Ham Radio Test

[SteveLCetc]

Just a reminder (especially for those going to Moab). Here's info on the next tests:

http://www.arrl.org/exam.html?State=NM

I'm going to take the one in Los Alamos on the 10th.

Question: Can I take the Technician and General tests on the same day?

 

[Beowulf]

JQuestion: Can I take the Technician and General tests on the same day?

Yes. I believe each test is a separate $14 fee to administer the tests. The license is for 10 years.

-Mike-

 

[alia176]

Guess I need to start studying for the General....

 

[SteveLCetc]

Just a bump reminder the next test is in Los Alamos on the 10th.

 

[SteveLCetc]

Here are the technician questions:
http://www.ncvec.org/downloads/2006tech.pdf

 

[Beowulf]

Steve,
In case you didn't notice, the correct answer is the letter in parens following the question number.

-Mike-

 

[SteveLCetc]

Yep, start from the bottom and scroll up.

 

[Beowulf]

Do we have another HDC member licensed for amateur radio?

Next published testing date is:
28-Apr-2007
Sponsor: SOCORRO ARA AND TECH ARA
Time: 5:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: ALFRED O BRAUN
(505)835-3456
Email: AC5BX@ARRL.NET
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: NEW MEXICO TECH
MSEC BUILDING, ROOM 195
BULLOCK AVE
SOCORRO, NM 87801

There are other local test dates that don't get on the ARRL database.

-Mike-

 

[SteveLCetc]

Do we have another HDC member licensed for amateur radio?

Yep.

 

[alia176]

Congrats!

 

[kmc22]

Steve,
Technician or General? I'm feeling confident that I can pass the technician level right now but really intend to study for the General....April 28?
Congrats by the way!
k

 

[SteveLCetc]

Technician. Might do the general in Socorro, depends on time.

 

[SteveLCetc]

Steve,
Technician or General? I'm feeling confident that I can pass the technician level right now but really intend to study for the General....April 28?
Congrats by the way!
k

Good luck to you and anybody else taking the test on the 28th in Socorro! I'm jammed up so won't be taking the General right now.

 

[kmc22]

Steve,
Thanks for the well wishes.

How important was a calculator? I've been taking the tests at http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl w/o one and certainly passing all the P=IV & V=IR calcs in my head...it's the 300/lambda= frequency calcs that don't exactly equal the division that is driving me buggy!
Why did you choose the Yaesu FT-7800?
Anybody else heading down to Socorro on Saturday? ETD from ABQ?
kevin

 

[Beowulf]

Kevin,
You won't need a calculator for the Technician test. I don't know about the General as I have not started studying for that one yet.

I don't know about Steve, but I selected the FT-7800 because several others recommended it and it has the ability to transmit/receive both 2m and 70cm which are the bands permitted by the Technician license. If you can get by with just 2m then that FT-2800 at ~$120 [new] sure is tempting. With a $50 mag mount 2M antenna you are in good shape with all new, portable equipment for less than $200 including the testing fee.

Good Luck on Saturday!!!

-Mike-

 

[SteveLCetc]

I took a calculator, but didn't use it at all for the technician test. I'm not sure what you mean by the 300 (million m/s) = frequency (in MHz) times wavelength (in meters) is not exactly equal...

Yaesu has a really good reputation, and the 7800 is an easy to use dual band - their 8800 has a few more bells and whistles, but I'm not sure I'll ever use all of the ones on the 7800anyway.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to mount the antenna on the 40 right now...

 

[kmc22]

The physicist in me gets a little edgy when c=lambda*nu is approximated.
Example:
300/1.25 m = 240 MHz but the frequency range of the 1.25 meter band is 222 - 225 MHz. Looking at these limits 300/222 = 1.35 m & 300/225 = 1.33. I guess 1.25 m is easier to remember?? Not going to argue with this. I just have to remember the anomally.

I've heard Yaesu has a good reputation. No issues w/ the brand just curious why you chose the model....but Mike already responded...and a suggestion for antenna mounts.

 

[SteveLCetc]

Yeah, I suppose 1.25 meters is easier to remember than 1.34... I didn't worrry about those.

I have a mag mount - uinfortunately the FJ40 has a fiberglass top. I'm not sure about long term issues with putting 50 watts of power out of an antenna on the hood, directly in my field of vision. RF can damage eyes:
http://www.eecs.harvard.edu/qr48/8.pdf
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs226/en/
but I don't know if that's at 5 watts or 5000 watts (at 5 feet) , and the FCC doesn't seem to have any info on that.

 

[Beowulf]

The physicist in me gets a little edgy when c=lambda*nu is approximated.

Kevin,
The tests are multiple choice; 35 questions. They cover the FCC rules, proper operating protocol (e.g. no music or profanity), and some really basic electronics. Power, current, voltage types of questions. You will *not* need any physics. You will *not* need a calculator unless you can't do simple division in your head.

Example: 60 / 12 = ?
Choices:
1. 720
2. 6012
3. 5
4. 0.5

This is as complicated as the math gets for the Technician test. Even a cave man can do it.

-Mike-

 

[Ruadhrigh]

Even a cave man can do it.

-Mike-

Sweet. Maybe I can too