Interested in/ Starting out with Ham Radios...?

[Dynosoar]

My call sign posted today KI6SMP

Dynosoar

 

[Volcano cruiser]

Guys,
I have been following this thread and am studying right now for my Tech license. My grand plan is to use the ham rig in conjunction with the CB I already have for trail runs /extended off roading and camping trips/multi-country expeditions. Additionally, once I move back to the States with my 40 I'd be interested in hooking up with the local area CD emergency coms folks as well as getting re-certified in several aspects of SAR. I have a couple of questions:

well, don't do what I did...

I knew very little about the Ham field. Had always been vaguely interested in the abstract and used radios when I was flying, but it's the guys here (mostly Andy's reviews of ham on the trails - thanks) who convinced me to go ahead with it for wheeling. The main reason by far I did it was for emergency commo in the boonies.

What I did was a minor bit of perusal of web sites mostly about radios, and I took the exam without much reading. (Also asked a bunch of premature questions here , thanks for the info.) Fortunately, I did do a bunch of review reading (here and on various sites) before buying the equipment and I'm quite happy with the choices. Then read a couple of sites about ham etiquette, and tried on the air, but altogether I got into this without knowing very much about it (and felt uneasy about that lack of knowledge).

Now, I just got the book "Ham Radio for dummies" and concluded that I went about this all wrong. I should have gotten that book or a similar one before I did anything else. A book like that covers all the generalities that you can't normally find on the web, and most importantly puts things in perspective as to what you need, what you can do, what it's for, what's the basis for lots of things etc. I'm only a couple of chapters in the book but it seems like a very good intro to the hobby and technology. Only $25 or so. Well worth it.

So, IMHO, get an intro book at the first notion that this is something you may be interested in at some point in the future, and certainly long before you take the exam and buy equipment. Surely most of you were smarter than I was, but it's easy to get in a rush to take the exam and buy equipment and get going without enough background.

my 2c, HTmayH somebody else...

e9999,
(cool avatar) Got the Dummies book and I agree that it gives a good overview of the field while being short on the mobile ham application. All in all it is a really good reference book on the subject, clearly something that will stay on the shelf nearby for a while until I really get into this more.

www.hamtestonline.com


This is excellent. I tried the ARRL book and it's dull and poorly organized. The Gordon West book teaches to the test and is acceptable, but there isn't enough background. Hamtestonline is great. I recently passed my General exam using hamtestonline after studying seriously for about 2 weeks.

Cruiserdrew,
I signed up for Hamtestonline and once I got used to the way the interactive software works it is really good. I think however that I didn't read the thread carefully enough. At first glance I thought that Hamtestonline would allow you to actually sit for the test online after you had plowed through the materials and practice test. After re-reading several of your posts it sounds like you have to find an examiner and go to them to take a "live" test. Is that correct? Given that I live overseas (at least for the next year) this may prove a bit more difficult in my situation. Please advise.

Great site - I've been stuck on it for the past 1/2 hour and can't get enough (my test is this weekend).

Thanks!

Miescha,
You are right QRZ really shows that there is alot going on in the ham world. It is quite addictive, I think that I'll shut it off so I can concentrate on studying.
Thanks,
John

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Cruiserdrew,
I signed up for Hamtestonline and once I got used to the way the interactive software works it is really good. I think however that I didn't read the thread carefully enough. At first glance I thought that Hamtestonline would allow you to actually sit for the test online after you had plowed through the materials and practice test. After re-reading several of your posts it sounds like you have to find an examiner and go to them to take a "live" test. Is that correct? Given that I live overseas (at least for the next year) this may prove a bit more difficult in my situation. Please advise.

Did not mean to be unclear. Hamtestonline is for studying the material, and taking all the questions in test format. You still have to take the test. Overseas, I'm not sure how you'd take the USA test. Since you have it, study the General material as well. It's actually much better for understanding radio than the tech material.

 

[Miescha]

Miescha,
You are right QRZ really shows that there is alot going on in the ham world. It is quite addictive, I think that I'll shut it off so I can concentrate on studying.
Thanks,
John

You might also take a look at eham.net. I'm not sure if they have any practice questions, but they have a large 'forum' section and also classifieds like qrz.com

eham.net also has a much larger forum on 'reviews' wherein you can read what others think about particular equipment - from radios to antennas to testing gear.

For studying, all I used was the qrz tests. I'm thinking about the extra exam maybe later this year and I'll likely use the tests again.

As for taking the test outside of the U.S., I'm sure you could get licensed by the standards in your current location (though it may be tougher than in the U.S.). You could also check to see if there was anyone administering the U.S. test in your location. I don't know if this is even possible, just a thought. I'll be someone on qrz or eham.net will have an answer for you though.

good luck!

 

[Volcano cruiser]

Actually there is a guy who works with me who is a pilot. I now remember that he once said that he was a certified examiner for Tech, Gen, Extra right on up through an actual technician for tv and radio broadcasters. ( He got his degree in electrical engineering and said that the radio thing was just a fun hobby back before he joined USAF) I'm gonna send him an email now. If yes then I can take the test with him. Now back to the books.

 

[Volcano cruiser]

BTW that eham.net looks like a really cool site. I'll have to spend sometime exploring that. Thanks.

 

[rusty_tlc]

....

Cruiserdrew,
I signed up for Hamtestonline and once I got used to the way the interactive software works it is really good. I think however that I didn't read the thread carefully enough. At first glance I thought that Hamtestonline would allow you to actually sit for the test online after you had plowed through the materials and practice test. After re-reading several of your posts it sounds like you have to find an examiner and go to them to take a "live" test. Is that correct? Given that I live overseas (at least for the next year) this may prove a bit more difficult in my situation. Please advise.


...

I see you are in Central America, check to see if the country you are in has a reciprocal license agreement with the US. If they do you can get your license there and it will be valid here. Plus you will have a really unique call sign.

 

[Volcano cruiser]

I see you are in Central America, check to see if the country you are in has a reciprocal license agreement with the US. If they do you can get your license there and it will be valid here. Plus you will have a really unique call sign.

Dan,
Thanks. Good point. I think that I checked correctly on the FCC website:FCC: Wireless Services: Amateur Radio Service: About Amateur: Reciprocal Arrangements
I'm in El Salvador for at least the next year for work. It looks like we do have a reciprocal operational relationship with them although I'm not sure what that would mean exactly for testing and licensing since the license would be issued by a foreign government.

 

[Miescha]

Dan,
Thanks. Good point. I think that I checked correctly on the FCC website:FCC: Wireless Services: Amateur Radio Service: About Amateur: Reciprocal Arrangements
I'm in El Salvador for at least the next year for work. It looks like we do have a reciprocal operational relationship with them although I'm not sure what that would mean exactly for testing and licensing since the license would be issued by a foreign government.

It means that you would take the foreign (El Salvador) test and get a foreign (El Salvador) license that you could use there for the next year. Then when you return to the U.S. (or any other country with a reciprocal agreement) your foreign license will be recognized here and you do not need to get a local license.

I looked into this in the reverse. I'm licensed here in the U.S. by the FCC, but I travel to Canada and New Zealand and Australia and have plans to travel to Brazil. The U.S. has a reciprocal agreement with those countries so my license is recognized there and I'm allowed to transmit there using only my U.S. license (I don't need to test and obtain their license). This is a good thing b/c the U.S. license is easier from a testing standpoint.

Of course, there are limitations that must be followed including the local band plan, so make sure you read up on those limitations before traveling. Both qrz.com and eham.net have info on the various reciprocity agreements and differences/limitations.

I hope this helps.

 

[Volcano cruiser]

It means that you would take the foreign (El Salvador) test and get a foreign (El Salvador) license that you could use there for the next year. Then when you return to the U.S. (or any other country with a reciprocal agreement) your foreign license will be recognized here and you do not need to get a local license.

I looked into this in the reverse. I'm licensed here in the U.S. by the FCC, but I travel to Canada and New Zealand and Australia and have plans to travel to Brazil. The U.S. has a reciprocal agreement with those countries so my license is recognized there and I'm allowed to transmit there using only my U.S. license (I don't need to test and obtain their license). This is a good thing b/c the U.S. license is easier from a testing standpoint.

Of course, there are limitations that must be followed including the local band plan, so make sure you read up on those limitations before traveling. Both qrz.com and eham.net have info on the various reciprocity agreements and differences/limitations.

I hope this helps.

Yes it does. I'm going to do a U.S. test and get a U.S. license. It is interesting in that I was speaking to both some pilots and guys in my 4x4 club and they were all unclear as to what the local band plan was outside of their bit( aircraft and cb range for the 4x4 guys). I'll definitely check out the situation there before I go on air.

 

[Volcano cruiser]

Update: the guy here has a Commercial liscence and while he is happy to help me study, can't give me the test. Guess I'll check out ARRL to see if I can find either a U.S. guy living here or a guy back in the DC/MD/No. VA area back in the states who I can test with on my next trip back up.

 

[Brentbba]

Update: the guy here has a Commercial liscence and while he is happy to help me study, can't give me the test. Guess I'll check out ARRL to see if I can find either a U.S. guy living here or a guy back in the DC/MD/No. VA area back in the states who I can test with on my next trip back up.

Your problem is going to be finding 3 VE's to administer the test to you. Good luck!

 

[Volcano cruiser]

Your problem is going to be finding 3 VE's to administer the test to you. Good luck!

Brent,
Does it have to be 3 VEs? I do remember seeing a reference to needing three VEs but I also remeber various passages in the Ham Radios for Dummies book where the author talks about giving the test to folks one on one around his kitchen table. In any event I have gone to the ARRL site and found a couple of testing locations and dates in October back in No. VA. I gotta believe that these guys will be setup according to the rules. Given that I'll be travelling back in part to take the test I'll email the VE listed as proctor to confirm.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Update: the guy here has a Commercial liscence and while he is happy to help me study, can't give me the test. Guess I'll check out ARRL to see if I can find either a U.S. guy living here or a guy back in the DC/MD/No. VA area back in the states who I can test with on my next trip back up.

Google is your friend.

Ham testing in Alaxendra VA
Testing Site: The First Christian Church, 2723 King Street, Alexandria, VA
Second Saturday of the month at 9:300 AM

 

[Volcano cruiser]

Google is your friend.

Ham testing in Alaxendra VA
Testing Site: The First Christian Church, 2723 King Street, Alexandria, VA
Second Saturday of the month at 9:300 AM

Dan,
That is the testing site I came up with through ARRL. I just sent the VE an email. Thanks.
John

 

[psfpilot]

Cruiserdrew, thank you for the tip about hamtestonline.com. It worked like a charm for my tech exam today, and hopefully I'll test the other two elements before the two year subscription expires.

...Does it have to be 3 VEs? ...

Yes, three are required. I know only because one of the hamtest questions covered this; when I showed up today, there were three generous VEs there today to administer the test to...me.