Ham Tech License Training Courses - Suggestions?

[GregGleason]

Now that I am a bit more serious about Radio/GPS rocket locating hardware, the issue of getting a Ham Tech License is now something I am seriously considering.

So I wanted the throw the question to the TRF Community on what type of training is out there and if you:

a) thought it was effective
b) thought was easy to access
c) thought was interesting/entertaining
d) thought was reasonable for the time/expense

Greg

 

[troj]

I bought the Study Guide Now You're Talking. It has everything you need in it.

A couple friends have since used the same book, and it has worked for them, as well.

-Kevin

 

[RadManCF]

I used ARRL's tech study guide, it was easy to understand, and got me interested in HAM radio. It doesn't just cover the answers to the question bank, it gives you a basic understanding of all the concepts involved. It cost me about $40 direct from ARRL, including shipping. A bit pricey, IMO.

 

[Hobie1dog]

I'll throw in the one I'm using now. "The No-Nonsense Guide Technicians Class License Study Guide"


https://www.kb6nu.com/tech-manual/


It's a free download and the Technicians Guide is 48 pages long and is written out with all the answers in bold print. It gives you the 4 or so sites that have sample tests that tell you how well you did. Once you get to the 85% test answer rate, then you are ready to take the test. I've read it 3 times now and the last practice test I took last night gave me a 85% result. The same site has the General and Extra study guides as well.

So it was:

Easy to understand and obviously very effective from my results so far
Easy to download
Entertaining???? I don't think any test is entertaining, but at my age I think one should be exempt from taking all tests once you are over 55

And it was .....FREE

 

[G_T]

Once you've been through the material a few times, go through all the questions in the test pool. If you find some for which you are unsure (and there will be some) then go back and look over that specific material some more. A few passes of this and you may well score perfectly on the exam.

Gerald (KE4ET)

 

[Fdog]

I used both the ARRL book, General Class License Manual with the on-line tests at QRZ.com. The book was ~$25 and the QRZ tests are free.

The combination of these two (and my paranoia) made me woefully overprepared.

Our area has a local Amateur that teaches a 2-hour long "Ham Cram" right before the tests. Folks I know, that didn't study one lick, have taken this and passed first time.


All the best, James

 

[BEC]

I used a book I saw recommended in an earlier discussion here, the (Ham Whisperer's Technician Class License Course). Aced the exam. Now I have some background in basic electricity and physics (a 34-year-old mechanical engineering degree) so some of the stuff was already well known. But the arcania of regulations and conventions on the different bands I had to just learn well enough for the exam.

Now I need to actually put that Tele-Mini to use!

 

[Derek]

do any of the licenses expire? do you need to take more test at some period to keep current?

 

[WillMarchant]

do any of the licenses expire? do you need to take more test at some period to keep current?

10 years. No retesting.

 

[AndyC]

I found ARRL's Tech Q&A book very nice. Just has the question pool, and short explanations for each question. Was a good resource: helped with sufficient understanding of concepts to pass the exam.

 

[Derek]

I see. you just need to fill out a form every 10 years. from taking a practice test, I just learned that you have a 2 year grace period. I guessed that one correctly!

 

[JordanT]

Do you want to pass the test, or learn about amateur radio?

If you just want the license, and you have an iDevice, look up the HamTech app. It's free, and contains all the pool questions for the Technicians license, neatly organized. If you're technical minded and have at least a little knowledge of circuits, it may be all you need. It will lead you through a whole list of 10-12 question sections. I just started from the top, guessed the answers, and it told me when I was wrong. I looped each section until I got them all right. Took about 3 evenings to get through them all. I easily passed the Tech exam*.


*Fair disclosure: I was right around a passing score on a "sample exam" online before studying. I know enough to get nearly all of the circuit questions right at the Tech level. I knew *zero* about the laws and lingo, though.

 

[awseiger]

Do you want to pass the test, or learn about amateur radio?

If you just want the license, and you have an iDevice, look up the HamTech app. It's free, and contains all the pool questions for the Technicians license, neatly organized. If you're technical minded and have at least a little knowledge of circuits, it may be all you need. It will lead you through a whole list of 10-12 question sections. I just started from the top, guessed the answers, and it told me when I was wrong. I looped each section until I got them all right. Took about 3 evenings to get through them all. I easily passed the Tech exam*.


*Fair disclosure: I was right around a passing score on a "sample exam" online before studying. I know enough to get nearly all of the circuit questions right at the Tech level. I knew *zero* about the laws and lingo, though.

+1 If you put your mind to it you'll get it. It's not that bad at all. That and HAM's are a fun bunch, I reccomend trying to get into that hobby, at least a little bit

 

[hardinlw]

I used an audio CD study guide by Gordon West. That way I could listen to it over and over while driving places. His approach of putting things into context makes it easy to remember.

 

[Hobie1dog]

I started on the No-Nonsense Guide to the General test....wow, that's some DEEP S#!t. I don't think I'll bother with that after all.:surprised:

 

[GregGleason]

Thanks for all the responses. It's really good to know that their are so many resources out there.

I went ahead with an order to Amazon, so it looks like I'm taking a step in that direction.

Greg

 

[Sidewinder]

I used the YouTube videos at
https://hameducation.com/technician/
https://hameducation.com/general/
It gives a little background on every question on the test. After watching the videos I aced both the tech and general. Best thing is it was all free and at your own pace.

 

[dcbertelsen]

+1 for the KB6NU site for reading material. I also used the practice tests on https://aa9pw.com/radio/ to make sure I was understanding / retaining. I would estimate 3-6 hours total preparation. Walked in for Technician and walked out with a General license. I took the amateur for fun and it was brutal (didn't study for that one).

Doug
KD0TRE

 

[Mark Wise]

Take it a step at a time; start with the Tech ticket. I've held all five license classes (Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, Extra), and earned them when Morse Code was a requirement. If I could pass an Extra class written exam with 20 wpm Morse Code, you can earn your Tech.

I'd suggest starting with "The Ham Radio License Manual" ($29.95 from the American Radio Relay League, www.arrl.org) and/or taking a class (find one at https://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class).

Good luck!

Mark, N0GEH

 

[cwbullet]

Take it a step at a time; start with the Tech ticket. I've held all five license classes (Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, Extra), and earned them when Morse Code was a requirement. If I could pass an Extra class written exam with 20 wpm Morse Code, you can earn your Tech.

I'd suggest starting with "The Ham Radio License Manual" ($29.95 from the American Radio Relay League, www.arrl.org) and/or taking a class (find one at https://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class).

Good luck!

Mark, N0GEH

I used the manual and the study cards. Both are available form the site.

 

[Derek]

I've been using the practice test at eham.net

given all the wonderful free web sites and study guides dedicated to passing the test, it seems silly to spend money on a study guide.

 

[Hobie1dog]

I started on the No-Nonsense Guide to the General test....wow, that's some DEEP S#!t. I don't think I'll bother with that after all.:surprised:

Well, I'v been using the No Nonsense guide and the practice tests on QRZ and eham.net and have now gotten to the 100% level on both of them, but that Extra test is a son of a gun

700 questions is just too much to be practical.

 

[belfert]

When I did my Ham test I simply went through the online test about 20 times. I bought a book and never opened it. I passed with flying colors. Did I learn anything, not really. I only got the license to get an Adept transmitter.

There was a 16 or 17 year old kid at the test. He failed even though he studied. It was his fourth or fifth failure.

 

[Hobie1dog]

This sona bitchin, nut licking, educational masturbation fiasco of a Extra exam is going to send me to the nut house. I've taken the practice exam now 21 times and my last score was a pitiful 42%...I've gotten up to a passing 78% once, now I'm going backwards...every test there are brand new questions. 700 questions for a pool is just TOO many, it's insanity re-defined.

Test is Saturday at our local Hamfest.

 

[Hobie1dog]

Today was test day. Got my Technician and General certifications, took the Extra test but was 5 questions short of passing it. I was pretty disappointed but the VE told me I was the only one out of 48 people that took all three tests, and that I scored higher on the Extra test than most of the others who attempted it....those 700 questions in the Extra pool is just too much to attempt for only studying for it for two weeks like I did. I don't know if it's worth the precious remaining minutes of my life to waste on getting a certification that will do me no good in life

 

[V2rocketeer]

Today was test day. Got my Technician and General certifications, took the Extra test but was 5 questions short of passing it. I was pretty disappointed but the VE told me I was the only one out of 48 people that took all three tests, and that I scored higher on the Extra test than most of the others who attempted it....those 700 questions in the Extra pool is just too much to attempt for only studying for it for two weeks like I did. I don't know if it's worth the precious remaining minutes of my life to waste on getting a certification that will do me no good in life

Hey hobie

Good on ya and congratulations. I took my extra some decades ago lol when I had to do the 20wpm cw as well. I was a ham long before being a BAR. Mate you have gone that far to get your tickets have a go at the extra. You might find radio more interesting than just rocket RDF. You never know

73

VK2ICJ / N9VKC

 

[Hobie1dog]

Hey hobie

Good on ya and congratulations. I took my extra some decades ago lol when I had to do the 20wpm cw as well. I was a ham long before being a BAR. Mate you have gone that far to get your tickets have a go at the extra. You might find radio more interesting than just rocket RDF. You never know



Yep, I'm going for the Extra again.....you talked me into it. I found the FCC website that told what percentages of people are at what levels. The Extra class makes up only 15% of the total HAMS. Another local chapter is giving tests on the 23rd of this month, so I've got two full weeks to study for it. I did pick up a catalog by MFJ at the Hamfest that had a book section. They offer study guides for all the 3 tests and they have a money back guarantee that you will pass the test with it. It is called a "QuickStudy" and instead of confusing you with showing all three multiple choices, they only show the correct answer so that the answer "jumps out at you". As usual the only crappy part is paying for the high cost of shipping. The study guides are 12.95 , but the shipping is an extra 12.00

 

[V2rocketeer]

Let us know how you go Hobie. Do you have any radios yet? I assume you have or are getting a 2m/70cm radio for the rocket tracking. It might be interesting to find the local repeater freqs and have a listen in on thier nets or better yet check in.

73

Hey hobie

Good on ya and congratulations. I took my extra some decades ago lol when I had to do the 20wpm cw as well. I was a ham long before being a BAR. Mate you have gone that far to get your tickets have a go at the extra. You might find radio more interesting than just rocket RDF. You never know



Yep, I'm going for the Extra again.....you talked me into it. I found the FCC website that told what percentages of people are at what levels. The Extra class makes up only 15% of the total HAMS. Another local chapter is giving tests on the 23rd of this month, so I've got two full weeks to study for it. I did pick up a catalog by MFJ at the Hamfest that had a book section. They offer study guides for all the 3 tests and they have a money back guarantee that you will pass the test with it. It is called a "QuickStudy" and instead of confusing you with showing all three multiple choices, they only show the correct answer so that the answer "jumps out at you". As usual the only crappy part is paying for the high cost of shipping. The study guides are 12.95 , but the shipping is an extra 12.00

 

[Hobie1dog]

Let us know how you go Hobie. Do you have any radios yet? I assume you have or are getting a 2m/70cm radio for the rocket tracking. It might be interesting to find the local repeater freqs and have a listen in on thier nets or better yet check in.

No radios yet, looked at my first ones at the Hamfest, I naturally walked up to the 13K dollar model from Yaesu.

 

[Hobie1dog]

Looks like I'll be flying up to the Dayton Hamfest in May and will re-take the Extra Class test there. Gonna look over all the radios while I'm there. It is supposed to be one of the larger Hamfest's in the country.