While I am aware that there are people that will pay it forward and give me their book, I'd like to keep my copy so I am going to buy one.

Is this the right study book:

Amazon books link to study manual

I want emergency coms with the fam. I also want early warning coms if something happens and the "news" is...well....the "news".. I don't have idle time that I can devote to sitting around and talking to people just because I have time to burn, but I would like to use HAM sufficient to get the hang of it and get proficient such that in the event that I do need it for real...it's not evening at the improv and I'm all thumbs..

So...I'll be parking here on this sub-forum for awhile and learning from you guys.

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... use a Magic Marker to 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 - You need the question pool AND the graphics on each of these pages.  Some questions in the pool will refer to the diagrams or schematics on the graphics page.

Tech:

http://ncvec.org/page.php?id=362       2014 Tech Test Pool

http://www.kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/2014-no-nonsense-tech-study-guide-v1.0.pdf


General:  

http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=358      2011 General Test Pool

http://www.kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/2011-No-Nonsense-General-Class-License-Study-Guide-v14.pdf


Extra:

http://www.arrl.org/files/media/News/REVISED_2012-2016_Extra_Class_Pool.pdf    2012 Extra Test Pool

and

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

http://www.kb6nu.com/product/no-nonsense-extra-class-license-study-guide-pdf/

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/exam_sessions/search

(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 (hamspeak for "best wishes),
Jupiter7200

Thank you!!!!!

I used http://hamexam.org and I also used http://www.hamtestonline.com.  In my opinion, they are basically the same thing, in that, they are both "smart" programs.  They both "learn" which questions you miss, and then repeat them over and over until you get it right.  The big difference, is that http://hamexam.org is free.  I really liked using the flash cards for practice.  I would go through them several times, and then take a practice test to check my progress.  Repeat as necessary.

Good luck!

+1+ for www.hamtestonline.com.

I did all three using their site (not all at once).  I also used Gordon West's Extra Class book for a reference.

Good on ya for taking the plunge.  It's one hell heck of a great hobby, and the people on this forum are immensely helpful.

FWIW: I used free online resources to pass all three tests. No need buy books unless that kinda thing works better for you.

HamExam.org is free and is how I studied for Extra with great success.

How this site is different

This site learns which questions you understand and which ones you don't. It does this by tracking your answers to every question. It then applies a weight to each question, using the following priorities:

1st priority - questions you haven't seen yet
2nd priority - questions you have previously answered wrong
3rd priority - questions you have answered correctly

Using this system, you are guaranteed that you will eventually see all of the questions from a given test. You are more likely to see questions that you need help with again and again until you get them right. I feel this is a great way to see what questions you need to work on..

Tag

What I used to get all 3 of my licenses in about a month this summer.



 

+1 for hamtestonline.com.  I also used it to get all three tests complete.  I know there are free ones mentioned above that may work just as well that are worth checking out, but rest assured this one works.

I used hamtestonline.com loved it. YMMV
WWW.amateurradio15.com is my ARF centric podcast. Again ymmv

Don't do it man.....youll end up sitting a home in your underwear late at night making small talk with other men.  You have the urge to get a longer "antenna" in your car and house.   In addition, most hammers start spouting fcc legal jargon to any who operates a radio or critisizes their new hobby.   Its a cult man...i know i am cured now.  Save yourself.

All I used for tech thru extra were the eHam tests.

Don't make this any bigger than it is. It really IS that simple.

Seriously.

Great feedback.

Thank you gents

Hamstudy.org keeps track of your competency levels for the tests. It's free and really a great way to know the questions. Create a free account and start going through the flash cards.

I loved hamexam.org.  It made studying for General and Extra a lot more efficient.  It's easy to memorize answers, but first using the ARRL books to get a good understanding of the material is the way to go.  I also used the Amateur Radio Exam Prep apps for iOS by Patrick Maloney for all three levels and found them quite helpful.

I used the No-Nonsense guides for Tech and General. I'm interested in the material, so I'm reading the ARRL Extra and taking sample exams on HamTestOnline.com. I've had to email HTO a couple times and their customer service is EXCELLENT.

Really, Tech and General were pretty simple.

Even if someone gives you a book, it may or may not cover the material.  The test questions are changed every few years.  
This past summer the Tech questions were changed.  Next summer, it will be General, and the year after, Extra again.

Just so you know.

No.  The Amazon description says "for use beginning July 1, 2006."

It is way, way out of date.  The current test pool came into effect July 1, 2014.  

Good luck.  It's a great hobby.

Roger that

As everyone else has said, I wouldn't bother buying a book (unless you are going for Extra), just spend a little time going over the tech and general question pool (I prefer the one at QRZ), and you will have no problem passing the exams.