HAM Amateur radio license

[Camping350]

Originally Posted by sdspearo

Yep, test is easy if you know basic math and are slightly technically inclined.
This was an *all day* affair. We reviewed every question in the pool from 8:30am-5:00pm and took the test after we all did a practice test. The test itself took ~15 minutes. There's only 35 multiple guess questions and you're allowed to miss 9 and still pass. The class was free and the test cost only $5.
Can't beat that.

Congrats was that the technician class test?

[87manche]

Originally Posted by kastein

Amateur Extra W1KAS... I'm another EE nerd.

No radios in my jeep. I actually haven't even put my CB back in, took it out of the XJ when I got rid of it in summer 2011 and never bothered to install it in the MJ.

I mostly got my license so I could build RF electronics and experiment with them without the FCC nailing me.

I need to do this.

what's on the amateur extra test?

[GSequoia]

I run CB, 2 meter, and 70cm in the Jeep. I only really use CB and 2 though.

My call is KJ6KVL and I passed by just taking practice tests on www.qrz.com.

Typically when on the trail I use 146.585 for simplex. I have a Yaesu FT-8800 as my primary Jeep radio, I mainly went with that because I like the dual tune and cross-band repeat options. My other radios are an FT-1900 (simple 2 meter) that I use occasionally / loan out and my handheld VX-7R. You can get a budget radio for around the $150 mark and be good to go, you don't really need to go all out.

[WB9YZU]

Originally Posted by 87manche

I need to do this.

what's on the amateur extra test?

The question pool changes every few months.

http://www.arrl.org/upgrading-to-an-extra-license

-Ron

[ocean_jet]

I keep a Baofeng UV-5R <link> in my Jeep for emergencies only.

It was about $50 delivered.

It fits perfectly in a Pelican 1010 waterproof case, <link>.



one of these days I need to figure out how to use the darn thing and then get my license... or maybe the other way around.

[kastein]

Originally Posted by 87manche

I need to do this.

what's on the amateur extra test?

Buncha stuff. Being an EE only the rules/regs really threw me off. Simple AC circuits stuff, complex impedance calcs, etc. Take some practice tests online and see how you do, I think aa9pw still has his practice test site up.

[WB9YZU]

Man, all this talk has got me putting up my old homebrew trapped dipole and dragging out the old Kenwood !

-Ron

[seanR]

Originally Posted by GSequoia

My call is KJ6KVL and I passed by just taking practice tests on www.qrz.com.

If GSGuy can do it, I s'pose I can also.
I have been thinking about it for a while.

[kastein]

If you can remember ELI the ICE Man and some other basic stuff, and do math, you are capable.

I know you can handle the regulations section because you are an electrician... electricians don't have to deal with any nonsensical regulations.

[Camping350]

I picked up the Kenwood TH-F6A been programming in some local repeaters I just can't transmit yet I take the test on Jan 12

[sdspearo]

Good luck on the test, I'm sure you won't have any problem. Let us know how you like the radio. I still haven't bought one yet and waffling between a 5W HT like the one you have or a higher power mobile unit.

[Camping350]

I was too but I want both I will buy the Kenwood mobile unit after few paydays looking at the dual band tm-v71.

[WebDog]

I want to replace my mobile unit with one that is capable is repeating on another channel, that way I can go hiking out with my 5W HT and do simplex to the jeep and then the jeep can go out to the repeaters.

[GSequoia]

Originally Posted by WebDog

I want to replace my mobile unit with one that is capable is repeating on another channel, that way I can go hiking out with my 5W HT and do simplex to the jeep and then the jeep can go out to the repeaters.

Feel free to play around with my FT-8800 if we're in the same area sometime. That has cross-band repeat.

[Camping350]

Originally Posted by WebDog

I want to replace my mobile unit with one that is capable is repeating on another channel, that way I can go hiking out with my 5W HT and do simplex to the jeep and then the jeep can go out to the repeaters.

That Kenwood Im looking at does that.