Amateur radio: a friendly competition, but I have to win

[articulate]

Fellas -
My buddy Andy is an amateur radio nut, and he's given me and my friend, Russ, a challenge:
Andy will buy the radio for whomever passes the exam first.

So I need to win.

I want advice on

What to use for a study guide
Where to find the exam location
How FAST can one learn this stuff? :)


I'll be in 2m bliss soon. Not that the radio is out of my budget, but who likes losing?

Mark

[whitethaiger]

Check the recent threads/posts by crawler.

Don't know how fast you can learn this stuff. Took me a week (decided on a Saturday, had to wait till next Saturday for next exam date) from deciding I want to go 2m to taking the test and having the radio installed. :ylsmoke:. Of course I wasn't in a race... It can all be done in a day. In fact, they offer classes where you study during the day and take the exam at the end of the day.

I used this book (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0945053274/002-4134763-8879246?redirect=true) and took practice test here. (http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl)

They have books at the HRO (http://www.hamradio.com/) in Phoenix (you don't have time to have a book shipped, your buddy will win:exclaim:)

So go do it Mark! :jumping:

[articulate]

Cool. Yes, HRO good call. Problem: they're in Russ's backyard. I'll bet he's already got the book.

In my favor, though, he's a procrastinator and dislikes studying. :xxrotflma

Part of the competition, you know, is that the loser will end up buying a 2m anyway....

Thanks Uwe!

Mark

[articulate]

Don't know how fast you can learn this stuff. Took me a week (decided on a Saturday, had to wait till next Saturday for next exam date) from deciding I want to go 2m to taking the test and having the radio installed. :ylsmoke:. Of course I wasn't in a race... It can all be done in a day. In fact, they offer classes where you study during the day and take the exam at the end of the day....
With a little :violent-smiley-031: I'm sure I can throw down the info to pass the exam pretty quickly. What I need to do is find out when the NEXT exam is near me....

Which license do you suppose? Perhaps the Tech since I'm in a race to just GET it, huh?

Mark

[BajaTaco]

Mark - you can do it man!

Find the next exam HERE (http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml)

Just do the technicians for now. If you pass with flying colors, they may offer you to go for the general right there on the spot. If not, you can always retest later.

:jumping:

[whitethaiger]

With a little :violent-smiley-031: I'm sure I can throw down the info to pass the exam pretty quickly. What I need to do is find out when the NEXT exam is near me....

Which license do you suppose? Perhaps the Tech since I'm in a race to just GET it, huh?

Mark

Don't they still require Morse code for the higher classes? That'll take a little more time to learn. So Tech is what you should go for, it's all you need to use the 2m on trips. If you eventually get more into HAM you can always take the other tests.

[articulate]

Sweet!!!

Hilarious. I'm going to be in Atlanta from Aug 21-25, so I'm hosed for the next Phoenix dates....I MAY lose due to scheduling. Nothing available in Atlanta during that week. I already checked. :)

BUT!!!! there is one on the 26th in Tucson at 9:00 am. I'd have to burn through it pretty fast to show up late for the Gunsight Pass trip. Frankly, the trip is more important. :truck:

Thanks for the input, Chris! You rock.

Edit: Uwe, just read your post. Yes, thanks for the input. Technician's is the way to go then. After all, we're competing here...!

[BajaTaco]

Thanks for the input, Chris! You rock.

You are very welcome. GOOD LUCK amigo.

[asteffes]

The Tech license is all you need for everyday communications via amateur radio. You can get your General or Extra when you decide you want to reach way out and touch someone.

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Mark!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck dood!!!!!!!!............:elkgrin:

What a fun project!

I know I need this 2 meter thingy..........

I just can't focus on it right now.

I hope you win!!!!!!!!!!!!:wavey:

[crawler#976]

The online study exams didn't contain the current question pool, so I opted to buy the ARRL Tech Licence book. Itwill be available after the 8th of Sept, but that'll be to late...:D

The ARRL book is very informative, but there is a "shortcut" version - if I'd done just a little more research, I'd have bought it instead:

http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9647

I've been programming the Yaesu FT-2800M - pretty straight forward, but time consumming. While I've only keyed up once to talk to verify the radio is working, I'm pleased with it's reception using a 1/4 wave mag mount. I spoke with a guy in Mesa via repeater, and was heard clearly in Payson as well.

The ARA ( http://www.w7ara.org/Web/ ) has linked repeaters that cover a huge chunk of AZ and California. I've been listening to conversations on the Mt. Elden repeater in Flagstaff from Mesa, Payson, Wickenburg, Holbrook, and points west on I-40. They have links to repeater info state wide.

Later

Mark

[articulate]

:wings:
Passed my exam this morning!

I did not win the competition, though. That's okay by me. So I've got a bunch of work to do.


Install radio in the truck
Install radio in the Jeep


Thanks for all your help. Here's what helped ALOT:
Book: Now You're Talking (http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Talking-Radio-License-Fifth/dp/0872598810)
Online Practice exams: http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl

:beer:

[Mlachica]

:jump:


congratulations Mark! What radio's did you get or are you getting?

[articulate]

:jump:


congratulations Mark! What radio's did you get or are you getting?
thanks!

I'm pretty certain that I'm getting a FT-7800 for the truck. This radio comes with the separation it until December 31 through all retailers, BTW. That's a $60 value.

I'm a little flipped out about the antenna. My CB uses a magnet mount on the roof. "Seat taken!" Earlier, I'd asked about the fender/hood mounts some of the cool kids (http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2925) have. I need a dual band antenna, too. Ideas, thoughts, or input?

For this "competition" my buddy told me and another friend that whoever got their license first, would get a free FT-1500 from him. Well, the dirty bastard actually had 2 of these and intended on giving them to us anyway. So that's what I have for the Jeep. I'll be using the popular Hustler SF-2 antenna mounted to the rear rack over the spare tire. :)

Any thoughts about a dual band antenna?

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Most Excellent..........Mark!!!!!!!!!

I'm Very Happy for YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now where is that 2 Meter Radio Smilie when you need him>?!!!!!!!!!!

.

[DaveInDenver]

thanks!

I'm pretty certain that I'm getting a FT-7800 for the truck. This radio comes with the separation it until December 31 through all retailers, BTW. That's a $60 value.

Any thoughts about a dual band antenna?
Congrats! I have the FT-7800R and really like it. I think it's a good compromise, enough features and and doesn't break the budget. I use the Comet C767NMO with it and it's been a decent antenna so far. It's very flexible compared to most antennas, so it seems to take hitting trees and stuff in stride. The down side to that is on the highway it tends not to stand up very straight, which isn't ideal. But I'll take a bit of range hit on the highway for something that's not going to die a premature death. It has the fold-over feature, which I like since I have my aerials on the roof and park in a garage.

[HenryJ]

...Any thoughts about a dual band antenna?I chose to use two antennas with a splitter-

http://www.fmtc.com/~brule/ham/antennas.jpg
I mounted Larsen NMO 1/4 wave antennas in the front roof rack feet.
http://www.fmtc.com/~brule/ham/radio.jpg

BTW, The extension cable for the control head is just 6 conductor phone cable add a coupler and use the small included cable as the crossover.

[pskhaat]

Passed my exam this morning!

Congrats! Look forward to some QSOs with you.

[k6uk]

Congratulations on getting your ticket!!
The 7800 is a great radio, I have two of them and they are just great.
Pick up the programming software it really helps a lot!

73!

-Mike
K6UK

[HenryJ]

...Pick up the programming software it really helps a lot!Agreed. This has been better than the Yaesu Software - G4HFQ Software (http://www.g4hfq.co.uk/) and
here is a source for a programming cable- ttl2usb.com (http://www.ttl2usb.com/)

[articulate]

Sweet. Thanks fellas. My buddy also has the 7800 with the programming software. I'm all set there. :)

I can't wait to get my call sign and start "geeking out".

:camping:

[Desertdude]

Nice work Mark! :clapsmile your gonna really appreciate it in DV :smiley_drive:

[crawler#976]

Sweet!

You should be FCC approved by Friday! It'll be cool to have a newbie with a call sign higher than mine...I've had several comments on mine from old timers!

Take the time to learn how to program your radio manually - it makes changing things a lot easier on the fly.

Later

[DaveInDenver]

Take the time to learn how to program your radio manually - it makes changing things a lot easier on the fly.

True! The 7800 isn't too bad to program manually. which is actually the way I programmed mine since I don't have the software or cable. Still, I printed the owner's manual from a PDF doing 4 pages per sheet, double sided and stashed it in the Tuffy.

[k6uk]

Yeah, it's pretty easy to program.
But with 1000 memory channels, you can really take advantage of the banks, etc when you can copy and paste away!

[EoGuy]

With the entry-level license - the codeless tech license - you can operate all modes allowed in ham radio above 30 MHz.

These include but are not limited to slow-scan TV, fast scan TV (called HAM TV or amateur television), satellite communications, moonbounce, and voice on 6 meters, 2 meters, 1-1/4 meters, 70 cm, 33 cm, 23 cm and on up to light (literally).

EoGuy - the Esperanto Guy.
Mesa AZ