I’m dallying with the idea of taking up HAM radio as a hobby (obviously getting licensed to do so…)
@MotherDucker The stuff you learn for the Ham license is genuinely quite useful. Particularly if you decide to build some of your own kit.
It can be an expensive hobby, but if you find a local group, folk love to share their knowledge and often have good quality gear available second hand.
Generally, radio hams are a really friendly, helpful bunch of people.
Go for it!
Stuey G7GVH (retired)
@MotherDucker
And if your setup has a slice of bread on either side, you could be a HAM sandwich.
Or, if you do it while dressing, you could be a HAM salad.
(I'll show myself out)
@MotherDucker I'm a licensed ham. It's interesting, but the dwindling numbers of others interested means that there aren't many people to talk / listen to. Most of the time the airwaves are pretty quiet. The learning can be fun if highly technical electromagnetics is your thing.
@MotherDucker I would also add - not to stereotype but to share my actual experience - in any club meeting I am always the only woman, almost always the only person under 65 (unless my husband attends, in which case there are two of us), and none of the attendees are POC. This may either dissuade or encourage you, but that's who's on the airwaves. I have never met another female ham, ever.
@MotherDucker I guess maybe it depends on whether you're in a place in your life to take back emergency comms from the patriarchy
@MotherDucker my dad was into HAM radio for awhile. it was fun. i've been thinking about it as well