Going for my Tech on Saturday

[Cressida81]

My Great Grandpa was a Ham Radio Operator. I remember visiting him once when I was somewhere in the single digits old (7-9?). I remember tubes, and a metal box, a giant headset, and a morse code key thing. It was strange and cool. After he passed away I was given his morse code key. Can't remember what happened to it, REALLY wish I still had it.

Fast forward over 20 years and I'm finally ready to try and follow in his footsteps! I had always been interested in amateur radio but never looked into it much. My dad recently gifted me with an extra Baofeng BF-F8HP in case the excrement hit the oscillation. I decided that instead of just stashing away this little radio until the end of the world I would learn how to use it, get licensed to use it, and now I've totally got the bug.

I've been studying for the tech license and will take that on Saturday. I only recently realized that all the really cool stuff is happening outside of repeaters on the HF band so I kind of wish I had also studied for the General as well. I've been scoring 90%+ on the practice exams so I feel really confident with it.

I've got time though I guess. I'm only 30. Although it feels like a strange hobby for my age and I am pretty sure NONE of my friends will care to join in.

Even more exciting than the HF though was reading about packet radio, satellites, and the VOIP type stuff. I am an IT Engineer so this stuff was right up my ally. I'm also a sci-fi/space nut too...
Hopefully this hobby doesn't get me banished to the couch after my wife see's how much all this "junk" costs.
I'll be needing lots of help on how to make things yourself or the cheapest way to get by, until I can sink serious money into gear.

 

[AC2OY]

Good Luck on both exams!! See you down the log!!!

 

[W8RMH]

Good Luck. I don't know if you know but you can apply for your Great Granpa's call sign if it is available.l

 

[pb_lonny]

Good luck.

 

[teufler]

As you have said, your getting 90% on the practice exams, so come saturday when you pass, take the general test. Its Free, stranger things have been known to happen, you could pass it.

 

[Cressida81]

As you have said, your getting 90% on the practice exams, so come saturday when you pass, take the general test. Its Free, stranger things have been known to happen, you could pass it.

Oh! So I decided to just take some practice exams for the General... having not studied other than reviewing a few sample questions. On try number 1 I missed passing by one question. On attempt number two I only missed 6 questions. So there's a slight chance I'll get lucky. Its mostly the math/circuit/antenna questions that get me the worst. Everything legal and operating wise I ace. I can barely look at a computer screen any more today so I'm done. Whatever happens tomorrow happens.

 

[w8prr]

Good luck, let us know how u do

 

[Cressida81]

PASSED! only missed 2 questions on the Tech exam and then to my surprise I passed the General exam too! I missed 9. The maximum number allowed! No margin for error.
I'm so glad I got the general exam out of the way!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[n3ouc]

Hey,
Well done!! Hope to hear you on the bands sometime..

73 de n3ouc Mike

 

[teufler]

Doesn't matter if you miss 9 or 1, you get the same license. You now have something that few people have.

 

[ranger821]

Congrats from NW Florida. Hope to hear you on the bands.

 

[AK9R]

Doesn't matter if you miss 9 or 1, you get the same license. You now have something that few people have.

Reminds me of an old joke: What do you call the guy who finishes last in his class in medical school? Doctor.

I feel Cressida's pain. I just barely passed my Extra test. Some might argue that I still don't deserve it.

Passing any of these tests is just a license to learn, in my opinion.

 

[cmdrwill]

Cressida81,

Congratulations on 'passing' your General test. Now starts the "on the job learning and testing".

 

[KC8ESL]

Congrats cress!

In my area we've got a minority showing of younger hams. Look around enough and you'll run into that crowd. It doesn't mean the old guys are boring to talk to though! Many, many years of experience are a microphone away for the asking.

I've read the whole thread but I'm not sure I saw this tip (I wished I had followed): 95% listen, 5% speak. Just know what is going on around you. And for God's sake, if you're sitting in the Shack and the freq you're listening to is quiet, call cq and drum up activity. A quiet radio is a boring radio.

 

[teufler]

As has ben mentioned listen alot. I had my first 2 meter, a kenwood 7400, still have it and it still works. Anyway it was installed in the car for 30 days or more before I keyed up and took part in the conversation. I was told many things, like we don't give smokey reports on 2 meters that was considered against the law for ham operaters though we could say the officers are out on the highsat at such and such a point giving welcome announcements. Minor point but that was koser. We did not call CQ on two meters or 440, that was an HF term, we called QRZ, thats for 2mtr calling. Alot of slang-buzz words that were used in the DB world, were not used in the ham world. Usage told the world not you were a newby. So like has been saidn welcome to the world of learning. By the book was boot camp, what you hear will be the world and practicality. No matter wahat radio you get, it will be nice but somebody will have one better. What ever antenna you have, there will be one that seems to preform better. Some radios will just sound better. When I got into the hobby, some operators were converting older Motorola Motacs, 2 piece units with the radio in the trunk and the control head up front. Installatin and the routing of cables was not a quick project. But a voice over a Motrac sounded full, slightly basey, like God was talking to Moses. With all the modfern radios that have come to the market, I have never heard one that sounded as good as the old Motacs. If you can, join a club, meet some people and go from there. Have fun

 

[Cressida81]

Cressida81,

Congratulations on 'passing' your General test. Now starts the "on the job learning and testing".

Exactly this.
I learn by doing and seeing. There was only so much I could pickup reading the manual. More of it sticks when I'm putting it into practice. I'm really glad I got the General license so I'm within the law while learning "on the job" as you say.

 

[Cressida81]

I'll be doing a lot of listening first for sure. I am the kind of person who likes to get a feel for the room before I open my mouth. I'm a really really introverted person in person but once I get a feel for the people in the room where they're coming from what I might have in common, how they're talking, then I open up. I'm guessing it will be much the same on the radio. Listen first, get a feel for the area an the people who operate in it.

The only exception for this will probably be when I get out to my parents house in the foothills of California this Christmas. I'll of course perform the common courtesies of listening and checking that the frequency is clear but I am very excited to see how far I can hit from the top of my parents property (1300 ft above sea level, facing the Sacramento valley and beyond that the bay area (silicon valley).

As has ben mentioned listen alot. I had my first 2 meter, a kenwood 7400, still have it and it still works. Anyway it was installed in the car for 30 days or more before I keyed up and took part in the conversation. I was told many things, like we don't give smokey reports on 2 meters that was considered against the law for ham operaters though we could say the officers are out on the highsat at such and such a point giving welcome announcements. Minor point but that was koser. We did not call CQ on two meters or 440, that was an HF term, we called QRZ, thats for 2mtr calling. Alot of slang-buzz words that were used in the DB world, were not used in the ham world. Usage told the world not you were a newby. So like has been saidn welcome to the world of learning. By the book was boot camp, what you hear will be the world and practicality. No matter wahat radio you get, it will be nice but somebody will have one better. What ever antenna you have, there will be one that seems to preform better. Some radios will just sound better. When I got into the hobby, some operators were converting older Motorola Motacs, 2 piece units with the radio in the trunk and the control head up front. Installatin and the routing of cables was not a quick project. But a voice over a Motrac sounded full, slightly basey, like God was talking to Moses. With all the modfern radios that have come to the market, I have never heard one that sounded as good as the old Motacs. If you can, join a club, meet some people and go from there. Have fun

 

[Cressida81]

Congrats cress!

In my area we've got a minority showing of younger hams. Look around enough and you'll run into that crowd. It doesn't mean the old guys are boring to talk to though! Many, many years of experience are a microphone away for the asking.

I've read the whole thread but I'm not sure I saw this tip (I wished I had followed): 95% listen, 5% speak. Just know what is going on around you. And for God's sake, if you're sitting in the Shack and the freq you're listening to is quiet, call cq and drum up activity. A quiet radio is a boring radio.

I might have been 1/2 the age most of the club members giving/grading the exam on Saturday but they invited me to lunch with them afterwards and we had a great time talking. I'm already learning a lot from those guys. Eventually i'll make it to a club meeting and probably meet some of the younger guys in the hobby.

 

[milkman21218]

Congrats on pass the test. And welcome to the world of amateur radio. Maybe we'll catch each other on the air.

 

[mitbr]

I knew you could do it Cress so try for your Extra now...
Tim
kg4jjs