Posted: 12/14/2007 8:10:02 PM EDT
| Hello zombie slayers. I am interested in learning about Ham Radios and I know nothing about them. Does anyone here in MN have one they use. I was wondering if I could ask some questions, that is if anybody wants to teach a newbie about radios. I will probably be going to the library and get some books to start with but any help would be GREAT!----Thanks in advance-------TK |
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Here is a link from the Outdoors Section it is all Ham Radio www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=10&f=22 |
| Newbie myself. Passed my technician exam last weekend, and am looking at a UHF/VHF to buy for the man cave. QRZ.com is good for practice exams. |
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Got my ticket last winter...KC0ZTX....there is a good group in ElkRiver that does all the testing in this area, and you can usually catch them during commuter hours on 2Meter (146.970). I run a 2Meter mobile, and one in the shop. 38' mast and a home built antenna that seems to do really well. ETA...I usually keep the shop radio tuned to the Sherbune County PD (155.650). That way I know if the popo is coming to get me....  ETA...There is also a nice radio shop in the Blaine area. Radio City. I've pickegup a couple of different rigs from there,and they are very helpful. |
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Lots of good places to get started with in learning. The links above should be more than enough. Some folks have taken the time to learn Morse Code and use the HF bands. There are some decent used rigs that come up for bid every once in a while on QRZ.com and on ebay. (ebay is a crap shoot, though) I still have my Vibroplex "bug". (got it at my first "field day") IMHO, its easier today to get your license than ever before w/o any knowledge of "code". |
| The Elk River radio club has a "class" once a month or so call Get Your Tech /General License in a Day. Pretty much an all day cram session, but the instructor only reads the correct answers then gives the test at the end of the day. I hear it is rather succesful. |
The current Tech license is easy enough for folks with some appreciation of electronics and electrical theory. The worst part for some is memorizing the band frequencies. (which most radio operators keep a poster of anyhow) Wish I had had a 1day cram course.  Oh well...Having your lic is never a bad thing and certainly gives you other opportunities to explore. |
the tech is VERY easy, and there are only a few questions to "memorize". Having never read ank kind of book or study aid, I went to QRZ.com and took the practice test. Got a 65% the first time having ever seen the questions. Passedthe second try, then just kept taking the practice test over and over and over to the point I knew the answer from just the first few words of the question. You can do the general the same way. Not the best means as far as retained knowledge, but how many Experts can pass the test now without pre'n for it...? 
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