HAM Radio operators

[willis68]

I am an Electronics technician by trade and for the last 20 years or so I have off and on considered getting my Tech license. I have decided that I want to put a mobile unit in my Raptor and as I have always liked to do things by the book I have decided to get my license.

I have been studying the last few hours and to be quite honest I am shocked at how basic the Electronics are, fortunately I remember most of that from my days in school. I will be taking the exam early next month and later ago for the Amatuer Extra

I will be interested later in putting up a fixed installation in my home with a large antenna and a decent base station radio as well, are any of you all operators?

[Photoguy67]

I think you will find several operators on here. ke4pjr

[enfield]

Yep, we're here!

[DaveTN]

Have they done away with the code requirement yet?

Good luck on your test.

[Reservoir Dog]

Have they done away with the code requirement yet?

The Morse Code requirement was dropped in 2007.

[TGO David]

Yep... General Class here. I've been meaning to get my Extra license but just haven't had the time to devote to studying. My background is electrical engineering also, so the theory stuff isn't that difficult. Just a lot to dust off in the space between my ears and remember how to apply some of it.

[Guest jwrench75]

KI4LEV here. It's a good clean fun hobby, and another way you can help out in a time of need like reporting severe weather and storm damage, or getting word of help needed relayed to emergency responders if the phone dosen't work. I say go for it. I doubt you'd ever regret having it.

[mikegideon]

I've thought about getting mine since they dropped code requirement, and just can't justify the time. My gun hobby consumes all of that. I also deal with high power radio transmitters and antenna systems in my job, so it would be kinda like work for me. I've had a commercial license since I was young and stupid .

Contrats on the General, David.

[Wingshooter]

I would like to get started in it as well. Looks like a fun hobby. I don't have any experience with any of the equipment on the market. I do fly an airline jet, so I know how to talk over the airways, lol. It also has an HF radio but don't ever use it.

My brother lives in FL, and I would like to have communications setup to reach him if the cell towers ever fail.

[willis68]

This is awesome, I had no idea so many of you were into this, I will be taking this in Wilson County next Month, my question is that if I successfully pass my exam how long will it take for my license to be issued and how is this done? Does the FCC actually make you a license? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I do not know how this works

Also how long after I get my Tech license can I go for my General? I plan on studying for the General exam when I am offshore

[mikegideon]

This is awesome, I had no idea so many of you were into this, I will be taking this in Wilson County next Month, my question is that if I successfully pass my exam how long will it take for my license to be issued and how is this done? Does the FCC actually make you a license? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I do not know how this works

Also how long after I get my Tech license can I go for my General? I plan on studying for the General exam when I am offshore

There was another thread awhile back. A ham buddy told me you can go straight to general if you can pass the test. That's the way it always was with commercial FCC licenses.

[ironsniper1]

I'm thinking of getting a ham license as well just gotta find the right study guide free or pay to read

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[bigtruuck]

qrz.com has a free online tests for the different classes of licences They are a good way to find out if you are ready for the test. You can do the tech,gen,and extra all in one shot but you have to pass them in order. 73, KI4LCH

[mikegideon]

qrz.com has a free online tests for the different classes of licences They are a good way to find out if you are ready for the test. You can do the tech,gen,and extra all in one shot but you have to pass them in order. 73, KI4LCH

I figured. The commercial licenses were broken into elements. You had to pass them in order to get to the highest class.

[bigwakes]

This is awesome, I had no idea so many of you were into this, I will be taking this in Wilson County next Month, my question is that if I successfully pass my exam how long will it take for my license to be issued and how is this done? Does the FCC actually make you a license? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I do not know how this works

Also how long after I get my Tech license can I go for my General? I plan on studying for the General exam when I am offshore

I'm a General operator. I was commo in the military so no brainer for me. There was some overlap, but pretty easy to study for. My wife is very smart but did not even know what a resistor was before studying. She studied an iPhone app for about 3 weeks and got 35 out of 35 on both her Tech and General test on the same day.

The old guys in the lobby thought she must have been a real tech genius and started asking her questions about radios and antennas. All she could do is shrug and ask "what's that?"

Edited July 22, 2012 by bigwakes

[mikegideon]

My buddy told me I could ace the electronics side of the advanced, but would have to bone up on the rules a little. That's really why I haven't done it. Reading FCC rules makes my noggin hurt

[ironsniper1]

I'm a Genetal operator. I was commo in the military so no brainer for me. There was some overlap, but pretty easy to study for. My wife is very smart but did not even know what a resistor was before studying. She studied an iPhone app for about 3 weeks and got 35 out of 35 on both her Tech and General test on the same day.

The old guys in the lobby thought she must have been a real tech genius and started asking her questions about radios and antennas. All she could do is shrug and ask "what's that?"

what's the name of the app? I wouldn't mind using that to study

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[bigwakes]

what's the name of the app? I wouldn't mind using that to study

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It's the app put out by the ARRL

[glowdotGlock]

I've always wanted to get my license.

Edited July 22, 2012 by glowdotGlock

[enfield]

You'll know before you leave the room whether you've passed or not. If you pass, you should have a call sign issued and be able to be on the air within a week. The paper license will follow in the mail.

Edited July 23, 2012 by enfield

[R_Bert]

K4AR here.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Dolomite

Edited July 23, 2012 by Dolomite_supafly

[enfield]

- enfield

Edited July 23, 2012 by enfield

[glowdotGlock]

Well... sorry guys. I haven't done it in a while and its inoperable. Didn't mean to get everyone in a fit.

[Guest TankerHC]

I have always liked the idea of Ham Radio. They are one of the few groups of people that have done a lot of good. When I was in Korea, my next door neighbor was a WWII Vet and Ham Operator. I was an Sgt E-5 at the time and we couldnt afford very many long distance calls back and forth from Korea. But, Camp Casey had a MARS station and twice a week I could go in, give them my neighbors information and he would be waiting with my wife and 2 year old daughter, we would connect up and have a nice conversation, thanks to the HAMS I was able to keep in contact with my family while I was gone for a year.

When I retired from the Army, I went to work as a Tech Ops Manager for Comcast. There was this guy who was a friend of the GM. He was one of the Program Managers for the Gemini and Apollo missions. He invited me up to his house and we became good friends even though he was much older. I have never in my life seen so much electronics (HAM) equipment in one persons house. He was going to teach me what I needed to know to get my liscence and get me some equipment cheap but I ended up in another position with the company that had me traveling 400-500 miles per day plus working most weekends. I would still like to get into it, but not right now because I am in the middle of a lot of things, one being finding and buying a house and property in TN.

On a side note. This old guy had all sorts of NASA stuff in his house hanging on his walls including a piece of Moon Rock. It was smaller than a pea and mounted with an American Flag (That had also been to the Moon) and he had to keep it and if he didnt ever want it, it had to go back to NASA. From what he told me all the Mission Control Specialists and Managers got one. One day while I was in the office he gave me a call and said to come to his house, he wanted me to meet someone. I race up there, and there's Gene Kranz sitting in his living room! The same guy played by someone in the Apolllo 13 Movie! Turns out they were good buddies and Kranz came to visit and stay with him 2 or 3 times a year. Kranz reminded me of some of the tough old VN Vet Sergeant Majors I served under and I told him so. I mostly sat there with my mouth shut and listened to them discuss NASA, throwing in my "Stupid not a NASA engineer" questions. But some things you have to ask.