Y2K communications help

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I've searched the archives and found little info on this topic.
Is there a pre-determined freq or freqs. where post y2k'ers can communicate?
Also I'm ham illiterate and will purchase a radio on ebay based on any recommendations found here. I'd like to be able to talk at least a few hundred miles, and would like it to incorporate a general coverage receiver. I will only use this radio for emergency comms and if tshtf I'm not worried about a license. Can anyone give recommendations as to what kind of ham gear at a reasonable cost I can look for.

-- Rainman (rainman@uh-oh.com), November 26, 1999

Answers

Start with Steve Heller's site, good info to get you started.

It's not too late to get a basic ham license, then you can get on the air legally, participate in local nets, etc. You can probably study up enough to pass the Novice test in December. If you already know a little electronics, you can do it quicker.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), November 26, 1999.


Thanks for the reference to my site. Prospective hams should also see this thread on the preparations forum.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), November 26, 1999.

Yup, Steve's page is a great place to start.

But your need for "a few hundred miles" is more of a problem. You need a higher class license and more $$$ for this coverage.

A used transceiver with a general coverage receiver will start at $600. To that you have to add an antenna and antenna tuner (if not built into the xcvr) and the knowledge of how to set them up -- another $200 (up to a few thousand $). Then you have to learn the operating procedures so you don't mess up other hams who are possibly handling emergency messages.

That's why Steve suggests starting with the basics. It's cheaper and you'll learn enough to get to the higher level licenses. (You wouldn't have asked your question if you already had enough knowledge to set up and operate a station. It's not CB.)

Sorry to be harsh, but that's the way it is.

-- Dean -- from (almost) Duh Moines (dtmiller@midiowa.net), November 26, 1999.


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