What have done towards your prep?

[Highlander]

is a ham licence required for a uv5r? or can you just use it to listen in at the moment...then use it to transmit after the event

Legally, you need a license to transmit.
BUT, it's a hand held radio, you'd have to be REALLY unlucky to get busted for transmitting. Just remember not to transmit on any official freqs. (Coast guard etc) They DO NOT like that!!

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Just found out that my contract is being extended until March 2014
Not technically a prep, but it keeps the cash flowing in, so it definitely helps!

I would not recommend transmitting on the ham radio channels, apart from it being illegal, fellow radio users will report you, and rightly so, there are people out there that will be able to track you down, its not worth it

It is not illegal to listen in to any channel though