Anybody into ham radio here?

[neonerd]

Anybody here have their amateur radio license? How long have you been doing it? Care to share some experiences?

I tried for my license about 3 years ago, but failed by one question
Thinking about actually studying a bit this time and trying it once more

 

[Colt45]

I've been into radio but i've been to lazy to get any decen tx rigged up.

liscences are for uh. law abiders or whatever.

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: Colt45
I've been into radio but i've been to lazy to get any decen tx rigged up.

liscences are for uh. law abiders or whatever.

except for the fact you can get arrested since radio waves can be traced

when getting on you have to authenticate with your call sign; I'd rather pay them the $10 as a patron, than be arrested for transmitting illegally on radio waves

 

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, I've had my Tech license for ~4 years. The Tech is really easy to get - you don't have to know any Morse code.

 

[jagec]

I was going to get it waaay back when, but you needed to know Morse code so I decided not to. Then the internet sprang up, so I never needed to.

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Yeah, I've had my Tech license for ~4 years. The Tech is really easy to get - you don't have to know any Morse code.

i failed the test by 1 question

but that was a few years back, and i didn't really study anything; i suppose if i look over the material, it should be a breeze to pass.

I was tempted to go further than tech though; very limited frequencies

My teacher was an extra, he could go everywhere except for military frequencies, and FM

/pulls out morse code cd i bought a few years back

 

[Schrodinger]

Are there any standard books to read to learn from? I've thought about this a couple times but know nothing about it. I'd love to learn more though (from protocol, to antenna and signal propagation)

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: neonerd

Originally posted by: Colt45
I've been into radio but i've been to lazy to get any decen tx rigged up.

liscences are for uh. law abiders or whatever.

except for the fact you can get arrested since radio waves can be traced

when getting on you have to authenticate with your call sign; I'd rather pay them the $10 as a patron, than be arrested for transmitting illegally on radio waves

meh. I don't think the CRTC is as crazy as the FCC. Not to mention my province is pretty dead for radio, because low population density..

I've got a couple big soviet tubes that would make a good power amp. sad thing is I'm always busy doing nothing, so i have no time to build anything



Just put your TX in your car
"mobile"

 

[OZEE]

The FCC changed the rules and license-class structure about 4 years ago. There are now only 3 licenses instead of 5 (Tech/Gen/Extra). In doing that, they obviously changed the testing, too. They also basically threw away the more advanced morse code requirements, too - no 13 WPM for Gen/Advanced or 20 WPM for Extra. 5 WPM is all you'll ever test with any more... and with a little practice, 5 WPM is easy!

I'm a 3rd generation amateur radio operator, so I grew up with it. Got my Novice about 20 years ago. Finally upgraded to Extra with the rule change about 4 years ago.

There are lots of test books out there. They build the tests out of a pool of questions, so if you can get ahold of the pool, you should be able to get your license. Google for ham/amateur radio practice tests...

Good luck

AB0ND

 

[jadinolf]

I am W6OHI and have been a ham since 1968.

Not very active these days...so many toys....so little time.