Don't buy a Radio Amateurs Handbook.

If you work on audio electronics you already know the basics. The RF part is
actually pretty simple. Forget about the amp. You can get that going later
when you have experience in how the Tempo One operates. Get that working
now. As for a dummy - been using a 100w light bulb for years. Works good
enough for tube radios - not so good for the new solid state stuff. The
dummy you have is good enough.

What you need NOW is a ham ticket!

Almost all radioamateurs begin their ham career as a "Tech."Â*The privileges
of a Technician Class operator license include operating stations while
transmitting on channels in any of 17 frequency bands above 50 MHz with up
to 1,500 watts power.Â*Â* It also allows access to the two most popular ham
bands, 2 meters and 70 cm ...otherwise known as "450" (MHz.).Â*

To pass the Technician Class examination, at least 26 multiple choice
questions from a 35 question written examination must be answered correctly.

There are a total of 384 possible questions in the pool from which these 35
questions are drawn.Â*

All questions in the various question banks are known and widely published.Â*
There are no secret questions.Â* The Technician Class is the most popular
license with about one-third of all radioamateurs holding this license
class.
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The General Class operator license carries all mode privileges in at least
portions of all 27 bands.Â* Of particular importance is access to the
world-wide 20 and 40 meter ham bands.

In addition to the above (Element 2 Technician) written examination element
and Element 1 ( -5- wpm Morse code), the examinee must pass another 35
question examination (General Element 3).Â* Twenty-six correctly answered
questions is the minimum passing score.

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Fastest and cheapest way is to go to this web site:

http://www.w5yi.org/AmRadio.htm#GENERAL

....and buy just the Tech and General booklets only. Go through them four or
five times and try memorizing as much as you can. All the exact questions
that could be asked will be right there. Pay attention to Frequencies and to
FCC Laws (particularly punishments).


You still need to pass the 5 WPM code test.

" In all liklihood, within a year the code requirement for the General will
also be dropped."

They have been saying that for 100 years since Marconi attached a telegraph
key to a spark transmitter. You could wait....for a year or forever...
but...

When you ready and serious - email me and I will teach you the code in five
minutes good enough so you can past the test. Relax, it's free.

-Biz WDØHCO