Got a Baoefeng today and now have it programmed with... the fucking weather. That’s it. Police have all gone digital. Local Fire and EMS too. Wtf?
EDIT: I’m working on my license so I can talk to all the boomers out there but in the meantime it’s perfectly legal to LISTEN, but it’s crickets with everything being digital now.
I’m just confused as to how this would be of any help to me in SHTF.
Amateur radio is for people that love radio. That's what it means. It means they learn about radio, practice about radio, build and operate radios and finally talk on radios.
It's a shame many people "sold" ham radio as a kind of magic talisman.
Knowing about radio is an important skill to learn but it isn't something you "do" out of a box.
So start learning Pede.
I am one of those people.
MeToo