Request: new Amateur Radio sub-forum

[KTKEWW]

Congratulations Richard!
   So, you took all three in one sitting?  I was thinking of studying up for T&G for the first round, not all three! What a task to study for three levels at once.

   Thanks for the additional motivation.

Terence,
   How about  a “Test Questions” board for questions about the test and posting upcoming tests (or bragging about scores!)

[Kelly]

Congrats, Richard!

Kelly

[Terence]

Awesome, Richard.  Congrats on your EXTRA achievement!

I agree the extra test is hard. Both the book and the question pools are more
than the Tech and General, combined.

Congratulations Richard!
   So, you took all three in one sitting?  I was thinking of studying up for T&G for the first round, not all three! What a task to study for three levels at once.

   Thanks for the additional motivation.

Terence,
   How about  a “Test Questions” board for questions about the test and posting upcoming tests (or bragging about scores!)

I think your approach to go for the Technician and possibly General is the best way to go. 
I'd hate see someone not show up for the Technician test, for example, because they felt pressure
to take more tests in one sitting.  I made that mistake in 1994 while preparing for the then Morse
code requirement.

 Sure, with so many FSWers prepping for communications it would be great to have a thread
discussing test questions and such.

Terence

[KTKEWW]

     I did a FCC Licensing search entering only my zip code in the search field. There are currently about 80 licensed Amateurs in my area. I recognized a few names and gave them a call. A couple of them are family members of those guys I know.  I think I have found my new local Elmer’s who I won’t need to start fresh with, and a connection to some good starter equipment!

     My thought is to drive around and see what type of antennas these guys are flying and compare them to homes with old unused looking antennas. When I find a few that look decent, I plan to leave a note at the door offering to disassemble and remove the tower (at my own “liability and risk”) and give them fifty bucks or so.

     Has anyone done something like this before, or have any better ideas for getting on the air for the first time w/o breaking the bank on all new unfamiliar equipment. This is still a startup hobby for me, and I have time on my side (for now).

     BTW, I have checked CL and there is a running add from a guy scooping up all the Ham equipment in this corner of the state on the cheap. I’ll probably contact him at some point to see if he is selling, but I am sure with him knowing what he is buying and advertising as such, he is the reason low priced equipment does not appear too often, if at all, on CL.

Thanks

[manfromnevada]

My advice to anyone studying for these tests is to buy the 3 study guides that ARRL publishes, but buy them from Amazon at a discounted price, no sales tax, and free shipping if you buy 2 or more.

The books are quite well done. They explain in the various topics what you need to know. The text is footnoted so you know that THIS particular sentence is the one on the test, then they follow up the section telling you to answer questions 2A, 3D, 3E-3G, and 5A, etc. And the questions at the back are reversed X-referenced back to the page in which the explanation is given.

The pool of questions is known up front. All you have to do is know ALL of them!
The online tests, at QRZ.com are good for measuring your progress, but they don't explain the reason behind anything.

Terence, myself, and now Richard have taken the 3 tests in one sitting and passed them with flying colors. It's a lot of effort, but worth it.

Mac

[HCM2B]

I passed my technician test yesterday...34/35.  I tried the General, but having not studied at all for that material, I did not even come close. That is next on the list though. Once I have my callsign, I will post it. 

[300dragonflies]

Excellent!

This is something on my "To Learn" list - I keep forgetting to start on it! That list is soooooo long. I hope I have time to get through most of it.

[Terence]

I passed my technician test yesterday...34/35.  I tried the General, but having not studied at all for that material, I did not even come close. That is next on the list though. Once I have my callsign, I will post it. 

Congrats!

I checked the license of an astronaut talking from the space station during orbit. License class?  Technician! 


Terence

[HCM2B]

To my utter amazement I received my call sign today (at least it's active on the FCC website). It is KF7YMN. If you are in the Vegas area look me up. I usually monitor 145.555 and there is a radio link that brings the Vegas traffic over the hill to us.

[manfromnevada]

That's great! One step at a time. You should be able to get that 155 repeater from anywhere in the valley and into the verboten lands of Kalifornia.

Mac

[HCM2B]

That is correct Mac. It works well up to the powerlines just east of Baker, north to Amargosa, and almost to Mesquite. I have a friend who is buddies with Art Bell, so I scored an intro to him. He offered to have me over and show me his HF stuff. I'm looking forward to learning that side of radio.

[Old Ironsights]

I'd like to have a sit-down with Art Bell and find out how much of the load of BS I fed him & his listeners years ago he actually believed (as he inferred) and how much is schtick.

It was hilarious to listen to the series of follow-on callers who "verified" the story I made up....

[HCM2B]

Having spoken with him a few times and having listened to him for quite a while on the air and on the ham bands, my gut says it was mostly schtick. He seems to me to be a gracious Elmer and friend to quite a few people, but down to earth.  His radio past rarely comes up in conversations.

[Vince]

Is Art Bell still living in the Philippines?  I heard years ago he married a girl local to there and moved away.

[HCM2B]

He lives here in Pahrump...about a mile north of the brothels.  I don't know about any residence he may or may not have in the Phillipines.