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Originally Posted By Loadthis: Hey gentlemen, I'm currently studying to get my Technician license and started off scoring mid 50's on the practice tests. After a couple days reading I am up to 80%-90%. Next test in my area isn't til July so I've got plenty of time to prepare, may even go for the General. The study guides are great but I would like to learn more than just how to pass the test. There is a local club here that I'll be checking out soon. I'm not quite sure how I want to start out, as far as equipment. I'm thinking a mobile setup would be best since I travel (and move) a lot. My Dad (W6DX) has been urging me to get into Ham since I was a teenager and I am finally getting interested. I will talk to him this weekend and get his input. He may even have some gear I could try out before buying. Thanks guys for the outstanding info here. you have plenty of time to go for general, id start on it now, you have the tech down pat. look for equipment that fits you, if you go general and want an all in one radio, the IC-7000 is a favorite here, though expensive, it does everything and quite well. my only complaint with it is when running UHF VHF the speaker has a little fuzz in it.
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Snow's Minion #7
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When does the current General test expire and is replaced with a new one?
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Because this is America, and when the dark lord of the old gods rises from the abyss, we just shoot him in the fucking face and go back to watching football.~ TexasRifleman1985
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Originally Posted By wganz: When does the current General test expire and is replaced with a new one? The 30th of next month. |
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Originally post by 2theLeft: If done right, there is no taste, because it goes right down the throat..
IM me to find out about SSA's poor customer service |
Ok –– checkpoint time –– who has made progress, and who needs help? ar-jedi |
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Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery |
Originally Posted By ar-jedi: Ok –– checkpoint time –– who has made progress, and who needs help? ar-jedi I need an extra week to cram everything in so I can test for tech and general at the same time. |
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Originally post by 2theLeft: If done right, there is no taste, because it goes right down the throat..
IM me to find out about SSA's poor customer service |
Originally Posted By machinisttx:
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
Ok –– checkpoint time –– who has made progress, and who needs help? ar-jedi I need an extra week to cram everything in so I can test for tech and general at the same time. i will see what i can do. no promises. ar-jedi |
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Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery |
2/3 through the tech manual, testing consistently at upper 70's %. Plan on finishing it this week and starting the general manual this weekend.
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Originally Posted By ar-jedi: Originally Posted By machinisttx: Originally Posted By ar-jedi: Ok –– checkpoint time –– who has made progress, and who needs help? ar-jedi I need an extra week to cram everything in so I can test for tech and general at the same time. i will see what i can do. no promises. ar-jedi I'm pretty confident that I'll pass the tech test. Just took 14 or 15 practice tests on qrz.com and scored anywhere from 86-96%. I'll cram for the next couple of days and maybe I'll pass the general. |
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Originally post by 2theLeft: If done right, there is no taste, because it goes right down the throat..
IM me to find out about SSA's poor customer service |
Originally Posted By machinisttx:
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
Originally Posted By machinisttx:
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
Ok –– checkpoint time –– who has made progress, and who needs help? ar-jedi I need an extra week to cram everything in so I can test for tech and general at the same time. i will see what i can do. no promises. ar-jedi I'm pretty confident that I'll pass the tech test. Just took 14 or 15 practice tests on qrz.com and scored anywhere from 86-96%. I'll cram for the next couple of days and maybe I'll pass the general. This ^ except I have my doubts about general, I haven't studied it much yet. I may be testing this Saturday now depending on if I get home in time from this TDY. I'm gonna try though, doesn't hurt a bit. . |
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Common Sense = Insubordination
Team Ranstad Tennessee Squire |
Keep up the good work guys! Take the General even if you think you are going to fail it. It will give you some insight on what the test consists of and doesn't cost you anything extra. Who knows..you may get an "easy" test.
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This space for rent..
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Originally Posted By KB7DX:
Keep up the good work guys! Take the General even if you think you are going to fail it. It will give you some insight on what the test consists of and doesn't cost you anything extra. Who knows..you may get an "easy" test. At our last session we had a guy try all three. He made it through Tech and General but we ran out of red ink on his Extra. At least he gave it a shot, though. |
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http://www.floridatrail.org
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For the guys who are studying the tech manual, and are taking practice tests with above 70% scores. Start on the general test questions. The general test is just a more in depth tech test. Some of the questions on the general test are also on the tech test.
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If you don't have the guts to fight them in court you won't have the guts to fight them in combat.
KF5GNW |
have misplaced my General Study Guide (or my wife has hidden) back to searching!
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In!
Am general studying for extra. Me needs a vanity call sign. |
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Originally Posted By Macumazahn:
In! Am general studying for extra. Me needs a vanity call sign. One of the best things I heard last year was the VE saying, congratulations you're now an extra. Now let's see how many you actually missed. Keep studying, you can pass this test. |
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If you don't have the guts to fight them in court you won't have the guts to fight them in combat.
KF5GNW |
Originally Posted By SCWolverine:
have misplaced my General Study Guide (or my wife has hidden) back to searching! If you don't find your study guide, here is a link to one I used when I was studying for my upgrade that I found useful (and free). The No-Nonsense General Class License Study Guide |
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Another VE and Extra willing to help.
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It'd be like a jellyfish attacking a snowblower. - cmjohnson
She's so easy, even a caveman can do her. - thedoctors308 افر / -. ----- -.-- ... -. |
Originally Posted By SCWolverine:
have misplaced my General Study Guide (or my wife has hidden) back to searching! found, sitting behind my laptop studying, again! |
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Originally Posted By SCWolverine:
Originally Posted By SCWolverine:
have misplaced my General Study Guide (or my wife has hidden) back to searching! found, sitting behind my laptop studying, again! Lol I lose tools like that all the time. Find them right in front of me but somehow I didn't see them |
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Common Sense = Insubordination
Team Ranstad Tennessee Squire |
Originally Posted By Jax2Chl: +1If you don't find your study guide, here is a link to one I used when I was studying for my upgrade that I found useful (and free). The No-Nonsense General Class License Study Guide In addition to the guide, you might want to look online at diagrams for the Yagi, cubic-quad, and delta-loop antennas if you're not familiar with them. Remembering the answers to those antenna questions are a lot easier if you can visualize the antenna. I used this and the flash cards and practice tests from hamexam.org. I studied an hour or so a day for the past week and I passed my Technician and General Exams tonight. EDIT: hamexam.org, not .com - the hamexam.org site seems legit with no ads and I haven't received any spam from a Nigerian prince since signing up. It didn't request any info other than an email address. The hamexam.com site seems kinda sketchy. |
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Originally Posted By fatdoggie:
I passed my Technician and General Exams tonight. CONGRATS! ar-jedi |
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Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery |
Originally Posted By fatdoggie:
I studied an hour or so a day for the past week and I passed my Technician and General Exams tonight. Well Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Originally Posted By fatdoggie: Originally Posted By Jax2Chl: +1If you don't find your study guide, here is a link to one I used when I was studying for my upgrade that I found useful (and free). The No-Nonsense General Class License Study Guide In addition to the guide, you might want to look online at diagrams for the Yagi, cubic-quad, and delta-loop antennas if you're not familiar with them. Remembering the answers to those antenna questions are a lot easier if you can visualize the antenna. I used this and the flash cards and practice tests from hamexam.com. I studied an hour or so a day for the past week and I passed my Technician and General Exams tonight. Good deal. I've been studying about the same amount for several weeks. A lot of this stuff just doesn't "click" for me. ETA: I'm curious about the software from hamexam.com. I'm reading through the info on their site and came across this: This software features LIFETIME FREE UPDATES to registered users in good standing. What this means is that, for example, if you are planning on doing your Amateur (Ham Radio) exams now, you can take the Technician exam now, and when you're ready for the General or Extra, simply use the built-in self-update and study as you need to. The software is ready for you! I don't understand... The software doesn't already have the General and Extra portions in it? After "updating" can you go back through the tech or general stuff to review at a later date? |
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Originally post by 2theLeft: If done right, there is no taste, because it goes right down the throat..
IM me to find out about SSA's poor customer service |
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
Originally Posted By fatdoggie:
I passed my Technician and General Exams tonight. CONGRATS! ar-jedi |
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http://www.floridatrail.org
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Originally Posted By JaxShooter:
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
Originally Posted By fatdoggie:
I passed my Technician and General Exams tonight. CONGRATS! ar-jedi Nice shootin', fatdoggie! Congrats! |
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Worf: No! Men do not roar. Women roar. Then they hurl heavy objects. (dreamily) And claw at you.
You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun. -Al Capone |
Originally Posted By machinisttx: Good deal. I've been studying about the same amount for several weeks. A lot of this stuff just doesn't "click" for me. ETA: I'm curious about the software from hamexam.com. I'm reading through the info on their site and came across this: This software features LIFETIME FREE UPDATES to registered users in good standing. What this means is that, for example, if you are planning on doing your Amateur (Ham Radio) exams now, you can take the Technician exam now, and when you're ready for the General or Extra, simply use the built-in self-update and study as you need to. The software is ready for you! I don't understand... The software doesn't already have the General and Extra portions in it? After "updating" can you go back through the tech or general stuff to review at a later date? You might try the free tools at hamexam.org (not .com) before you buy any software. If you make an account (free), you'll have access to your stats and you can figure out what it is you need to focus on by question category. You can also have it start weighting the questions so the ones you get wrong most often come up more often. |
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Ah, ok. I didn't browse off the main page of their site.
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Originally post by 2theLeft: If done right, there is no taste, because it goes right down the throat..
IM me to find out about SSA's poor customer service |
hamexam.ORG helped me get my general and will help me get my extra! It's very useful to help you target the areas you really need the work in, and you can tailor the exams to only show you questions from the areas you struggle in.
One thing I would recommend is that if you do the focused studying, make sure to reset all your stats after a while and take the full question pool again just so nothing slips out. YOU CAN DO EEET! |
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There are two ways to do something: The right way and right now.
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Originally Posted By BigDaddy0004:
Originally Posted By JaxShooter:
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
Originally Posted By fatdoggie:
I passed my Technician and General Exams tonight. CONGRATS! ar-jedi Nice shootin', fatdoggie! Congrats! Congrats! |
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Common Sense = Insubordination
Team Ranstad Tennessee Squire |
Figuring wattage is just as simple. I use the P triangle. Where P is power in watts, I is the amperage and E is the voltage. ––––––––––-
I / E You must know two of the units in the "pie". Say you have a circuit that runs on 12v and draws 2 amps. Replace the I with the amps (current) and the E with the voltage. Multiply the current by the volts to find "P" (watts) so 2 x 12 = 24 watts. Easy peasy. Similar for finding out how much current a circuit will draw. Say the device, a light bulb in this example, is a 60 watt unit. It runs on 115 volts. By dividing the watts by the volts you can determine how many amps (current) the bulb draws. So 60 (P) / 115 (E) = 0.52 (I) amps. P ––––––––––- I / E Edit formula text.. |
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This space for rent..
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Been studying for a few years off and on, but my Elmer (WD50) passed away last year
I'm really wanting to get mine and been scoring in the low 80's/upper 70's lately when I was in the high 90's back when I studied more Got this tagged for some really good Ham/electronics info I haven't seen or really had to use since electronics school in the Navy in 92' |
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Navy Carrier Vet--CV-66' USS AMERICA' '92-'96
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The one liner to remember Ohms Law that was taught to me 30+ years ago in aircraft mechanics school.
"Stick the PIE in your EIR." P ––––- I x E E ––––- I x R P = Power in Watts I = Amps E = Electromotive force in Volts R = Resistance in Ohms Take your thumb and cover the parameter you don't have and calculate from there. For example I have a 60w lightbulb plugged in a 12vdc circuit. What is the amperage? Cover I and the formula is P divided by E or 60 / 12 = 5 amps. Worst case math is if you have say the values of Watts and Volts but want the know the Resistance. Here do two calculations. Taking that same 60w, 12vdc lightbulb we again do the P / E = I or 5 amps. Now cover the R and the formula is E divided by I or 12 / 5 = 2.4 ohms. Doing two simple calculations saves having to remember and do those other squared and square root calculations. The other thing from A&P school was a one-liner for the resistor color code. However it is now so politcally incorrect that even I will not repeat it on a public forum. Different time in 1977. |
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machinisttx, don't you have something to report? ar-jedi |
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Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery |
Originally Posted By KB7DX:
ar-jedi. I offer my assistance in any way I can. This year, 2011 is my 20th year as a ham. same here, April 1991. ar-jedi |
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Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery |
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Poznai Sebia ... Know Yourself. |
Originally post by 2theLeft: If done right, there is no taste, because it goes right down the throat..
IM me to find out about SSA's poor customer service |
Congrats machinisttx,
I was hoping to test tomorrow but I got stuck in VA an extra day. I plan on driving 2 hours each way on Wednesday to test at another club. Then I need to find me a radio For the skeptics - I've only been studying for about a week and a half and am scoring 100's on the Tech practice exams and between 85-100 on General. - you can do it. |
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Common Sense = Insubordination
Team Ranstad Tennessee Squire |
Originally Posted By HankEllis:
The one liner to remember Ohms Law that was taught to me 30+ years ago in aircraft mechanics school. "Stick the PIE in your EIR." P ––––- I x E E ––––- I x R P = Power in Watts I = Amps E = Electromotive force in Volts R = Resistance in Ohms Take your thumb and cover the parameter you don't have and calculate from there. For example I have a 60w lightbulb plugged in a 12vdc circuit. What is the amperage? Cover I and the formula is P divided by E or 60 / 12 = 5 amps. Worst case math is if you have say the values of Watts and Volts but want the know the Resistance. Here do two calculations. Taking that same 60w, 12vdc lightbulb we again do the P / E = I or 5 amps. Now cover the R and the formula is E divided by I or 12 / 5 = 2.4 ohms. Doing two simple calculations saves having to remember and do those other squared and square root calculations. The other thing from A&P school was a one-liner for the resistor color code. However it is now so politcally incorrect that even I will not repeat it on a public forum. Different time in 1977. Thank you, well said. I sometimes have a hard time with wordz. IM me the offending phrase please... |
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This space for rent..
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Originally Posted By KB7DX:
Originally Posted By HankEllis:
The other thing from A&P school was a one-liner for the resistor color code. However it is now so politcally incorrect that even I will not repeat it on a public forum. Different time in 1977. Thank you, well said. I sometimes have a hard time with wordz. IM me the offending phrase please... poor Violet... here is a compendium... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_electronic_color_code_mnemonics ar-jedi |
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Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery |
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
Originally Posted By KB7DX:
ar-jedi. I offer my assistance in any way I can. This year, 2011 is my 20th year as a ham. same here, April 1991. ar-jedi Wow, thats almost exactly when I got my ticket. I upgraded to Gen shortly afterwards. |
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This space for rent..
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Originally Posted By Loadthis: Congrats machinisttx, I was hoping to test tomorrow but I got stuck in VA an extra day. I plan on driving 2 hours each way on Wednesday to test at another club. Then I need to find me a radio For the skeptics - I've only been studying for about a week and a half and am scoring 100's on the Tech practice exams and between 85-100 on General. - you can do it. Thanks. As above, it's not that hard. |
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Originally post by 2theLeft: If done right, there is no taste, because it goes right down the throat..
IM me to find out about SSA's poor customer service |
Thanks for posting this. I've been wanting to get into ham radio for a while now, and have been a bit overwhelmed at how to proceed. Hopefully going through this thread will help with that.
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Well-behaved women rarely make history.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Proud Team Ranstad member |
Originally Posted By Molon-Labe:
Thanks for posting this. I've been wanting to get into ham radio for a while now, and have been a bit overwhelmed at how to proceed. Hopefully going through this thread will help with that. does that mean you are signed up? ar-jedi |
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Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery |
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
The one we were taught was the second example with the black replacing bad. The tolerance mnemonic that went with it was "Get Some Now" Gold = 5%, Silver = 10%, No Color = 20%. This was in a public community college in a large metropolitan area in the midwest circa 1977. Geez. If that was done today Rev Jesse and NOW would come down on the teacher, school, the state and everybody else remotely connected to the individual and institution as well as splashed by CNN. As I remember the instructor was a retired Navy avionics tech and that was how he was taught. His real job after the Navy was an avionics inspector with TWA. Tough SOB but he did get us to understand basic electrical and electronic systems and got up to speed with a soldering iron.
Originally Posted By KB7DX:
Originally Posted By HankEllis:
The other thing from A&P school was a one-liner for the resistor color code. However it is now so politcally incorrect that even I will not repeat it on a public forum. Different time in 1977. Thank you, well said. I sometimes have a hard time with wordz. IM me the offending phrase please... poor Violet... here is a compendium... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_electronic_color_code_mnemonics ar-jedi Violet? It was all consentual. |
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Yes, I too learned about Violet and her ways in Navy electronics in '92. I had all but forgotten about her
Don't tell my wife. AR-Jedi....sign me up. It's about time I finished this up, and maybe I'll take my checkride for my PPL after this If you know of any Elmers in my area let me know, and maybe I can do more than just study it online... Thanks guys for the trip down memory lane! |
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Navy Carrier Vet--CV-66' USS AMERICA' '92-'96
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Originally Posted By JoeRedman:
AR-Jedi....sign me up. It's about time I finished this up i had pre-signed you up when you had expressed interest earlier in the thread. check the bottom of the top post. you're committed now. ar-jedi |
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Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery |
This is one of my goals, thank you. More desire than time right now though with a sort of newborn, so will circle back in as soon as I can...
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Do you like BACON?! I made my own...you can, too; it's VERY easy! http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=19&t=629065
How about dry italian pork sausage?! http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=19&t=628430 |
Originally Posted By ar-jedi: Originally Posted By Molon-Labe: Thanks for posting this. I've been wanting to get into ham radio for a while now, and have been a bit overwhelmed at how to proceed. Hopefully going through this thread will help with that. does that mean you are signed up? ar-jedi Not yet. But I plan to. |
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Well-behaved women rarely make history.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Proud Team Ranstad member |
Originally Posted By Molon-Labe:
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
Originally Posted By Molon-Labe:
Thanks for posting this. I've been wanting to get into ham radio for a while now, and have been a bit overwhelmed at how to proceed. Hopefully going through this thread will help with that. does that mean you are signed up? ar-jedi Not yet. But I plan to. you can't be "half pregnant". ar-jedi |
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Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery |
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