Amatuer Radio operators

Got any HAMs on the board? Working on studying for my general class while also trying to study for the CCNP - bad idea, I know

Find more posts tagged with

Free for TechExams community: Cybersecurity salary guide

Compare cert salaries and plan your next career move

Button

Comments

jamesleecoleman

MississippiGuardsman wrote: »

I've only been studying for the General for about a week but it doesn't take long to study for these since you get all the questions beforehand. It only took me a weekend to study and pass the technician. Amateur Radio is a bit backwards from IT certs in that it's much easier to pass the exam and then learn the technology in depth afterwards because you aren't legally allowed to use it until you have the license. I learn way more from hands on than I do from reading tech material so I'm trying to get through the General as quickly as possible so I can purchase an HF rig and start tinkering.

I'd rather learn the material so I can troubleshoot what I can troubleshoot. I honestly don't like the fact that they mark the questions with the answers in the learning material. From what I've been reading in the book, it looks like a lot of before hands on material so I wouldn't need a radio until I get the certification. Plus, I'm going to go after the morse code competition so I'll just use the morse code app on my phone to learn it.

jamesleecoleman

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Any good places to go to get started? I am thinking about it not only from a geek points perspective but a survival perspective

I'm thinking about having this skill for survival too. My phone can die really really quickly and I really don't want to feel stuck out in the snow or the woods unable to call someone.

JDMurray

jamesleecoleman wrote: »

I honestly don't like the fact that they mark the questions with the answers in the learning material.

You are going for an amateur radio license, not an amateur radio certification. The exam is a formality used to teach people electronics and amateur radio concepts as well as test what they know about those subjects. The FCC and ARRL could have easily required only a licensing fee without an exam, but that would not be in the spirit of amateur radio.

Every amateur radio licensing candidate should memorize every question in each exam pool, understand why the correct answer is correct and the incorrect answers are incorrect, and use that knowledge to help others get their license. That's the best you can do for yourself and the amateur radio community.

JDMurray

veritas_libertas wrote: »

I know that in some areas Cellular capable radios have been modified to use the 900MHz Amateur band. If your right, than those radios are illegal.

Nope, it doesn't work that way. 900MHz (902-928Mhz in North America) is an unlicensed band that anybody and anything may use. Adding that band to a radio that also works the cellular bands doesn't change 900MHz to a cellular frequency. 900MHz is legal regardless of what kind of device is using it.

michaelcox

General Class.

veritas_libertas

JDMurray wrote: »

Nope, it doesn't work that way. 900MHz (902-928Mhz in North America) is an unlicensed band that anybody and anything may use. Adding that band to a radio that also works the cellular bands doesn't change 900MHz to a cellular frequency. 900MHz is legal regardless of what kind of device is using it.

I wasn't inferring that it would change it to a cellular frequency, my point is that cellular radios have been modified for 900MHz Amateur use. That is why I'm curious to see what the law actually has to say on the issue. Sorry, I should have been more clear.

JDMurray

veritas_libertas wrote: »

I wasn't inferring that it would change it to a cellular frequency, my point is that cellular radios have been modified for 900MHz Amateur use.

If you can buy those radios in any reputable ham radio store or from advertisement in major ham radio magazines, then it's safe to assume they are legal. All you would need to do is check what kind of license (if any) is required to operate them.

JDMurray

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Anyone else seen the ham radio setup at the new TWIT brick building? It's incredible to say the least...

Leo Laporte is having an open house for his ham shack today. It's a live broadcast right now on his Tech Guy show at http://live.twit.tv. I'll post the link to the recorded broadcast later when it's released.