Ok, I'm doing this first step. Also, ass this may not be the first time you've shared with me, sorry for asking about it (indirectly) again
The test for technician is super easy. Use the app from this site. https://hamstudy.org/ the app requires no login and no network after you download the test bank last time I used it. Basically ohms law so you don't blow yourself up and a few basics about not stomping other peoples signals. You can talk around the world on a tech license with no internet and no location tracking as long as the sun cooperates.
Discussion
You can also by a cheap ham radio before you get your license and listen to radio traffic. Just don't "key down". Some radios even have a function to disable the talk button.
I've got the ap, gonna start reading a bit before I get ahead of myself. A bit sick, so seems like a good day to start
Gmrs is pay and go, no test. Also the license covers your family. The lack of proof of work before transmitting shows in the chatter you hear though for sure.
man, you hear chatter on gmrs? i'm lucky if those two guys i sometimes catch are around. otherwise it's a ghost town
Still on the first page of my book, so none of this makes any sense. Can't wait to come back and spew acronyms though. See you soon 📻
Gmrs is a separate radio "service" with different rules than ham.
Last time I turned on my gmrs radio there was chatter on the local repeaters during drive time but otherwise quiet. I never join in because of the quality drop compared to ham.
I use gmrs walkie talkie style for camping in places with no cell reception. Easier than forcing my wife to get a ham license.
This
Just throwing hambook.org out there as well. I bought a hard copy to have around, but the online version is free.
Hamstudy.org, hambook.org, exam.tools, and signalstuff.com are all the same folks. All excellent.
That's the first book recommended by the ap on hamstudy, so went with it. Online version free, yes, and I think they charge 10 bucks for an "offline" version. Kinda want a physical version for some reason, but gonna see how long I stick with it before doing that.
I will absolutely coach you through the material if you want some practical application stuff. Maybe we need a nostr:nprofile1qqsv83ejztakekydrtxp3a5yn3nqc34re9et7knkd3vn35rynlwuklqpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsqhf6yx ham radio study room. 🤔