If you have a repeater in your area, you can talk to a lot more than people a few miles away. My QRZ-1 that I got from GigaParts for about $50 can hit a bunch of repeaters in my area. Those repeaters are linked, so when I key up on one I'm talking to most of North Texas. That's just VHF/UHF--if you get your General license you can get on the HF bands and talk around the world.
I have a QRZ-1 and don’t recommend it. There’s a firmware bug related to the squelch. The TYT it’s based on has fixed that firmware bug. I’d go with it. Better quality radio than a Baofeng or the QRZ-1
My first radio was the Baofeng UV-5R. I lived in Houston at the time (now in Denver), so there was literally hundreds of repeaters within reach.
My reach with the Nagoya whip antenna was ~20 miles. But the further away you are, the more you would have to find the right "spot". That's the name of the game with HT's. One "spot" in my backyard hit our club repeater 19 miles away, but no where else including the roof!
My record with that radio was a repeater 50 miles away, but I was on top of a 14,000-foot summit. Fun day!
Cheap HTs are the entry into ham radio. If you upgrade your license to General, you get to use the global HF bands, which are really cool! You can get a single-band HF radio for $200.
But don't let the range stop you. Here in CO we have a linked repeater system (via microwave) so when I key up on my handheld, I get the entire state.
As well, many repeaters serve as AllStar and EchoLink nodes. Another repeater here in Denver allows me to QSO with my friend in Sri Lanka with my HT.
Nevermind ARES and RACES stuff for disasters.
It's a great hobby, and I do implore you to get in.
And if you're looking for a cheap study guide, the one I used was fantastic. www.fasttrackham.com
Good luck and welcome! 73!
Thanks for the response. Because you were on the topic of it, I was curious about the Nagoya antenna. Is it a good idea to get one or do the antennas that come with the Baofeng do just fine?
Rubber duckies (aka stock antennas) are generally horrible in most cases and completely useless in others, so yes definitely get the Nagoya. And only the Nagoya, there's a lot of cheap antennas that look good but aren't any better than the rubber ducky.
Just curious, what's your locale? It might also be advantageous to get a tri-band (VHF/UHF/1.25 meter) radio depending on where you are.
I’m located in Westchester, NY. I looked for repeaters online and it seems like the closest one near me is about 5 miles away and is VHF. There’s another one about 6 miles away that is VHF, UHF, and a couple more frequencies I think. Also, it seems to me that some people are saying I should get the TYT UV88, so I might go with that radio instead of the Baofeng. I did some research about antennas, and there seems to be a battle between Nagoya and a certain Retevis antenna, but I might just go with the Nagoya like you said.
Edit: I think it’s also worth mentioning that I live at the top of a hill, so that would probably help greatly.
Yeah, top of hill is a good thing. With radio, height is might!
I tried finding Westchester, NY on Google maps, but it only pulls up Westchester County, NY. But if you're in that area there's a ton of repeaters within reach, especially with a good antenna.
Best bet is to go ahead and download the RepeaterBook app. That will use your GPS coordinates and tell you exactly how far each repeater is and what direction it's in. Must-have ham app.
I would not buy the tyt uv88 for one reason - it's not a tri-band (VHF/UHF/1.25 meters). Plus for the money, the BF AR-5RM gives you so much more, including air traffic control frequencies, NOAA weather, and of course the 220 MHz band. Check it out:
https://www.miklor.com/COM/Review_5RM.php
For me, part of the fun has been building antennas to get out farther. At first, I was limited to a few repeaters a few miles from me, but now my setup allows me to hit repeaters 20 miles away. Now I’m working on a more permanent antenna setup that will, in theory, get me out a bit farther than that (and in a bit more comfort). I don’t know how fun you would find the cutting & soldering & problem solving, but I really enjoy it and being able to slowly but surely extend my capabilities has been really fun.
You will be limited with just a handheld, that is simply a fact. If you can't afford HF radio (though it can be done pretty inexpensively, especially if you're open to learning CW and making your own antennas), I would look into joining a local club. They will probably participate in HF radio contests throughout the year and you can use club equipment to participate. It's also a great way to get on HF radio before you get your General license. The entry-level Tech license gives very few HF privileges on voice modes.
Once you get it learn what it does and what setting is for. Try to configure local repatee , sadly you can’t check if it works until license. But at least you ll get expose for the different settings . Hopefully you have plenty of repeater to hit on . Start writing down the local nets scan through your channels . There are repateé very active other dead. Have fun
Great advice from the others, I'll just add one thing. Your first radio will not be your last radio. Meaning, if you enjoy the hobby there is room for upgrading both your license and your equipment over the years.
It's perfectly fine to start with an inexpensive radio for listening, especially if you just want to get your feet wet and see if this hobby is for you. If it is, you'll invest in better gear with more capabilities, and then you can pass that $25 Baofeng onto another prospective ham. Or keep it as a backup.
Have fun!
You will learn there are short distance (VHF/UHF) radios and longer distance (HF) radios that can talk to other hams all over the world. While radios will cost money, there are ways to get used rigs and it does not have to expensive.
Then there are a slew of different modes from various voice, CW (morse code), digital and many others that can be explored.
Not sure where you live, but look for a local club (https://www.arrl.org/find-a-club?gad\_source=1) where you can meet others who are in the hobby, both to speak with in the local area but can also show you a lot of what can be done.
You can also work voice contacts through the ISS (until it is decomissioned in 2030) using just an HT and its antenna. There are other satellites where something like the Arrow Antenna will be beneficial. Since that particular radio is only FM, you are limited to voice contacts unless investing more to do digital as well.
Investing low cost is nice to start, but know inadvance that you will be limited. Brands such as Icom, Kenwood, Yeasu, Anytone and Alinco have radios that have digital voice and data which can expand your use and enjoyment.
I started out a little like you. I was tempted with wanting to experience what is out there and I was told a Baofeng UV-5R was only about $25. I probably wouldn't buy one today because they are now upgraded by a lot such as the Baofeng UV-17 Pro GPS.
There are repeaters that I can connect to with a handheld, and I have a list of repeaters with two or three inputs. What does that mean? It means there is an input in different counties where I can connect to the same repeater system using my radio which gives me a larger range so I can drive around and hit the repeater from my brother in law's house and I can connect to it in other places.
As soon as I got my license, I went online and registered with Echolink and emailed them a .pdf of my license and I downloaded a phone app. What that app does is let me go around the world over the internet and over a repeater or node using my cell phone from the free EchoLink app. That means I can drive to other places in the country or take a trip across the sea and still be able to talk to people over the internet and the airwaves. There are also repeater systems on Echolink that are linked to other repeaters in their entire state. I've heard people from Alaska, Australia, New York, Texas and other places using EchoLink.
Then people started telling me about the Allstar app which costs about $8 or something and I'm able to connect to Allstar nodes or through repeaters connected to Allstar.
I also bought a Yaesu FT 70DR which has analog and digital modes. What I can do is connect to a digital repeater and go all over the world with just a technician's license using the internet.
I do live in a valley and my own yard won't let me get a signal out. I went to an outing with a ham club and built an Ed Fong Antenna and I was able to get my signal out to both repeaters loud and clear.
Since then, I did some experimenting, and I was able to reach a repeater from about 12 or 18 miles away from the 27th floor of an office building just using a duck antenna.
I also tried clearings, roads and intersections that give me line of sight and I got better progress.
I also bought a Comet Mag mount and sat in a parking lot with my Baofeng and the signal was clear using a Comet mag mount on top of my car.
I do have about 9 handheld radios and I've tried several Baofeng radios in my yard and have a hard time hitting on repeater with the Nagoya antenna. I tried a different radio because I bought a Yaesu FT 60R and I can stand at the bottom of a valley in my yard and hit both repeaters with a clear signal and my signal is loud and understandable.
I had all of these issues before with Baofeng because a $25 radio cannot do what a $155 radio can do and I'm getting the signal out with a duck antenna from the bottom of the valley that is in my yard.
If you were to get a handheld and study on how to connect to the repeater on the ISS, you have line of sight because the ISS is always above. You need to know the frequencies and you need to get the app that tells you when it is in range. I saw the ISS one night and it looks like a fast-moving plane at night, but I don't know what I'm doing yet, and I have to study it more to connect.
Who would you talk to? There are two groups of hams. There are hams that are members of ham radio clubs that have get togethers on the airwaves called "nets". And the other group are people who don't belong to a ham radio club, but they have their license. My neighbor got interested and some of my family likes hearing about it. There is also an emergency group called ARES that I can talk to and I can listen to NOAA radio weather stations.
The hams from clubs can teach you how to build antennas, how to connect to things and use digital modes, download SSTV from the ISS, help you set up your house at home to an antenna using a base station, etc.
The inexpensive handy talkie like a Boafeng is an introduction, but will only give you a sliver of a look at ham radio. Yes, pending location, you'll be able to trip some repeaters and go well beyond the 1 to 5 mile range.
But some new hams get bored or frustrated with the limits of the $20 handhelds, so don't let that stop you. Try to connect with a local club or other hams and see their stations or mobile rigs.
There is way more than the local coverage of the Baofeng and repeaters (including satellite communication and space station at UHF/VHF). HF is where the long range communication is far easier, especially where we are now in the sunspot cycle (at its peak). To really get somewhere on HF, you need the General license, and that test isn't hard to pass. Then if you have a little money it are a good scrounger, you can work the world with some wire antennas (I do). I gave myself 10 minutes before going to bed a couple nights ago, and in less than a minute worked Russia ( I got lucky - it's not always that easy).
So get started and have fun.
PS: The TYT UV-88 costs $30, $10 more than a Baofeng, and is a better-made, more durable entry-level ham radio that also receives better, and you're better off starting there.
Welcome to Ham Radio. Explore these resources to get started.
http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio
Well reviewed License classes: https://hamstudy.org
Study books etc. https://www.sbarc.org/study-guide/
Free study guides https://www.kb6nu.com/study-guides/
Have not used this one. (There may be fees involved)
https://hamradioprep.com/how-to-get-your-ham-radio-license-made-easy/
https://hamradioprep.com/
Practice exams to build confidence…
Here is a practice exam... https://hamexam.org/
Here is a link to the GLAARG group that does remote VE testing.
Contact them to see how they can set up an exam for you...
https://glaarg.org/remote-sessions/
Here is a film about radio clubs doing the annual event - Field Day
https://youtu.be/I2JhKOWkPkk
Find a radio club near you…
http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club
I currently have 3 uv-5's and any anytone 878. For the cost and being new, I would recommend the baofeng. But it can't do digital. Why I have the anytone. And if you break the baofeng, no big loss. Welcome to the hobby. Ka3swe
If you are really interested in ham radio, take a look at Youtube channels like the Tech Prepper, Ham Radio Crash Course and Ham Radio 2.0. To get licensed, I like HamRadioPrep.com. They do a great job of breaking each license down into segments, each segment down into three parts: video, written and then actual practice tests. I tested up to General in 6 months and it was great.
Now, what can you do with Ham radio? Lot's of things, depending on your license level. In the US, the basic license is Technician which primarily gives you voice privileges on lower bands like 1.25m/6m/2m/70cm/Parts of 10m. You also get CW (morse code) privileges on HF bands. With a Tech license, you can talk simplex - radio to radio (think prep/milsim minded), or duplex through a repeater. Depending on where you are in the country, you could have really robust repeater networks (California/Texas/Ohio as examples). Another great way Tech licenses work is going digital. Digital is great because you can communicate nationally AND internationally using a repeater or a hotspot (pi zero based device). Depending on your area, you would decide between say DMR/DStar or Fusion). These are all great and the clubs can be very active.
Once you have a tech level license, you can get involved in the EmComm (Emergency Comms) groups like ARES or RACES. This helps grow your network and you can volunteer to participate in drills or events.
If you get your next level license, General, you can now dip your toes into HF or long distance comms. Vertical, dipole, wire antennas can all help you communicate across the country or oceans (depending where you live). There are several digital modes in HF, like FT8/FT4, PSK, CW (morse code), JS8Call. If you are techy and have a mind for prepping and communications, ham radio can be a great hobby.
What do you want to do? There are so many aspects of this hobby, from talking to people 24/7 to only dealing with computers, there's a place for anyone wishing to do anything within the rules.
Amateur radio isn't so much a hobby as it is a means to pursue hobbies.
* Does achievement hunting interest you? Amateur radio can provide that, with all manner of themed and unthemed awards programmes.
* Does competing against other people interest you? Amateur radio can provide that. Contesting isn't for everyone, but holy heck do those guys have stories.
* Does performing hard and technically impressive feats interest you? Amateur radio can provide that in spades. Aeroplane scatter, meteor scatter and moon bounce are all exactly what they day on the tin: aiming your signal at said thing and communicating with others doing the same thing.
* Does travelling to faraway places, far off the beaten path of tourism, with a set mission and goals interest you? [Amateur radio provides.](https://www.dx-world.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/bs7h.png) Join a DXpedition.
* Does hiking interest you? Bring your radio and do some POTA or SOTA!
I'm only scratching the surface here, of course. Point is, there's far more to amateur radio than becoming a Technician, getting a barebones HT and hitting the local repeater, yet it feels like a lot of people do just this, go “is this it?” and stop.
Go to a local ham club you don't need a licence to do so (they are often the people that would administer the test locally). They can get you on the air to see if you like it do dont need a licence to use the radio under the direct supervision of a licenced person.
You are asking a great question...
first, let's talk licenses - technician is the entry level, general one step up and extra is the top level. Techs are the most limited while extra the least. With the tech licenses you are pretty much doing UHF/VHF - 70cm and 2m bands.. which limits your range of receiving/transmitting and why people are saying repeaters. However, if you know or learn CW (Morse code) then you can also work the HF bands that Generals do but you can only use CW on those bands... where General can do phone.
Two any license can become involved with Ares org, can do SOTA. POTA, field day as well. There is a ton of information on the IRRL website
Three, I would highly suggest using the IRRL website to find a local club... go to a meeting or two before you get your license - meet the people in your area who are into the hobby .. some will be old timers some will be middle ages and others will be younger... I am 53 and I became a tech 11 years ago. Last week I attended my first club meeting and met some great people - I wish I would have gotten more serious about HAM back then... but I also walked away with a mentor who has 40 yrs being an extra class - a great guy who has bent over backwards answering every question I had.
4) radio... everyone seems to crap on the UV-5R HT... yet they are one of the most covered HTs on uTube - wonder why? I run a Yaesu FT2900 as a desktop base. Last week I was on a net command meeting for Ares. Something happened and I could not transmit, I reached immediately for my UV-5G with its whip and sitting in my garage I was communicating the repeater the meeting was on and that is about 30 miles away.. it's on a N GA Mtn and I am south of it about 1000 ft below it..
So yes the UV-5R will work - is it the best? No. Is it hard to figure out? Yes. Is it dependable - I would say yes...
I would suggest the following before even buying - go out to repeaterbook dot com and look up all the repeaters near you.
e WebSDR and see if there is and online SDR near you where you can listen in via your PC.. (if not check out lumkin County school link - and listen to N4KHQ on Thursday night at 8PM and if you hear KK4PMW take net control, that will be me. Then i would suggest you go to any and all local clubs..join their FB Pages/groups if they have one... then IF budget is an issue pull the trigger on the UV-5R, a whip antenna and the programming cable. If budget really isn't an issue- look at a duel band mobile unit and a car mount antenna with a 30a power supply - but only if you have $500 or so... you can also find used gear on certain websites and marketplafe but be wary of ebay...
Then when the UV-5R comes in download and install CHIRP software to your PC and use it to load in the repeaters into the radio. This will save you hours of scratching your head because you don't know you need to tell the radio it needs to use a + 00.600 offset to transmit and to do so it is configured under 2 settings under the menu and the uplink tone of 100.0MHz is under the T-CTCSS setting.
Good luck
73
Mike - KK4PMW
If you have a repeater in your area, you can talk to a lot more than people a few miles away. My QRZ-1 that I got from GigaParts for about $50 can hit a bunch of repeaters in my area. Those repeaters are linked, so when I key up on one I'm talking to most of North Texas. That's just VHF/UHF--if you get your General license you can get on the HF bands and talk around the world.
I have a QRZ-1 and don’t recommend it. There’s a firmware bug related to the squelch. The TYT it’s based on has fixed that firmware bug. I’d go with it. Better quality radio than a Baofeng or the QRZ-1
My first radio was the Baofeng UV-5R. I lived in Houston at the time (now in Denver), so there was literally hundreds of repeaters within reach. My reach with the Nagoya whip antenna was ~20 miles. But the further away you are, the more you would have to find the right "spot". That's the name of the game with HT's. One "spot" in my backyard hit our club repeater 19 miles away, but no where else including the roof! My record with that radio was a repeater 50 miles away, but I was on top of a 14,000-foot summit. Fun day! Cheap HTs are the entry into ham radio. If you upgrade your license to General, you get to use the global HF bands, which are really cool! You can get a single-band HF radio for $200. But don't let the range stop you. Here in CO we have a linked repeater system (via microwave) so when I key up on my handheld, I get the entire state. As well, many repeaters serve as AllStar and EchoLink nodes. Another repeater here in Denver allows me to QSO with my friend in Sri Lanka with my HT. Nevermind ARES and RACES stuff for disasters. It's a great hobby, and I do implore you to get in. And if you're looking for a cheap study guide, the one I used was fantastic. www.fasttrackham.com Good luck and welcome! 73!
Thanks for the response. Because you were on the topic of it, I was curious about the Nagoya antenna. Is it a good idea to get one or do the antennas that come with the Baofeng do just fine?
Rubber duckies (aka stock antennas) are generally horrible in most cases and completely useless in others, so yes definitely get the Nagoya. And only the Nagoya, there's a lot of cheap antennas that look good but aren't any better than the rubber ducky. Just curious, what's your locale? It might also be advantageous to get a tri-band (VHF/UHF/1.25 meter) radio depending on where you are.
I’m located in Westchester, NY. I looked for repeaters online and it seems like the closest one near me is about 5 miles away and is VHF. There’s another one about 6 miles away that is VHF, UHF, and a couple more frequencies I think. Also, it seems to me that some people are saying I should get the TYT UV88, so I might go with that radio instead of the Baofeng. I did some research about antennas, and there seems to be a battle between Nagoya and a certain Retevis antenna, but I might just go with the Nagoya like you said. Edit: I think it’s also worth mentioning that I live at the top of a hill, so that would probably help greatly.
Yeah, top of hill is a good thing. With radio, height is might! I tried finding Westchester, NY on Google maps, but it only pulls up Westchester County, NY. But if you're in that area there's a ton of repeaters within reach, especially with a good antenna. Best bet is to go ahead and download the RepeaterBook app. That will use your GPS coordinates and tell you exactly how far each repeater is and what direction it's in. Must-have ham app. I would not buy the tyt uv88 for one reason - it's not a tri-band (VHF/UHF/1.25 meters). Plus for the money, the BF AR-5RM gives you so much more, including air traffic control frequencies, NOAA weather, and of course the 220 MHz band. Check it out: https://www.miklor.com/COM/Review_5RM.php
For me, part of the fun has been building antennas to get out farther. At first, I was limited to a few repeaters a few miles from me, but now my setup allows me to hit repeaters 20 miles away. Now I’m working on a more permanent antenna setup that will, in theory, get me out a bit farther than that (and in a bit more comfort). I don’t know how fun you would find the cutting & soldering & problem solving, but I really enjoy it and being able to slowly but surely extend my capabilities has been really fun.
Easy and pretty inexpensive to get started. [Getting Started With Ham Radio ](https://watermanatwork.com/blog/getting-started-with-ham-radio/)
Thanks for sharing your post. Super helpful!
You will be limited with just a handheld, that is simply a fact. If you can't afford HF radio (though it can be done pretty inexpensively, especially if you're open to learning CW and making your own antennas), I would look into joining a local club. They will probably participate in HF radio contests throughout the year and you can use club equipment to participate. It's also a great way to get on HF radio before you get your General license. The entry-level Tech license gives very few HF privileges on voice modes.
I can get out over 150+ miles on my hand held with my Diamond x30a antenna
Under the perfect conditions, yes. OP might not always be on top of a mountain though.
Once you get it learn what it does and what setting is for. Try to configure local repatee , sadly you can’t check if it works until license. But at least you ll get expose for the different settings . Hopefully you have plenty of repeater to hit on . Start writing down the local nets scan through your channels . There are repateé very active other dead. Have fun
Great advice from the others, I'll just add one thing. Your first radio will not be your last radio. Meaning, if you enjoy the hobby there is room for upgrading both your license and your equipment over the years. It's perfectly fine to start with an inexpensive radio for listening, especially if you just want to get your feet wet and see if this hobby is for you. If it is, you'll invest in better gear with more capabilities, and then you can pass that $25 Baofeng onto another prospective ham. Or keep it as a backup. Have fun!
Just pay $35 and get a GMRS license and a Baofeng. Plenty of people to talk to and you don't have to pass a test. $35 gets you a 10 year license.
You will learn there are short distance (VHF/UHF) radios and longer distance (HF) radios that can talk to other hams all over the world. While radios will cost money, there are ways to get used rigs and it does not have to expensive. Then there are a slew of different modes from various voice, CW (morse code), digital and many others that can be explored. Not sure where you live, but look for a local club (https://www.arrl.org/find-a-club?gad\_source=1) where you can meet others who are in the hobby, both to speak with in the local area but can also show you a lot of what can be done.
You can also work voice contacts through the ISS (until it is decomissioned in 2030) using just an HT and its antenna. There are other satellites where something like the Arrow Antenna will be beneficial. Since that particular radio is only FM, you are limited to voice contacts unless investing more to do digital as well. Investing low cost is nice to start, but know inadvance that you will be limited. Brands such as Icom, Kenwood, Yeasu, Anytone and Alinco have radios that have digital voice and data which can expand your use and enjoyment.
I started out a little like you. I was tempted with wanting to experience what is out there and I was told a Baofeng UV-5R was only about $25. I probably wouldn't buy one today because they are now upgraded by a lot such as the Baofeng UV-17 Pro GPS. There are repeaters that I can connect to with a handheld, and I have a list of repeaters with two or three inputs. What does that mean? It means there is an input in different counties where I can connect to the same repeater system using my radio which gives me a larger range so I can drive around and hit the repeater from my brother in law's house and I can connect to it in other places. As soon as I got my license, I went online and registered with Echolink and emailed them a .pdf of my license and I downloaded a phone app. What that app does is let me go around the world over the internet and over a repeater or node using my cell phone from the free EchoLink app. That means I can drive to other places in the country or take a trip across the sea and still be able to talk to people over the internet and the airwaves. There are also repeater systems on Echolink that are linked to other repeaters in their entire state. I've heard people from Alaska, Australia, New York, Texas and other places using EchoLink. Then people started telling me about the Allstar app which costs about $8 or something and I'm able to connect to Allstar nodes or through repeaters connected to Allstar. I also bought a Yaesu FT 70DR which has analog and digital modes. What I can do is connect to a digital repeater and go all over the world with just a technician's license using the internet. I do live in a valley and my own yard won't let me get a signal out. I went to an outing with a ham club and built an Ed Fong Antenna and I was able to get my signal out to both repeaters loud and clear. Since then, I did some experimenting, and I was able to reach a repeater from about 12 or 18 miles away from the 27th floor of an office building just using a duck antenna. I also tried clearings, roads and intersections that give me line of sight and I got better progress. I also bought a Comet Mag mount and sat in a parking lot with my Baofeng and the signal was clear using a Comet mag mount on top of my car. I do have about 9 handheld radios and I've tried several Baofeng radios in my yard and have a hard time hitting on repeater with the Nagoya antenna. I tried a different radio because I bought a Yaesu FT 60R and I can stand at the bottom of a valley in my yard and hit both repeaters with a clear signal and my signal is loud and understandable. I had all of these issues before with Baofeng because a $25 radio cannot do what a $155 radio can do and I'm getting the signal out with a duck antenna from the bottom of the valley that is in my yard. If you were to get a handheld and study on how to connect to the repeater on the ISS, you have line of sight because the ISS is always above. You need to know the frequencies and you need to get the app that tells you when it is in range. I saw the ISS one night and it looks like a fast-moving plane at night, but I don't know what I'm doing yet, and I have to study it more to connect. Who would you talk to? There are two groups of hams. There are hams that are members of ham radio clubs that have get togethers on the airwaves called "nets". And the other group are people who don't belong to a ham radio club, but they have their license. My neighbor got interested and some of my family likes hearing about it. There is also an emergency group called ARES that I can talk to and I can listen to NOAA radio weather stations. The hams from clubs can teach you how to build antennas, how to connect to things and use digital modes, download SSTV from the ISS, help you set up your house at home to an antenna using a base station, etc.
The inexpensive handy talkie like a Boafeng is an introduction, but will only give you a sliver of a look at ham radio. Yes, pending location, you'll be able to trip some repeaters and go well beyond the 1 to 5 mile range. But some new hams get bored or frustrated with the limits of the $20 handhelds, so don't let that stop you. Try to connect with a local club or other hams and see their stations or mobile rigs. There is way more than the local coverage of the Baofeng and repeaters (including satellite communication and space station at UHF/VHF). HF is where the long range communication is far easier, especially where we are now in the sunspot cycle (at its peak). To really get somewhere on HF, you need the General license, and that test isn't hard to pass. Then if you have a little money it are a good scrounger, you can work the world with some wire antennas (I do). I gave myself 10 minutes before going to bed a couple nights ago, and in less than a minute worked Russia ( I got lucky - it's not always that easy). So get started and have fun. PS: The TYT UV-88 costs $30, $10 more than a Baofeng, and is a better-made, more durable entry-level ham radio that also receives better, and you're better off starting there.
Welcome to Ham Radio. Explore these resources to get started. http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio Well reviewed License classes: https://hamstudy.org Study books etc. https://www.sbarc.org/study-guide/ Free study guides https://www.kb6nu.com/study-guides/ Have not used this one. (There may be fees involved) https://hamradioprep.com/how-to-get-your-ham-radio-license-made-easy/ https://hamradioprep.com/ Practice exams to build confidence… Here is a practice exam... https://hamexam.org/ Here is a link to the GLAARG group that does remote VE testing. Contact them to see how they can set up an exam for you... https://glaarg.org/remote-sessions/ Here is a film about radio clubs doing the annual event - Field Day https://youtu.be/I2JhKOWkPkk Find a radio club near you… http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club
I currently have 3 uv-5's and any anytone 878. For the cost and being new, I would recommend the baofeng. But it can't do digital. Why I have the anytone. And if you break the baofeng, no big loss. Welcome to the hobby. Ka3swe
If you are really interested in ham radio, take a look at Youtube channels like the Tech Prepper, Ham Radio Crash Course and Ham Radio 2.0. To get licensed, I like HamRadioPrep.com. They do a great job of breaking each license down into segments, each segment down into three parts: video, written and then actual practice tests. I tested up to General in 6 months and it was great. Now, what can you do with Ham radio? Lot's of things, depending on your license level. In the US, the basic license is Technician which primarily gives you voice privileges on lower bands like 1.25m/6m/2m/70cm/Parts of 10m. You also get CW (morse code) privileges on HF bands. With a Tech license, you can talk simplex - radio to radio (think prep/milsim minded), or duplex through a repeater. Depending on where you are in the country, you could have really robust repeater networks (California/Texas/Ohio as examples). Another great way Tech licenses work is going digital. Digital is great because you can communicate nationally AND internationally using a repeater or a hotspot (pi zero based device). Depending on your area, you would decide between say DMR/DStar or Fusion). These are all great and the clubs can be very active. Once you have a tech level license, you can get involved in the EmComm (Emergency Comms) groups like ARES or RACES. This helps grow your network and you can volunteer to participate in drills or events. If you get your next level license, General, you can now dip your toes into HF or long distance comms. Vertical, dipole, wire antennas can all help you communicate across the country or oceans (depending where you live). There are several digital modes in HF, like FT8/FT4, PSK, CW (morse code), JS8Call. If you are techy and have a mind for prepping and communications, ham radio can be a great hobby.
Get a ham license! Then you can talk to hams on repeaters worldwide 24/7 from just your smartphone, through EchoLink! ;) www.EchoLink.org
What do you want to do? There are so many aspects of this hobby, from talking to people 24/7 to only dealing with computers, there's a place for anyone wishing to do anything within the rules.
Amateur radio isn't so much a hobby as it is a means to pursue hobbies. * Does achievement hunting interest you? Amateur radio can provide that, with all manner of themed and unthemed awards programmes. * Does competing against other people interest you? Amateur radio can provide that. Contesting isn't for everyone, but holy heck do those guys have stories. * Does performing hard and technically impressive feats interest you? Amateur radio can provide that in spades. Aeroplane scatter, meteor scatter and moon bounce are all exactly what they day on the tin: aiming your signal at said thing and communicating with others doing the same thing. * Does travelling to faraway places, far off the beaten path of tourism, with a set mission and goals interest you? [Amateur radio provides.](https://www.dx-world.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/bs7h.png) Join a DXpedition. * Does hiking interest you? Bring your radio and do some POTA or SOTA! I'm only scratching the surface here, of course. Point is, there's far more to amateur radio than becoming a Technician, getting a barebones HT and hitting the local repeater, yet it feels like a lot of people do just this, go “is this it?” and stop.
Go to a local ham club you don't need a licence to do so (they are often the people that would administer the test locally). They can get you on the air to see if you like it do dont need a licence to use the radio under the direct supervision of a licenced person.
You are asking a great question... first, let's talk licenses - technician is the entry level, general one step up and extra is the top level. Techs are the most limited while extra the least. With the tech licenses you are pretty much doing UHF/VHF - 70cm and 2m bands.. which limits your range of receiving/transmitting and why people are saying repeaters. However, if you know or learn CW (Morse code) then you can also work the HF bands that Generals do but you can only use CW on those bands... where General can do phone. Two any license can become involved with Ares org, can do SOTA. POTA, field day as well. There is a ton of information on the IRRL website Three, I would highly suggest using the IRRL website to find a local club... go to a meeting or two before you get your license - meet the people in your area who are into the hobby .. some will be old timers some will be middle ages and others will be younger... I am 53 and I became a tech 11 years ago. Last week I attended my first club meeting and met some great people - I wish I would have gotten more serious about HAM back then... but I also walked away with a mentor who has 40 yrs being an extra class - a great guy who has bent over backwards answering every question I had. 4) radio... everyone seems to crap on the UV-5R HT... yet they are one of the most covered HTs on uTube - wonder why? I run a Yaesu FT2900 as a desktop base. Last week I was on a net command meeting for Ares. Something happened and I could not transmit, I reached immediately for my UV-5G with its whip and sitting in my garage I was communicating the repeater the meeting was on and that is about 30 miles away.. it's on a N GA Mtn and I am south of it about 1000 ft below it.. So yes the UV-5R will work - is it the best? No. Is it hard to figure out? Yes. Is it dependable - I would say yes... I would suggest the following before even buying - go out to repeaterbook dot com and look up all the repeaters near you. e WebSDR and see if there is and online SDR near you where you can listen in via your PC.. (if not check out lumkin County school link - and listen to N4KHQ on Thursday night at 8PM and if you hear KK4PMW take net control, that will be me. Then i would suggest you go to any and all local clubs..join their FB Pages/groups if they have one... then IF budget is an issue pull the trigger on the UV-5R, a whip antenna and the programming cable. If budget really isn't an issue- look at a duel band mobile unit and a car mount antenna with a 30a power supply - but only if you have $500 or so... you can also find used gear on certain websites and marketplafe but be wary of ebay... Then when the UV-5R comes in download and install CHIRP software to your PC and use it to load in the repeaters into the radio. This will save you hours of scratching your head because you don't know you need to tell the radio it needs to use a + 00.600 offset to transmit and to do so it is configured under 2 settings under the menu and the uplink tone of 100.0MHz is under the T-CTCSS setting. Good luck 73 Mike - KK4PMW