I Wanted One for Christmas….

[luvthatduke]

I knew some ham operators years ago. I think the goal was pretty much what you said - how far is the signal reaching? There was also something called "Civil Air Patrol." It consisted of ham operators helping to spread information about accidents and emergencies. Pretty sure those were all ham guys too. Like any hobby, you could end up buying some pretty expensive gear.

But talk about something that's been made redundant with cell phones and internet!

I believe there still is a Civil Air Patrol of some kind.
EDITED TO ADD: https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/

When the internet goes down, and when your cell phone doesn't work,
it will be the ham radio operators that will be helping out around the world.
Those radio guys do a lot in many parts of the world today.

Little Bit gives you a big 10-4 good buddy.

 

[KayMichigan]

Hard to believe it was ever a thing, but there you are. Never had one, never wanted one.

Oh, was it ever a thing!! There was even a massively popular song, C. W. McCall's "Convoy" (1975)::

My brothers got one in the mid-1970s and my sister and I messed around on it, even though we were just kids and didn't really know what we were doing. It was fascinating to listen to the truckers talking to each other as they drove along. I remember spending hours sitting in this little room we had under the basement stairs and listening in. It was only for one summer, though, after that it got old.

I would say that it did presage the internet as it gave people a way to participate in a life outside their usual zone.

 

[amcnj]

I only recall one uncle having a CB radio for a while when I was young. There were some ham radio operators in town, with large antennas at their homes. As kids we never progressed beyond walkie talkies. They were mainly used when playing Fugitive/Manhunt.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Makes me think of "Smokey and the Bandit"

I know that Ham Radio is still a thing. One of my dad's friends is big into that... although he is like 80 something. I think that it is actually relevant and useful in case of disaster and/or cellphone towers going down. It is a good backup plan for emergencies, we should keep it alive.

 

[PollyannaMom]

My Dad had one when I was little. I remember talking on it, under the handle "Princess".

 

[Praying Colonel]

Every once in a while you get a perfect convergence of popular culture. Where I grew up, seeing Smokey & The Bandit at a drive-in theatre during the CB craze was one such convergence.

 

[AustinTink]

My dad and Grandfather co-owned a company and all the company trucks/vehicles had CB radios installed in them. I loved calling my Grandpa from my dad's truck. "Come in, Grandpa! There's a smokey on my tail."

 

[luvthatduke]

Resurrecting this thread for an interesting story today:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/science...ional-Space-Station-using-dads-ham-radio.html