed to you at 1-202-418-0177. I can also get weather channels on them. Hope this helps.

CrazyIvan · 11-15-2007, 01:30 PM

Quote:

I was talking to someone about an hour away from me...and my friend was mentioning it will go to europe if you pay a yearly license fee.

I think we've all used a phone before...

Oxford · 11-15-2007, 03:26 PM

I need to learn more about distinctions between General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and Family Radio Service (FRS), etc. I know what the acronymns stand for...but I'm interested in who should use what, etc. and if licenses are required.

Chris · 11-20-2007, 09:18 AM

It's pretty cool to actually using a technology that is well....old.

I'm thinking of getting a license to perate the ham radio.

jerry · 11-20-2007, 12:14 PM

My dad was a HAM operator from way back. He don't mess with it much due to a stroke. Back "in the day" there was a morse code test, I remember.

Oxford · 11-20-2007, 12:25 PM

Jerry...a person was required to do 5 wpm of Code, plus pass a radio theory knowledge test to qualify for a Novice license. As I recall, the next level up in skill was a General, and above that an Extra Class Operator. Each level required additional skills.

These new walklie talkies, like the Cobra that I recently bought, operate on 2 watts with additional watts possible on certain frequencies (bands). I don't know exactly what the FCC requirements are for the higher wattage devices, but I think they require licensing. How is the FCC going to monitor a person who has a 2 Watt radio and keep them from slipping over to the additional wattage channels? Guess they could use sophistiacated elecronic devices to determine the direction of the signals by triangulation and go confront the person. What do you think?

SilverRun · 11-20-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxford

Guess they could use sophistiacated elecronic devices to determine the direction of the signals by triangulation and go confront the person. What do you think?

Yea right!

You guys have me curious about the HAM thing again. I had a couple buddies in the last town I lived in that were all into it - best I remember - it wasn't exactly a cheap hobby.

11-15-2007, 07:27 AM	#1
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,834,171 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 18	Hand Radio's Anyone have a license to operate these guys? I saw them in use last night...I was pretty amazed. __________________ Rules \| Contributing Members No one has the right to deny my personal safety Please be descriptive in your thread titles!

11-15-2007, 09:12 AM	#2
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,023 Blog Entries: 4	For deer hunting last weekend and this coming weekend I bought a pair of Cobra, 22 channel, Lithium battery, 2 watts, 15 mile range hand held radios from Wall Mart for around $75 total. They worked great. Included were :switchable hi/low power output, VOX hands-free operation, 10-channel memory, scan, battery saver circuitry, maximum range extender, key lock, auto squelch, illuminated LCD display, speaker mic/charge jack, and call alert with 10 selectable tones. Desktop charger. No FCC license was required to operate most of the 22 channels allowable...but the direction sheet said a license was required to operate certain bands when operating on "hi" power. I found the Cobra easy to use, clear to hear, and had plenty of distance range for us to communicate between our spread out deer stands...and also with someone back at our deer camp. Here's a link showing the radio's I was using: Overton's - Cobra Li 3900-2 DX VP GMRS/FRS Two-Way Radio __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right". Last edited by Oxford; 11-15-2007 at 09:19 AM.

11-15-2007, 09:19 AM	#3
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,834,171 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 18	I was referring to a different type of radios...but yes...I love the radios you speak of too. I was talking to someone about an hour away from me...and my friend was mentioning it will go to europe if you pay a yearly license fee. Amateur radio operators... __________________ Rules \| Contributing Members No one has the right to deny my personal safety Please be descriptive in your thread titles!

11-15-2007, 09:28 AM	#4
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,023 Blog Entries: 4	Ok, Chris, I'm familiar with Amateur Radio to a degree. Several years ago I started to prepare for a Novice license...but didnt spend the proper time to learn Morse Code at 5 words/min, which was required then. In addition, then, an examination of Amateur Rules, and basic radio theory was required to pass, too. It is my understanding now that the Morse Code requirement has been dropped and other qualifications have been reduced. This allows one to communicate on channels which may reach other "ham" radio operators all over the world when sufficiant wattage is used. I still have a receiver in my home work shop on which I can listen in on ham operator's conversations. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

11-15-2007, 09:50 AM	#5
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,702 Images: 2	You can get a study Guide for the Amateur Radio "technician Test" at most libraries and find a local Ham radio club that holds a testing session. It is a 35 question test , that is pretty basic, multiple choice , and once you pass it and get your license, you can operate VHF and UHF from 2 meters to up in the Gigahertz(Microwave) range. I'm not sure which Handheld radio would talk to Europe unless you are using it to go through an IRLP Node which is VOIP , or using a computer program called Echolink . A lot of info is available on QRZ.Com as well as practice tests ,technical info, etc. I'm a General Class Ham Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

11-15-2007, 01:00 PM	#6
Deersniper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,700	Communication CB's, hams, and shortwave radios and hand helds may me key to our survival some day and it is a great way to get views from around the world. These methods in some countries are vital to staying informed. The Sony AM,FM,SW radio is a best buy. I have a pair of Motorola Talkabouts for hunting and the manual says any radio operating on the GMRS frequencies must fill out FCC forms 605 and 159, faxed to you at 1-202-418-0177. I can also get weather channels on them. Hope this helps. Last edited by Deersniper; 11-15-2007 at 01:22 PM.

11-15-2007, 03:26 PM	#8
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,023 Blog Entries: 4	I need to learn more about distinctions between General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and Family Radio Service (FRS), etc. I know what the acronymns stand for...but I'm interested in who should use what, etc. and if licenses are required. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

11-20-2007, 09:18 AM	#9
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,834,171 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 18	It's pretty cool to actually using a technology that is well....old. I'm thinking of getting a license to perate the ham radio. __________________ Rules \| Contributing Members No one has the right to deny my personal safety Please be descriptive in your thread titles!

11-20-2007, 12:14 PM	#10
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,903 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	My dad was a HAM operator from way back. He don't mess with it much due to a stroke. Back "in the day" there was a morse code test, I remember.

11-20-2007, 12:25 PM	#11
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,023 Blog Entries: 4	Jerry...a person was required to do 5 wpm of Code, plus pass a radio theory knowledge test to qualify for a Novice license. As I recall, the next level up in skill was a General, and above that an Extra Class Operator. Each level required additional skills. These new walklie talkies, like the Cobra that I recently bought, operate on 2 watts with additional watts possible on certain frequencies (bands). I don't know exactly what the FCC requirements are for the higher wattage devices, but I think they require licensing. How is the FCC going to monitor a person who has a 2 Watt radio and keep them from slipping over to the additional wattage channels? Guess they could use sophistiacated elecronic devices to determine the direction of the signals by triangulation and go confront the person. What do you think? __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".