Subj : Re: HAM-Official Documentary 2022
To   : Hollowone
From : Abbub
Date : Thu Apr 13 2023 08:46 pm

 > But I believe that even if you lived in the middle of desert with no
 > neighbors in visible horizon, you still would need a
 > certificate/licence to use HAM radio, right?
 > What's the consequence of accessing it rogue?

Well, you need a license to transmit, and the license you get determines
which frequencies you're permitted to transmit on. Amateur radio licenses
require both a fee and a test. You can also get a GMRS license, which
requires no test but I think is $35 for 10 years? There's also CB and FRS.

CB generally seems to be filled with knuckleheads using 'echo' effects
on their microphones, but I believe you can now use FM on it, which could
make it interesting. That's the 11 meter band, and like the 10 meter band,
there can be some interesting propogation there...like people throwing
signal thousands of miles on relatively little power.

FRS is basically unlicensed, low power walkie-talkies. Out here in Colorado,
people tend to use them to keep in touch with friends/family when skiing,
camping, four-wheeling, etc. (I'm not an expert, but I think the GMRS and FRS
share some frequencies, and GRMS just allows you to transmit at higher
powers.)

As for what happens if you get caught transmitting without a license, I
*think* you'd get a warning to cease and desist, and then you'd get a heavy
fine, and then probably jail time if you didn't knock it off. At least, that
seems to be what happens to amateurs when they get caught violating
regulations (in addition to losing their licenses, that is).

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 * Origin: WalledCTTY (21:2/145)

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