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.