Let me make things clear:
1. I do have a learning issues, I'm Slow learner when studding TEXT. Fast learning as hell
when I am HANDS ON.
2. I want to learn the rules so I do not get in trouble with the FCC
3. I want to learn the DO's and DON'Ts for My Safety.
4. I want to make my own radio parts and understand what I'm doing.
5. If I'm going to go some - thing like ham radio I want to do it right the first time.
This is why I post a help wanted Ad. Yes I can just study the text and repeat the answer, but if you ask me WHY "this does this". My answer will be I DON'T KNOW... I just copy the answer... what would that make me look like if YOU ask me why? and I sad "I cant tell you". I would look like a Stupid, Dumb, and another wannabe HAM'er. I don't want to be that person - So I asked For help. And i got some. but so far no one from my local area. 73
We may slip off the subject a little bit now an then, but we are all Elmers. Even the new guys. There isn't a single person on these discussion groups that know everything, so we tend to stick to thing we know. For example, I can't tell you much about the latest handy talky and operating on a 2 meter repeater. When I was on 2 meters, there wasn't any repeaters. Only hams running low powered AM rigs. But, I have been working the low bands, mostly CW, for over 50 years now. I certainly don't know everything about the low bands, but I have gained some knowledge over the years.
There are many hams that have learning issues. Sometimes its physical and sometimes its mental. I too find that there are many thing that make much more sense when you are working with it hands on. But, like yourself, they don't let that get in their way.
I wouldn't worry too much about the FCC. You have to get pretty bad and totally flaunt the rules and regulations in order to get their attention. An inadvertent out of band transmission once and a while doesn't amount to much. As long as you don't make a habit of it.
Most of the safety do's and don'ts are common sense. If you have ever fixed a light switch or outlet in your house, you know you don't do it with the power on.
When you talk about making your own radio parts, I think you mean things like add-ons. For example, you can buy a interface for running digital modes like PSK-31 and RTTY. It will cost anywhere between $80 and $200. But you can also build your own interface rather easily. A couple of transistors, resistors, capacitors, and some wire and your up an running. Of course, it might cost you much more than that $200 in time, but the knowledge gained is worth it. Then you just have to figure out how to select and configure the myriad of software programs that are available. But then everything you do is a learning experience.
If you ask three people what is the "right way" you will get three different answers. You just take it a piece at at time. Where you might start is on a web site like QRZ.com. On that web site, under Resources, is a selection "Amateur Radio Practice Exams". Once you create a free login account QRZ.com will keep track of your learning by following your practice exams. Because the FCC Question Pool is freely available to everyone, these exams use the actual questions that could be on your test at the VE session. You can take as many practice exams as you need.
Other sites, like EHam.com had similar practice tests that are just as good as QRZ.com.
As you take the on-line tests you will run into lots of things you don't understand. You can look a lot of it up on-line or you can come back here and ask. There is usually someone who is knowledgeable on a particular subject around all the time. Of course, the discussion may slip a little off track, but that's what we have W9BU for.
Martin - K7MEM
