Yes, ham radio is still very much a "thing". But to me, the one "thing" it never has been is the purchasing of closed, proprietary software that can be turned off at whim by the developer.
To me, ham radio has always been a unique hands-on opportunity to learn what's "behind the knobs" of a piece of communications hardware (or now, software). Even if you don't build (or write) your own stuff, even if you're primarily interested in using it to talk to others, it still gives you (or should give you) the oppo
I second this so strongly that most probably won't understand how visceral this is.
Phil wrote some software used to enable UUCP over packet, way way back when. My roommate and I cobbled together a UUCP feed for a couple of BBSes in rural Idaho. While we were still figuring out the mysteries of Minix and this newfangled Linux thing, we had email before it was cool. It was made possible by software with that callsign in his email address emblazoned on the banners and docs.
I used to have a HAM license when I was a kid, late 60's/early 70's. I quickly learned I enjoyed building the electronics, but talking to random joes did nothing for me. Got a couple QSL cards, sent a few out, but I did it for maybe 3 months tops.
Got a job later on as an electronics tech, then turned into an embedded software engineer. Getting the HAM license was a good thing for me to do, even though it turned out I hated being a HAM.
I had more fun listening to radio stations in the midwest, or in Europe, far more interesting than talking to some random dude (I was in San Diego).
yup, thats what i do, i enjoy listening, and i am not much of a talker, but i do love the technology and have a couple of HF rigs and an SDR for listening purposes, i could talk if i wanted to but i dont, it is just knowing i can in case of emergency is good enough for me,
Note that if you want to legally build RF electronics for experimentation that's a very good reason to have a ham license even if talking to people isn't your thing. For example if you want to experiment with 2.4GHz WiFi at power levels much higher than what's allowed for general public use...
Only through hard work and perseverance can one truly suffer.
Ham Radio? (Score:0, Funny)
That's still a thing?
Re: (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:5, Insightful)
I second this so strongly that most probably won't understand how visceral this is.
Phil wrote some software used to enable UUCP over packet, way way back when. My roommate and I cobbled together a UUCP feed for a couple of BBSes in rural Idaho. While we were still figuring out the mysteries of Minix and this newfangled Linux thing, we had email before it was cool. It was made possible by software with that callsign in his email address emblazoned on the banners and docs.
I didn't understand what amateur r
Re:Ham Radio? (Score:2, Interesting)
Got a job later on as an electronics tech, then turned into an embedded software engineer. Getting the HAM license was a good thing for me to do, even though it turned out I hated being a HAM.
I had more fun listening to radio stations in the midwest, or in Europe, far more interesting than talking to some random dude (I was in San Diego).
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Note that if you want to legally build RF electronics for experimentation that's a very good reason to have a ham license even if talking to people isn't your thing. For example if you want to experiment with 2.4GHz WiFi at power levels much higher than what's allowed for general public use...