Hey guys and girls! Remember a while back, Vinny talking about getting his Amateur Radio Licence? I was especially interested, as I've been interested in the world of radio for a while now!
I've yet to take my primary exam, although it's really easy (seriously, young kids can get the Foundation licence). Basically if it's not in this book, you don't need to know it for the Foundation. At least, if you're in the UK!
Anyway, I've just been having some fun with a 1/2 wave silver rod barely poking above my roof, and a 30 year old Transcom GBX4000 (with an Amstrad 901 board) that my uncle gave to me when I was a little kid years ago (always loved electronics!). But now I want to do more than just talk/listen to the handful of locals on CB. I want to reach the world!
To that end, I decided to grab myself an Anytone AT-5555, and program it so I can listen in on all the freebanding (and some amateur) frequencies for now. The advantage is that while freebanders often aren't licenced in their respective countries, they are able to take advantage of skip, and work with a common code/language (as opposed to the slang and constant swearing of CB), that allows them to make and communicate well with distant contacts, begin to learn that there's more to radio than what CB has to offer, and really enjoy what radio is all about without the pressure of assessments and exams.
It's also an excellent stepping stone towards the licenced Amateur bands, where the users are more knowledgeable than simply turning a channel dial, and have good rules of etiquette (while there's nothing wrong with swearing in every day life, remember that anybody, including children could be listening!).
Anyway, I guess I'm getting a bit off topic, maybe? My point is, radio is awesome, and I was wondering if anybody else here at Giant Bomb is into it too? :D While it's great to talk to the radio community folks that have a wealth of knowledge and experience in radio, I'm finding it hard to find any people anywhere remotely near my own age who are into it (I'm 24), and none of my friends could care less :P
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