First thing I did when I got my call sign on my license plates was to get a post box in a local mailing store and change my address in the database. That way when I cut someone off in traffic, they'll have to come for me through a little 4x6" slot
My mailing address is a box number. Many people get worried that their call sign will reveal their identity or that they will be a target for thieves. I'm sure any thief is more like to steal my tv than my ham radio. If they could ever figure out where I live.
After a field day event a few years back, certain member of the local ham club broke into my car and stole my Alinco DJ-G5 handheld, Icom 2100, my CD wallet and my Cobra 148 so once bitten twice shy as they say.
Any Ham users in Canada on the forums? I am wanting to get into it and am curious if any fellow Canadians have taken the tests,etc.
One more here... just got vetted this spring. Started with a UV-5R and a $10 Nagoya mag-mount antenna. Moved up to a Yaesu dual-band mobile rig as soon as the sales hit at the start of the summer. Still just doing 2m/70cm though, mostly because I don't really like talking to people very much!
This is true. My house was broken into once. The thief took an old 486 laptop, a Palm Pilot, a big jar of change, a portable radio, and two partially full bottles of liquor. And a backpack to tote it all in. Handheld radios all over the place, none touched. Three times my car was prowled (my fault for not locking it) radio untouched twice. Once the thief pulled the control head off the dash board but then must have decided it wasn't worth the trouble. He did get the GPS, though.
Had something similar happen to me. Stole a $100 amplifier, $200 stereo (literally ripped it out of the dash -- crowbar, I think), and left the $200 speakers and $400 radar detector. I used to think they were just stupid, but later on I realized they didn't care about how much it cost ME, they only cared what they could sell it for. Head unit and amp would probably move easily. Seems like no one cares about radar detectors anymore. I doubt the market for stolen ham gear is as lucrative as stereos.
thatotherguy I have not yet, I was going to take a local county club "ham in a day" event but my wife's grandparents had a "inheritance" weekend kind of thing for all the kids and grandchildren before they move to the other side of the state by us. So the family thing took priority. Work has been insane with a new computer system and my studying was placed on hold for a bit. I'll either start studying again in a couple weeks or wait for the next "ham in a day" event. I'm very excited though.
Kd8eoj - i carry a vx8r in my bag. Lightest, smallest, most durable, and most functional radio I've ever used.
