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The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Serious Hardware/Software Crap > YOSPOS > SNOTEL HAMWAN - ham radio, shortwave, broadcast radio, etc thread
 
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net work error
Feb 26, 2011

 Is this a good thread if I'm an absolute beginner? There used to be a megathread in some other forum but I can't find it.

* # ¿ Jan 9, 2021 19:52
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# ¿ May 9, 2024 16:01
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net work error
Feb 26, 2011

Jonny 290 posted:

yep no question is too basic. this a safe area to ask whatever

So if I'm starting from absolute zero what are the goon recommended resources? Alternatively if you have a link to the old thread I can checkout the links from there as well.

* # ¿ Jan 9, 2021 21:26
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net work error
Feb 26, 2011

 I'm probably not too hampered in terms of environment.

As far as goals, for now I would probably just listen and maybe learn enough to be of some help in a disaster scenario like after a hurricane or something. Your post about the baofeng's in another thread made me realize I don't know a thing about radio and it seems like a handy thing to be familiar with.

* # ¿ Jan 10, 2021 03:18
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net work error
Feb 26, 2011

Jonny 290 posted:

listening is always the first key. i still recommend the rtl sdr sticks for somebody with literally zero gear.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011HVUEME/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A37V0QGFC9C912&psc=1

hamexam.org is a good practice test site.

other'n that, it's most helpful to just ask - what is your environment, and what are you interested in? Some things like operating on HF ("shortwave") from a 9th floor apartment building can be difficult. An increasing number of (mostly younger) hams have taken to portable operation and will go throw a wire up in a tree in the park for the afternoon.

further clarification that when i talk about 'young hams' im talking about any under 55.

I just got this SDR stick! What's a good app to install and just gently caress around with to listen to whatever I can?

* # ¿ Jan 23, 2021 21:01
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net work error
Feb 26, 2011

Jonny 290 posted:

oh hell yeah

i use SDRSharp on windows and gqrx on mac. And i guess technically OpenWebRX for linux - though that's a web based server.

(it's very cool)

Follow the driver instructions carefully. there's a little hackin' to be done before it'll show up.

I set up SDRSharp, it wasn't too bad. Listening to local CB radio now and no idea what's going on but I like it.

* # ¿ Jan 23, 2021 22:01
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net work error
Feb 26, 2011

Jonny 290 posted:

basically me for the past 29 years

Suspecting you aren't in the US? Is this UHF CB down in aus or something?

No I'm in the US. I just looked up one of the tutorials on the SDR site and it gave me the frequency range for CB and it also shows it as that in SDRSharp. 26.965-27.115 MHz?

* # ¿ Jan 23, 2021 23:02
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# ¿ May 9, 2024 16:01
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net work error
Feb 26, 2011

 The fact it's still usable today rocks.

* # ¿ Jan 25, 2021 23:47
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The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Serious Hardware/Software Crap > YOSPOS > SNOTEL HAMWAN - ham radio, shortwave, broadcast radio, etc thread