Anyone here a licensed ham operator?

I'm going to do it. I looked into it a little while ago (like 10 or more years) but was put off by cost and such.

I just looked into it a little more earlier, and it's so cost-effective and useful in the PAW that there's no reason NOT to. The test for the Technician (lowest class) license costs $14. A basic handheld on 2m can be as little as $100. And the next license above the Technician allows you access to HF, so we're talking 100+ miles here. But even Tech class would allow plenty of range for in-state communication.

So, I'll keep you posted on my progress through this. I encourage other people to do the same. If we get enough people in on this, and enough equipment, then we'd definitely have the means to get the different sectors in contact in the PAW.

Some links:

Zombie Squad Comm. Thread - Check out the stickies, some basic info on Ham.

QRZ Ham Radio Practice - Practice Tests (using actual questions from the test pool)

Actually yes my dad is going to gimme the test for the license and there is a ham fest in February so i will hopefully be getting a 2m

I know I have looked into it at one time or another, and just never got around to it. All I can say is Good Luck to both of you! Maybe I will get mine someday soon.


Ted

Yeah, I happened to come across it the other day, so I did a little reading on it. I foudn out that a) the questions aren't hard, and b) it's not that expsive, and c) there's a Technician test on Jan 19th up on So. Portland. So within a month there's no reason I can't be a Tech.

I've read through a study guide once, and I've taken 3 practice tests on that site I posted above. I've gotten a 79, 85, and 93 or so. You only need 70% to pass the test and get a license. So I'm pretty confident.

I took all 4 of my test in 1995 and things were ALOT different then. I took all 4 within 4 months of each other and studied morse code by listening to cassette tapes at various speeds given to me by an old HAM. I got up to 13wpm for my General class and then took the Advanced a month later. I never wanted to go for the Extra class as back then it required 20wpm morse and it added a smigeion of each HF band that really didnt seem useful for the trouble.

The test are not hard if they were like they were back then, you bought the book, memorized the question and following answer and took the test which was word for word with the book. I havent been active since 1998 but looking to get back into 2m just for SHTF purposes as cell phones have taken over the world of HAM as we knew it. Good luck.

Brad
KK5WC

Thanks, I'm taking a test 19JAN for Tech, and if they offer General at the same time, I'll probably go for that, too.

My understanding is that they've dropped all the CW req's for all levels, so that helps.

BlackBear wrote:Thanks, I'm taking a test 19JAN for Tech, and if they offer General at the same time, I'll probably go for that, too.

My understanding is that they've dropped all the CW req's for all levels, so that helps.

Thats what I heard a couple of years back, I often wondered why they didnt just give the Advanced class operators the Extra Class privys since most of the extra bandwith was in the Morse code region anyways? Who knows, the FCC never ceases to amaze me!!

Don't ask me - I've only been researching it for 3 days!

I think they got rid of Advanced a few years back, and now it's just Tech, General, Extra. I could be wrong, though.

Any hints/tips/links for someone getting started? I mean I know I can pass the test (I've never failed any of the practices) but I'd like to learn some more theory and in-depth. Any books you'd recommend?

I thought the same thing about the classes of licenses issued now but when I was changing my address I spoke to the lady at the FCC and she stated I would still hold an Advanced license even though I passed the highest level of morse code required now. Typical beauracratic crap LOL!!

Anyway, I will be the first to admit that I forgot all that stuff A LONG time ago. I couldnt even pull the frequencies out of my head for each band like I could years ago, I just simply havent needed to know that stuff since I havent been active on HF in years. Sorry I cant be of more help.

I can say that I REALLY enjoyed contacting operators from around the world on 10 and 15m back when the cycle was at its peak. It wasnt uncommon to have a conversation with an operator from Canada and Austraila at the same time. I talked to an operator the other day at work when I was patchin up his dad and he told me that the cycle is at the very bottom of activity and the HF airwaves have been dead for a few years now.

Tech Plus here call sign KB1DVU ... haven't used it too much ...radio I use the most Alinco DJ 580 oldie but goodie dual band walkie talkie mostly on 2 meter .