/hamradio/ - Electronics

In my opinion:
It heavily depends on what you want to do.

For an easy way in,
Start out with a VHF portable.
Many clubs have repeaters and many of those repeaters are linked to other repeaters.

With a portable you can also do foxhunting.

Don't buy anything Chinese made for under 150$. Try and go with a reputable name.

If you're on a budget, it is better to pick up a used portable.

VHF can be easily done in an apartment.


Or get an HF rig and throw an antenna somewhere.

Oh and check out: "http://www.eham.net/newham/"

Baofeng HTs have a decent reputation. I'd go with like the F8-HP+ if I were just starting out. Get yourself a decent antenna though cause that lil rubber ducky will radiate about as efficiently as a constipated man with dhiareah.

>>171
This is my concern as well. Much as I love the idea of starting a station, I don't want to end up on the equivalent of voice-IRC for 60-year-olds.

What cool shit has happened to you in the hobby, veteran hams?

>>171
>>207
I'm not gonna lie, there are more older folks on ham radios than younger people like us. But once you start talking to a bunch of local hams, you'll see that not all are old fogies that ragchew about their old man problems. Some are much older than me, but are actually really open and give tips and advice on the hobby. Some are more technologically inclined, and will talk to you about Linux distros and antenna theory. Men in their 50's taking about Linux astounded me the first time I heard it, but once you jump in and start talking shop, things become very similar to /tech/.

Don't be scared that they're older than you. In fact, when I went to go take my Technicians test, they were very happy to see a younger guy take up the hobby, because it means one more person to talk to and teach. This is a hobby that has to be passed down to the younger generation to keep alive. Otherwise, the FCC might just shut the whole thing down. Use it, or lose it.