Full disclosure: ham radio isn’t for everyone, and there are many different facets to it. What appeals to one person might bore another to death. One area of ham radio that has changed a lot …
Also, the license gives one some knowledge about what one is actually doing with the transceiver. Without that it isn’t really a hobby anyway. It just becomes an illegal walkie talkie.
I think I am technologically ignorant when it comes to radio so… I still have questions.
How does the web interface collect the transmissions? Are all the transmissions made digitally accessible with the interface? Why (other than cost) would I want to use a web interface rather than a traditional receiver?
The web interfaces use SDRs. They can listen to an entire band at one time rather than just a single station.
You will only be able to listen to transmissions that are within range of a web SDR. They work great for HF since that propagates a long ways when the band is open. For VHF and up, you will likely need a local receiver unless there happens to be a web SDR near you that covers the band you want to listen to.
The web SDRs may have better antennas than you do and they are probably in a place with much less RFI than you. You can use them to listen to far away places.
Do you need a license to buy a receiver to listen in?
You do not need a license to listen to ham radio with a traditional transceiver. You only need a license to transmit.
There are no licensing requirements for equipment purchases.
I have a handheld ham. The baofeng ones with no license. Come to get me FCC
When I use them to communicate, I use FRS frequencies, which are still not legal technically, but no one will even know.
Tbh, I can’t condone that as a ham myself. And yes, you can be caught. It happens all the time and fines are hefty.
The basic ham license (called “Technician”) is very easy and cheap. Just get one.
It happens all the time?
Relative to the prevalence of ham as a hobby
Yes. It is not uncommon.
Also, the license gives one some knowledge about what one is actually doing with the transceiver. Without that it isn’t really a hobby anyway. It just becomes an illegal walkie talkie.
Hams are self policing and if you cause issues and aren’t using proper protocols may try to pinpoint your location
Nope that’s what the web interface is for.
But an rtlsdr is pretty cheap if you want to go that route. I do satellite tracking with satnogs and it’s fun.
I think I am technologically ignorant when it comes to radio so… I still have questions.
How does the web interface collect the transmissions? Are all the transmissions made digitally accessible with the interface? Why (other than cost) would I want to use a web interface rather than a traditional receiver?
The web interfaces use SDRs. They can listen to an entire band at one time rather than just a single station.
You will only be able to listen to transmissions that are within range of a web SDR. They work great for HF since that propagates a long ways when the band is open. For VHF and up, you will likely need a local receiver unless there happens to be a web SDR near you that covers the band you want to listen to.
The web SDRs may have better antennas than you do and they are probably in a place with much less RFI than you. You can use them to listen to far away places.
Thanks!