Posted: 1/30/2014 8:25:11 AM EDT
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Hey all.
I've been studying for about a month for my tech license using online info and practice exams. I can pass every online test in the mid to high 90s. The problem is that I would really like to LEARN more than just memorizing the question pool. Should I be looking to buy a General Class book and will it enforce what I've studied so far for Tech or should I buy a Technician Class book to study from? Will a General Class book be over my head? Also, any recommendations or Amazon links would be much appreciated. I have some time before any testing is available, and I may just wait until I can take Tech and General at the same time since the testing I've found seems to be stupid far from where I live... Thanks! |
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Quoted:
Hey all. I've been studying for about a month for my tech license using online info and practice exams. I can pass every online test in the mid to high 90s. The problem is that I would really like to LEARN more than just memorizing the question pool. Should I be looking to buy a General Class book and will it enforce what I've studied so far for Tech or should I buy a Technician Class book to study from? Will a General Class book be over my head? Also, any recommendations or Amazon links would be much appreciated. I have some time before any testing is available, and I may just wait until I can take Tech and General at the same time since the testing I've found seems to be stupid far from where I live... Thanks! It's good to learn the material as opposed to memorize the questions/answers 
The technician and general books from ARRL actually describe the information and why the answers are what they are, I also found the 'no nonsense' guides put the material out in a way that it felt more like I was learning 
I'm a brand new ham but I came from an electronics background so I had the learn the rules/regulations but not (so much) the theory. I do think it's a disservice to the hobby to cram for the test if you intend to be part of the fraternity. (IMHO, of course) |
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Yea, either read the ARRL books, or grab the book/cd from Gordon West. My XYL (Wodstock) and I actually took the Technician class that the Rochester Amateur Radio Association teaches every year. Was good to get some outside-the-book info on etiquette and what not. |
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https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/
worth the $.....(you'll learn too)....YMMV |
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+1 on this. |
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Either the ARRL book or the Gordon West books. The ARRL books has more info and are better for in depth information. But the West books are easier to read and give you the basic understanding of the info needed to not only pass the test, but why the answer is what it is. Gordon West at a min. ARRL book if you can read a LOT of info and retain most of it. |
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Quoted:
Either the ARRL book or the Gordon West books. The ARRL books has more info and are better for in depth information. But the West books are easier to read and give you the basic understanding of the info needed to not only pass the test, but why the answer is what it is. Gordon West at a min. ARRL book if you can read a LOT of info and retain most of it. That's what I'm looking for, in depth. It's not so much that I want to know everything before I take the exam, but I want a good book to go seek out whatever questions come up and to understand the answer, not just know it. |
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Getting your license is just the starting point. You never quit learning. There's always something new to learn.
Digital. Solar power. Antennas. CW. APRS, Echolink, IRLP. and more. Perhaps something no one else has ever thought of? An application, a use, method, adapting equipment. I know one ham, knew him on the air a couple of years, we talked quite often. Then I found out he was blind. Stevie Wonder / Ray Charles totally blind. So what that he couldn't read a schematic? Or hang an antenna, or even swap out the tubes in his own amp? Or other things we think hams should be able to do... but do you know what he is good at? Running a net. This guy is Net Manager and Monday Net Control of the Daytime Texas Traffic Net on 7.285 mHz, as well as Assistant Net Control of some other nets. That is a skill all in itself. Don't worry about what you don't know now. Study, pass the tests, get licensed and keep learning. By the way, a few tidbits. Blind hams prefer Kenwood and Icom radios because of the speech modules. Twist the dial and the radio says, "Seven point two eight five megahertz" or "Upper Sideband" or whatever. Also, if you see an LDG Talking Wattmeter for sale DON'T buy it unless you are buying it for a blind ham. They are no longer in production and there is high demand for them from blind hams. That's how they tune their amps. |
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this is a great post. i didn't know that about the talking wattmeter. appreciate the heads up. also, this from the below seems very true: "Don't worry about what you don't know now. Study, pass the tests, get licensed and keep learning." especially, given how busy people are, & how in many areas testing sessions don't come around that often, just getting it done seems prudent.
i agree w/ the folks who said the ARRL books for each license class teach you quite a bit, vs. just memorizing. used the ARRL books for for my Tech & General, used the Gordon West for the Extra. felt the Gordon West book had some teaching, but was more memorizing. also, HamTestOnline is the bomb, & will allow you to hulk smash the tests. once you really want to learn, there's tons of books out there. if you want a 10 pound book w/ in-depth info get a copy of "The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications". that thing's like 1000 pages long, & covers a lot of territory. working my way through it now. antennas are still a mystery to me, which is ironic since that's probably the most important part of the station (operator excepted). Quoted:
Getting your license is just the starting point. You never quit learning. There's always something new to learn. Digital. Solar power. Antennas. CW. APRS, Echolink, IRLP. and more. Perhaps something no one else has ever thought of? An application, a use, method, adapting equipment. I know one ham, knew him on the air a couple of years, we talked quite often. Then I found out he was blind. Stevie Wonder / Ray Charles totally blind. So what that he couldn't read a schematic? Or hang an antenna, or even swap out the tubes in his own amp? Or other things we think hams should be able to do... but do you know what he is good at? Running a net. This guy is Net Manager and Monday Net Control of the Daytime Texas Traffic Net on 7.285 mHz, as well as Assistant Net Control of some other nets. That is a skill all in itself. Don't worry about what you don't know now. Study, pass the tests, get licensed and keep learning. By the way, a few tidbits. Blind hams prefer Kenwood and Icom radios because of the speech modules. Twist the dial and the radio says, "Seven point two eight five megahertz" or "Upper Sideband" or whatever. Also, if you see an LDG Talking Wattmeter for sale DON'T buy it unless you are buying it for a blind ham. They are no longer in production and there is high demand for them from blind hams. That's how they tune their amps. |
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Thank you, Generalissimo.
I'm of the "learn by doing" school. I think a new ham can only learn so much from just studying. It is not until he is actually twirling the dial, operating the rig, setting up his own antenna, getting on the air with his club for Field Day or a special event, that he really begins to learn. I'm not saying let's all just be "appliance operators", but I question what some think it takes to be "a real ham". There are so many aspects of ham radio that no one can master them all. And each can get out of ham radio what he wishes. Take my club, for instance. I'm the guy that measures out wire, solders on the PL-259s, opens up gear and fixes it, or at least tries to. Another guy is the power guy, wiring the club for power from the generator, researched / designed / planned our grounding system. Another guy brought in equipment and set us up for IRLP and APRS. Still others know all about the Echolink system and take care of that. We each have our specialties. One guy, an older ham, retired from his long time job with the railroad, now a greeter at Walmart. His specialty? He's always there when there's work to be done, running coax, setting up for a special event station, whatever, he's there. And one important skill, the club president apparently knows where all the skeletons are in the closets, because when we need antenna work done the city sends over a bucket truck as soon as available. Or, "Show us exactly where you want the pulleys on these light poles." Or running a gas line to our generator. And for any event, no matter how minor, the Pres gets a reporter to show up and we have pictures in the paper and an article telling what we are doing for the community. And can run a net with the best of them. There are a lot of skills present in our club, and we have a station that is tops in the state. We do this with about 8-10 really active members and a total membership roll of about 25. My point is, there are a lot of skills, and it's not all just R = E / I . Don't let others define your interest in ham radio. You will find your nitch and can learn as you go. You'll learn more with a license and a radio than you will with any number of books. |
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Read that technician "Looks Whos Talking" or something like that. Then just study the pool questions. If you have an iPhone there is an app that is ideal for test prep. If you can get a radio now just to monitor and learn how to program frequencies, go ahead and do so. When and where will you be taking your test? My 9 y/o girl will be upgrading to a general hopefully on 2/8 test. I also subscribe by the "you learn best by doing" when it comes to ham radios. PM me if you are in the Phoenix area and you have questions. |
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Quoted:
Getting your license is just the starting point. You never quit learning. There's always something new to learn. 100% yes get your ticket - get your foot in the door... lots of learning you can do on your own find someone local to elmer you - someone who's been around a bit post questions here never ever stop learning |
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And the learning (hopefully) never ends.
I've been getting a kick out of some of the locals that I've heard on 2m/70cm this past week or so. A couple weekends ago myself and another ham 25 miles north of here were checking out how far we could get and what repeaters on 2m and 70cm we could get in. The other ham has done this with a couple others since. I guess several old time locals heard us, or heard about what we were doing and opened their eyes on how far out and where we could get. Yes Elmer, there is more than 1 repeater in range.
Pro tip: dual VFO's (like the FT-8800) make this exercise real easy. So today after putting together my Ed Fong J pole I decided to test it on 70cm into the local repeater that has kick ass coverage and there was people on it. (its also the IRLP node). I had 2 people asking me about how long is it and how many watts it could take, and if they could hang it inside. Just a little bit ago I heard 2 other's talking and testing out an old CB antenna or whip that was cut down to the 70cm band. I dont think they have it finished yet. Its taken me a couple hours to get back here to finish. Jumped in with a couple guys on 2m testing out how low they could get into a repeater about 20 miles from me. They were 35 and 47 miles running 5 watts. I just wanted to see if I could get down to 5 also. I did. Ended up picking up 6 more people for an impromptu rag chew. One of them was in my test on Tuesday and got his general also. Small world..
Back on topic, Get the ticket by hook or crook. Then the learning starts and dont stop learning.  The first 2 guys that I talked to tonight are going to get their general ticket now and I sent them my pdf's on General. One of them is going to send me some stuff on HF's and what to look for.
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+1 on this. Quoted:
+1 on this. That's another +1 from me Specific advice - buy the General from the link. It's got a ton of learning material and links to more learning material. Copy and paste each instructional page into a word processor or keep a local copy some other way. They don't predictably repeat. The practice tests are adaptive, which means the more you miss a question the more often it is presented to you and the less you miss a question the less often it's presented to you. The material for the General exam is very closely related to the material for the Technician exam. I'd study the General hard and memorize the Technician questions (if needed), then go test. |