# SDMB Amateur Radio Operators Unite!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 1, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914 "2002-06-01T18:10:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/21 "2002-06-04T03:53:09Z")

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SWL listener here, only tangentially related to the really insanity crazed HAMs…

Tripler, check eBay – I see original, un-built Heathkit and Knight kits go for truly astounding sums. Myself I’ve had lots of fun repairing/restoring the old sets from the 30’s 40’s and 50’s, they work fine for listening and the styling is something to behold.

Right now, an old Hallicrafters is next on the list.

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**Author:** ![Billy\_Rubin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billy_rubin/32/3622_2.png) [@Billy\_Rubin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Rubin)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/22 "2002-06-04T04:00:30Z")

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Tripler, follow the links above and get a no-code tech to start with. You can probably take the no-code tech test and pass it immediately, if you’re an EE, a LOT of the questions are about electrics/electronics, etc. Plus there are a lot of study guides at the library and on the web. There is a large question pool, you get to see the actual questions ahead of time, and you only have to answer a few of them- all 140-some questions aren’t on the test, just a randomly chosen 20. (numbers approximated, someone can come along and give more accurate ones, I just don’t remember.

there are a lot of receiver “kits” available. For the cost of one, you can buy a nice used transciever. Get your license. It’s so easy, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it years earlier. Find and join a local club. You can go to a hamfest and take your exam. And buy lots of cool stuff, too.

Louis B, I have a rock bound (crystal controlled) set in my basement. Four frequencies. Uses reeds to encode/decode. Draws down the battery in my ancient Land-Rover when I key the mike and broacasts at a whopping 15 watts. Cool old technology.

b.

b.

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**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/23 "2002-06-04T20:24:23Z")

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Wow!

I had no idea.

I thought 3, maybe 4 or at the most 5 would even be _interested_ in this thread.

Good to see you out there, fellow amateurs!

😃

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**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-amateur-radio-operators-unite/111914/24 "2002-06-04T23:42:51Z")

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Yeah, tripler, it’s really easy, just a couple weeks of studying an hour a day and I passed fine.

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