what say ye? (possible CB purchase)

[Beowulf]

It has been several years but I think the best book is "Now you're talking" from the ARRL. You can buy it on-line. You really don't NEED any of the books if you just want to take and pass the test. The book(s) will give you a much better background but anyone can easily pass the test just by taking the practice tests a few times.

-Mike-

 

[evanz80]

The book(s) will give you a much better background but anyone can easily pass the test just by taking the practice tests a few times.

-Mike-

That works for the technician (first level) test, but will NOT work for the General exam. Ask me how I know.

 

[El Tejon]

Yah, I took the general test for fun following my tech test. It gave me a headache. Way to much therory for my pea brain.

Rick

 

[Beowulf]

Yah, I took the general test for fun following my tech test. It gave me a headache. Way to much therory for my pea brain.

Rick

Rick,
That is a great vanity call sign you snagged!

-Mike-

 

[pappy]

Wow, I'm surprised he managed a K5anything.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That works for the technician (first level) test, but will NOT work for the General exam. Ask me how I know.

The general exam is much harder than tech but still very doable. I found the best way to learn the material and study was hamtestonline.com. You have to pay to use it, but it's really excellent and will expose you to 100% of the questions and all of the theory behind each one.

The tech exam is so easy that most people with a little sense and a few evenings of reading online could pass with high marks, though the hamtestonline.com presents the material in a more logical manner.

If a couple of people go in on hamtest online, it becomes cheaper than buying the book and you have access for 1 year.

If you just gotta have a book (and this is only my opinion) I thought the ARRL "Now your're talking" was terrible, especially the layout of the question section. You have to flip back and forth to numerous sections. That serves no purpose except to make it nearly impossible to read and study. The Gordon West book is better and more logical. But, but the time you buy a couple of books, you are most of the way to a Hamtestonline subscription.

One Arrl book I did like, and if I had nothing else to do in life, would provide hours of entertainment, is the Antenna book.

When is Cruiserdan taking his exam? He'll need it for Rubicon this year, since the leader on his run does not have a CB radio. I know it will take Beo dragging Dan kicking and screaming to a VE session, but I hope you guys can make it happen before June.

No affliiation with Hamtestonline, just totally sold on how they present the study material.

KI6MIE

 

[Beowulf]

I know it will take Beo dragging Dan kicking and screaming to a VE session, but I hope you guys can make it happen before June.

I've caused enough of a fuss for now, doncha think?

Dan has told me he plans to get licensed but he is a busy man and just hasn't had the time. :wink: :wink:

Besides, Onur had a great time on Steel Bender using the HAM radio to finalize plans for the surprise party for Dan and he was none the wiser. Dan was sitting back in the gunner position listening to the CB silence and wondering why the group was so quiet.

-Mike-

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I've caused enough of a fuss for now, doncha think?

Dan has told me he plans to get licensed but he is a busy man and just hasn't had the time. :wink: :wink:

Besides, Onur had a great time on Steel Bender using the HAM radio to finalize plans for the surprise party for Dan and he was none the wiser. Dan was sitting back in the gunner position listening to the CB silence and wondering why the group was so quiet.

-Mike-

I thought Dan was only busy at inventory time. That leaves 29 days to study and realistically it takes 2.

If the OP wants a Midland 1000 series radio, I bought 2 several years ago for $11 each brand new. Kind of a poor radio in my opinion. Send me a PM with your address and I'll send you one or both if I can find them. I'll throw in a crappy Radio Shack mag mount as well. If you just have to waste money on this obsolete technology, the Uniden 510 is the deal, often available under $35 at WallMart. I have one of these that been going 8+ years with no issues.

K5BENO is already proficient with his radio but hasn't read the book because he leaves his music playing while transmitting. You're gonna have to school them both Mike.

 

[1911]

For my General ticket, I bought a Gordon West book on half.com and I liked it much better than the ARRL book for Technician. Gordon West Radio School :: Training Materials

His books are much better organized and more intuitiuve than the ARRL books. Between his book and free on-line practice tests, I passed easily the first time.

 

[Beowulf]

As far as test, ARRL is only showing a test on July 12th in Los Alamos.

When is Cruiserdan taking his exam? He'll need it for Rubicon this year

Onur told me last week that he is also planning to attend the Rubicon event in June so getting those 2 guys legally transmitting will be important. The FCC is pretty serious about compliance with fines up to $10,000.

I will have some information at the meeting tonight for those that are interested in getting licensed. We can get this done before Rubicon if everyone will work with me on this. It will take some personal sacrifice to allocate time to preparing for the exam and time to take the exam. It is unlikely that we can come up with a schedule that works perfectly for everyone so please be flexible.

It seems like we have interest from Onur, Carol, Rudy, Mark, Vince, and maybe CruiserDan and/or Sarah. Anyone else?

Would anyone be interested in a club funded training class for Technician in advance of the testing? I will make a motion on this tonight at the risk of getting blasted by those of that don't want the club to move from the CB world.

-Mike-

 

[sirenmoses]

pm's sent to El Tejon & Cruiserdrew. I'll start studying up for the Ham test, and snag the Midlands for 'until' and 'wheeln w/other folks'.

Prolly won't be ready for a June test (hoping to start EMT-Intermediate class next week), but will commit to testing (and even wheeln the lifted rig) before the snow flies.

 

[pappy]

K5BENO is already ...

I was thinking more along the lines of K?ØNUR. I'm sure he won't mind being associated with the "Ø" region.

 

[Beowulf]

Prolly won't be ready for a June test ...

Carol,
You are really blowing this test all out of proportion. The Technician exam is not at all difficult... mostly just common sense stuff like no 1-way communications (e.g. reading the newspaper aloud just to amuse yourself) and no music (e.g. the goof-balls transmitting C&W over their CB) and some other stuff like that. A few hours here and there is all it takes.

-Mike-

 

[pappy]

Mike is right. The folks that don't have a license yet are over analyzing this. If pre-teen kids can get a license, you can.


And Mike, I listen to C&W, so .

 

[sirenmoses]

Carol,
You are really blowing this test all out of proportion...

Yea, that's what the research coordinator said when I signed up for a study at UNM -- those flipping questions were hard.

But 8 years of using Bendix King UHF and 800mh radios outta be worth sumptin, so the real challenge will be work/school/living 20 miles from civilization.

Now how do I fit "DOBE/R" into the call sign?

 

[pappy]

Now how do I fit "DOBE/R" into the call sign?

Easy. KDØBER. Done deal. OH POOP! It's available. Better hurry!

 

[sirenmoses]

Easy. KDØBER. Done deal. OH POOP! It's available. Better hurry!

okay, i'm fur sure in now. how can i snag this asap?

 

[alia176]

okay, i'm fur sure in now. how can i snag this asap?

take the test, pass it ,then get a generic ID assigned, then change to your vanity sign.

That's all.

 

[OGBeno]

Onur told me last week that he is also planning to attend the Rubicon event in June

Onur is not going to the Rubithon.

 

[sirenmoses]

Onur is not going to the Rubithon.

Why not, did the big bad Cdan slap ya down?

Or the CFO?