learning HAM
- Thread starter Enigma
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Thanks Jeff:
I agree that most people could pass their HAM qualifications by self testing and reviewing the on-line quiz for 30 minutes a day for a couple of weeks. I guess it boils down to motivation. Before I got interested in radio, I couldn't be bothered to get into it. Then Gary T bought this cheap remanufactured hand-held CB at Princess Auto. That unit was so disgusting that I started looking into buying something better and became interested in the VHF and its possibilities. I think the CB is ok if you only want to chat with nearby vehicles on the trails. However, sooner or later, somebody is going to roll their vehicle or go off an embankment and we will need emergency help in a hurry. CB may be inadequate and the cell phones may be out of range. The only chance we will have is VHF simplex or repeater. There have been near misses in the past, ie. Mike McT on the Windy Ridge road, and there has been one fatality of a club member on the Gulf Islands, so accidents can and will happen eventually. I only hope that when we are out in the boonies someday and an accident happens, somebody there has VHF and knows how to use it with the various frequencies and repeater capability. Here is the RAC website to go to for the test, just scroll down to the bottom and click on the Self Test or Basic Qualification box. I was a fanatic and did the test 27 times until I scored in the 90's, but that was overkill and not really necessary. You might need 70% to pass, and you don't need Morse Code any more. At my age I am a slow learner, so you young guys ought to be a lot quicker at remembering it than me, unless you have brain damage from too much sex and bad weed. Stan S at ComWest on Main St. and Marine Dr., is very helpful and even arranged a free examination providing that I had scored consistently at 80% on the self test before he would bring in the examiner, Ron K. Ron won't waste his time if you have not been studying regularly, but welcomes those who are motivated.
http://www.rac.ca/
~Bill
I agree that most people could pass their HAM qualifications by self testing and reviewing the on-line quiz for 30 minutes a day for a couple of weeks. I guess it boils down to motivation. Before I got interested in radio, I couldn't be bothered to get into it. Then Gary T bought this cheap remanufactured hand-held CB at Princess Auto. That unit was so disgusting that I started looking into buying something better and became interested in the VHF and its possibilities. I think the CB is ok if you only want to chat with nearby vehicles on the trails. However, sooner or later, somebody is going to roll their vehicle or go off an embankment and we will need emergency help in a hurry. CB may be inadequate and the cell phones may be out of range. The only chance we will have is VHF simplex or repeater. There have been near misses in the past, ie. Mike McT on the Windy Ridge road, and there has been one fatality of a club member on the Gulf Islands, so accidents can and will happen eventually. I only hope that when we are out in the boonies someday and an accident happens, somebody there has VHF and knows how to use it with the various frequencies and repeater capability. Here is the RAC website to go to for the test, just scroll down to the bottom and click on the Self Test or Basic Qualification box. I was a fanatic and did the test 27 times until I scored in the 90's, but that was overkill and not really necessary. You might need 70% to pass, and you don't need Morse Code any more. At my age I am a slow learner, so you young guys ought to be a lot quicker at remembering it than me, unless you have brain damage from too much sex and bad weed. Stan S at ComWest on Main St. and Marine Dr., is very helpful and even arranged a free examination providing that I had scored consistently at 80% on the self test before he would bring in the examiner, Ron K. Ron won't waste his time if you have not been studying regularly, but welcomes those who are motivated.
http://www.rac.ca/
~Bill
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Bill don't feel so bad I think I have go throw the quiz 30 times in the last year... I just need to go throw it once or twice a day for a week before going to for the test.... It's hard to beleve how much you forget and how fast you forget it....
- Thread starter
- #4
I scored 42%
I'm glad you have your license, because after doing that test I have absolutely no f'ing desire to ever do that again.
Who cares how it works, as long as it does work.
I'm glad you have your license, because after doing that test I have absolutely no f'ing desire to ever do that again.
Who cares how it works, as long as it does work.
Just got 68... first time after not looking at it for about 6 weeks... looks like it might be sinking in. Now should I bill my customer for the time I took to write the test
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Jeff, don't get discouraged. Borrow Ron K's book from somebody and study it for a while. It goes over the basic theory.
And yes, we forget it just as quickly. After all, why should we know about reluctive impedance when all we want to do is a simple communicaton? The serious HAMs who want to build equipment need the theory, but not us.
~Bill
And yes, we forget it just as quickly. After all, why should we know about reluctive impedance when all we want to do is a simple communicaton? The serious HAMs who want to build equipment need the theory, but not us.
~Bill
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