Need a basic Intro to HAM

[Locked98GC]

Never had a HAM but now I'm interested since I've moved over here. I know I need a license and a radio. The radio is easy to figure out. Now for the licensing, I see where there might be a class coming up and the testing. Is that all that is needed? How about a sticky for us first timers that would like to get into HAM radio. I'm thinking about getting the Dummies Handbook on HAM. Good/Bad?

[Cnynrat]

I just recently went through that process myself. I'm sure other more experienced guys here can offer some other suggestions. I prepared for my Technician class license by reading the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual. It's well written, and there are practice questions at the end of each section that you can use to gauge whether you've really absorbed the material. Once I had read the book, I took a bunch of practice tests on http://www.qrz.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. They have a random test generator that generates tests out of the standard question pool. Just make sure you take enough tests to be sure you've been exposed to a good cross section of the questions. One of the VE's at my test told me they see people who take just a few practice tests come in and stumble over questions they have never seen.

After getting my Tech license I decided to study for my General. For whatever reason I wasn't in the mood to read another book, so I went to http://www.hamtestonline.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. You have to pay to use this site, but it has a very good adaptive learning tool. You can use it in study mode where it presents information, then asks some questions. It tracks your performance and will circle back and go back over areas where you are weak. It also has a good random test generator where you can generate a purely random test, or one that focuses on your weak areas, or one that focuses on topics you haven't seen. I really like this site, but it is a bit pricey and you don't end up with a book to keep. I think the subscription is $50 for 2 years. It may make more sense if you were planning to use it to study for multiple classes over the two year period.

To me it all depends on what you think the best learning mode will be for you.

HTH.

[SinCityBrian]

I bought ARRL books that are well done but also ended up doing http://www.hamtestonline.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and getting my tech & general license in a few weeks. I also enjoy Randy's K7AGE videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/K7AGE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ki6kui]

I used the ARRL study guides for both the Tech and General class upgrades and supplemented them with the test at QRZ. The Tech guide starts off with a history of amateur radio and helps you understand the information from which the question pools were developed. I liked his method because it gave me the understanding to use the radio more effectively.

[justjodi]

After getting my Tech license I decided to study for my General. For whatever reason I wasn't in the mood to read another book, so I went to http://www.hamtestonline.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. .

The "whatever" reason was that I found hamtestonline.com and suggested he look at it. I used hamtestonline, qrz and
http://www.eham.net/exams/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, which you can use from a Blackberry or other handheld device. hamtestonline was great for learning the material but I spent my waiting around time (car wash, dr. appt. etc...) taking tests on the blackberry. I'd say about 65% of the answers can be logically deduced, so you really only need to learn another 10%. I started studying for the General with hamtestonline, but the material is not nearly as comprehensive as it was for the Technician and the questions are a lot harder for those of us without an electrical background. I think I'm actually going to have to read a book... Once I get the material down, I'll go back to cramming tests.

You can find out about test dates and locations at http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml