wacky_doug
NES Member
Can make it this Saturday, but I'll try to make the next one. Sounds great.
If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
Be sure to enter the NES/Pioneer Valley Arms February Giveaway ***Smith & Wesson SD9VE 9MM***
Can make it this Saturday, but I'll try to make the next one. Sounds great.
To the OP,
If you are just interested in ecomm, a tech license and a decent 2M radio may be exactly what you are looking for. Check out a Yaesu handheld. I've owned 2 and they have both been great.
I was originally interested in DX and figured I would upgrade my Tech license as I learned. The thing is, ham is just so expensive. I haven't used my 2M in a long time. I won't be upgrading my license and radio until I get rich or find a cheap radio at a yard sale...
The coolest thing that happened with my Tech license was when I got a call on the phone from a local HAM. He was relaying a contact from a ham from the other side of the country telling me to stick with the hobby and upgrade my license. I was pumped until I saw how much that radio would cost me.
What do you consider expensive. I see older radios in the want ads all the time. For a few hundred dollars you can be on the air talking with other countries.
"Expensive" is relative. But for me it would basically be anything over $500 to test the waters with a limited radio.
I related my story since if OP is looking for an emergency communication backup system, 2M hand helds may be the way to go. Not to mention they are easy to power in an an emergency. TONS of guys on 2M. He'll easily drop $1000 on a single Yaesu 857 and any power supplies, antenna tuners, etc which he though was already expensive without accessories. The amateur radio network is huge and connected. If there was some huge national disaster where people couldn't communicate across the country, I'm sure you guys receiving those long distance transmissions would share info with us local guys on 2M.