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Old September 9th 04, 02:35 AM
Michael
 
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Default IC-746 Pro and HAM licence

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


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Old September 9th 04, 02:55 AM
Buzzygirl
 
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Default


"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


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Old September 9th 04, 09:22 AM
Ron Hardin
 
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Default

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.
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Old September 9th 04, 04:24 PM
clifto
 
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Default

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
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Old September 9th 04, 04:31 PM
dxAce
 
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Default



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




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Old September 9th 04, 08:40 PM
Ron Hardin
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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.
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Old September 10th 04, 08:38 PM
clifto
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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
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Old September 10th 04, 12:51 AM
Michael
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"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


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Old September 10th 04, 01:02 AM
Buzzygirl
 
Posts: n/a
Default


Michael,

You should do just fine on the tests. Good luck and I hope to hear you on
the air sometime!

73, Jackie


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Old September 11th 04, 01:33 AM
Martin
 
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Default

"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





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