The best way to find local frequencies is to download RepeaterBook app. It will find your location and instantly tell you the local repeaters. You’ll then program those into your radio. The most basic repeater consists of an FM receiver on one frequency and an FM transmitter on another frequency, connected so that when the receiver picks up a signal, the transmitter is keyed and rebroadcasts.
If you can hear a repeater, but your signal is not accessing it, check your offset, the difference between receive and transmit frequencies. Ham community is friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to help. With handheld radio, range is about 2-18 miles. With powerful base station and large antenna, range can be hundreds of miles. Since cables are shielded and frequency bands are different, ham radio is unlikely to interfere with cable Internet unless very close and high power.
To find ham radio operator, visit American Radio Relay League website directory or search for local ham radio club. Top-rated base station catches all wavelengths, has 360-degree rotating antenna, 1,000-memory channel, and digital signal processor. Scanning VHF/UHF bands finds local repeaters and activity without license. Antenna depends on bands and mode – dipoles, verticals for HF; ground plane or 5/8 wave for VHF/UHF.
To listen to contacts, find repeater, set radio to listen on output frequency. Higher placement of two-way radio increases range – 3.56 times height in meters equals range in kilometers. Most sites let you listen to ham radio online for a few minutes. Share useful information to help others learn about ham radio.
Higher placement increases range – multiply antenna height by 3.56 to estimate range in kilometers. Check RepeaterBook to instantly see local repeaters and program the most active ones into your radio. With FCC authorization and properly configured equipment, engaging conversations can happen across hundreds of miles.