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. . 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 and took practice test here.

They have books at the HRO in Phoenix (you don't have time to have a book shipped, your buddy will win)

So go do it Mark!

[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.

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. . 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 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

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.

[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.

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.

[whitethaiger]

With a little 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.