HAM radio question

[Nipplemilk909]

hello, recently i got a baofang ham radio, i dont know how to use it yet but 

 

i wanted to know if other people can know if you are on the same channel as they are? like listening? or can i just listen to people. 

[Sousuke]

Firstly to use a HAM Radio you must first be trained how to use them and sit a test to then be given a call sign. You can buy one to listen in but you can not transmit without your own call sign and getting a foundation licence.

[ANONYMOUS_POTATO]

31 minutes ago, Nipplemilk909 said:

hello, recently i got a baofang ham radio, i dont know how to use it yet but 

 

i wanted to know if other people can know if you are on the same channel as they are? like listening? or can i just listen to people. 

Well first you need to get a licence (look for test places in your area) and say your call sign before you transmit. Second you still can listen but you can not talk on there at all.

[Nipplemilk909]

Just now, ANONYMOUS_POTATO said:

Well first you need to get a licence (look for test places in your area) and say your call sign before you transmit. Second you still can listen but you can not talk on there at all.

is there a way someone else can monitor whos transmitting on the same channel ?

[ANONYMOUS_POTATO]

Just now, Nipplemilk909 said:

is there a way someone else can monitor whos transmitting on the same channel ?

Not really but other ham operators will ask you questions why you are not using your call sign and they will eventually find you (since some hams use antennas that only point in one direction and they can find your general location)

 

[ANONYMOUS_POTATO]

Also when you get your licence you need to stay in your sections of the different bands (A great website to go to so you can study is QRZ.com)

[Silverwolf_7]

As long as you don't transmit there really isn't a way for someone to find out if you're listening. But it's a good idea to at least pass the Technician exam before messing with the stuff. You'll have a much better time if you atleast have an idea of how radios work.

[Nipplemilk909]

41 minutes ago, Silverwolf_7 said:

As long as you don't transmit there really isn't a way for someone to find out if you're listening. But it's a good idea to at least pass the Technician exam before messing with the stuff. You'll have a much better time if you atleast have an idea of how radios work.

would you recomend a certain route in leaning ? i ask because i knw there alot of online courses etc

[Nipplemilk909]

3 hours ago, Silverwolf_7 said:

you don't transmit there really isn't a way for someone to find out if you're listening

transmitting? like actually talk or just joining the channel?

[Silverwolf_7]

I used https://hamstudy.org/.

It has the exact questions you will see on the test. Just do a couple sections a night and you'll be all set.

 

As for the transmitting, your radio will be set to a certain frequency. It will "play" any signal it receives on that frequency. This is listening to a frequency. If you press the transmit button on the side or on the mic your radio will switch to transmit mode. Any signals recieved will be ignored and any input to the microphone will be transmitted on the frequency you were listening on. As long as you don't press the transmit button your radio will remain in listening/receiving mode.

[GreenZombie]

If yours Baofang-radio is a UHF model, so you can program it FRS / GMRS channels. When programming should take into account Permitted power of 0.5W FRS and 5W GMRS. Of course, provided that you live in the United States. European Program the PMR radio frequencies and in Australia UHF CB area 80 channels.

[ANONYMOUS_POTATO]

15 hours ago, Nipplemilk909 said:

transmitting? like actually talk or just joining the channel?

talking on the radio

[d3sl91]

On 3/27/2017 at 11:18 AM, Nipplemilk909 said:

would you recomend a certain route in leaning ? i ask because i knw there alot of online courses etc

Check out http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed - you can find local radio clubs that will be more than happy to help you learn, get a licence, build better antennas, etc. 

 

As for listening, you can head to http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/ to find a list of frequencies used in your area. This will list both Ham Radio frequencies, as well as Taxis, hospitals, businesses, etc. 

On 3/27/2017 at 2:03 PM, Nipplemilk909 said:

transmitting? like actually talk or just joining the channel?

Actually talk. There are no two-way communications in most analog situations that would let others know you are listening. Its not like an online chatroom where you can see "whos online". However, transmit very long and on the wrong frequencies and you can be found and fined for illegal use.