kcjaz
SILVER Star
There are several ham radio test study apps and web sites. What’s the best one or approach?
Best Ham Study App?
- Thread starter kcjaz
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for on the go I really liked HamStudy app. Was great when waiting in line somewhere, or sitting in the car. Basically just used times when i woulda been putzing on mud or instagram, but replaced it with studying. Super simple interface, basically just kept doing til i was consistently getting close to 100% scores before taking the actual tests. I tried a few other apps on the phone, but liked HamStudy the best.
YouTube watch the David Casler videos. He has each portion of the book explained in simple terms. I'd usually watch a video, sometimes a few times, then read that chapter in the book. This was what gave me the base knowledge to be able to answer questions on the HamStudy app. I was pretty much starting from zero with my HAM related knowledge, so this is how i started.
Then the book, some say yes, some say no. At the time i was traveling a lot for work, and wanted something non electronic to read. I personally liked having the book, as it is how the entire David Casler video series is broken up into.
Amazon product ASIN 1625950829
The actual test wasn't hard after the studying, i ended up getting 100%. Our LC club a few of us took the test at the same time, so due to scheduling it ended up taking a while before we tested. Ideally I'd say 4-6 weeks studying is really all you would want. I have probably forgot half of it since then, but i'm sure it's stored somewhere in my head
YouTube watch the David Casler videos. He has each portion of the book explained in simple terms. I'd usually watch a video, sometimes a few times, then read that chapter in the book. This was what gave me the base knowledge to be able to answer questions on the HamStudy app. I was pretty much starting from zero with my HAM related knowledge, so this is how i started.
Then the book, some say yes, some say no. At the time i was traveling a lot for work, and wanted something non electronic to read. I personally liked having the book, as it is how the entire David Casler video series is broken up into.
Amazon product ASIN 1625950829
The actual test wasn't hard after the studying, i ended up getting 100%. Our LC club a few of us took the test at the same time, so due to scheduling it ended up taking a while before we tested. Ideally I'd say 4-6 weeks studying is really all you would want. I have probably forgot half of it since then, but i'm sure it's stored somewhere in my head
I used a combination of the ARRL book above (which will help you understand why the answers are what they are) and the Ham Tech app on iOS (which is a good - and FREE - way to just iterate through the question pool over and over the week before the test until you have the answers for each section memorized).
I recently passed my tech license test and I used the audio book ‘The Fast Track to Your Technical Class Ham Radio License’ by Michael Burnette and the ‘HamRadioExam’ app by Roy Watson. I did some
of the practice tests and was getting 60% and below and then I started the audio book and my scores went up sharply. A lot of it will come easy, some won’t... it all depends on your foundation and aptitude to learn. I have a telecommunications background so some of it was familiar. I bought the ARRL book and only used it to memorize the 3 schematics and questions related to those for the test. I probably took the practice tests a couple times a day for a few weeks, once I got to steady scores in the 90% range I went in for the test. I was probably a little over prepped but I didn’t want to retake it. Feel free to DM me if you have any questions, I passed my test just last month.
Editing to add that the ‘ham radio crash course’ has a active Facebook group and YouTube presence and may be worth checking out. He also does a podcast with his wife, I’ve found it and the YouTube videos interesting for more in-depth on particular subjects.
of the practice tests and was getting 60% and below and then I started the audio book and my scores went up sharply. A lot of it will come easy, some won’t... it all depends on your foundation and aptitude to learn. I have a telecommunications background so some of it was familiar. I bought the ARRL book and only used it to memorize the 3 schematics and questions related to those for the test. I probably took the practice tests a couple times a day for a few weeks, once I got to steady scores in the 90% range I went in for the test. I was probably a little over prepped but I didn’t want to retake it. Feel free to DM me if you have any questions, I passed my test just last month.
Editing to add that the ‘ham radio crash course’ has a active Facebook group and YouTube presence and may be worth checking out. He also does a podcast with his wife, I’ve found it and the YouTube videos interesting for more in-depth on particular subjects.
If you're taking your exam consider trying for the General license as well as it no longer requires morse code. At least where I took it there was no extra $ to try the general exam after doing the tech class one. If I'd known I would've studied beforehand. As it was I missed the general license by one answer without ever having looked at the material.
Markuson
SILVER Star
Yep. When I passed my tech, they asked if I wanted to try the General....so I did, and passed that too. No down side to trying. Personally, I think I got lucky on a few that I ws unsure of...
afgman786
SILVER Star
I just studied a test dump for a week before getting my tech. Tech is pretty easy, general was a failure for me since I only knew the info for tech.
Markuson
SILVER Star
Not much.
It used to be that it gave you access to personalized call signs...but now you can do that with tech. Need the “Extra” part for the shorter call signs...and even if you get that...itis prettyttough to find calll signs youLike that aren’t already taken....
afgman786
SILVER Star
General allows you to use more frequency ranges if I remember correctly. I believe you can use the frequency that will allow around the world, and something that had to do with either setting up stations or providing service thru station.
I used Ham Test Online. It works quite well.
RobW0
GOLD Star
It gives you access to more HF frequencies. Not much use for a mobile unit. Useful for a base station to contact other hams over a long distance.
At 10M and up you get additional bands, additional types of transmission, and additional power limits.
Difference Between FCC’s ham radio Technician and General Class Licenses
You want to get your amateur radio license, so where do you begin? The FCC licenses new hams in one of three classes: Technician, General, and Extra.
hamradioprep.com
Frequency Allocations
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
As others pointed out for a mobile unit there's not much advantage as those are going to typically be 6M and shorter where at this time there's no advantage. That said the FCC changes the rules over time so getting it won't hurt you in the future if they open something up of interest.
RobW0
GOLD Star
Discusion is open right now on an FCC proposal to implement a $50 fee on the HAM license. It would be on new, renewal, upgrades and vanity requests I believe.
Passed my tech and general license exams today.
Just studied for the tech test by first reading the no-nonsense technician license study guide (about a 70 pp pdf online) and then nothing but practice questions on the computer from the hamstudy and AA9PW sites and hamexam phone app.
They offered me a go at the general and amateur extra tests. My luck ran out on the amateur extra test.
Just studied for the tech test by first reading the no-nonsense technician license study guide (about a 70 pp pdf online) and then nothing but practice questions on the computer from the hamstudy and AA9PW sites and hamexam phone app.
They offered me a go at the general and amateur extra tests. My luck ran out on the amateur extra test.
Sounds like should have taken the general on the same day, dang it. Oh well.
