New "Anti-Hate Bill", Freedom of Speech....and radio pirating!

A great way to get started on this path might be to get involved in amateur radio.  You can learn a tremendous amount about radio that way.  It's an extremely worthwhile thing to do as well; you never know what might happen to the phone and internet networks in the future ... and if they go down, good old radio will be the only real means of long-distance communication left. 

I got my license when I was 16, but haven't really been active since and consequently have since forgotten most of the theory.   If I can find the time one of these days I'll have to brush up.

If you're interested, let me know and I'll try to answer any questions you might have.   A good book to get started with is Now You're Talking.

Okay, so I checked out those links, as well as linking around to other sites.

I'm annoyed.

It seems that "they" have made sure to "own" the airwaves as well.  Yeah yeah, I was aware of the "FCC", but I didn't really *think* about it until researching the Ham radio deal.  Now it's REALLY irking me that they require you to PAY to get a "license"..........so you can talk over a radio....??!?!    Who in the frickity frack owns the fricking AIR???   

sigh.

I am just so tired of the level of control that they try to exert over every little thing.  And most people don't even question it.  It's natural to the public to have to go out and *pay money* to *take an exam* and *get a license.*   No questions asked.   So programmed is the population.  Fees, fees, and more fees, on top of regulations and stipulations.  It's all about control.  They've found a way to turn just about EVERYTHING into SOME kind of controlled, money making industry!!!

Also, I'm thinking back to Howard Stern's big ruckus., always wrestling with the censors about what he can and can't say.  It resulted in him deciding to transfer over to Sirius Satellite radio in 2006, which synchronisitically ties into the thread morningsun76 started today about Sirius.   So I guess my question (just out of curiosity) is, is Sirius exempt from FCC regulations?   For Howard to move over to there says to me that Sirius must be exempt or removed in some way from the constrictions he's experiencing with mainstream FM radio.

Anybody have any input on this?  Again, just wondering out of curiosity.   

When I was perusing around through various links it amazed me the level of programming I was seeing with the puppets, spouting what they've been told to believe -  "Operating a ham radio without a licence is unethical!"

Unethical??  How?? 

"Operating a ham radio without a licence is illegal!"

I'm sure it is.  But they don't have to sound like they agree and are morally outraged about it with some sort of emotional investment involved.     Personally, I could care less if someone is operating a radio "GASP!!!!!!!!!!  WITHOUT A LICENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH!  DAMN THEM!!!!!"

Anyway, rant done.    Couldn't help but noting the money making industry to it all, and how people are so programmed to follow along with the system.   It's frustrating to see.

As someone familiar with the subject, I can tell you that the amateur radio service is one little part of culture worldwide that is for the most part self-regulated, with minimal governmental interference.  In the USA, in order to get your ham "ticket" (license) you just need to learn basic radio theory and commonly accepted rules on how to establish contacts and so forth.    I'd compare it to a law requiring you to know the rules of the road in order to get a driver's license -- how to signal, when you can turn on red, etc.   The only difference is that governments love to pull driver's licenses for political reasons (you didn't pay your child support, you got caught smoking dope) while that's not the case with ham radio.   Amateur radio has been around for about a century and was started by people interested in the hobby and the rules governing it evolved out of their own best practices.   All the tests are given by volunteer examiners who are also hams (I'm one myself) who do it out of love for the hobby.  The small fees charged for the tests are used just to recoup some of the costs of administering what is overall a very good system.    The only way things could be any more free in this case would be to get rid of ANY sorts of licensing, rules, or standards of conduct on air -- which would destroy the hobby by turning into just another CB radio.   

Anyway I won't go into all the details here but suffice it to say I think you've got the wrong idea.   Amateur radio is a very respectable and beneficial hobby and we're lucky it exists at all.   The American Radio Relay League, the main lobbying organization for hams, is always dealing with constant threats to our radio bands from private interest groups who are willing to pay the government good money to take over the spectrum that is currently allocated to amateur ( 100% noncommercial ) use.  And for that to happen would be a real shame. 

I'm sure if you do end up getting involved you'll see what I mean.  Might I suggest finding a local club and talking to some of the people there?  There are a lot of great people in the hobby and if you are truly interested, then it's well worth your time.   I'd leave out the bit that you're interested in pirate radio though!       That would be highly frowned upon ... and while that might grate against your anarchist side, I'd wager that if you did end up getting your own license, you'd be proud of having done so and might have a better understanding of why things are done as they are.   

As far as how this would tie in to your original idea of pirate broadcasting ... well, my idea would be to get involved in the hobby first to learn a lot about radio, make some friends, get involved in something positive and worthwhile.  Then, as a result,  you'd be prepared for a possible future where circumstances require you to get on the air for more subversive (bwoo ha ha!) purposes.

Well I never said that I thought it wasn't benefical or that we weren't lucky to have it.  I was just thrown for a loop by all the sites talking about testing, licenses, rules, regulations, etc. and so on.    My comments had nothing to do with slamming the existance of benefits of Ham radio in itself. 

While, like you mentioned later in your post, I would only be interested in going that route should events in this country leave us with no other choice, the way you described here:

My "anarchist side" as you referred to it isn't interested in going to that extreme unless it absolutely has to as a last resort.

But the rest of your advise was good in that it would be beneficial to learn all that I could about how it all works, in the event that later on we need to use Ham radios out of necessity.     Cause right now I don't have a clue how it all works.    Only within the like the last 2 years did I understand even the most rudimentary basics concerning radio waves.  I still don't get what "mega herz" and "hertz" and "giga hertz" and all that means.   I'm a 'tard, I know.   But I plan to learn!    Thanks for the feedback, it's all very good advise, and I will continue to research this topic more.  I have a drive to do so.......maybe for a reason!

Settle down, Beavis!

Sorry, trying to inject some humor here.    I get your point, totally, but damn, I think that's the first time "niggas" has ever appeared on NR!     I sense some new moon energy aggravation!     

I hope though that you weren't sort of somehow indirectly referring to me in your rant though....?  Because I was complaining about the regulations?   I hope not!