Ham license

[The patriot]

I have plenty free time, and I was thinking on getting a license.
I know no code is now needed (WHEW) and I know a little...maybe a little more than the average joe off the street.
I took 3 sample tests (technician) and scored 60-70% without any study or research at all.
My weak point is satellite and vhf/uhf questions. I know NOTHING about this. Digitized comms. Nada....
My Dad's a ham since the early 70's. (WA2UMO)
I used to listen when he was active.
He was all about HF and CW. I never picked up the code completely, but I did learn a little about HF.
Are there any study guides/books/ online study materials etc that arent too "dry" and specific to uhf/vhf and satellite?
If I brush up a little in this area I think I'll even have a decent chance at the general class license first time out.
Thanks.

 

[Doubleclutch]

I got all three licenses at one sitting after studying http://https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/ There is a fee, but very worth while. Good luck with the test, and THEN deciding which radio...s.. to get!
Greg N6LUG

 

[Wayne M.]

I got all three licenses at one sitting after studying http://https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/ There is a fee, but very worth while. Good luck with the test, and THEN deciding which radio...s.. to get!
Greg N6LUG

Hey Doubleclutch, can you check your link? I've had this in the back of my mind for a long time. Honestly, could this be a good source of emergency communication nowadays? How much could one expect to invest in a modest setup?

 

[Wayne M.]

I got all three licenses at one sitting after studying http://https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/ There is a fee, but very worth while. Good luck with the test, and THEN deciding which radio...s.. to get!
Greg N6LUG

Hey Doubleclutch, can you check your link? I've had this in the back of my mind for a long time. Honestly, could this be a good source of emergency communication nowadays? How much could one expect to invest in a modest setup?

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

Welcome to HAM Radio!

Here is a link to free practice exams http://www.eham.net/exams/ . You should go for General at least. HF is a lot of fun and allows you to talk to people around the world!

As far as cost goes, it all depends on what you are after. Do you want to work local stations with a VHF/UHF handheld or mobile, or are you thinking of worldwide HF?? There are many options out there and price for a cheap Chinese handheld are as little as $30 all the way up to several thousand for a top of the line HF rig.

I got my start with a used Icom IC-718 that I picked up for around $500 and a $100 CB base antenna that works on 10-17 meters. All the rest of my antennas are nearly free since they are just coaxial cable hooked to a piece of wire hanging in a tree. It is very exciting to build an antenna and talk to a bored airline pilot en-route to Hawaii and then make my first contact to Israel about an hour later.

Hope to hear you on the air someday!

73 de KE7LBB

 

[The patriot]

Mikey, that's the one I've been using.
I have an old Kenwood 440 en route as we speak.
The 718 could be had brand new for $589 shipped if you look around a little.
I went for the kenwood because I only have $300 to spend, and it has an antenna tuner. I checked into it, it does not have the "dot problem" and it's reasonably clean.
I could put up a wire to listen till I go for the tests.
I'll try for the General.

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

Sounds to me like HF is what your after

Kenwood is an excellent choice! I have no personal experience with them, but the people I've has QSO's with that were using a Kenwood sounded great. I prefer Yaesu myself and have upgraded my home station to an FT-1000MP. Pics are on QRZ.com

 

[Doubleclutch]

Wayne- do a google search for "ham test online" to get to the website. Easier than me trying to get the magic buttons at the top of this form to work. Cart second, horse first. Like Mikey and Mr. Patriot said. The goal is HF (High Frequency, aka "short wave"), but getting the license is the chore at hand. The ARRL (amateur radio relay league) is one of the best and largest collection of Hams you'll find, and should be a considered source for information. Membership a good idea too! ARES and RACES are Ham organizations used for events and emergency response. Good info on them in the ARRL. Dual Band (VHF and UHF) rigs are mainly used in the ARES/RACES org. with HF more useful in RACES because it covers longer distance. The Technician class license will keep you busy on UHF and VHF, a General or above license opens the door to HF. Radio prices vary on point of origin (China Vs. Japan), starting for less than $100 for a dual band handheld. Dual band mobile units around $250. Mikey's "eham" site is a free site that allows you to practice on all the official questions on your own. A good site, to be sure, but I NEEDED the coaxing of the $ site, ham test online. <G> Greg

 

[Wayne M.]

Thank You. Im gonna do some homework- filed under "medium priority".

 

[The patriot]

Thanks guys.
The FT-1000 has entirely too many buttons. Not to mention it's way out of my price point.
Other than the kenwood "dot" thing and one or two minor annoyances, they seem to be a solid performer even 20++ years on. Lots of hams say it's "all you need and nothing you dont."
May do vhf/uhf at some point in time. HF is more appealing to me right now.
First thing first.

 

[The patriot]

Passed the tech last night.
When I was done, I took the test up to the VEC's.
They said "Whats wrong?" I said, "Nothing. I'm done." They said that people usually take longer. I said "I think I aced it". Guy on the end of the table gave me a really strange look.
After they graded my test he acted differently. I got 2 wrong.
I dont think I studied more than a few hours....tops. Should have studied for the general. Took it, didnt pass.

 

[mfurrh55]

They can give you the Gen. test up to 15 times in one sitting, in other words each time you flunk, they give a different test to you, There is 15 tests on the gen. but you only have to pass one, my cousin took it 13 times one after the other before he finally passed it

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

Congrats!!

Passed the tech last night.
When I was done, I took the test up to the VEC's.
They said "Whats wrong?" I said, "Nothing. I'm done." They said that people usually take longer. I said "I think I aced it". Guy on the end of the table gave me a really strange look.
After they graded my test he acted differently. I got 2 wrong.
I dont think I studied more than a few hours....tops. Should have studied for the general. Took it, didnt pass.

Even though you didn't pass General, you still have limited HF privileges. 10m has been having some decent openings lately and will surely give you the kick in the pants to upgrade later on. Lots of excitement each time you make contact with a new country or state!

December 12-13 there will be a 10m contest. It might not be your thing, but will surely get you a lot of new contacts in a hurry. I would recommend signing up at www.qrz.com and using their free logbook until you figure out what is best for you. I would also add these two bookmarks: http://www.dxmaps.com/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=28&ML=M&Map=W2LN&DXC=N&HF=S&GL=S & http://www.solarham.net/

73 Mike

 

[TJJEEPER]

Welcome to the Slippery Slope!
I've been licensed since 1985 and been collecting equipment ever since. I have an Icom 7000 in the truck but not using the HF YET. I did have HF active in the '06 Dodge but haven't found a place for a good antenna.
Here's just a few of the antennas

And what's at the other end

I am a DXer and I used to contest a little. Currently at 338 countries out of 340 (347 total with deleted).
Join the ARRL and sign up for their news updates. There is lots of information in their monthly magazine, QST.

Enjoy the hobby,
Greg
NZ6E (previously N6PYI for 26 years)

 

[Doubleclutch]

Greg- I think that's called "The Dark Side"
The other Greg.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks guys.
I have a Kenwood 440 and an iMax 2000, but it's not much. I know NO code, so it's very limited.
Been listening on 10meters, yea there's been some action the last few weeks.
The vec's never mentioned that I could take general more than once. Too bad.
I've been looking at the Baofeng vhf/uhf HT's on ebay. Yea...I know, but I'm on a very fixed income.
I would have taken the test 20,or 30 years ago, but for the code which I never could master. No excuses now!

 

[mfurrh55]

maintrading.com usually has the baofeng on sale and they will ship it to you

 

[The patriot]

It's actually http://www.mtcradio.com/