Rey, I am just going to have to stretch out further than where I am. My little town doesn't even have a Walmart, let alone clubs. I went to the nearest club, which seems to be one that isn't very active. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by bigpond73:

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
If you want to actually learn the material, get the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual and read it.

Thanks. Yes, I just want a "textbook" type read, so I can understand it, as opposed to the just pass the test type questions. Seems this has changed over the years.

You're right, it has changed to "just memorize the answers". When I got my licenses you had to understand the material.

It's sort of like reloading. There are a lot of experienced reloaders but not a lot of knowledgeable reloaders.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

You're right, it has changed to "just memorize the answers". When I got my licenses you had to understand the material.

It's sort of like reloading. There are a lot of experienced reloaders but not a lot of knowledgeable reloaders.

I agree. Even the class was about remembering the right answers. It's like the classes you take for real estate agents, security guards, etc.

It's not my style of learning at all and I had to reverse engineer what I'm supposed to know. I was looking for a Body of Knowledge book and thanks to Maladat on this thread, it gave me a start. It looks like they split the material into the different licenses so I ordered the ARRL License Manuals for the three licenses. I guess it's just my insecurity / attitude, I like to know as much as I can before actually putting my hands on something. I know even then, I'll need the help of an Elmer.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
On the other hand, I did take the technician test today. There were five proctors. I mention this because they were there to do this for free. Apparently, you can't earn any money doing anything with Amateur Radio unless you were a teacher in a school and your use of a radio in class was incidental to whatever you are teaching, in which case, you can still collect your normal teacher pay.

You're correct in a way. There's no rule that says you can't make money in Amateur Radio, but very few people do make money. It's more a matter of pride and the desire to help others for most people. A notable exception to the not making money thing was a guy named Dick Bash, KL7IHP (I hate peanuts) that paid guys to stand out in front of the FCC field office and get the people who had just taken tests to recite as many questions as they remembered. They were written down and then compiled in a "study guide" that was selling the actual answers to the current tests. Ultimately I believe he got put out of business when the question and answer guides came out.

I've been a Volunteer examiner for the ARRL since their program started as has Mrs. Flash and never made a cent. I usually bought the coffee, water and donuts to get the aspiring Ham's attention up through caffeine and sugar. I also taught Ham Radio Classes through adult education in my area for free for over 3 years, Novice to Extra.

I get a lot of satisfaction from doing both of those.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

You're right, it has changed to "just memorize the answers". When I got my licenses you had to understand the material.

It's sort of like reloading. There are a lot of experienced reloaders but not a lot of knowledgeable reloaders.

I agree. Even the class was about remembering the right answers. It's like the classes you take for real estate agents, security guards, etc.

It's not my style of learning at all and I had to reverse engineer what I'm supposed to know. I was looking for a Body of Knowledge book and thanks to Maladat on this thread, it gave me a start. It looks like they split the material into the different licenses so I ordered the ARRL License Manuals for the three licenses. I guess it's just my insecurity / attitude, I like to know as much as I can before actually putting my hands on something. I know even then, I'll need the help of an Elmer.

If you want "the big book of everything," instead of books covering the specific knowledge areas relating to the individual licenses, pick up a copy of the "ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications."

It's a genuine attempt to cover pretty much every aspect of ham radio that is not extremely niche. The 2022 edition is 1280 pages.

If you really want to learn how to put up emergency communications, go on a Field Day where they go out to the woods and run either generators or solar power. You learn how to get a primitive station to work regardless of conditions.

Here's a great book about wire antennas and how to make them play.

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
[

If you want "the big book of everything," instead of books covering the specific knowledge areas relating to the individual licenses, pick up a copy of the "ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications."

It's a genuine attempt to cover pretty much every aspect of ham radio that is not extremely niche. The 2022 edition is 1280 pages.

Thanks. I previously saw that book but I thought it wasn't what I was looking for. The description threw me off: "The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is your complete guide to radio experimentation, discovery, and innovation. It is the Handbook, written by radio amateurs for everyone with a desire to advance the pursuit of wireless technology." I figure I wanted to know the subject, not experiment and advance the pursuit of anything.

I've ordered it as well. It can't hurt.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

Here's a great book about wire antennas and how to make them play.

Yeah, I learned antennas are like a separate study of black magic in and of themselves. And I've worked on submarine radar antennas. We covered antennas in the shipyard apprenticeship but it was just straight forward "here it is." And, of course, working on the submarine electronics, it was "follow the steps" that were written along with the schematics.

I ordered a used copy from Amazon along with the ARRL Antenna Book.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

Here's a great book about wire antennas and how to make them play.

Yeah, I learned antennas are like a separate study of black magic in and of themselves. And I've worked on submarine radar antennas. We covered antennas in the shipyard apprenticeship but it was just straight forward "here it is." And, of course, working on the submarine electronics, it was "follow the steps" that were written along with the schematics.

I ordered a used copy from Amazon along with the ARRL Antenna Book.

I've mentioned a couple of times how the club I was in won the Field Day 8A Battery division over 20 years straight.

Directional Antennas were the way we did it as we were running 5 Watts on batteries. You can do a lot with a bunch of wire.

I found the Craig Buck K4IA The Easy Way books to be helpful.
They are available in Kindle Unlimited if you have that.

The Tech and General for sure go into theory and the why. The extra does also, but there are also places in the extra where he basically tells you that if you want to be an Electrical Engineer here is how you come up with the right answer, but if you want to just get the question correct here is how to memorize it.

After finishing the books I used hamstudy.org to find my weak areas, and then took practice exams.

I'm a VE for 2 organizations that provide testing over Zoom. They Both also have Discord servers full of people ready to help with question. - DM me if you want more info on that.

Thanks for the tips, eyrich. I'll look into those.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:

quote:

Originally posted by old dino:
Yes, this thread is cool !

Though busy in my life, am studying bits here and there for my license. Is it recommended to take both Tech and General on the same day if I am ready ?

Absolutely. Unless it has changed, a single testing fee covers any and all tests taken at the same time.

Worst that can happen is you pass one but not the other.

KI7YQW

I just learned today that the single testing fees will cover both of these exams on the same day.