Zombie Squad Amateur Radio Network: part 2 - Licensing

[KJ4VOV]

So, when you'll going for extra?

That is the first thing we were asked after being congratulated. They would like Mr. NoAm & I to work as a husband/wife team to travel and help administer exams. I told them to give us just a little while..................................

ARRL or W5YI Group? It sounds like W5YI...

It also looks like the two of you are making great progress in this wonderful hobby and I encourage you both to keep studying and improving. Though, in the large sense "it's all radio", there are so many sub-fields and niches in the hobby (AM, CW, Satellites, EME, QRP, etc.) that there's always something new to discover and learn about. Hopefully you'll also make some strong friendships along the way, and pick up a good Elmer or two to help guide you on your journey. You'll be amazed at how fast you pick it up and become regular old hams, and Elmers yourselves.

[NoAm]

WCARS is the a local group. I am not sure of designations, etc. I do know the travel radius for testing was 150 miles.
There is still so much to learn!

[KJ4VOV]

There is still so much to learn!

Yes there is, and that's the beauty of it. When I got my extra this past February I looked at it not as "reaching the top" of the hobby but, rather, as proving I had the basics down well enough to start learning the "good stuff". And I am, but I also know I'll never learn it all, and so the process will continue for the rest of my life. I look forward to that.

How well have I done so far? Well, I must have at least marginally picked up some of it, because at our annual holiday party last night the radio club I belong to presented me with an award plaque as their "Ham of the Year" for 2011. I either "talk a good game" or have actually learned a few things I guess.

[NoAm]

There is still so much to learn!

Yes there is, and that's the beauty of it. When I got my extra this past February I looked at it not as "reaching the top" of the hobby but, rather, as proving I had the basics down well enough to start learning the "good stuff". And I am, but I also know I'll never learn it all, and so the process will continue for the rest of my life. I look forward to that.

How well have I done so far? Well, I must have at least marginally picked up some of it, because at our annual holiday party last night the radio club I belong to presented me with an award plaque as their "Ham of the Year" for 2011. I either "talk a good game" or have actually learned a few things I guess.

That is AMAZING! Congratulations!

Mr. NoAm & I have barely even scratched the surface of Amatuer Radio, we have a lot ahead of us and I know that it will be an enjoyable and valued experience.

[bruceson74]

just wanted to say thanks for all the info, a club has walk in test a week from Saturday, if i don't have to work that where i will be. thanks again everyone for all the info.

[coulomb0]

https://hamstudy.org/

2010 Technician Class question pool
2011 General Class question pool
2012 Amateur Extra Class question pool

This is a free site that has all the most up to date questions along with explanations and practice tests. This is all I studied. Free!

[Shiloh]

Sorry to necro this thread, but I had some question I was hoping you wonderful folks in the comms section might be able to help me with.

I'm active with my local CERT team, and a lot of our comms, at least beyond normal walkie-talkie range, are done with HAM. I figured that if i was ever in a situation where I was the only one available to transmit vital information, it would probably be better for me to know what the hell to say than to stand there holding a handset and derping out.

-Technician vs. General license: Which would you guys and gals recommend for all-around HAM activities, as well as potential disaster communications?

-Where's a good place to order either the tech. or general license study manual?

-Has the FCC done away with the morse code requirement in the test, or is it still around?

Thanks!

[KJ4VOV]

Sorry to necro this thread, but I had some question I was hoping you wonderful folks in the comms section might be able to help me with.

I'm active with my local CERT team, and a lot of our comms, at least beyond normal walkie-talkie range, are done with HAM. I figured that if i was ever in a situation where I was the only one available to transmit vital information, it would probably be better for me to know what the hell to say than to stand there holding a handset and derping out.

-Technician vs. General license: Which would you guys and gals recommend for all-around HAM activities, as well as potential disaster communications?

-Where's a good place to order either the tech. or general license study manual?

-Has the FCC done away with the morse code requirement in the test, or is it still around?

Thanks!

Answers, in order:

Tech is fine for VHF/UHF but you'll want at least General to legally use HF phone for longer range in a disaster.

Amazon.

It's gone.

[Shiloh]

Thanks, KJ, I appreciate the help.

[Raptor17]

Thanks for all the good info on this forum. I passed my Technician's level exam on my first try!

I studied using this website: https://hamstudy.org/

[dca2]

I used http://hamexam.org/ and passed my Tech then General. I took the Extra for S&G's and wow, just wow......

I like how hamexam weights the question pool so you see the ones you get wrong more often than the ones you get right. It also is using the most current question pool. This sight is why I passed both on my first try.

Dave

[Dah Di Dah]

If you don't read the books that are published and if you do not have an Elmer to teach you how to properly operate - you defeated the purpose of amateur radio.

It was never designed to be used as a form of personal communications or a substitute for another type of communications that has failed.

It is to provide a pool of trained radio amateurs.
If you have no training - how could you be a trained radio amateur?

Being able to regurgitate answers to questions long enough to pass a multiple guess test and then forgetting everything that you thought that you learned and thinking that you will be of some sort of help - later when needed, you are just kidding yourself.

The least that you could do would be to attend and participate in a clubs field days activities.

[dca2]

Easy Dah Di Dah

I learn by doing. There is not much that I can retain or much less use after memorizing the test OR reading the books. The real learning starts after you have access to the use of the radios. This advice/study technique (that I mentioned earlier) was given to me by several HAM's from one of our local, active clubs when I attended a field day type outing and several, regular club meetings.

I have learned that people get their ticket for many reasons. Not everyone is in it to help their community. A quote from the ARRL (of which I am a member):

The unique hobby of Amateur Radio is a mix of fun, public service, and convenience. Although hams get involved for many reasons, they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology and operating principles, and pass an examination for the FCC license to operate on radio frequencies known as the "Amateur Bands."

It is unrealistic to think that everyone of the 700,000 licensed in the US (as of Jan., 2012) are volunteering their time and equipment to the community.

[RobtheRigger]

I live south of Miami, but the nearest test I've found on the ARRL site is in Fort Lauderdale. Does anyone know of anyplace closer? Thanks!

[KJ4VOV]

I live south of Miami, but the nearest test I've found on the ARRL site is in Fort Lauderdale. Does anyone know of anyplace closer? Thanks!

Look for clubs in your area and see if any of them offer testing.

Sent via the squirrel underground.