RC’s hamming it up again… 
I don’t remember the bill number. I’ll find it. It was passed quite a few years ago. Ham Radio was designated as a emergency service or something like that. HOA’s now, under this federal bill have to allow you “reasonable” antenna accommodations. HOA’s have been sued over this shortly after this bill passed. They lost or couldn’t afford to fight it so, antennas are indeed going up regardless of HOA restrictions. They can’t ban antennas all together and what you and them can come up with that’s “reasonable” seems to differ from neighborhood to neighborhood I will find that bill number so you can read up on it.
I always wanted to talk off bed springs in the attic or the patio furniture.. wrought iron fence or maybe turn the umbrella over the table out back into a satellite dish .
Trying to get a match on a chair has just cost me an arm and a leg.
Best bet would be to get a pair of Uv5r’s, find a local repeater and see if you two are getting good repeater coverage. Then maybe you can get a license and begin talking. I had got a uv5r a few years ago, just tune in to listen to local repeaters sometimes, never got a license.
I realize this is an older topic, but I just ordered a set of these:
I realize this is GMRS and not Ham, but it’s mainly for listening and maybe communicating over short distances, and having weather/NOAA bands for emergencies.
Having only owned “kid-style” walkie talkies in the past, I’m excited to play around with these.
If you only want a radio to listen just buy a Tecsun PL-330 or a XHData D-808 they are great radios and will cover most of want you want.
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Like I mentioned, it’s not only for listening. Plus neither of these two radios have NOAA/weather bands. I already have a radio similar to those you mentioned, so I thought I’d look into something slightly different.
If your main goal is to talk to your dad 40 miles away, you do not need Ham, gmrs will do, i’m sure you can find repeaters in your area to connect to. and you do not need a test for gmrs license, you buy it like a fishing license, 1 for the whole family, so you and your dad can use same license.
However unless shtf, you are better off with either a phone call, or an internet radio. i do not know much about internet radio, but with digital radios you can encrypt your communication, and no one but your dad will hear, cuz with analog, pretty much anyone on same band will hear your conversation.
Best “cheap” general purpose radios today are the Tecsun, its no Sony ICF-2010 but best today.
Example below but there any many models.
Tecsun PL680 Portable Digital PLL Dual Conversion AM/FM/LW/SW and Air Band Radio with SSB (Single Side Band) Reception Amazon.com
Consider getting some Baofengs, quanshengs or radtels. These are walkietalkies but should receive HAM radio. You can listen (Rx only) with no license. If you like it, consider getting a license to transmit and a more powerful radio.
Just don’t tell any one you are using a Baofeng when you go for your license course as you will be ridiculed lol.
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Also Retevis and Radioddity make some pretty decent super budget radios.
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Nah, i personally dont own the Baofeng, just a cheap PMR446. Considering getting one but thanks for the advice. I guess its like saying to the flashlight community “I edc my phone flashlight”
lol, uv-5r has a flashlight too, a crappy 5mm led, but it is there,
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Baofeng is is absolutely acceptable taking into consideration the price. I have spoken to 1000 ham radio operators, they all have several and they all love them. Myself included.
It will not replace your Kenwood/Yaesu/Icom, but that was never the goal.
Get your license and get a Baofeng.
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Got my GMRS license last week and have been enjoying playing with this UV-5G Plus I linked to above.
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Glad to hear and congratulations.
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