Re: Interested in Ham Radio?
By: tmcca to All on Mon Mar 20 2023 01:05 pm

I seen this and wondering any good:

https://hamradioprep.com/technician-license-course/?gclid=CjwKCAjwiOCgBhAgEi v5whHqGty5npYSE6c9U5E0-bVN5pTSB2nIb8UxPh6OhlaWOlM2AK2E1URoC7L8QAvD_BwE

Hi there. Study guides can prep you for the exam to become a ham radio OPERATOR, but they generally don't teach you about the technology or the science behind the exam answers they teach you to remember. I would reccomend finding a local radio club and joining, find an Elmer - an older, experienced ham who will take you under their wing, to explain the science behind radio, electronic circuits, propagation, etc.

Study guides prepare you for answering questions, I've never seen one that actually prepares you to understand them and why they're important to know.

73s
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Re: Interested in Ham Radio?
By: Oldbieone to tmcca on Fri Mar 24 2023 06:17 am

Study guides prepare you for answering questions, I've never seen one that actually prepares you to understand them and why they're important to know.

I agree but there are study guides that also teach each question, why when how and where. Those are good. I think the point is that you should totally understand each question before moving on to the next question. In order to do that, you'll have to do a lot more than just memorize each question/answer pair.

When I got my ham license, I had my 1st Class Commercial License for 30 years and worked in the career for even longer as a CET so the technical side of all three ham licenses was not that difficult. Other people might not be that fortunate and could really use some in-depth instruction. There's tons of ham subjects that I can still learn. Love it.

If the classes that you take just teach you to memorize the questions you might as well just use the online study guides that are free. There are some good ones available.

Besides, learning is fun. Take some classes. Join a local Ham club...

Cheers,
Dennis, KD4LLC

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Is it best to get licensed first than get first radio? What is
suggested first radio? The technician license class teaches you the
basics than they give you exam?

The exams cover Part 97 of the FCC Rules and Regulations, which are on
every license exam. You also need to know things such as Ohm's Law, RF
safety, propagation, basic electronic theory, and basic knowledge of the
metric system. Each are in more detail as you move up the ham radio license ladder...although the way technology is today with "internet radio", you
only need a Techician license to talk around the world...without the extra expense of equipment and accessories.

However, without a license, having a radio/rig does you no good, as you
can just "listen only"...just as if you had a portable scanner.

Unfortunately, one thing the Question Pools and exams don't cover is
"On The Air Etiquette", especially in relation to nets. I've prepared
a file, called "Mode Overview.PDF", which can be obtained by going to http://www.wx4qz.net/elk.htm -- and look for the appropriate link. It
covers these, plus getting set up with the modes of D-Star, D-Rats, the
QuadNet Array, and more...and a Technician Class license lets you do all
of these.

For study options, I *HIGHLY RECOMMEND* HamTestOnline, which is located
at https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com

It's all web browser based, with nothing to download or install...so,
you can do it on dial-up, DSL, or broadband internet. However, there are
no smartphone apps for it, and none are planned.

Subscriptions are in 6 month increments, and the price(s) depend on
how many elements you want to take. Instead of covering just the questions
that may be on the exam, they cover the concepts...to explain why the
answers are what they are. So, you're actually learning something, and not
just memorizing answers.

As a side note, FCC Rules require at least 10 times the number of
questions in the respective pools, as there are questions on the exam...
and that total is usually higher. So, the Technician and General Class
exams have at least 350 questions in the respective pools, with the
Amateur Extra exam has at least 500 questions in its pool. However, there
are usually over 400 questions in the Technician and General Class pools,
and over 700 questions in the Amateur Extra class pool. So, unless a
particular question has been withdrawn, there's a chance that it will
appear on the exam. If it does appear, it'll be in the exact same wording
that was in the question pool. There are also schematic diagrams with
each exam. If you have a docmented disability, and you can get exams
without these diagrams.

Back to HamTestOnline...once you reach 80% studying, start taking the practice tests. When you get to 85% passing rate on a regular basis, you
are ready to take the exam, and will likely pass the test. You can miss
as many as 9 on the Technician and General exams (35 questions each), and
13 on the Amateur Extra exam (50 questions), and still pass...a win by 1
is as good as a win by 10.

The best part though, is that compared to study guides that you buy
(which are YOURS after purchase), is that they offer a money back
guarantee if you fail the exam. Send them proof of the failure (which
is usually a Certificate Of Successful Completion Of Examination (CSCE),
but with NONE noted in the area of "License Class Earned". They will
cancel your subscription, and refund your money.

For me, it was the best money I ever spent in amateur radio, in the
32 years that I have been licensed.

As for radios, there are rigs for every budget...from a handi-talkie
around $50, to a DC To Daylight all band, all mode, rig...for over
$20,000. It depends on what license class you have, and what modes you
want to operate. I would ask for feedback from other amateur radio
operators in your area...but, you likely will get a wide range of
opinions. It's best to buy a new rig, even though it may be more
expensive...as with used gear, the saying "you get what you pay for",
applies.

Daryl, WX4QZ

... I CQ. Therefore, I HAM. -- DE WX4QZ
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Does the exam cost anything to take?

Yes and no. Depending on which Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC)
Team is doing the exams in your area, the cost can be free to $15.
The $15 fee covers one exam attempt for each element, as long as you
pass the prior exam (there are 3...Technician, General, then Amateur
Extra). If you fail the exam, you can re-take it, with a different
set of questions, for another $15.

Howevever, if you fail the same exam twice in the same session, you
likely need more study before trying again. See my previous post on HamTestOnline.

As of April 19, 2022, amateur radio licensees in the US and Canada
MUST also pay $35 to the FCC for a NEW or RENEWED amateur radio license,
or for a VANITY CALLSIGN CHANGE request. There is NO FEE for a license
class upgrade (Novice to Technician, Technician to General, or General
or Advanced to Amateur Extra), or for a SEQUENTIAL CALLSIGN CHANGE
REQUEST. With the callsign change requests, once granted, the former
one is no longer valid.

Also, you have to pay that fee to the FCC within 10 days, or it'll
be as if you never took the exam.

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the National Association For
Amateur Radio in the United States and its territories, does offer a
reduced exam fee of $5 for those 17 years of age or younger, and they
will do a one time reimbursement of the $35 fee for these individuals.
They must bring a birth certificate (with the proper seal) to the exam
session, to provide as part of their identification to the exam team.

Normally, a photo ID (drivers license, passport, state ID, school ID, military ID) will suffice...but lacking that, one needs 2 forms of
non-photo ID (a utility bill, bank statement, or piece of mail addressed
to the individual). They must also provide a Federal Registration Number
(FRN), which is obtained by going to the FCC CORES website, and providing
their Social Security Number.

Plus, they must also answer whether or not they've been convicted of a felony, in state or federal court. If the answer is YES, they must supply
all the pertintent documentation to the FCC within 14 days of the exam
session, or the license grant is canceled. A "YES" answer is NOT an
automatic disqualification, but it depends on the circumstances that
surround the conviction.

For first time licensees, they don't need to worry about the original
and a photocopy of their license. However, those who are license, or
whose license has expired (the term is for 10 yeras) or lapsed (expired
more than 2 years), they are "starting over". If they formerly held a
General, Advanced, or Amateur Extra Class license, partial exam credit
is available, once they take and pass the Technician exam. If they don't provide the license documentation, including data from a recent CSCE (Certificate Of Successful Completion Of Examination) from a prior exam session, which isn't reflected on their license...they'll have to take
that exam element again, even though they passed it previously.

But, without the photo ID, exam fee, Federal Registration Number, or
license items, they won't be able to take the exam.

Daryl, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison

... H.A.M. Radio Operator: H)ave A)nother M)eal.
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Rob,

You don't need a license to receive, and that can be a lot of fun. So I recommend starting there, even an SDR (software defined radio) can make
a great receive-only station. --

I've heard that in some cases, SDR actually stands for "Spousally Declined Radio" (hi hi).

It's like the memes, where the woman asks her husband/significant other, if he bought another ham radio. The results are as follows:

1) She says "Look me straight in the eye, and tell me you didn't buy another radio"...he's now cross-eyed.

2) She has 3 items behind the door, as her husband came home from being out
on errands...they are (for her use):

A) Metal Spoon - Came Home Late
B) Rolling Pin - Came Home Drunk
C) Rifle/Shotgun - Bought Another Ham Radio

3) In the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" format, the answers are:

A) I won it at a club meeting/hamfest.
B) I got a good trade for it.
C) I'm keeping it for a friend while he's moving.
D) You look wonderful today (is that your final answer??).

4) The apartment building is on fire, and he hands the fireman a fancy HF
rig, saying "Take this...I've got to go back and get my wife!!".

Daryl, WX4QZ

... Ham Radio QRP: When you care the most to send the very least.
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þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas

tmcca wrote to All <=-

Is it best to get licensed first than get first radio? What is
suggested first radio? The technician license class teaches you the
basics than they give you exam?

You do NOT have to have a license to own one, just to use it to transmit.

So you can get one and listen all you want! If your area has a lot of
local repeater traffic, you could get a 'cheap' $35 radio and listen
to see if it's something you're interested in...



... 1024x768x256.... sounds like one mean woman.
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