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Posted: 5/11/2011 1:14:44 PM EDT
I was looking at a Chinese radio set on eBay.

How hard is it to get licensed to use the damned thing?


Interesting turn of events.

On test exams I nail Technician exams cold.

I pass General exams about 50% of the time and I am getting better fast.


I have just found that there are a BUNCH of places I can test within 100 miles of home on both weekends and weekdays.

The plan is to just go in and nail the technician test and take the General and if I don't pass try again somewhere else.

If at first you don't succeed, simply go down the street.


Anyone know if this is an OK strategy?
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 1:23:11 PM EDT
[#1]
Easier than reading the instruction manual, and I mean that.  There are several ways to study for your license but I think buying a book is the best.  Either ARRL or Gordon West technician manual will get you started.  

Craig
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 1:27:55 PM EDT
[#2]
Another option is to study a study guide (AKA reworded question pool answers) and take practice tests. Really easy to take Tech and General that way.
Once you consistently make around 90% on all the practice tests, you're good to go!

http://w5ac.tamu.edu/Element2_Study_Guide.pdf
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 1:28:28 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
Easier than reading the instruction manual, and I mean that.  There are several ways to study for your license but I think buying a book is the best.  Either ARRL or Gordon West technician manual will get you started.  

Craig


I heard someone say that there is some class in Dayton, OH that will get you a technician class ticket in a weekend.

Don't you have to be a novice first?
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 1:31:13 PM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Easier than reading the instruction manual, and I mean that.  There are several ways to study for your license but I think buying a book is the best.  Either ARRL or Gordon West technician manual will get you started.  

Craig


I heard someone say that there is some class in Dayton, OH that will get you a technician class ticket in a weekend.

Don't you have to be a novice first?


Novice was never a requirement to get Technician, though if you did have it, you were considered a Tech Plus because the code test counted.... After they dumped Novice in '99 and Morse Code in '07, all technicians have access to Tech Plus allocations.

This is all before my time, so I very well may be mistaken...
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 1:39:36 PM EDT
[#5]
Study a little bit and take the practice tests online.  I passed tech and general at the same time and others here have too.

practice tests here
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 1:51:34 PM EDT
[#6]
There's a guy here in Dallas who gives a 2 day course and administers the tech test at the end. Like $50 to $60 person or something like that.

The last one he did was for some government employees in emergency management who were getting ham licenses as part of some homeland security program. Out of the group, he had two people fail. He let them take it again, and they still failed.

So yes, I continue to worry about government participation in a real disaster.

For crying out loud, it's multiple choice and you have all the possible questions and answers before you take the test.

It's not that difficult if you study a bit on your own.

Add it to your bathroom reading for a few weeks and you'll be ready.

Link Posted: 5/11/2011 1:53:47 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Easier than reading the instruction manual, and I mean that.  There are several ways to study for your license but I think buying a book is the best.  Either ARRL or Gordon West technician manual will get you started.  

Craig


I heard someone say that there is some class in Dayton, OH that will get you a technician class ticket in a weekend.

Don't you have to be a novice first?


Novice was never a requirement to get Technician, though if you did have it, you were considered a Tech Plus because the code test counted.... After they dumped Novice in '99 and Morse Code in '07, all technicians have access to Tech Plus allocations.

This is all before my time, so I very well may be mistaken...


Not true. You had to go through the series one level at a time. In fact, IIRC when I got my first Novice ticket in junior high school, the novice license was only good for 2 years, then you HAD to upgrade. Back in the day, there were five levels: Novice, Technician, General, Advanced and Extra. Nowdays, Novice and Advanced have been eliminated. But you DO have to pass your Technician license test before going on to General, and pass your General before going to Extra. Some people have completed all 3 tests in a single testing session.

Morse Code is no longer required for any ham license.
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 1:56:31 PM EDT
[#8]
Disregard.
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 2:13:26 PM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Easier than reading the instruction manual, and I mean that.  There are several ways to study for your license but I think buying a book is the best.  Either ARRL or Gordon West technician manual will get you started.  

Craig


I heard someone say that there is some class in Dayton, OH that will get you a technician class ticket in a weekend.

Don't you have to be a novice first?


Novice was never a requirement to get Technician, though if you did have it, you were considered a Tech Plus because the code test counted.... After they dumped Novice in '99 and Morse Code in '07, all technicians have access to Tech Plus allocations.

This is all before my time, so I very well may be mistaken...


Not true. You had to go through the series one level at a time. In fact, IIRC when I got my first Novice ticket in junior high school, the novice license was only good for 2 years, then you HAD to upgrade. Back in the day, there were five levels: Novice, Technician, General, Advanced and Extra. Nowdays, Novice and Advanced have been eliminated. But you DO have to pass your Technician license test before going on to General, and pass your General before going to Extra. Some people have completed all 3 tests in a single testing session.

Morse Code is no longer required for any ham license.


It was before my time!
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 2:21:03 PM EDT
[#10]
Check out The Ham Whisperer on youtube. he does some good videos explaining things then gives you a little quiz. You can easily do one a day or so and have the material down in a month.

After reading your blog, I think you would find the hobby interesting.
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 2:27:36 PM EDT
[#11]
Here is my standard copy/paste that I send out to ham wannabes.

Go to this site:

http://www.w5ddl.org/

And on the left side you will see links to Classroom Presentations (in PowerPoint) for Tech and General, as well as links to practice exams for Tech, General, and Extra class.   If you don't have PowerPoint, there is a link for a free PowerPoint Viewer.

In each of those two links you will find both the separate chapters, as well as a zip file containing all of the chapters.

Here is another site with classes:

http://www.rarchams.org/class/technician/chartsppt09/index.htm

There are also courses of study that may be subscribed to at:

http://www.hamtestonline.com


(NOTE- When you print out these guides, yes, print them... take a Magic Marker and black out all the wrong answers.  This way you study only the correct answers and everything else looks unfamiliar.  Seriously, print, black out, study.  Just take my word for it and do it.)

Study Guides - right click on these links and Save As:

Tech:  http://www.kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/2010_Tech_Study_Guide.pdf


General: http://abacus.nmsu.edu/~shoran/PDF/General_Pool_2007.pdf

and

http://kb6nu.com/2007GeneralStudyGuide.pdf


Extra: http://abacus.nmsu.edu/~shoran/PDF/Extra%20Class%20Amateur%20Radio%20Course.pdf

and

http://kb6nu.com/extra-class-easypass-how-everybody-can-be-an-extra/


Podcasts:

http://hamradioclass.com/

http://hamradioclass.com/shownotes/

Practice Tests:

http://www.qrz.com/ham/

http://www.radioexam.org/

http://aa9pw.com/radio/

http://www.eham.net/exams/

http://www.w8mhb.com/exam/

http://www.hamtestonline.com

http://hamexam.org/


Testing Locations

http://www.w5yi-vec.org/exam_locations_ama.php

(Search by State)

http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml

(Search by State, Country, or Zip Code)


Here's what to do... study the study guides a few evenings. Then begin doing the W5DDL classroom presentations. You can do one or two a night.

Also begin taking the practice tests. With all of those sites, each time you take the test it will have a different random draw of questions from the question pool... just like the real test you will take. I would also suggest you take the practice test on a different site each time. This will help you get used to the appearance of the test being different, just as it will be when you take the actual test. Take two or three (or more if you have time) of the practice tests each night after going through a chapter from W5DDL.

By the time you are finished with the W5DDL classes you will be ready for the Tech test, and you will pass.

BUT WAIT!!! There's more!!!

When you are confident that you will pass the Tech, and are passing by 90% or more, begin study for the General. If you are smart enough to pass the Tech, you are smart enough for the General, too.

With the General comes greatly expanded band privileges. Keep up with studying the Tech guides and the practice tests, but add the General.

You can do this!

73
AFM
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 2:28:14 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
After reading your blog, I think you would find the hobby interesting.



Just looking to spread my poor behavior over a wider area.



My smart-assed mate says I ought to cough up an extra $25 and become a universal Life minister so I can marry people via ham radio.

"Dee dee da dee dee.....Say 'I do'....dee dee da dee dee dee."

i get no respect out here.

Link Posted: 5/11/2011 2:44:16 PM EDT
[#13]
Just got my Technician license a couple of weeks ago.
Here is what I did. Go to the QRZ exams that are previously linked.
Start on Test 1 and repeat it until you get 85% and then advance onto the next test until you've scored the 85% on Test 10. Repeat some of the earlier tests to reinforce that learning. Took me ~ two weeks. Then, start selecting a random test between 1 ~ 100 to review. Another week.

Take the test the next Tuesday and wait about 5 days until your call sign shows up in the national registry.

Then start immediately start on the General test.

My electronic background is limited to hooking up speaker wires. So, if I can do it; you can do it too.
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 2:56:33 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
How hard is it to get licensed to use the damned thing?

if only there were some helpful tacked threads...

Ham Radio 101
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=604477

the CAN'T FAIL thread for getting a ham radio license and learning basic VHF/UHF operations
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=646491

ar-jedi
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 3:00:22 PM EDT
[#15]
can a technician use the 80,60 and 40 meter bands?
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 3:03:31 PM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
can a technician use the 80,60 and 40 meter bands?

in general, no.  most of HF (10m to 160m) is General, Advanced, and Extra only, except for tiny chunks of CW areas for Technicians, and a slice of 10m for RTTY (data( and phone (voice).

ps
Advanced is a "legacy" license category, but they are out there...

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Hambands_color.pdf

ar-jedi
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 3:54:00 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:

My electronic background is limited to hooking up speaker wires. So, if I can do it; you can do it too.


I don't think this is mentioned often enough.  A desire to learn is much more important than previous technical knowledge.  
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 3:55:17 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
can a technician use the 80,60 and 40 meter bands?


If you can pass the tech test (and anyone can) you can pass the general test with just a little more effort.  Then you'll have HF privileges and you'll be communicating all over the world.
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 4:39:38 PM EDT
[#19]
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 4:52:02 PM EDT
[#20]
I've been studying for it off and on for several weeks. It will be easy to pass the technician test, and the general isn't much harder. Use the qrz.com site for practice tests(which are the real questions/answers from the actual tests) and the ARRL website to find when/where tests will be. Also see the ham 101 thread and the "can't fail" thread.



The tech and general are 35 questions each. You can take both tests and not pay any extra..this is what I plan to do tomorrow night. Maybe I will pass the general, tech is sure fire.
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 5:07:09 PM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
Just got my Technician license a couple of weeks ago.
Here is what I did. Go to the QRZ exams that are previously linked.
Start on Test 1 and repeat it until you get 85% and then advance onto the next test until you've scored the 85% on Test 10. Repeat some of the earlier tests to reinforce that learning. Took me ~ two weeks. Then, start selecting a random test between 1 ~ 100 to review. Another week.

Take the test the next Tuesday and wait about 5 days until your call sign shows up in the national registry.

Then start immediately start on the General test.

My electronic background is limited to hooking up speaker wires. So, if I can do it; you can do it too.




WRONG!!!  

As soon as you are consistently scoring 90% on the Tech practice tests, begin studying the General.  Make up your mind that you WILL take AND PASS both the Tech and General at a minimum.  Don't try... there is no try.  There is only do or do not.  
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 5:27:31 PM EDT
[#22]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Just got my Technician license a couple of weeks ago.
Here is what I did. Go to the QRZ exams that are previously linked.
Start on Test 1 and repeat it until you get 85% and then advance onto the next test until you've scored the 85% on Test 10. Repeat some of the earlier tests to reinforce that learning. Took me ~ two weeks. Then, start selecting a random test between 1 ~ 100 to review. Another week.

Take the test the next Tuesday and wait about 5 days until your call sign shows up in the national registry.

Then start immediately start on the General test.

My electronic background is limited to hooking up speaker wires. So, if I can do it; you can do it too.




WRONG!!!  

As soon as you are consistently scoring 90% on the Tech practice tests, begin studying the General.  Make up your mind that you WILL take AND PASS both the Tech and General at a minimum.  Don't try... there is no try.  There is only do or do not.  


Agreed. Just pass both at the same time. Even if it takes a little longer.

I'm not very good at following through on things. The way I figure, I was either going to get a General, or nothing at all.

ETA: Also, after passing my exams, my callsign was in the FCC ULS in less than 24 hours.
Link Posted: 5/11/2011 5:34:58 PM EDT
[#23]
So, why do I say plan on taking the Tech and General (and passing!) at the same time?

Because I've given too many General tests to applicants that had passed the Tech, but did not study the General, and they came very close to passing the General.  I always ask, "Do you feel that if you had at least studied the General a little, you could have picked up 2 or 3 more questions and passed the General, too?"  

Invariably they say yes.

And I've given tests to too applicants that did study both, and they all passed both, but for one guy.  And he came back at the next test session and passed the General by a big margin.

I can say this for sure, studying for the General in addition to the Tech certainly won't hurt your chances of passing the Tech... and don't you think you'd have a lot more fun if you could work the HF bands, too?

What I would hate to see you do is lose momentum and not continue on up to at least the General.

73,
AFM
Link Posted: 5/12/2011 4:22:53 AM EDT
[#24]
After looking at the spec sheet on that Chinese Army radio set, it looks like I'm going to have to get a General ticket or else learn CW fast.

The last time I played with CW I must have been 12 years old.


Hmmm.....

If I'm going to call the Japanese Self defense forces and try palm myself off as last of the holdouts, i guess I'm gonna have to learn CW.



ETA: New blog idea: the continuing adventures of Private Piccolo, IJA, the last holdout
Link Posted: 5/12/2011 4:36:12 AM EDT
[#25]
Quoted:
Quoted:
can a technician use the 80,60 and 40 meter bands?


If you can pass the tech test (and anyone can) you can pass the general test with just a little more effort.  Then you'll have HF privileges and you'll be communicating all over the world.


Truer words were never spoken. I took Tech in December of 09 and General in April of 10. The tests were maddeningly similar. If I had studied the general tests on QRZ for a week I would have been able to pass General on the same day as Tech.

I passed my tests and got my ticket. How hard can it be if I can do it?
Link Posted: 5/12/2011 5:31:30 AM EDT
[#26]
Bubba....if I can pass the General exam.....anybody with multiple firing synapses can pass the General exam.



I admit that I'm an 'appliance operator' rather than a 'theoretician'.....works for my emcomms needs.
Link Posted: 5/12/2011 6:02:04 AM EDT
[#27]
Quoted:
So, why do I say plan on taking the Tech and General (and passing!) at the same time?

Because I've given too many General tests to applicants that had passed the Tech, but did not study the General, and they came very close to passing the General.  I always ask, "Do you feel that if you had at least studied the General a little, you could have picked up 2 or 3 more questions and passed the General, too?"  

Invariably they say yes.
This.

Exactly what happened to me. Studied Tech for 2 weeks with taking the online tests, hitting the book and all that. Consistently hit the 90s with the practice tests. Passed Tech with ease. Tried General without studying a lick and missed by 2 questions. Came back a month later when the next test session came around and passed General with ease. Should have at least given General a passing look.

Quoted:
After looking at the spec sheet on that Chinese Army radio set, it looks like I'm going to have to get a General ticket or else learn CW fast.

The last time I played with CW I must have been 12 years old.


You know what the international distress morse code is? SOS ... - - - ... There you already know two letters. Just 24 more to go. Seriously it took me 6 months of practicing an hour a day to learn to copy code and send it at a 12wpm rate. Just made my first CW contacts over last weekend. This is why people think getting a ham ticket is so difficult. Before 2007 you had to learn code to pass the test. Not any more. The tests are less about superheterodyne circuits, 1.21 gigawatts, and flux capacitors and more of the regulatory, good operating practices, and safety sides.



Link Posted: 5/12/2011 6:25:02 AM EDT
[#28]
Quoted:
Bubba....if I can pass the General exam.....anybody with multiple firing synapses can pass the General exam.

I admit that I'm an 'appliance operator' rather than a 'theoretician'.....works for my emcomms needs.


Any what is wrong with that?  Not a thing.

Two thumbs up!
Link Posted: 5/12/2011 6:27:36 AM EDT
[#29]
Quoted:
Quoted:
So, why do I say plan on taking the Tech and General (and passing!) at the same time?

Because I've given too many General tests to applicants that had passed the Tech, but did not study the General, and they came very close to passing the General.  I always ask, "Do you feel that if you had at least studied the General a little, you could have picked up 2 or 3 more questions and passed the General, too?"  

Invariably they say yes.
This.

Exactly what happened to me. Studied Tech for 2 weeks with taking the online tests, hitting the book and all that. Consistently hit the 90s with the practice tests. Passed Tech with ease. Tried General without studying a lick and missed by 2 questions. Came back a month later when the next test session came around and passed General with ease. Should have at least given General a passing look.

Quoted:
After looking at the spec sheet on that Chinese Army radio set, it looks like I'm going to have to get a General ticket or else learn CW fast.

The last time I played with CW I must have been 12 years old.


You know what the international distress morse code is? SOS ... - - - ... There you already know two letters. Just 24 more to go. Seriously it took me 6 months of practicing an hour a day to learn to copy code and send it at a 12wpm rate. Just made my first CW contacts over last weekend. This is why people think getting a ham ticket is so difficult. Before 2007 you had to learn code to pass the test. Not any more. The tests are less about superheterodyne circuits, 1.21 gigawatts, and flux capacitors and more of the regulatory, good operating practices, and safety sides.






You know the opening of Beethoven's 5th Symphony?  di-di-di-dahhhhhh.... di-di-di-dahhhhh....  V (as in Victory!)  There, now you know three letters.  
Link Posted: 5/12/2011 7:29:21 PM EDT
[#30]




Quoted:



Quoted:

So, why do I say plan on taking the Tech and General (and passing!) at the same time?



Because I've given too many General tests to applicants that had passed the Tech, but did not study the General, and they came very close to passing the General. I always ask, "Do you feel that if you had at least studied the General a little, you could have picked up 2 or 3 more questions and passed the General, too?"



Invariably they say yes.
This.



Exactly what happened to me. Studied Tech for 2 weeks with taking the online tests, hitting the book and all that. Consistently hit the 90s with the practice tests. Passed Tech with ease. Tried General without studying a lick and missed by 2 questions. Came back a month later when the next test session came around and passed General with ease. Should have at least given General a passing look.





Quoted:

After looking at the spec sheet on that Chinese Army radio set, it looks like I'm going to have to get a General ticket or else learn CW fast.



The last time I played with CW I must have been 12 years old.




You know what the international distress morse code is? SOS ... - - - ... There you already know two letters. Just 24 more to go. Seriously it took me 6 months of practicing an hour a day to learn to copy code and send it at a 12wpm rate. Just made my first CW contacts over last weekend. This is why people think getting a ham ticket is so difficult. Before 2007 you had to learn code to pass the test. Not any more. The tests are less about superheterodyne circuits, 1.21 gigawatts, and flux capacitors and more of the regulatory, good operating practices, and safety sides.


Distress call info:  ACP135 (F)  http://jcs.dtic.mil/j6/cceb/acps/acp135/ACP135F.pdf  Interesting stuff to know.
Link Posted: 5/12/2011 7:58:26 PM EDT
[#31]
I drove about 230 miles round trip, spent $45 or so on gas, plus a $14 fee to test tonight. I took both the tech and general...now I can haz CSCE and license for General class.



Seriously, what was said above about it being more about good amateur practices, safety, etc. than the technical side of it is absolutely true, at least for tech and general. The general is a little more technical, but not much. I don't know yet about the Extra. If you spend an hour or so a day studying for the next two weeks you'll ace both tests.
Link Posted: 5/12/2011 8:55:28 PM EDT
[#32]
YES!!!


Congrats, Machinisttx!!!!  

Link Posted: 5/12/2011 9:03:10 PM EDT
[#33]




Quoted:

I drove about 230 miles round trip, spent $45 or so on gas, plus a $14 fee to test tonight. I took both the tech and general...now I can haz CSCE and license for General class.



Seriously, what was said above about it being more about good amateur practices, safety, etc. than the technical side of it is absolutely true, at least for tech and general. The general is a little more technical, but not much. I don't know yet about the Extra. If you spend an hour or so a day studying for the next two weeks you'll ace both tests.





I saw earlier wher you posted that you were testing tonight. I was wondering how you did.



Well....Congrats!! Welcome to our SIckNeSs. If you though BRD meant Black RIFLE Disease......guess again.
Link Posted: 5/12/2011 9:46:09 PM EDT
[#34]
Quoted:
can a technician use the 80,60 and 40 meter bands?


As you can see from THIS CHART,

Techs have CW-only privileges on 40 and 80 meters, and no privileges on 60 meters.

eta ar-jedi posted it first.
Link Posted: 5/12/2011 11:29:52 PM EDT
[#35]
I set my phone to give me my call sign in morse every time I get a text message.






I cant copy code yet but I am up to 9 characters that I do know.  A,K,L,O,S,T,V,W and 0




learn a few at a time, start out with small simple words and build from there. but, start right off the bat pounding your call sign in your mind.  its working for me so far....
Link Posted: 5/13/2011 1:56:40 AM EDT
[#36]
Woohoo!

Congrats machinisttx.
Link Posted: 5/13/2011 3:47:39 AM EDT
[#37]
Quoted:
I drove about 230 miles round trip, spent $45 or so on gas, plus a $14 fee to test tonight. I took both the tech and general...now I can haz CSCE and license for General class.



Outstanding!!!!! Way to go!!!!  

Link Posted: 5/13/2011 4:47:38 AM EDT
[#38]
Next weekend is the dayton hamvention. It is the largest ham radio convention in the world and they give free testing. You show up, I will buy your ticket in and the arfcom dinner is on me. They test Friday and Saturday. It is a three day event. The simplest way to pass the test is to get one of the study guides, read through it a couple of times and then get one of the question pool guides that only lists the correct answers and read through it a few times and you should pass easily. There is a ham radio podcast that lets you listen to the study guides. When you pass the tech try for the general, I have seen tons of people pass it without studying the general and only studying the tech. It helps to study the general a bit.

I do enjoy your blog. Keep up the good work.

Link Posted: 5/13/2011 8:36:32 AM EDT
[#39]
Quoted:
Next weekend is the dayton hamvention. It is the largest ham radio convention in the world and they give free testing. You show up, I will buy your ticket in and the arfcom dinner is on me. They test Friday and Saturday. It is a three day event. The simplest way to pass the test is to get one of the study guides, read through it a couple of times and then get one of the question pool guides that only lists the correct answers and read through it a few times and you should pass easily. There is a ham radio podcast that lets you listen to the study guides. When you pass the tech try for the general, I have seen tons of people pass it without studying the general and only studying the tech. It helps to study the general a bit.

I do enjoy your blog. Keep up the good work.





Wish in one hand, shit in the other..... See which one fills up first.

I'm at sea now and not due back for almost another week.

IM /email  coming

Link Posted: 5/13/2011 5:39:21 PM EDT
[#40]

Link Posted: 5/13/2011 9:49:43 PM EDT
[#41]
"You can do it"... perfect!!!  Hahahahaha......
Link Posted: 5/17/2011 12:54:28 PM EDT
[#42]
Bump to pass on update
Link Posted: 5/17/2011 1:12:36 PM EDT
[#43]
Quoted:
I was looking at a Chinese radio set on eBay.

How hard is it to get licensed to use the damned thing?


Interesting turn of events.

On test exams I nail Technician exams cold.

I pass General exams about 50% of the time and I am getting better fast.


I have just found that there are a BUNCH of places I can test within 100 miles of home on both weekends and weekdays.

The plan is to just go in and nail the technician test and take the General and if I don't pass try again somewhere else.

If at first you don't succeed, simply go down the street.


Anyone know if this is an OK strategy?


My simple understanding is this: if you fail, you can re-test as long as you're willing to pay the fee again.  

That said, I'm not sure the VEC's would want to sit through the same guy testing 5 times? = (speculation)
Link Posted: 5/17/2011 1:19:51 PM EDT
[#44]
You MUST make the pilgrimage to Dayton, OH this weekend.  You can test there free...... and spend your life savings on toys you suddenly discover that you cannot be without.

Also,  you can join us in the arfcom meet and greet Saturday evening.  Food,  Tall tales,  Outright lies.... you may find all of that  
Link Posted: 5/17/2011 3:55:08 PM EDT
[#45]
Quoted:
Anyone know if this is an OK strategy?

no.

study for a couple of days for the General and you will pass both tests with flying colors, in the same half hour no less.

leave luck/chance/serendipity out of it.

ar-jedu
Link Posted: 5/17/2011 7:46:57 PM EDT
[#46]



Quoted:



Quoted:

Anyone know if this is an OK strategy?


no.



study for a couple of days for the General and you will pass both tests with flying colors, in the same half hour no less.



leave luck/chance/serendipity out of it.



ar-jedu



This is true. After I started passing all the tech tests, I quit studying tech material and concentrated on general. It took me less than 30 minutes to take and pass both tests.



 
Link Posted: 5/19/2011 2:04:32 AM EDT
[#47]
Quoted:
My simple understanding is this: if you fail, you can re-test as long as you're willing to pay the fee again.  

That said, I'm not sure the VEC's would want to sit through the same guy testing 5 times? = (speculation)


Fail, pay another fee, retest, yes, you can do that.  

Maybe not 5 times, but if a guy took a test and missed by only a few, wanted to retest, I don't think there is any test team not willing to give him another chance.  Perhaps just a different draw of the questions might be the ticket for him.  

I know I only passed Extra by a few.  Another test, another random draw of the questions and I may not have passed, who knows?

But the attitude of the test teams is that we WANT you to become a ham, or advance to a higher class.  That's why we are there.  At one hamfest test session I saw a test team sit patiently while one guy spent 2 hours trying to pass the Tech.  

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