Unfortunate news to share about my future in Amateur radio...

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WSEY205
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It's been a while since I last posted on these hallowed forums.

With that being said, I have some unfortunate news to share.
I have lost interest in getting my amateur radio license.

I studied the guide I bought and even got the ham study app on my phone.
After a month and a half of studying taking practice tests and not even coming close to passing, I have decided to call it a day & stick with GMRS.
It looks like Amateur radio is not for me, more so since I prefer to study for the test in a classroom setting instead of self study.

I shouldn't say never, as I may try again in the future, once my mindset is in the right place and am done with my true passion, which is RC buggies (Building a 1/10 scale 2WD buggy now).
 

ladn

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There's always another day.
I prefer to study for the test in a classroom setting instead of self study
It's not uncommon for ham radio clubs to offer a series of in-person classes. The format and time span varies; some are weekend "cram" classes and others are multiple sessions spread over several weeks.
 

Skypilot007

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The technician test is no harder to study for than a drivers license test. Study the material, take the test. Or if you have decent memory just go study the question and answer pools. I've seen 10 year kids old's pass the tech test, they just memorize the questions and answers.
 

AK4PY

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It's been a while since I last posted on these hallowed forums.

With that being said, I have some unfortunate news to share.
I have lost interest in getting my amateur radio license.

I studied the guide I bought and even got the ham study app on my phone.
After a month and a half of studying taking practice tests and not even coming close to passing, I have decided to call it a day & stick with GMRS.
It looks like Amateur radio is not for me, more so since I prefer to study for the test in a classroom setting instead of self study.

I shouldn't say never, as I may try again in the future, once my mindset is in the right place and am done with my true passion, which is RC buggies (Building a 1/10 scale 2WD buggy now).
Everyone always says "It's so easy". Nah, bruh. It is not. Some people need a support system to help them grasp the material. That is what our local club does. We help anyone that needs it. In fact, we are talking about holding study sessions over our GMRS repeaters for those that are interested in earning their ham radio license.
 

OkieBoyKJ5JFG

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It may have to do with the way you learn. Reading printed material may not play to your strengths. Before you give up, I suggest you try something like HamRadioPrep.com which uses a series of short lectures or perhaps try in-person tutoring with a local club. Kinesthetic learners can often learn better by having something to handle while they study. For example, when they hear about transistors, they have one in front of them to touch. That connects the information to something tactile, which embeds it more firmly in their memory. That's just one example of how learning styles vary and may not apply to you, but you get the idea. Even if you decide not to try again anytime soon, keep it in mind. Try to notice when something seems easy to learn and look for a common factor. This may help: 8 Types of Learners: Definitions, Examples, and Learning Strategies
 

Aviation_Scanner

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It may have to do with the way you learn. Reading printed material may not play to your strengths. Before you give up, I suggest you try something like HamRadioPrep.com which uses a series of short lectures or perhaps try in-person tutoring with a local club. Kinesthetic learners can often learn better by having something to handle while they study. For example, when they hear about transistors, they have one in front of them to touch. That connects the information to something tactile, which embeds it more firmly in their memory. That's just one example of how learning styles vary and may not apply to you, but you get the idea. Even if you decide not to try again anytime soon, keep it in mind. Try to notice when something seems easy to learn and look for a common factor. This may help: 8 Types of Learners: Definitions, Examples, and Learning Strategies
The bold text (my emphasis) is exactly how I learn.
I took computer classes when I was younger and it is how I learned about PCs and DOS (Disk Operating System, which was the primary OS used before windows was a thing).
After windows was first released, I just learned about it on my own.

As a side note, I am a little surprised that I cannot grasp the material on my own. I am a very technical person, as I have good knowledge of PC components and how they generally work with one another.
I suppose that technical background will not necessarily help me in learning HAM radio concepts.
 
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It's been a while since I last posted on these hallowed forums.

With that being said, I have some unfortunate news to share.
I have lost interest in getting my amateur radio license.

I studied the guide I bought and even got the ham study app on my phone.
After a month and a half of studying taking practice tests and not even coming close to passing, I have decided to call it a day & stick with GMRS.
It looks like Amateur radio is not for me, more so since I prefer to study for the test in a classroom setting instead of self study.

I shouldn't say never, as I may try again in the future, once my mindset is in the right place and am done with my true passion, which is RC buggies (Building a 1/10 scale 2WD buggy now).
Hi, You could always look into GMRS. I have a Ham license and a GMRS license. I like GMRS a little better then ham radto.
 

a727469

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Again, it is all about the reason one would want a license and what they would need it for. When I got mine it was for a very active 2 meter usage area and it was an accomplishment at the time. People should enjoy whatever hobby or activity they choose and not make it into hard work, except if the results are worth it. A license is fine, but not necessary.
 

nokones

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Most of the test questions are ridiculous for an entry level license. Who cares about what happens if a RF signal reflects or is absorb when it hits a rain or fog water molecule or if you can identify a resistor on a wiring schematic. What do those types of questions have to do with being an Amateur Radio Operator.

Memorizing published answers to test questions really doesn't prove that you would be a knowledgeable Amateur Radio Operator. It just proves you have better memory skills than most. I have come across numerous licensed Amateur Radio Operators that don't have a clue when it comes to most technical aspects of radio communications. Most of them are not very bright as you would think that they would be since they passed a technical exam.

I wouldn't sweat it or lose any sleep over it. Most of the 2 Meter and 70 cm repeaters set idle anyways and if there is any traffic on one of many unused repeaters they only want to talk about the weather or what they had or going to have for dinner.
 

Aviation_Scanner

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My original intention for getting my amateur radio license was to get into emergency communications.

I was a volunteer firefighter for nineteen years and wanted to stay involved with emergency services.
 

n3obl

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My original intention for getting my amateur radio license was to get into emergency communications.

I was a volunteer firefighter for nineteen years and wanted to stay involved with emergency services.
Well good thing you gave it up as ham radio is not for emergency communications, contrary to what the ARRL thinks.
 

k6cpo

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Most of the test questions are ridiculous for an entry level license. Who cares about what happens if a RF signal reflects or is absorb when it hits a rain or fog water molecule or if you can identify a resistor on a wiring schematic. What do those types of questions have to do with being an Amateur Radio Operator.
Being able to answer questions of that type correctly is the very reason why we have more latitude to do things with our radios that don't exist in other radio services. For instance, we are able to build our own transceivers for any of the allowed frequencies and bands, but a GMRS license holder isn't permitted to build his own GMRS radio, any more than an FRS user is allowed to build his own radio.
 

rf_patriot200

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I wouldn't sweat it or lose any sleep over it. Most of the 2 Meter and 70 cm repeaters set idle anyways and if there is any traffic on one of many unused repeaters they only want to talk about the weather or what they had or going to have for dinner.

Obviously Only where you live, but NOT true for the Rest of us. :mad:
 

W4AXW

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Memorizing published answers to test questions really doesn't prove that you would be a knowledgeable Amateur Radio Operator. It just proves you have better memory skills than most. I have come across numerous licensed Amateur Radio Operators that don't have a clue when it comes to most technical aspects of radio communications. Most of them are not very bright as you would think that they would be since they passed a technical exam.
Amen to that. And way too many of them are "Amateur Extra", a portion of which are completely clueless about antenna basics. Sad.
 
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