Technician license exam
Hi all,
First of all it's great to see someone snag a cert, now wait for the callsign to appear in the FCC ULS database and go to it. QRZ is just a bit slow on the uptake.
As for study material, I found the best is the Gordon West manuals. Just highlight the correct answers and memorize each Q and A, forget everything else, they'll only confuse you. It deals with all three question pools, you need to know ALL the answers because you never know which test will be given.
Once you have your Tech license you'll have full priveliges above 30mHz, but one bit of advice, when you buy a rig go for broke. Well, not in the wallet, what I mean is get one with room for future expansion and more than FM. A good HF/VHF/UHF rig is the IC-706mK2G but you might also consider a 222mHz FM rig like the Alinco DR-235 to fill in that hole in the spectrum.
There's more out there than repeaters, CW and SSB is where the real hams hang out and operating practices very similar to those on HF. You won't learn much good operating practices on those laid back "2M CB frequencies, repeaters in particular but they're a good place to meet people, RF chat rooms I suppose. (;->) BTW, during band openings the bottom end of the bands are where the action is.
Then study the Morse code, get your cert, it's good for one year. That gives you time to absorb Gordo's next manual, the General exam. HF is a whole 'nuther world compared to upstairs, it's good to have priveliges from DC to light even if you have to go for Extra to fill in a few holes. That one is a killer, but you'll become an electrical engineer in the process.
This digression is getting long so find and join an Amateur Radio club near you where you'll find plenty of teachers willing to lend a helping hand. We call them elmers so if you want to get on the air all you need is motivation and drive.
