Amateur Radio

[Jerry]

Thanks, Mick, I bookmarked all three of them.
Jerry

[Jerry]

I did it. I passed the Technician Class ham test and should have my call sign sometime next week. If you have been thinking about upgrading to dependable communications for those remote overland treks I suggest you go for it. Believe me, you do not have to be an electronics whiz kid to pass the test.

Before I started I went to the ARRL site and clicked on TESTS for the next scheduled test in my local area. It was coming up in two weeks so that inspired me and I started studying. Check out the test schedule for your area at:
http://www.arrl.org/catalog/lm/

The challenge still stands!!!!!!!!
Jerry

[RidgeRunner]

Jerry, congratulations! You really got with it...

You'll enjoy using your radio on trips when a few people get into the 2 meter system.

There are a lot of good 2 meter discussions at http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/ in the technical threads.

Here are some more links I've found helpful:

http://www.k0bg.com/

http://www.usrepeaters.com/

http://rptr.amateur-radio.net/arn/rptr/index.html

Mick

[Jerry]

Thanks, Mic, and the links are much appreciated. I especially like the database that identifies repeaters within so many miles from a name place. I put it through it's paces for SE Oregon and, as expected, the only 2 meter repeater in the SW corner is somewhere near Jordan Valley. I also enjoyed reading some of the mobile advice given by K 0 BG. I have a feeling I will be referring back to that site in the foreseeable future.
Jerry

[Photog]

Congratulation Jerry!!!!!!!!!!

I'm off to see where I could mount a radio, if I were to get my certs.

[Steve]

Congratulations on the accomplishment. I have no excuse not to do the same. What was the test like? Multiple choice? (I can usually pass those) Number of questions? Was it the exact same questions you studied?

Steve

[Jerry]

There were 35 multiple choice questions with 4 possible answers and you have to correctly answer 26 of the 35 to pass (70%). About a dozen of them were plain common sense questions, for example, "Why should you wear a hard hat and safety glasses when working around a tower?" The only answer that made sense was, "To protect yourself from falling objects" Well, duh! Or "What should you do if somebody interrupts your transmission with an emergency?" Again, duh? Assuming you answer the "given" questions correctly that leaves only a handful you have to worry about. Some of the questions were on basic electricity and remembering Ohms Law was helpful. Other questions were new to me and in some cases a little confusing. But, hey, you can miss 9 out of 35 and if you flunk you can take it again immediately afterward. But, be prepared to pay another $14.00 for a new test; that's the cost of each test. I am no brain child and I only missed one question.

Every question in the pool is public and if you check out the test question links posted by Mick you will see the exact questions and the accompanying answers. There are well over 35 questions in the pool and each test draws from the pool. It isn't difficult to remember most or all of them. The easiest way to study is to learn the basics by reading the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual for Technician class before you take the practice tests. At least you will have some insight as to why things work they way the do when it comes to taking the test. And if all else fails an educated guess is better than not.

The process was a breeze. I was there for about an hour and the actual test only took 15 minutes. The rest of the time was spent filling out forms, handing out the tests and waiting for the Volunteer Examiners to grade them. I was one of a dozen people testing; one going for Extra, two going for General and the rest going for Technician. About a third were women.

Jerry

[RidgeRunner]

So, Jerry, the next step is a radio...Have you given any thoughts to that part of it?

Mick

[Jerry]

I haven't done much looking, but the one that stands out so far is the Icom 7000.
Jerry

[Steve]

Originally Posted by soggymountain

There were 35 multiple choice questions with 4 possible answers and you have to correctly answer 26 of the 35 to pass (70%).

I should be able to pass that!

Steve