Scanner/Shortwave/Ham/CB Radio?

[steve-in-kville]

I've always been a radio geek. Had a police/fire scanner since I was 15. Being in the fire/ems service, I always had something close by. Got my ham radio ticket many years ago. Just got into listening to trains and such. Tried shortwave but never took to me like the local stuff.

Anyone else a radio geek?

[knotdust]

I would not describe myself as a radio geek. I do have a CB, 2 meter Ham gear and a general coverage receiver.
However, since I moved into this place 14 years ago I have not had the time to practice code, put up my antennas or get on the air. So I am a little more than rusty in my skills. Once things slow down in retirement with the clean up of many tasks I hope to be able to get on the air and perhaps upgrade to general class at some point. Perhaps we shall meet on the air sometime

KA8YNY


"How many tools is enough? Silly question."

[Neto]

We used a Stoner radio for our weekly 'radio sched' - contact with the mission base - during our time in Brazil. It was in the process of switching over to satellite telephone when we left the field. On a later visit back to the village, I picked up the radio, and now my son has been working on converting it to a Ham radio. (He has also been working on building a radio from scratch, and he has his basic level Ham license.)

[ShantyShaker]

I've been using a CB since I started driving truck at age 19. There is a huge difference in radio traffic since then, now you can go hours without anyone chatting on the CB if you're not near a stone quarry or similar type of short haul. The other trucking industry that I found uses CB's a lot yet is log haulers.

I carried a pager for eight years as an EMT. I still miss being able to hear what's going on around me. Scanner Radio on my phone in this area doesn't yield much info. (We've moved to another state since discontinuing EMS).

[steve-in-kville]

I carried a pager for 15+ years. The search team I belong to doesn't issue them anymore (that I know of) as we dispatch with texts and email now. Our dispatching in online for all to see, but I miss the old tone system. To listen to fire/ems/police radio traffic would require an expensive scanner that needs to be programmed with a computer.

I had CB radios in vehicles over the years when I traveled with different jobs. There's really no point to them any more unless you're a "professional driver."

I still have some ham gear, but not much beyond a few handhelds.

[Signtist]

Used to be big into scanners, but the last 10 years not so much...

[steve-in-kville]

I was always into scanners. Had one since age 15. Its a wonder I waited so long to get my ham license. Back in the day, if one knew how, you could "accidentally" listen to neighbors cordless phones. Not that I ever did, but the technology was pretty primitive back then

[Judas Maccabeus]

I am an SWL with a general coverage receiver, and a 100' longwire antenna, cleverly disguised as a dog run, so my neighbors won't think they hear me talking through their vacuum cleaners. Unfortunately, shortwave stations are dropping like flies.

Oh, yes, I rebuild tube radios.

J.M.

[Signtist]

I was always into scanners. Had one since age 15. Its a wonder I waited so long to get my ham license. Back in the day, if one knew how, you could "accidentally" listen to neighbors cordless phones. Not that I ever did, but the technology was pretty primitive back then

None of us would admit to doing that!

[Signtist]

Oh, yes, I rebuild tube radios.

J.M.

Got 7 or 8 of those in my basement as well!