Thinking HAM

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Butt Ugly Chuck

Butt Ugly Chuck

Fish Biologist, DOGE-retired. S#iT!
10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jan 31, 2007
Threads
43
Messages
1,952
Location
In a TACO down by the river!!
Been causally interested in HAM for a while now, as much for reliable communications during emergencies as anything. My interests have so far not been enough to take on "another hobby I can't afford". Re-thinking that a bit after the shaker we had yesterday. I live under the eastern edge of the gigantic blue square below:eek:.


Our phone service was a little sketchy but remained surprisingly usable through this one. I know that won't always be the case and it has failed before.

I haven't decided to take the leap yet. I'll be researching things a bit over the next few weeks and I apologize in advance here now for the innumerable dumb questions that might follow:hillbilly:.

Cheers,
Butt
 
No problem, ask away! When all else fails, ham radio still works.
 
There might various local emergency networks operating on the ham bands (typically the 440mhz band). There is a local net here that is run by LA County Fire on 440. Also, the Sheriff's Office has a high altitude repeater on 146mhz.

If you get a radio with wide-band receive (ie Yaesu FT60) you can use it as a scanner and listen to the other emergence bands, but get a local frequency directory. I was listening to some of the comm during the hugh Station Fire last summer...
 
I got in to ham radio last summer as part of the expidition build up of my truck. Best thing I ever did. I love having the radio in the truck and even convinced some friends in the area to take the test and get their own mobile set up. Sure beats CB for two way comms on the move.
 
I believe that the test is going to change July 1, 2010 and be possibly harder. It probably wouldn't be a huge deal, but if you were thinking of testing in either June or July, you make want to pick June.
 
Well, I still don't know much, but I think I'll partially rectify that by starting to prepare for my test:).

Thanks for the link above Darby! I haven't had much change to take a peak there, but here's a related question regarding study resources:
A quick search turns up a few Mud threads recommending hamtestonline.com for study. There are numerous additional sites mentioned that look more like they are only the pool of test questions that one is to repetitively drill on. I've little doubt I can do memorization drills and pass the test. However, I suspect I wouldn't get as much out of the approach where I memorize "The answer to question 'Z' is A", as if learned WHY the right answer to question 'Z' is 'A'.

Is hamtestonline a one-stop-shop for getting a good solid intro to HAM, or should I really look for additional resources?

Butt
 
Well I studied one of the HAM books (loaned by a friend so I don't recall it's title) for about a year and the test took me about 15 minutes to pass. Given the chance to do it over again I would use this site:

QRZ.COM QRZ Ham Radio Practice Tests

for my learning. I used it test myself prior to the test. By running through the questions you can gauge where you need to study. The questions are randomly choosen from the test pool. There would be no way for you to solely memorize the answer to question 'z'

The test was fairly easy, but you do have to learn a few things any of the books would help you learn, but I wouldn't buy anything until I ran through the practice tests a few times.
 
It's a no brainer - study, do the test, get the license, spend some money on new toys :)

All that FRS/GMRS/CB stuff becomes garbage once you have some HAM equipment.

The test is easy (maybe it'll get harder), both my kids passed first time around - one was 7yrs old the other 9yrs old. Studied online for a few evenings and they had no problems. Even my wife took the test at the same time. We take handheld 2m units with us on all camping trips - communication quality is wonderful.

cheers,
george.
 
Darby Darrow said:
There would be no way for you to solely memorize the answer to question 'z'
Click to expand...

I oversimplified what I meant. By example - instead of just remembering when asked "What, in general terms, is standing wave ratio (SWR)?" that the correct answer is "A measure of how well a load is matched to a transmitter", I'd like to gain an understanding of what is measured by an SWR meter and how adjustments in the equipment/antennae affect that measurement.

Maybe I'm thinking this wrong. Perhaps I should look at preparing for the test as a simple memorization hurdle just to get the license, then use other resources (book, ham websites, Mud hams) for getting a solid basic understanding of radio:hhmm:

Thanks for that link!
Butt
 
Darby Darrow said:
I believe that the test is going to change July 1, 2010 and be possibly harder. It probably wouldn't be a huge deal, but if you were thinking of testing in either June or July, you make want to pick June.
Click to expand...

You scared me there....I got some upgrade materials recently. Here is the scoop from the ARRL website:

Technician class (Element 2) Pool is effective July 1, 2006 and is valid until June 30, 2010.

General class (Element 3) Pool is effective July 1, 2007 and is valid until June 30, 2011.

Extra class (Element 4) Pool is effective July 1, 2008 and is valid until June 30, 2012.
 
Well darn it! I was planning on taking the test in July or August since I can't take it till then, but if the test changes, then were can i get updated study materials before then? I know it isn't really hard (one of my friends passed it in middle school) but I still feel underprepared walking into a test that just changed...
 
I don't think the test will change greatly, they review the question pool and make changes. If I remember the Tech test about half was rules and procedures. Check out W5YI website lots of info. Their study guide breaks the test down real well and lets you know exactly what to expect.
 
HAM is cool. It's nice to be able to talk to Spain, call home, and order a pizza for pick up all from the truck in the middle of nowhere.:cool:
 
well that is why next month I will be taking the tech/general test. see how it plays out.

Mendocino said:
HAM is cool. It's nice to be able to talk to Spain, call home, and order a pizza for pick up all from the truck in the middle of nowhere.:cool:
Click to expand...
 
Rambrush said:
well that is why next month I will be taking the tech/general test. see how it plays out.
Click to expand...

Good luck. Its a lot of fun. I was in the 40 today and talked to a guy via 2 meters 200 miles away as the raven flies and across the Rockies on the West Side. It never ceases to amaze me...:D
 
There are ways of setting up an inexpensive 2m mobile in your truck. I'm just getting mine set up and am waiting to take the technician test in a week or so.
Several of our club members are getting set up as well. One guy is going with a 2m handheld (around $300). I purchased a Kenwood TM-271A which is relatively inexpensive and tiny, but well built. About $150. Done.
CB is fine for close quarters, but deterorates rapidly. I can't wait until everyone goes 2m.
 
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