User Panel
Posted: 4/16/2020 11:39:33 PM EDT
Been wanting to get into ham radio a loong time, finally bought the study book and have been taking practice tests. Pretty easy as I was an Electronics Tech in the Navy.
Picked up a cheap Baofeng UV-5R and a Yaesu FT-65r to start with once i take the test and get my license. Really looking forward to this. Hope I can find a place to take the test in this Covid19 world |
|
[#1]
Follow these directions ASAP
https://hamstudy.org/sessions/5e9134d7c5ceca0013800a1d/1 |
|
[#2]
Welcome OP, be sure to check back in and report once you pass have your call assigned-FCC has been on the ball lately so it shouldn't take long.
If you haven't already, take some of the online practice tests and keep at that until you reliably get 70%. The actual test was a breeze for me. General, not so much. Unlike the Tech where I just took practice tests, I took a 3 month weekly class for General because I wanted to learn something. That test was harder. If I can offer one bit of advice, don't climb down off that horse until you have your general as it's much harder to go back to the books once you have your Tech. The honest truth is that the real fun starts with HF privileges from a General or Extra license-being able to go beyond line of sight and over the horizon is where HAM becomes practical. I didn't get into the hobby because I wanted to play radio with dudes, but found out that doing digital modes with people in places like Cuba or talking to a friend 3 hours upstate like it's a cell phone call on "AA" batteries is pretty fucking cool... You'll get your Tech, play around on the repeaters a bit, bump into VHF limitations and get your curiosity piqued, then find a niche that you like after getting your general after playing on HF-the hobby is really wide and diverse, something for everyone and when you find that niche, you'll meet people that bend over backwards to help you. |
|
[#3]
Don't post your call sign here unless you want to be outed.
Send Paul a link to your FCC ULS page if you want the flair. Good luck. |
|
[#4]
If it's going to be several weeks before you can test, study for your General also. The two tests are similar and if you pass your Tech, the General is on the house.
Besides, General gives you many more priviledges, and HF is where all the fun stuff happens. |
|
[#5]
|
|
[#6]
View Quote Thank you!!!!!! Signed up for the first available which was the 22nd. |
|
[#7]
Quoted: Thank you!!!!!! Signed up for the first available which was the 22nd. View Quote Can you report back on the experience after you take the exam? Would be much appreciated. Would like to know how the session was conducted, how they used ZOOM, how you did the test, how it was graded, etc. Asking on behalf of my club and very interested. |
|
[#8]
Quoted: Can you report back on the experience after you take the exam? Would be much appreciated. Would like to know how the session was conducted, how they used ZOOM, how you did the test, how it was graded, etc. Asking on behalf of my club and very interested. View Quote Will do. My biggest hurdle is the requirement that nobody walks in the room you’re in. Wife, and my 6 and 3 year old are here. They aren’t quiet. And I’m not quite clear but it seems like they want another webcam from the side as well as the one on my laptop. That’s also gonna be hard since the only room I can lock myself in is my bedroom so I’ll be using a TV dinner table. There’s a mirror in here so I guess I could sit in front of it with my back facing it. I dunno. I’m just excited that I can get my ticket sooner than I thought. |
|
[#9]
Thanks Keith! Appreciate your response. Passed on to my VE boss man!
|
|
[#10]
OP don't mean to hijack your thread but has anyone heard of any online opportunities for the General exam? It looks like all spots are filed at the link the op used to register.
|
|
[#11]
Quoted: OP don't mean to hijack your thread but has anyone heard of any online opportunities for the General exam? It looks like all spots are filed at the link the op used to register. View Quote Don’t use the link. Go to Hamstudy.org/sessions and you will be able to select from more dates. |
|
[#12]
I am going to be "that guy" ...
The Technician license is a limitation to a great hobby. Study for, and TAKE the general class exam. |
|
[#13]
|
|
[#14]
|
|
[#15]
I’m registered for the online technician exam tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes.
|
|
[#16]
Quoted: I’m registered for the online technician exam tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes. View Quote Let me know how that goes and what to expect. I’m not very proficient with computers and they want the screen mirrored and control of your computer. I’m assuming Zoom makes that fairly simple, but I don’t know. |
|
[#17]
Quoted: Let me know how that goes and what to expect. I'm not very proficient with computers and they want the screen mirrored and control of your computer. I'm assuming Zoom makes that fairly simple, but I don't know. View Quote |
|
[#18]
|
|
[#19]
So I just passed my online exam. Zoom online meeting opened up at 1pm EDT and I think they said I was 17th on the wait list. Exam site was a little slow to pull up but other than that it was relatively painless. Got a perfect score.
Very appreciate of the efforts of the VE’s to make this available to people during such crazy times which are the very reason I wanted to get my ham license. |
|
[#20]
Quoted: So I just passed my online exam. Zoom online meeting opened up at 1pm EDT and I think they said I was 17th on the wait list. Exam site was a little slow to pull up but other than that it was relatively painless. Got a perfect score. Very appreciate of the efforts of the VE's to make this available to people during such crazy times which are the very reason I wanted to get my ham license. View Quote |
|
[#21]
Quoted: So I just passed my online exam. Zoom online meeting opened up at 1pm EDT and I think they said I was 17th on the wait list. Exam site was a little slow to pull up but other than that it was relatively painless. Got a perfect score. Very appreciate of the efforts of the VE’s to make this available to people during such crazy times which are the very reason I wanted to get my ham license. View Quote Congrats!! When did they send you the info for the room? I’m taking it tomorrow and they still haven’t sent me a link. |
|
[#22]
Quoted: So I just passed my online exam. Zoom online meeting opened up at 1pm EDT and I think they said I was 17th on the wait list. Exam site was a little slow to pull up but other than that it was relatively painless. Got a perfect score. Very appreciate of the efforts of the VE’s to make this available to people during such crazy times which are the very reason I wanted to get my ham license. View Quote Can you be more specific on the mechanics of the session? I see that you were in a Zoom session with I would guess, you and 3 VEs, all in different locations. Was the exam also online, a web page? Was it graded as soon as you finished? Again, asking on behalf of my club. I am also a VE. |
|
[#23]
Quoted: Congrats!! When did they send you the info for the room? I’m taking it tomorrow and they still haven’t sent me a link. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: So I just passed my online exam. Zoom online meeting opened up at 1pm EDT and I think they said I was 17th on the wait list. Exam site was a little slow to pull up but other than that it was relatively painless. Got a perfect score. Very appreciate of the efforts of the VE’s to make this available to people during such crazy times which are the very reason I wanted to get my ham license. Congrats!! When did they send you the info for the room? I’m taking it tomorrow and they still haven’t sent me a link. They sent it the night before. |
|
[#24]
Quoted: Can you be more specific on the mechanics of the session? I see that you were in a Zoom session with I would guess, you and 3 VEs, all in different locations. Was the exam also online, a web page? Was it graded as soon as you finished? Again, asking on behalf of my club. I am also a VE. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: So I just passed my online exam. Zoom online meeting opened up at 1pm EDT and I think they said I was 17th on the wait list. Exam site was a little slow to pull up but other than that it was relatively painless. Got a perfect score. Very appreciate of the efforts of the VE’s to make this available to people during such crazy times which are the very reason I wanted to get my ham license. Can you be more specific on the mechanics of the session? I see that you were in a Zoom session with I would guess, you and 3 VEs, all in different locations. Was the exam also online, a web page? Was it graded as soon as you finished? Again, asking on behalf of my club. I am also a VE. I started in a Zoom waiting room. They had a 3rd party web based chat site (e-chat) that we used to communicate with them as zoom doesn’t allow two way communications if you’re in a waiting room. They advised us roughly what place we were in line. Once it was my turn I was allowed into a main zoom room and got my webcam and sound up and running and then I was invited into a breakout room. I shared my screen and gave one of the VE’s remote control and he entered his credentials in a website. It looked to be exam tools using hamstudy as the basis for it. Site was a little slow to pull up initially. Once he entered his credentials I took the exam, clicked submit and the results showed immediately. The VE took the results from there and said I would receive a 605 form via email later tonight. There were several VE’s in the main room as well as the breakout room. Before the exam I showed them my area where I would be taking the exam as well as my ID. |
|
[#26]
|
|
[#27]
|
|
[#28]
|
|
[#29]
I passed. 34/35. Was in the Zoom waiting room for almost 3 hours before I took the test.
|
|
[#30]
Quoted: If it's going to be several weeks before you can test, study for your General also. The two tests are similar and if you pass your Tech, the General is on the house. Besides, General gives you many more priviledges, and HF is where all the fun stuff happens. View Quote Very much this. I became a General in a day. It ain't hard. Play around with the General portion for a while. You can make it if you try. You Can Make It If You Try One big mistake I made was NOT becoming an Extra at my first sitting. |
|
[#31]
I received my call sign today, I was surprised, didn’t think it would be that quick.
|
|
[#32]
Quoted: So I just passed my online exam. Zoom online meeting opened up at 1pm EDT and I think they said I was 17th on the wait list. Exam site was a little slow to pull up but other than that it was relatively painless. Got a perfect score. Very appreciate of the efforts of the VE’s to make this available to people during such crazy times which are the very reason I wanted to get my ham license. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: So I just passed my online exam. Zoom online meeting opened up at 1pm EDT and I think they said I was 17th on the wait list. Exam site was a little slow to pull up but other than that it was relatively painless. Got a perfect score. Very appreciate of the efforts of the VE’s to make this available to people during such crazy times which are the very reason I wanted to get my ham license. Congrats! I think it's awesome they are testing this way. Quoted: I passed. 34/35. Was in the Zoom waiting room for almost 3 hours before I took the test. Awesome, congrats!! How many people tested today? Any idea? This is awesome. |
|
[#33]
|
|
[#35]
|
|
[#37]
Quoted: Thanks. So how to I get my cool icon now? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Send an email to Paul (at) AR15.COM with: Your user name and either a link to your license or a .PDF/.JPG of it. https://www.ar15.com/forums/outdoors/Did-we-ask-for-HAM-LICENSE-ICONS-/22-693496/? |
|
[#38]
Finally was able to take my exams today. Breezed thru the Tech exam. Took the general as well ( did not study for the general...did not pass it).
Can’t wait to get my call sign issued. |
|
[#39]
|
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.