THINKING about joining

[WX9RLT]

Hi guy's, -- complete-- newbie here. I found this site about learning, and instead of me going thru 1,000 site's, I just wanna ask:
Is it the amount of time in class or the grade you get?
HamTestOnline - Ham Radio Exam Courses and Practice Tests
winter project

I had very little knowledge of ham radio. I paid their fee and studied hard for 2 days, and passed the test. I only missed 1 question! I would recommend the site.

I know many are against paying someone to study. But I can tell you from experience I went from very little, to coming very close to acing that test, because of that site.

I know after joining and talking to many ham radio operators, they laughed at me. But come to find out, I did way better than most of them out there on their first test.

I am only speaking from experience. So results will vary. But like I said, I DO recommend that site

 

[mainetrunk]

Awesome, thanks. You know--if people keep doing this and many -- many hams out there, are there enough repeaters to compensate? Hi Hi

 

[AC2OY]

Well good luck Jason and the other guy!!! I hope to chat with you guys one day!!! I say Rome wasn't build in a day so oneday I will learn code like our forefathers of amateur radio. The truth is I would love to learn all can about radio and electronics.

 

[Jimru]

I can also recommend HamTestonline as well. I used it to obtain both my Tech and General tickets. It's good to have a study guide with clear explanations as well, so I would recommend Gordon West's guides from the W5YI group:
http://www.w5yi.org/catalog.php?sort=4

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

 

[mainetrunk]

I will tell you 1 thing, I never knew about a resistor, heard of AMPS. Rather than boring you with 9th grade stuff, I will just say---I got alot of respect for you guys. My G.E.D studying was nothing compared to this stuff.. I just gotta prioritze everything. Right now, study 1st. Radio will come very easily once I pass. By the way, I wonder how different an electricians helper test is compared to ham tech. I imagine there is 1,000 symbols I have not seen yet.. Well, back to the board

 

[mainetrunk]

By the way, why do they call it a technician? A technician in my book has 3 volt meters and 2 pens on his person 24/7

 

[Jimru]

By the way, why do they call it a technician? A technician in my book has 3 volt meters and 2 pens on his person 24/7

Go to a couple of ham club meetings and you'll meet plenty of the type you just described!

 

[AK9R]

By the way, why do they call it a technician?

The Technician class was created to fill a gap between Novice and General. The thinking at the time was that there were potential hams who wanted to experiment with VHF/UHF, satellites, amateur television, etc., who were technically oriented, but had no interest in HF contesting, DXing, or ragchewing. Hence, the name "Technician".

At one time, there were five classes: Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, and Extra. Novice was the logical starting point and only required 5 wpm code and a simple theory test. If you passed the General theory test, you became a Technician. If you passed the General theory and 13 wpm code, you became a General. Then, the General test pool was split into Elements 3A and 3B with the VHF/UHF oriented questions in 3A and the HF oriented questions in 3B. Technicians then only had to pass 5 wpm code and Element 3A. Then, the code requirement for Technicians was dropped and Tech became the entry level license for most folks instead of Novice.

 

[mainetrunk]

I am actually going to a meeting tomorow night. 5 minutes after I e-mailed the club, I got 2 invites to the meeting. I will finally be in a crowd that understands p25/pl's/dcs. Talk about a whole new world. Well, this old dog is ready for new trix, thanks guys. QSL!!

 

[ChetsJug]

https://hamstudy.org/tech2010

What is the best web site to study and practice from?? m[/email]

I really like this site: HamStudy.org Copyright 2013 to Richard Bateman, KD7BBC

https://hamstudy.org/tech2010

They use flash cards and you can choose the way you study. You register and go!@ It's totally free. AND sponsored by iCOM so you know it's not cheeseball.

 

[AK9R]

The link ChetsJug gave was for the old Technician question pool which is now expired.

Here is the link for the current question pool:

https://hamstudy.org/tech2014

 

[mainetrunk]

1st meeting

Thanks guys! I attended my 1st meeting last night. Met everyone, saw some equipment that made my jaw drop so hard, I broke the concrete floor. HF,USB,LSB,VHF, and my favorite, LMR 400 everywhere. Heard great stories, got inspiration, and it was nice seeing so many mobile antenna's. Talk about feeling welcome. The test is next month,. You got that Maineradio BUD?
15 bucks little man,
put it in the fcc's hand.
If that money doesn't show,
then you get no test--oh no..
Song I heard

 

[AC2OY]

That's outstanding Maine! I would love to be there to see your face when you attend your first field day. That's when the real fun begins!!!

 

[mainetrunk]

what the?

Wait a second here, I gotta be honest here. On the practice test I submitted earlier, I confess that I glanced at the article and just went to the questions relying on what I know from life, and other notes. I'm doing good.. But, heres the ??? The article GIVES you the answer, after you read and understand it. Is it like that on the test? Difference, is-- on this practice test, all knowledge is back a page, would the real test have the -lack of term here-article/ paragraph to read right above the question part?

 

[Jimru]

Wait a second here, I gotta be honest here. On the practice test I submitted earlier, I confess that I glanced at the article and just went to the questions relying on what I know from life, and other notes. I'm doing good.. But, heres the ??? The article GIVES you the answer, after you read and understand it. Is it like that on the test? Difference, is-- on this practice test, all knowledge is back a page, would the real test have the -lack of term here-article/ paragraph to read right above the question part?

It's not an open book test, if that's what you are asking.

 

[mainetrunk]

Basicly. OK, Thanks again Jimru, back to studying.

 

[Jimru]

Good luck!

 

[mainetrunk]

Studying is fun, whole new world to reach

In all honesty, NOT looking at any notes right now, I had no clue a fuse prevented fires, or polaration, or meters, 60-75-2, wow. 60 meters, that is 2mhz? Nope, 4... OK, I am embarrased.. But, I got the electric schymadic symbols mostly down. And the -- Wxxxx KVxxx, you know, opperator call signs of importance. I gotta tell ya, it is a given that I would have no control over situations that require jumping to an unauthorized freq zone. Like 70 cm.. Got that MaineRadio bud? work on your SWR. hI hI
resistors
fuses
and watts
OH MY
From the wizzard of Oz
I'd also like to thank the people behind Radio Ref, without this site, life might be hard

 

[Jimru]

resistors

fuses

and watts

OH MY

LOL

Yes, Radio Ref is a great resource with some fine folks that make it so. If you have a few dollars to spare, it's worthwhile to donate, as it's not free for the owner (Lindsay) to keep it up, yet it's as-free.

Another good resource devoted exclusively to amateur radio is:

http://www.eham.net

Check it out!

 

[Jimru]

I meant "ad free", but the editor function is not working.