Study classes ?

[freqs]

What is the best way to get my Ham .Iam bad at test .. ive tried the on line test I just dont get it .
I dont understand amps currents all that stuff just want to talk on the radio .I would never work on radios or mess with building one .
so is there a class I can take at a local Ham club to better understand the test ? I live in Macomb County Michigan.

 

[pjtnascar]

Hello. I tried searching the ARRL website (American Radio Relay League | ARRL - The national association for AMATEUR RADIO) for classes in your area, but found none. The site says to check back frequently as classes are added regularly.

You should contact this group, the Macomb County Amateur Radio Public Service Group. Macomb County ARPSC They are part of Skywarn, but I am sure the folks there can help you out. With the right preparation, you should easily obtain your ham license.

Good Luck!

 

[JeremyB]

What is the best way to get my Ham .Iam bad at test .. ive tried the on line test I just dont get it .
I dont understand amps currents all that stuff just want to talk on the radio .I would never work on radios or mess with building one .
so is there a class I can take at a local Ham club to better understand the test ? I live in Macomb County Michigan.

Buy the current ARRL or Gordon West Ham radio license guide for the technician class and read. Chances are that any class you may take will use one as a study reference. If there are times that the book doesn't explain things well enough, do a search at Wikipedia -it might be more than you want to read about current, amps, joules, coulombs, and whatever but it might help you to understand

 

[SCPD]

If you are referring to the Technician license it's really not all that technical. There are a few key points but if you try the practice test on QRZ.com (which will let you guess until you choose the right answer) -- then you can simply study the test. (Go the site and the link is on the far right side -- "Practice Tests")

At the bottom of the practice exam it will show how many of the test pool questions you've answered correctly. Ideally, keep taking the exam until you've gone thru the entire pool of questions. If you're consistently getting above 80% you should be fine.

Depending on your memorization skills, it probably wouldn't take more than a couple of weeks studying just an hour or two at night.

 

[ST-Bob]

Although you CAN study the question and answer pool, that's not the 'right' way to do it in my and most other ham's opinion. The basic concepts of radio and electronics are vital parts of knowing how to safely set up and install your radio equipment and to safely operate it.

Learn the required topics. Don't just learn the answers. What will you do if something happens during your mobile installation and you can't use or understand a multi-meter to find where you're missing voltage or have something reversed? Call for help??? You are supposed to know what you're doing. Ham radio is not CB. You're expected to be a little more involved in the hobby than you appear to desire to be.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but maybe you're not qualified to be an amateur radio operator. If you have no desire to learn the basics, you're showing the world you aren't serious about the hobby.

Just my opinion - take it for what it's worth.

 

[KC0KM]

Here are a couple of online study sites -- TEARA VE Technician Study Guide, and NC4FB Amateur Radio Blog « NC4FB Amateur Radio. Please be advised, that the first one, the questions/answers are no longer valid, however the study material is still quite good. They do however, refer to the second one. There is also Hamtest online -- HamTestOnline™, part of it is free, but there is a pay side. (I used this to get my Extra.)

Also, look into your local area, sometimes they have classes. I know from experience, at least for starting out, sometimes they help. I once tried to study simply out of the book, and it was "clear as mud" it was not until I went to a class, and did online study that I passed it. I later went on and got my General and Extra (which was mostly book study). Another key is to take a lot of practice tests, but take your time, and relax, you will get it.

 

[pjtnascar]

Although you CAN study the question and answer pool, that's not the 'right' way to do it in my and most other ham's opinion. The basic concepts of radio and electronics are vital parts of knowing how to safely set up and install your radio equipment and to safely operate it.

Learn the required topics. Don't just learn the answers. What will you do if something happens during your mobile installation and you can't use or understand a multi-meter to find where you're missing voltage or have something reversed? Call for help??? You are supposed to know what you're doing. Ham radio is not CB. You're expected to be a little more involved in the hobby than you appear to desire to be.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but maybe you're not qualified to be an amateur radio operator. If you have no desire to learn the basics, you're showing the world you aren't serious about the hobby.

Just my opinion - take it for what it's worth.

Ouch! It seems he's not getting the test info by studying the pool and is looking for a class to get his ticket. True, he says he won't be building or messing with radios, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be a ham. I don't think he's unwilling to learn, he's just looking for a place to learn it. The class seems like a good idea. And yes, it's not CB, however most of the technical knowledge required for the test I learned on my own from my days in CB. A ham radio class through a local club would be the perfect place to sort out the details, meet some others with similar interests, and decide how far he wants to take the hobby.

 

[gewecke]

What is the best way to get my Ham .Iam bad at test .. ive tried the on line test I just dont get it .
I dont understand amps currents all that stuff just want to talk on the radio .I would never work on radios or mess with building one .
so is there a class I can take at a local Ham club to better understand the test ? I live in Macomb County Michigan.

If you truly love ham radio and consider it more than a passing phase, then go to your local library and / or get on line and read, read, read,read, read,read and then read some more!!
Here's an example; Water is somewhat like electricity! Think of current like water pressure in a hose. Consider wattage like the amount of water in various size containers proportionate in different amounts!
Before you can pass the test you NEED to learn the concept of how radio works, at least the basic principles are all that's required. If a grade school child can get his tech license then so can you!!

73,
n9zas

 

[freqs]

Although you CAN study the question and answer pool, that's not the 'right' way to do it in my and most other ham's opinion. The basic concepts of radio and electronics are vital parts of knowing how to safely set up and install your radio equipment and to safely operate it.

Learn the required topics. Don't just learn the answers. What will you do if something happens during your mobile installation and you can't use or understand a multi-meter to find where you're missing voltage or have something reversed? Call for help??? You are supposed to know what you're doing. Ham radio is not CB. You're expected to be a little more involved in the hobby than you appear to desire to be.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but maybe you're not qualified to be an amateur radio operator. If you have no desire to learn the basics, you're showing the world you aren't serious about the hobby.

Just my opinion - take it for what it's worth.

Wow ..............

 

[freqs]

Ouch! It seems he's not getting the test info by studying the pool and is looking for a class to get his ticket. True, he says he won't be building or messing with radios, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be a ham. I don't think he's unwilling to learn, he's just looking for a place to learn it. The class seems like a good idea. And yes, it's not CB, however most of the technical knowledge required for the test I learned on my own from my days in CB. A ham radio class through a local club would be the perfect place to sort out the details, meet some others with similar interests, and decide how far he wants to take the hobby.

Well said and what I meant I .My question was is there classes to learn all this like a nite class .I am willing to learn all aspects of the hobby.The reason I said I wont be working on radios is I thought you had to hold higher than a Tec class to work on or build radios.

 

[ST-Bob]

Sorry Freqs, I guess I wasn't thinking very clearly. Although I still feel you do need to know this stuff, I didn't get the intent of your original message I guess. Yes, you should find a class or get a book which helps you understand the concepts before taking the test. Some people can't learn from books and really benefit from hands-on education techniques. If you're one of these then get to your local amateur radio club and make some friends.

For the most part hams love to help newbies (but I'm occasionally a bit crotchety). Find someone to help you along. In the Ham Radio world, they're called "Elmers". I'm sure someone will be willing to take you under their wing and get you up to speed on the concepts. Just ask. Ham's love to talk from my experience and always want more people to join the hobby.

Best of luck.

 

[freqs]

Ok thank you I have allways done better learning hands on and I think it would help me get more out of the hobby ,I just dont know how well I would do just learning the answers to the test .I understand crotchety I am 47 and get that way .I went to our local library and it has outdated books .Ive allways been into radios Shortwave CB back in the day and now at work for use at the landfills I work at .Ive been into scanners way into the 70's I was 10 the first time I heard the local cops on one and made my mom get a Multiband GE radio so I could hear all the action .but the last few years ive been wanting to get into Ham .I thank everbody for their help I will try a local club and go to the County Library to find more updated books or get something at a book store like the Gorden West books along with the online test just keep trying thanks everyone for your help