Ham radios

[Tristan89xj]

What are the age requirements and how do i go about getting a Ham liscense

[prerunner1982]

No age requirements, there are preteen Ham radio operators. To get licensed you must take a test or series of test depending on what level of license you want to hold (Technician, General, Extra). The best way to do it is find a local club and see when there test dates are and then study up (http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14871). The Tech material is pretty easy, the General is a bit more difficult, and I am not even going to try for Extra though you may be inclined to do so.

To help find a local club and get more info regarding Ham radio check out the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) http://www.arrl.org/

You can also take practice test to see what areas you need to work on at www.QRZ.com and www.EHam.net. I like QRZ because it saves all your previous test scores and keeps track so you can see your improvement, though it does require you to create a free log in/user ID.

[foxracer]

How many hams are on the forum?

I'm N2TCR
Dan

[prerunner1982]

There are a handful, I know Mudderoy and Paddletrucker are. I will be in less than a week.

[NW99XJ]

I will be too soon enough. Been studying for a little while now.
Not nearly diligent enough though.

[Mudderoy]

Wb5zdd

[BlueXJ]

I have no local club by the ARRL website. What do I do next to learn more about HAM license?

[Mudderoy]

I have no local club by the ARRL website. What do I do next to learn more about HAM license?

Is this close to you?

http://www.qsl.net/kd5emp/testing.htm

[BlueXJ]

About 35 miles away. How did you find that? I put in my zip and it says no hits. I put in my city and no hits. Thanks Tony.

[Mudderoy]

About 35 miles away. How did you find that? I put in my zip and it says no hits. I put in my city and no hits. Thanks Tony.

Hmmm I think I used...

"Amateur Radio VE license testing McAllen texas"

[NW99XJ]

I have no local club by the ARRL website. What do I do next to learn more about HAM license?
These videos will help with studying:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7564E84F0A8082FD

[BlueXJ]

Is VE the first step? Where do I find the info to study?

[NW99XJ]

Also, this site: http://hamexam.org/ has some great methods to help you study, including some cool "flash cards" to get you're brain working.
http://www.qrz.com/ also has some good resources for studying.

[Mudderoy]

Is VE the first step? Where do I find the info to study?

Oh sorry I misunderstood your question. Finding a place to take the test is more difficult that finding studying material.

VE = Volunteer Examiner

[prerunner1982]

See this link for your FREE study guides.. http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14871

Take practice test at QRZ.com or eham.net

Find local club giving the test...

[NW99XJ]

Thanks Jon, THAT is the link I was looking for!
Tristan, The PDF's in the link that prerunner1982 just posted are a great (fee) source as well to use as a study guide.... between those, and all the links in the last few posts here, you'll have all the tools you need to get proficient enough to ace the technician class test.
And like Tony said, finding a place and a person to proctor the exam is going to be the only hard part..... but looks like you'll have something available to you within a short drive.

[BlueXJ]

Been reading and listening to the HamWhisperer and it seems that no Morse code is required any longer. Is that correct?
I may be able to get into this if that is the case.

[xj4life2]

That is correct morse code was dropped from the test. Check your area most Ham Clubs have training classes where you can take the test at the end. Usually priced very good .

[Mudderoy]

Been reading and listening to the HamWhisperer and it seems that no Morse code is required any longer. Is that correct?
I may be able to get into this if that is the case.

No code, the slackers won! ;)

[BlueXJ]

Seems everything needed was on Hamwhisperer for both the VE and General tests. There is a book that is available thru Amazon but is really not needed.

[xj4life2]

No code, the slackers won! ;)

My dad was a radio man in the navy, I had morse and semifor down before I was 10 . Still remember enough to pass the old test

[Mudderoy]

My dad was a radio man in the navy, I had morse and semifor down before I was 10 . Still remember enough to pass the old test

I had to take two stinking code tests for my licenses. These kids today don't know how easy they got it! :smiley-laughing021:

[Tristan89xj]

Well i passed the test and got my tech. and Tony you are right it really isnt that hard for the tech you just have to remember kind of stupid stuff like rules although they are good to know i have a hard time remembering little things like that. they do throw some math problems at you but there easy.

[prerunner1982]

Very Good Tristan. When did you take your test? Took mine Sat Aug 3rd, got my call sign today. KF5WUF

If you haven't already checked it out, we have a sister forum for Amateur Radio: http://www.di-dah-dit.com/

[Tristan89xj]

I took mine on the 31 of july and got my call sign and radio on friday KG7ETR. i havent seen a fourm yet ill have to sign up

[Tristan89xj]

is it impossible to fill out the registration for the di dit dit fourm or am i not getting somthing

[Mudderoy]

is it impossible to fill out the registration for the di dit dit fourm or am i not getting somthing

Did you go here? http://www.di-dah-dit.com/register.php

[Tristan89xj]

Yes but it asked me the questions and even when I know I got then right it said I didn't I googled it and everything and the Internet can't lie

[Mudderoy]

Yes but it asked me the questions and even when I know I got then right it said I didn't I googled it and everything and the Internet can't lie

Yeah I saw that question thing, and I was like "Where the hell did that come from?!?!?!" Then I figured it must have been something I added after my own registration. Does it keep asking the same question?

[Tristan89xj]

No they change from like a capital then what the arrl means to what di dit dit

[Mudderoy]

No they change from like a capital then what the arrl means to what di dit dit

Yeah I was just looking and maybe it's the questions I added. The answers are case sensitive I think, anyway I just changed that to image verification, see if that fixes it for you.