Decided to take the basic HAM exam

[Cgrutt]

Have one coming up locally next week. Been thinking about this a lot over the past several years but decided to pull the trigger on Technican class license. Downloaded a free study guide here
http://www.kb6nu.com/study-guides/ Next will have to figure out which radio to get. I want something portable that can be taken on hiking/backpacking/camping excursions in (relatively) remote areas. Also, would like something that could be useful in a natural disaster or similar situation. I know USMC has been talking about this stuff for a while. Anybody else interested? Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions very much appreciated. BTW test is on November 18th if any local guys are interested in taking it I send you info.

[usmcveteran]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009M...SqL&ref=plSrch

A lot of guys really into amateur radios like this one. Reason being it works well and they don't care if they drop it or it gets wet since it's cheap to replace.

If you feel confident with tech stuff study for general as well.... They let you keep taking tests until you fail.



​​​

[usmcveteran]

If you take and pass test don't forget to tell me.... I have that karma going to get free radio that I posted link to.

[Ham_Chu]

had mine for years, and really did nothing with it...I do lurk once in a while. Yaesu VX-3 which is about 6 times more complicated than a SINCGARS

[masterswimmer]

If you feel confident with tech stuff study for general as well.... They let you keep taking tests until you fail.

​​​

Why would anyone want to take a test repeatedly until they fail? Wouldn't they let you keep taking the test till you pass?

[usmcveteran]

Some places charge for taking test, so you pay one fee not per test but until you fail. So you could pay once and take and pass all 3 tests

[masterswimmer]

Some places charge for taking test, so you pay one fee not per test but until you fail. So you could pay once and take and pass all 3 tests

Hanging my head in shame.

[Cgrutt]

Good video for Technician exam

Good website for Flash Cards/Practice Exams https://hamexam.org/

Watched video and ran through some Flash Cards for about past three hours. Got 34/35 (97%) right on my first practice exam... Seems doable if anybody else is interested...


May take a stab at General exam too...

[usmcveteran]

Definitely take general as well and extra if you have time as well

[Cgrutt]

OK, gonna take General while I'm at it. Took the Technician practice exam about 8 or 9 times and passed all of them with average score of 90%. Been studying the flash cards on HamStudy.org for General for past few hours and doing OK. Also bought the No-nonsense General Class License Study Guide http://www.kb6nu.com/study-guides/ and will read through it. Have a lot to cover before Friday, LOL but I think both licenses are within reach. Back in another life I completed 88 credits towards a Bachelor Science in Electronics Engineering, so a lot of this is vaguely familiar.

[Meketrefe]

You had me a ham only to find out this is about radios! lol

[usmcveteran]

Once you average 90's on both move on to extra if you can lol. Extra just allows you to operate on a little more of the bands then you can with general . General gives you more bands then technician.

If you get general or extra and you get a HF radio in future we could talk to each other without need for any other equipment like repeaters or Internet.

[Cgrutt]

Well, took a couple general exams and didn't do so well, LOL... We'll see how this goes...

[usmcveteran]

Somewhere on here I posted links to flashcards or whatever. Easiest way to pass IMHO is to read all questions and only right answers . That way anything looking familiar is probably right lol then keep taking practice tests over and over and over

[Cgrutt]

Just read No Nonsense General Class License Study Guide cover to cover and scored 88% on practice exam.... yay!!! About sixth or seventh practice exam I've taken and first one I passed. Will take a few more tomorrow and Friday. Test on Friday...