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#1
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Hiya.....
For about a year, I have been considering buying a new tabletop sw rig. I currently use the R-75, and I was thinking of getting a DSP radio. After reading some receiver comparison reviews of radios like the NRD-545 and getting other advice from people on this ng, I became more and more interested in the IC-746Pro. It seems to be an amazing DSP DX'ing rig. I also know about the reported problems with the transmitter, but I'm not so worried about that. It can be fixed. Up until now, I have not been interested in transmitting as an amateur. Just sw listening. I figure, if I am going to get an IC-746Pro, I might as well look into getting a ham license. It might be fun.... I read a few links about the multiple choice tests for the tech license and I also saw a list of pool. My question is... How much of an ordeal is it to get set up to take the test itself ??? Michael |
#2
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![]() "Michael" wrote in message t... I read a few links about the multiple choice tests for the tech license and I also saw a list of pool. My question is... How much of an ordeal is it to get set up to take the test itself ??? The Tech license study will take the average person about 2-4 weeks to get through, depending on how much time you have. It is not a difficult test, even if one isn't really technically inclined. The Tech study manual covers mostly basic material, and you won't need more than middle-school math abilities to do the calculations required in the exam. However, you won't be able to transmit on the SW bands until you upgrade to the General class. That's another whole study guide and test. The General Class study guide covers much of the same stuff the Technician guide does, but in more depth, and there is more about RF exposure and antennas. You also need to pass a 5 words per minute Morse Code receiving exam for the General license. Many people expect the Morse Code exam to be dropped in the near future, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the FCC to approve its demise. Some people have taken both the Technician and General licenses at once. Each of these tests consists of 35 questions, and the test is multiple choice. And the 5 wpm Morse Code test is really pretty easy to pass too. There are good practice exams at the following websites: www.eham.net and www.qrz.com. The best study guides (IMHO) are the ARRL manuals. The Tech study guide is the Now You're Talking! 5th edition, which contains lessons and the current test question and answer pools. The General Class Manual is also available from ARRL, as are Morse Code practice CDs and tapes. Their website is he www.arrl.org/catalog. Good luck! Jackie |
#3
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Well, in 1952 (this may be out of date) the Tech and General exams
were the same except Tech didn't have any code or privileges, and there was a nifty Novice test with 5wpm code nonrenewable that lasted a year, for you to get your code speed up to the General's 13wpm. If you didn't go on the air over that time in code, you had a tough time meeting the code requirement. If you did, it was easy. Anyway judging from the experience of a typical child and his father following these two paths. Then it all started going downhill and God only knows what it is today. I don't even know what the power limits or bands are. We used to have a nifty KW into a backyard antenna, after years of sultry upgrades, and sending code would dim the lights and shrink TV pictures. You could pass any written test by memorizing the ARRL's License Manual but code was apparently the killer for grownups. -- Ron Hardin On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk. |
#4
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Ron Hardin wrote:
You could pass any written test by memorizing the ARRL's License Manual but code was apparently the killer for grownups. Not the ARRL manual; it was that guy whose name I can't remember, who published guides made up by paying testees to remember questions and multiple-guess answers just after leaving the testing sessions. -- "The Democrats are all over this. Democratic strategists feel John Kerry's war record means he can beat Bush. They say when it comes down to it, voters will always vote for a war hero over someone who tried to get out of the war. I'll be sure to mention that to Bob Dole when I see him." -- Jay Leno |
#5
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![]() clifto wrote: Ron Hardin wrote: You could pass any written test by memorizing the ARRL's License Manual but code was apparently the killer for grownups. Not the ARRL manual; it was that guy whose name I can't remember, who published guides made up by paying testees to remember questions and multiple-guess answers just after leaving the testing sessions. That may have been Dick Bash KL7IHP... as I recall. dxAce -- "The Democrats are all over this. Democratic strategists feel John Kerry's war record means he can beat Bush. They say when it comes down to it, voters will always vote for a war hero over someone who tried to get out of the war. I'll be sure to mention that to Bob Dole when I see him." -- Jay Leno |
#6
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clifto wrote:
Ron Hardin wrote: You could pass any written test by memorizing the ARRL's License Manual but code was apparently the killer for grownups. Not the ARRL manual; it was that guy whose name I can't remember, who published guides made up by paying testees to remember questions and multiple-guess answers just after leaving the testing sessions. No, the License Manual I think was from the ARRL. It's what everybody used, and the questions matched, anyway I don't remember any surprises. -- Ron Hardin On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk. |
#7
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Ron Hardin wrote:
clifto wrote: Ron Hardin wrote: You could pass any written test by memorizing the ARRL's License Manual but code was apparently the killer for grownups. Not the ARRL manual; it was that guy whose name I can't remember, who published guides made up by paying testees to remember questions and multiple-guess answers just after leaving the testing sessions. No, the License Manual I think was from the ARRL. It's what everybody used, and the questions matched, anyway I don't remember any surprises. dxAce correctly recalled Dick Bash. It was the Bash guides that actually matched the real test questions on the exams. The ARRL manuals made up their own questions that were very similar and gave a person adequate practice to handle the test; the difference was that you could memorize the answers to the Bash questions and pass the test without understanding the material. That is, if the answer to the Bash question about resonant frequency was "(c) 1.4 MHz", then the answer to the actual test question would also be (c), 1.4 MHz. It was said at that time that the reason the FCC dumbed the test down by orders of magnitude was directly and mostly related to the Bash guides. That, and the fact that amateur radio was acquiring General Class licensees who couldn't explain how a flashlight worked or tune a transmitter, made the Bash guides a source of a lot of resentment among amateurs. -- "The Democrats are all over this. Democratic strategists feel John Kerry's war record means he can beat Bush. They say when it comes down to it, voters will always vote for a war hero over someone who tried to get out of the war. I'll be sure to mention that to Bob Dole when I see him." -- Jay Leno |
#8
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![]() "Buzzygirl" wrote in message news:HKO%c.135243$9d6.6757@attbi_s54... "Michael" wrote in message t... I read a few links about the multiple choice tests for the tech license and I also saw a list of pool. My question is... How much of an ordeal is it to get set up to take the test itself ??? The Tech license study will take the average person about 2-4 weeks to get through, depending on how much time you have. It is not a difficult test, even if one isn't really technically inclined. The Tech study manual covers mostly basic material, and you won't need more than middle-school math abilities to do the calculations required in the exam. However, you won't be able to transmit on the SW bands until you upgrade to the General class. That's another whole study guide and test. The General Class study guide covers much of the same stuff the Technician guide does, but in more depth, and there is more about RF exposure and antennas. You also need to pass a 5 words per minute Morse Code receiving exam for the General license. Many people expect the Morse Code exam to be dropped in the near future, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the FCC to approve its demise. Some people have taken both the Technician and General licenses at once. Each of these tests consists of 35 questions, and the test is multiple choice. And the 5 wpm Morse Code test is really pretty easy to pass too. There are good practice exams at the following websites: www.eham.net and www.qrz.com. The best study guides (IMHO) are the ARRL manuals. The Tech study guide is the Now You're Talking! 5th edition, which contains lessons and the current test question and answer pools. The General Class Manual is also available from ARRL, as are Morse Code practice CDs and tapes. Their website is he www.arrl.org/catalog. Good luck! Jackie I'm going to pick up a copy of "Now Your Talking" and also see about contacting a local ham club for the test. I'm going to prep for the Tech and General because I really want to have acess to the sw/long range bands too. I already know partial Morse code. I learned using a program called NuMorse a few years ago. It took me about three weeks to be able to decode by ear. The only problem is, I just learned the letters and not numbers or punctuation. I didnt bother when them. I figured that the letters would be good enough :-) Now, I'll have to go back to NuMorse and do all the numbers and then, mix them in with the alphabet in quizz mode. I also never used a key before. I just learned enough to listen to the ham bands and decode by ear and not transmit. I can decode faster then 5 wpm, so I'm sure I can pass the morse test after I mix in the numbers. I just need to learn numbers now too. Shouldn't take me too long. I also had a look at some pool questions. I was able to answer a lot of them already. Still... I need to study up to pass... I was most worried about having to spend time with clubs or groups... I dont have the time for that. After I prep, I just want to show up, take the test and get out... :-) Thanx again for the help !!! Michael |
#9
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![]() Michael, You should do just fine on the tests. Good luck and I hope to hear you on the air sometime! 73, Jackie |
#10
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"Buzzygirl" wrote in message
news:HKO%c.135243$9d6.6757@attbi_s54... "Michael" wrote in message t... [SNIP] but in more depth, and there is more about RF exposure and antennas. You also need to pass a 5 words per minute Morse Code receiving exam for the General license. Many people expect the Morse Code exam to be dropped in the near future, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the FCC to approve its demise. Some people have taken both the Technician and General licenses It's funny - that's exactly what many in Australia said 2 years ago, but look at us now, no code requirement at all! Don't be too quick to expect FCC to maintain its ground when everyone else is changing.... Cheers Martin, VK2UMJ |