Congrats!!! All the best in opening up new experiences with Amateur Radio. Getting your license and getting on the air is like joining Starfleet in Star Trek. You open your world to "new life and new civilizations; you "boldly go where no one has gone before".. Now keep the momentum and go get your EXTRA upgrade.. CONGRATS AGAIN!!!
I took my tests a few years ago. Passed technician and general without too much trouble. Hadn't intended on going any further, but was asked, hey while your here, want to take the extra? I said sure, why not? I passed that as well.
@@furonwarrior He has a Masters in Electrical Engineering, but I don't remember how he studied. I have an Extra too, and just did online study (I might have paid for access to as site). I think I earned a 96% on the Extra exam. It was a while ago we took those exams.
Thanks Michael. I played around with a Tech license for about a year until the bottom dropped out of 10 meters and I decided to upgrade. I asked one of the VE's during my Extra exam if I could call Gordon West for help. They said no. Managed to pass it anyway. 73, W7FTM Alex in Arizona
I'm totally fine as a technician. I like the idea of having a means of communicating during an emergency and UHF/VHF gives me plenty of versatility to communicate with other hams of a higher level that will have vital info that I may benefit from.
I actually spent 3 months studying for my technician & passed a year ago.Im now trying to advance onto General to get more HF privileges & sadly missed passing it twice.Been working on studying again in hopes to pass
You’re doing something wrong. Dont study. Find the test pool questions and memorize them by taking practice tests over and over for about a week.. then take the test. It’s easy. Afterwards you can learn whatever you really need to learn
@@dsonyay well, I ended up getting the General 2 years ago in the Fall of 2018 & now Extra on January 30th this year...so it was a weeks worth of small cramming & passed! Not to mention having a significant other & good friends who Elmered. me along the way. KD9IFV/AE
@@dsonyay Yep, memorizing is the way to do it. Associate the correct answer with the question. No matter how much radio knowledge you may have, it, won't do you any good because of the way they phrase the questions. At least now you don't have to deal with the code. I took and passed the general written back in 1989. I was never able to get close to the 13 wpm code requirement. I barely passed the 5 wpm test. I had to wait decades to get my general.
Passed the Technician and took the General in the same seating but failed it. When the volunteer examiners asked me to take it I thought are you crazy but it gave me an idea of what General questions would be like.
@@UpnorthHere You're right. I have a vanity call sign (my initials), and have a General license. Next week I test for the Extra license. Yeah, it's an ego thing, a challenge I cannot turn down!
I recently passed the Technician, General, and Extra in one session. The VE's told me that I was the first person who passed all three levels in one session. I do have an unfair advantage with my BSEE degree. Now I'm learning Morse code and having a devil of a time learning prosigns. I am going to concentrate on HF and CW to effectively work the whole world with QRP.
It's uncommon, but passing all three tests in one session does happen. I know of two individuals personally that have accomplished that feat. Congratulations, it is a worthy accomplishment, and your years of studying engineering must have paid off.
I've had them all: NTGA&E Took the General and Advanced in front of an FCC engineer at the red brick Federal Building on Washington Street in NYC. Ace'd the Extra written years later at a VE session, but am grateful for the use of multiple choice questions in the 20wpm CW part. Got over by the skin of my teeth. de wa2glr
Same here! I worked my tail off to learn 13 wpm Morse Code as a teenager, and I was (and still am) proud to explain to hams and enthusiasts that I achieved that challenge! The question pool for Advanced was some next-level engineering wizardry and very aptly named! On the same note of this video, I took my General written, and the VE asked if I wanted to take the Advanced test. I had bought the book, by Golden West, and I had only read about half of it, but I decided to give it a shot. I was absolutely mouth-agape, gobsmacked, shocked, when the VE told me I aced the test, with 100%! The only other question pool I did that well on was Novice. Missed one on Tech and General. I feel blessed and honored to hold this Class License! 73’s ! KD5AYS
This channel is one of my favorite channel ! It inspired me a lot so that now I have lauched my own vlog channel. Prior, it shows me as the "talented programmer" I am(I can do the work of 5 devs), how small stuff could become very big in terms of tech business ideas. And Now still being inspared.
One thing to consider is *when* to upgrade... just taking the Tech guarantees a 2x3 callsign, General 2x2, and even possibly shorter with Extra. If you are going for a particular callsign, timing is important!
For what it's worth, I sat for the tech exam in 2017, passed that (all 30 of us did) and then some of us passed the general exam, and then continued to the amateur extra exam, which I failed by only a few points. I had studied the tech materials online for a few weeks and hadn't even read the Extra questions before, let alone the answers. I do have a BSEE in digital systems and tinkered with and operated commercial radios in the 1970s, for more comparative background. I needed the ham license to buy a 1-mile animal tracking system, using pulsed 222 MHz-band transmitters and FM SSB receivers. Now I have a small collection of dual-band HTs and a quad-band mobile. Have not been on the air in months.
I studied electronics in 1963-1965. Code kept me out of Amateur radio. In retirement I spent a little time on the code, but knew I wasn't ready. Went to a test session expecting to pass for Tech. Passed Tech, somehow passed 5 wpm cw, passed general, was 4 answers short of passing Extra. For the next testing session, I knew I didn't have to know everything. I just needed 4 more correct answers. Studied the Extra looking for stuff I didn't know that was easy to remember. I believe I have a knack for multiple choice tests. When I passed, someone said "you didn't ace it but you passed". Almost feels like I cheated, but I like the prestige of the Extra class license. Not very active on the air. Mostly I've just collected a few pieces of vintage tube gear and restored some of it. Shortly after I was licensed they eliminated the code requirement.
Remember when the no code tech came out? I sure do. Went to a class for the no code tech. You know what they started teaching? CODE! I didn't continue the class. But today I'm KE8DMB/AG
When I passed my technician license in 2001, the VE seemed surprised I passed it so quickly, which surprised me in return since the question pools were publicly available online and it was all multiple choice . I used a program called Ham University which let you quiz yourself with the question pools similar to flash cards, then it became simply memorization at that point.
i watched your video simply because i wanted to see why you would not want to upgrade and you were right you should only want to upgrade for yourself as for me i wanted to be the best i could be in my hobby! 73 DE KD5DNK ( amature extra class)
Hi Michael: enjoy your videos. I just passed my Technician test on 7/8. Yes, I was kind of tired from studying for the test, but after a few weeks off have just started to study for the General and will take that test in September. This material is interesting to me, but also not something I have any experience with so picking up the jargon and understanding the concepts is a bit of a stretch, but it is always good to continue learning! Keep up the great work. KE8YSR Bob
Here in Finland we have only two license classes, both have the same frequency privlidges, so the only difference between the two is maximum transmitting power which is 120w for the novice class and 1500w for the advanced class. I myself am a novice class operator and just feel that 120 watts is more than enough for making QSO:s on HF, so no need to upgrade for me.
I've been a VE for over 20 years now and I always at least ask folks if they want to keep testing if they pass. There haven't been many that walked in without a license and out having earned and Extra class ticket but there are some. It's a heck of a kick for the VE team when they can't wipe the grin off their face. 73 DE KJ7NR
I run a VE team in San Diego and the number of times I've seen this happen I can count on one hand. What's more common is people coming in to successive exam sessions and upgrading each time they do.
When I heard they did away with the code requirement, I bought a book and studied it until the next hamfest that had licensing tests. I had been to hamfests many times to buy RF parts. I walking in with nothing and walked out with an extra after being asked if I wanted to continue taking tests. I was told to leave as there were people taking their tech test for the 4th and 5th time present and I was upsetting them. I think people must over think the questions. But I'm glad they keep coming back. I only got a license because I like to design RF circuits and the thought of testing out designs on the air by listening, picking out an unused freq and going live just by announcing a call sign ever 15 minutes appealed to me. I have never communicated with another ham over the air. It was good prep for getting a commercial license which was more difficult.
I convinced my buddy to go from nothing to Extra in one sitting. He is clueless about ham radio, and still doesn't appreciate how rare his accomplishment is. I'm an Extra, and got 3-4 wrong on that test, but I was hoping for 100%. I'm generally not that good at test taking, but I think I got one wrong on my Technician.
I agree with the points on emergency communications that upgrading is important. I also have an Extra as well. That being said most RACES stations are using two meters and 440. And as far as HF the frequencies that are spelled out in the FCC rules for RACES operation are in the general portion of the band. BUT in all other respects i am totally with you. You learn more, you'll gain more skills in the art, and You will be able to enjoy talking to rare DX or DX stations that are not in the general portion. Lastly you won't have to be under the control of a higher class operator if you want to do FD by yourself in the GEN/ADV/EXTRA segments.
I like what you said and follow the same pholosophy. When people (usually the guys who were licensed back when provisional was a class) start complaining about how the lack of CW test has ruined the hobby, I tell them I'm a no code extra. I'm a VE on several teams, a liason for one of them, president of one of my clubs, instruct license courses, and operate. I am learning the code slowly, but never took any of the code tests, and have been licensed since 1995 (or that's what the FCC says. I didn'r get my call until Jan of 1996, and that's usially what I use). One of my first quesrions to students (in both Tech and General classes) is why they want to get their license? I'll follow that up with what do they think it means to have that license? The first is to get a feel of where they want to go, and may be make them aware of the other aspects and possibilities. The second is to see if they have a good idea and what it will take to get or upgrade their license. Anyway, good job with this, and hope to see more. 73 de N1WKO
I have been a HAM since the 70s and started as a tech and eventually getting my General. For me I never felt the need to upgrade further. All personal choice but I can use all or most bands.
I got my no code first. Then the five words per min. code. When I felt comfortable. I got my general, after they lowered the code requirements from 13wpm to 5 wpm. Then when I felt comfortable, I got my extra class. But by then code wasn't an issue.
Something I have noticed from being an avid listener to the bands is that there are more code users than ever before. When the requirement was dropped, operators started learning code because they wanted to learn it, not because they were forced to learn it.
I did Tech and General separately. Tried to take the Extra when taking General it didn’t pass it. That was 8 or 9 years ago now. Just started learning for Extra. Maybe I’ll make it this year!
They didnt even offer me to take the general at the sametime. Got 34 out of 35 for technical. My fault for not knowing. Would have definitely at least tried. Going for my General next week after two year hiatus. Life got busy and I am now excited again about the hobby so it worked out for the better.
If you passed your Technician, you can get to the General with a minimal amount of effort. The Extra class exam is significantly more difficult and I think a lot of people do find it frightening.
When I passed my Technician test, my examiner just put the General test in front of me and said "now take your General" I figured "eh it doesn't cost me to take the test the first time so why not" ...I missed one question more than I could have without failing, and I didn't have the cash to retake it. Here I sit with a Technician license regretting not retaking the General 😅
I passed the tech and general the same night. It is a big deal for some. It empress people when you pass both at once. If there had been time I would have taken the last test also.I had looked at it some but didn't study for the Extra class. Think I may have had a 20% chance and felt lucky. But the tests were given before the monthly meeting and the meeting started before I finished the General test. If had been lucky to pass the 3 test that would empress them more. But some think if you have the top license you know it all. But you don't. I have a general and know Technician that know much more than me. They are all license to learn!
I got my technician license in 1989. I had to wait until they dropped the code requirement before getting my general. I have no plans to go any further. General gives me access to everything I will ever need or want. Extra would just be a status symbol, and I'm not the type that needs one of those.
That's one thing he didn't mention in the video. You can be a Volunteer examiner as a General Class license holder, but you will be limited to administering Technician exams only. To be a full-fledged VE, you need to hold an Amateur Extra Class License.
Levi Burrows People holding the Extra class license can be a VE for other people wanting to take the exam for the Extra License as well as all the other licenses below Extra.
i have been a tech ham operator since 1990..... i want to upgrade to general however after two strokes and TIA's i cant do it because i cannot retain anything because of short term memory problems...... on the other hand if i get re-married i can now legally state i do not remember saying that .... just wish i could be a general come century
I'm studying for Extra right now for 2 main reasons. 1) I have a swiss cheese memory and I just KNOW I'll end up transmitting on a freq I'm not licensed for. 2) I have a good friend who encouraged me to go for my Ham license who is now a Silent Key and I want to use part of his Call (KD8NKX) in my new 4 character call (K1KD) after I pass the exam to memorialize him. And yes I checked, still open.
When I first took my Technician license Exam in 1990 I had studied carefully for both the Novice and Tech theory, and I skimmed through the General theory on the 40minute ride to the VE session, and the examiners did offer me the general theory exam and I did indeed pass it, but I never got up to 13wpm code, about three years later I took and passed the 5wpm test and "upgraded" to "tech-plus" only later when they reduced the code requirement for general and I took and passed the general theory again, and later upgraded to "Extra", never rising higher than that 5wpm code.
I passed my novice and tech exams together but needed a couple more months to get my code proficiency up to 13 wpm to pass the general. With code now gone, it's very possible to do it all in one leap. At least give it a shot.
CW was my only reason for any ham ticket. Phone is just varsity CBers with more money than brains. "HOW BOUTCHA SKIPLAND...YA GOT A COPY ON LOUD FART COME ON"
I got my Novice and Technician licenses back in the late '80s, when they came out with the Novice voice class. A local amateur and coworker gave me the Novice test at home, which I easily passed. When I got that license in the mail, I studied for the Technician class for a couple of weeks, and easily passed that. About a month later I took and passed the General written, thinking that would give me a year to pass the 13 wpm code test. But after 3 tries, I just couldn't do it. Never really even got close. So I gave up and settled into VHF/UHF. It was about 4 years after they dropped the code test that I finally got my General class license. I have no plans to go for the Extra class, you just don't get very much more than the General class. To me HF is what amateur radio is all about. It's how amateur radio started out. VHF and UHF are too much like commercial radio or cell phones. You can get on the local repeater and almost always find someone, and you usually wind up talking to the same people every day. The voice quality is usually loud and clear. And I consider the use of repeaters as cheating to a point. I live in AZ. Right after I got my Technician license, I got into an argument with a CB'r (which I was at one time). Back then we had the ZIA link, a network of repeaters that covered most of AZ, NM, and CO. This guy said something to the effect that my tiny little Kenwood TH215 handheld couldn't possibly outperform his CB. I got on my little radio and quickly made contacts in NM and CO from Phoenix, AZ. You should have seen his jaw drop. But there was no magic involved. He did not know about the repeater system. My little radio only had a range of a few miles line of site. The rest was done with repeaters. I wanted to be able to talk around the world without repeaters. And that is precisely what the HF bands are for. But I have always been interested in how radio worked, not just talking on it. I got a Yaesu FT-DX 560 tube radio and rebuilt it from the ground up. These old radios can be worked on, which to me is where the "amateur" part comes in. I also have an Icom IC-718, but if it quit working, there is nothing I could do with it. Even the factory can only change boards. I also have my own home designed and built antennas for HF, and VHF/UHF. And they work surprisingly well.
I am currently studying for my General. I am interested in it but finding I really lack enthusiasm when it comes to operating on HF. Starting to 2nd guess my idea to upgrade.
My good friend just sat for the Tech exam, and also then passed the General exam. Tried Extra, but only got 54%. That's OK. He got where he wanted to be. How long will he have to wait before getting call letters to be able to be legal on that UV-5R that he bought a month ago?
Hi great video. I'm from London and love radio since being on CB when I was 11. I have wanted to get my license to use 10,11, and 12 metre bands. Do you know if the exams are the same World wide or are they different in each County? I have been using Hamsphere for practice and I love it.
No, each country has their own exams and licensing requirements. In the UK. OFcom regulates amateur radio. Details here: www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio
Yes, everyone is different. I was reading a Canadian Ham club newsletter & it had an ad for books to pass 3 levels: Basic Qualification, Advanced Qualification, & Instructor Qualification.
That's exactly what it is for. It's an Edsal workbench with a formica top and the electronics riser. My wife's employer used to do service work and I purchased it surplus when they cleared out that department. It looks like you could piece the components together via Amazon or Global Industrial.
I'm one of those dinosaurs with Advanced Class. I think it was code that stopped me from going for Extra, as the extra real-estate on HF was just not worth spending more time to get to 20wpm. I never thought to finally step up to the final frontier, but why not? The joke of it is, I got Advanced when I was 15, and ended up being the control op at a number of field day events because I was one of the higher-level hams in the club at that time.
I got the same offer when I passed my Tech, I took the General and got 26 out of 35 right but missed too many in the wrong group. Maybe I’ll upgrade sooner or later.
Missed too many in the wrong group? The minimum number correct to pass Tech or General is 26 out of 35. I have administered around 170 exams since 2009, any VE team that doesn't automatically score your 26 correct as a Pass is doing you wrong. 26 correct is 26 correct, it doesn't matter what the exam question is. Too bad it's been over a year since you took that exam, because I would have encouraged you to protest the VE's results to their accrediting VEC. 73 de KB5ILY
If I knew then what I found out 2 years ago then I would have challenged what happened back then. I didn’t know at that time, plus who’s to say the VE Didn’t throw out the failed tests. No problem, I’m working on my next license.
I just found this about the Ray Baum's act of 2018: The Act would similarly require the Commission to establish a schedule of regulatory fees to cover the agency’s reasonably expected costs. The agency would be required to annually adjust the schedule. Government entities, nonprofits, amateur radio operators, and noncommercial radio and television stations would be exempt from regulatory fees. (Sec. 102(b)). It seems the FCC may be overstepping its authority when they charge amateur radio operators a fee to renew their license or to get their first license. This is going to discourage a lot of people from upgrading their license with employment being so unstable during coronavirus pandemic times.
Not that I necessarily agree with the fees, but I did a quick text search of the Ray Baum's act as found on the US Congress website. It appears that amateur radio license holders are exempt from paying regulatory fees, but not application fees. Wouldn't applying for or renewing a license, or requesting a vanity callsign be considered an application fee? I know it sounds nitpicky, but a regulatory fee would be different from an application fee, and I think that distinction needs to be made in the discusssion. The FCC defines regulatory fees as the regulatory costs associated with the its enforcement, policy and rulemaking, user information, and international activities. www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/regulatory-fees www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4986
@@KB9VBRAntennas That does make a lot of sense. If this were brought up in court to oppose the $35 fee, it would likely lose to the FCC lawyer, even and inept one. I have not got my license. But with the coronavirus sporadically closing work without warning, it looks like I will just remain an unlicensed hobbiest. I do not know anybody to transmit to anyway. I can enjoy the unlicensed aspects of radio a bit longer until things stabilize, if they ever stabilize. Modifying radios for amateurs from radios used in other services, making antennas, making power supplies, making manual antenna tuners, setting up stations, tuning antennas for lowest SWR, climbing towers,, repairing radios, and the such, do not require a license. I will just wait a spell longer.
It’s prudent to get your Extra Class License if you want to operate in within several other countries like Greece since they require USA operators to have a license above a General to operate a transmitter legally.
If you have the ability to receive the HF bands, I suggest you just listen in for awhile before increasing your license class. For example, if you are a Technician, it makes sense to upgrade to general, but listen to 20, 40 and 80 meters for awhile and ask yourself what activity on these bands is something you are interested in.Of course this will all probably be SSB/phone. Nets and DX protocols are good forms to learn about before diving in too fast. Digital modes are interesting, but learning to communicate in "ham speak" is a valuable skill on HF SSB. If you listen to the Extra Class frequencies on HF, it's a usually a very sterile but gentlemanly approach to ham radio. Some Extra's want to be broadcasters and invest a small fortune to sound like it. Obtaining an Extra Class license too early and not using it or not being ready to operate in that world is something to be considered. Yes, there is some good DX on the Extra frequencies, but most workable DX for the newer ham with limited antennas and power will be on 20 meters in the General portion of that band. The fun Nets are also in the General bands and most (not all) QSO's are regional and welcome new hams to the hobby. Listening is a skill. Digging out weak signals is an art form. If you don't develop solid listening skills, it will eventually catch up with new hams. Have fun, enjoy the hobby and be safe !
I can receive everything from 100 kilocycles all the way up to 2.1gigacycles on all modes. It is very interesting to listen in, indeed. But the transmitting equipment for HF is extremely expensive and there is little, to no, equipment that can be converted from other services to be able to transmit on amateur radio HF bands. VHF and UHF surplus equipment from other services is plentiful, powerful, very cheap, and very easy to convert to amateur radio. There is also purpose made VHF and UHF amateur radio equipment that is very affordable as well. This is not the case when it comes to HF. There is not much surplus equipment from other services that is HF. I believe that is why the purpose made HF amateur radio transceivers are so expensive. It is because it can be made very expensive. Thus, I just keep listening. It is still quite interesting.
Hello. My name is Joshua. I am 45 years old and live in Los Angeles, CA. I have been playing around with a Baofeng UV-5R walkie talkie for around four years now and have watched, studied and learn a lot about my radio and ham radio repeaters, antennas,call signs and whatnot. I REALLY want to talk with my walkie talkie via a repeater with other folks out there but I get scared or whatever to key up because I do not have a legitimate call sign to throw out there and also I'm scared of triangulation (I don't want to get caught up legally for ANYTHING!) I guess the next obvious thing is to get licensed. Please excuse my ignorance, but I don't know how or where to begin this journey to acquire a valid license. I guess I could Google it, but that would NEVER be the same as getting it straight from the horse's mouth. If there is anybody out here in RUclips land that remembers the passion you felt for getting your license and start to be a legitimate ham operator I humbly ask that you please reply to this comment and let me know what you did step by step to achieve your goal. I'm not stupid, well, maybe just a little slow. What do I need to do? How much $ do I need to do it? Where do I do it? When do I do it? For how long do I do it? Are there support groups for It? Can I talk on a repeater and ask around? I might sound off but the only stupid question I've learned is the question not asked. Please help me figure it out. Thank you...
Joshua Keene Hello Josh, I’m Joe from Virginia and 26 years old. To start off with, the radio you have is crap for transmitting. Because you do not have a license, do not transmit at all unless it is a life and death emergency when no other forms of communication is available. Go look on the www.arrl.org website for information. The second step would be to buy the Technican Ham Radio License Book from ARRL: www.amazon.com/ARRL-Radio-License-Manual-Spiral/dp/1625950829/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Ham+radio+book&qid=1583569286&sr=8-3 This book will teach you everything. After you read the book, look for an available class or testing center by going to this link: Exams: www.arrl.org/exam_sessions/search Classes: www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class There are a lot of learning videos you can find on RUclips to help you study. After you pass the exam, consider finding a club to join: www.arrl.org/find-a-club/ They might help you out more with learning how to transmit, use repeaters, what DXing is, proper ham radio communication, etc. Message me or comment here if you have more questions. Both classes and exams can be available for free, but it depends. They may be walk-in or require to sign up ahead of time. My book was $30 and the exam I took was free. Do not transmit on repeaters without a license asking for help. The internet has more than enough information for you.
Personally I think you should be required to upgrade your license until you reached General and then maintain it every year (retest) with a one time unique test per person in order to remain legal, but that's me.. This would weed out those that are not interested in learning radio and only want a ham license so that can play Rambo survivalist out in the woods on Baofengs... Extra should be an option if you want it.. I mean IDK if its worth a vanity callsign and extra band usage and power allotments when you already have people on bands they are not supposed to be on using power they are not allowed to use..
That's an interesting perspective but I'm not sure how compulsory testing and upgrades would benefit the amateur radio service. It would certainly weed out the inactive license holders. Originally the Novice license was good for a year and the clock was ticking for you to upgrade. But that requirement was changed many, many years ago.
Ive had my tech license for a few years but do not plan and taking the general....why? I see no need to understand electronics because if the radio craps out, Ill have someone fix it. That's the world now a days, when you have a product, its under warranty or there's a local shop that will repair it. This test would have applied back to the days of us building our own radios, but that is long gone. Its the 21st century and code is dead also. I copied it for 15 years in the army and cant think of many people using it other than VORS when you flying. So my 2 cents and will keep my R390URR for eavesdropping in HF.....
No one asked and I wasn't aware I could continue testing. Even if I had been asked, I would not have taken the test. I didn't study for it and it's unlikely I would have passed it. And I don't like failing. Seeing the test would be of no benefit to me. The question pool is already out there and I can take all the practice tests I want on QRZ. And I'll do that, once I've studied for the General. Only then will I take the General test.
Fair enough. There's no obligation to keep on testing once your pass your first test. If you don't believe you are ready for the next one, then there is no reason to go through the stress.
I got my license test at novice in 1990 and passed my general in the same session but didn't pass the 13 minutes code so thayt made made me a tech genreal i sat on it for 13 years as a tech genreal but I couldnt find my novice cert so i had to do the code again but I was still on a genreal test I had retaken that year 2003 so they offered me the Extra so I said yes unfortunatly without studying and I left my scientific calculator on my desk and work I ended up missing it by two questions when I found another text session 2 months later after having several bouts of pneumonia I went back and I nailed it was only for wrong the reason why I did there it wasn't for the reason of being under pressure it was for the reason that I would no longer have any restrictions on my license I can ride the Wide Open Range so yes I did it for myself
My call sign is AB10R by the way my test was a lot harder than it is today because they evened out the test qiestion pool and spread them out evenly acrossed all 3 test and dropped about 90 questions from the test I took so thats all the more to take the extea
I spent 3 years studding 20wpm code to get my extra, A year after they dropped code, so get your tech and wait they will drop the general and extra and you will be grandfathered in, hahaha, 73 KU4XQ
Thank you for your contribution. I Think you american hams really need to work with your FCC to come up with a more modern form of licencing. Why do you need so many classes? Tech, Novice, Tech plus, General, Advanced and Extra is way to many steaps and Extra seems elusive when really it is not. You need a Amatuer Radio licence with a no code requirement. If ones wants to learn morse code one will. The test should include questions on electrical safety, general electronical knowledge, Ohms law, inductance, capacistance, npn vs pnp transistors, resistors etc etc, it needs to incluse the band plans both in Americas but also basic knowledge of region 1 and 2. It needs to include propagition modes from LF to SHF and which bands can is most likely to get a QSO between A and B. It need to involve some 10 most commonly used Q-codes and there should be questions on a "best practice" operating technique and behaviour on the band plus any additional FCC related questions. That is the only licence class you need. To not make it too difficult one could potentially have a second lower class just to get people started. But it need to be time restricted by max 2 years. This in order for folks to study up on what they are mssing. Cheers and 73 Magnus
The tests need to be unique per person, and NEVER online so people cannot cheat. The problem with FCC testing now is people remember only the answers and the knowledge never soaks in, They only want to get a license so they can use their prized Chinefeng radios to play doomsday prepper out in the boonies and not have the FCC drop the hammer on them..
The importance is to learn and understand more than mere passing an examination , there are questions within the pool that are wrongly answered and you need to study to know that in order to avoid future mistakes , also experience is needed in radio operation practices as is a pity to see a ""memory made""" licensed ham extra burn a $3,000 dollar HF radio out of the box to a crisp for lacking the BASIC knowledge only hands on experience brings ( User beware !) WP4QIN
The exams are too difficult. That's why most hams don't go further than General. I see this especially in Europe. And that's why we loose the bands. We want to use those bands, but our general license forbids it. The youth isn't interested in all that study, and so that group is also out of sight. Amateur radio is dying, and we all know why. But the FCC and ARRL, IARU dont want to change.
I passed technician and general tests today
Congrats
Congrats!!! All the best in opening up new experiences with Amateur Radio. Getting your license and getting on the air is like joining Starfleet in Star Trek. You open your world to "new life and new civilizations; you "boldly go where no one has gone before".. Now keep the momentum and go get your EXTRA upgrade.. CONGRATS AGAIN!!!
Awesome congrats
I took my tests a few years ago. Passed technician and general without too much trouble. Hadn't intended on going any further, but was asked, hey while your here, want to take the extra? I said sure, why not? I passed that as well.
Hey, that's great. Passing all three in one sitting is a rare occurrence, but it does happen. Congratulations!
What did you do to help you pass?
My buddy took, and passed, all three current exams in the same day. I suggested he do so, and was very pleased he accomplished that feat.
But... how?
@@furonwarrior Studied hard. The cost was the same whether he took one test, or all three.
DumbledoreMcCracken Did he read all three books, did he have a background in radio engineering or just a strong enthusiast?
@@furonwarrior He has a Masters in Electrical Engineering, but I don't remember how he studied. I have an Extra too, and just did online study (I might have paid for access to as site). I think I earned a 96% on the Extra exam. It was a while ago we took those exams.
@@furonwarrior I asked him, he created a bunch of memory tricks to memorize the answers.
Thanks Michael. I played around with a Tech license for about a year until the bottom dropped out of 10 meters and I decided to upgrade. I asked one of the VE's during my Extra exam if I could call Gordon West for help. They said no. Managed to pass it anyway. 73, W7FTM Alex in Arizona
I'm totally fine as a technician. I like the idea of having a means of communicating during an emergency and UHF/VHF gives me plenty of versatility to communicate with other hams of a higher level that will have vital info that I may benefit from.
I actually spent 3 months studying for my technician & passed a year ago.Im now trying to advance onto General to get more HF privileges & sadly missed passing it twice.Been working on studying again in hopes to pass
You’re doing something wrong. Dont study. Find the test pool questions and memorize them by taking practice tests over and over for about a week.. then take the test. It’s easy. Afterwards you can learn whatever you really need to learn
@@dsonyay well, I ended up getting the General 2 years ago in the Fall of 2018 & now Extra on January 30th this year...so it was a weeks worth of small cramming & passed! Not to mention having a significant other & good friends who Elmered. me along the way. KD9IFV/AE
@@dsonyay Yep, memorizing is the way to do it. Associate the correct answer with the question. No matter how much radio knowledge you may have, it, won't do you any good because of the way they phrase the questions. At least now you don't have to deal with the code. I took and passed the general written back in 1989. I was never able to get close to the 13 wpm code requirement. I barely passed the 5 wpm test. I had to wait decades to get my general.
Passed the Technician and took the General in the same seating but failed it. When the volunteer examiners asked me to take it I thought are you crazy but it gave me an idea of what General questions would be like.
Passed my Gen today - yea!!! I don't have any immediate plans to go for the Amateur Extra any time soon... Thank you!
Extra is an optional thing.. You get a vanity call and allowed to use a sliver of Extra class bandspace.. other than that it's not really worth it..
@@Elfnetdesigns "You get a vanity call"? I thought anyone with a ham license is eligible to apply for a vanity call sign. 47 CFR 97.19, right?
@@UpnorthHere You're right. I have a vanity call sign (my initials), and have a General license. Next week I test for the Extra license. Yeah, it's an ego thing, a challenge I cannot turn down!
I recently passed the Technician, General, and Extra in one session. The VE's told me that I was the first person who passed all three levels in one session. I do have an unfair advantage with my BSEE degree. Now I'm learning Morse code and having a devil of a time learning prosigns.
I am going to concentrate on HF and CW to effectively work the whole world with QRP.
It's uncommon, but passing all three tests in one session does happen. I know of two individuals personally that have accomplished that feat. Congratulations, it is a worthy accomplishment, and your years of studying engineering must have paid off.
I am a license class that is no longer obtainable, Advanced Class. So I am saying put as an Advanced.
I've had them all: NTGA&E Took the General and Advanced in front of an FCC engineer at the red brick Federal Building on Washington Street in NYC.
Ace'd the Extra written years later at a VE session, but am grateful for the use of multiple choice questions in the 20wpm CW part. Got over by the skin of my teeth.
de wa2glr
Same here! I worked my tail off to learn 13 wpm Morse Code as a teenager, and I was (and still am) proud to explain to hams and enthusiasts that I achieved that challenge!
The question pool for Advanced was some next-level engineering wizardry and very aptly named!
On the same note of this video, I took my General written, and the VE asked if I wanted to take the Advanced test. I had bought the book, by Golden West, and I had only read about half of it, but I decided to give it a shot. I was absolutely mouth-agape, gobsmacked, shocked, when the VE told me I aced the test, with 100%! The only other question pool I did that well on was Novice. Missed one on Tech and General.
I feel blessed and honored to hold this Class License!
73’s !
KD5AYS
Same here. Sticking with Advanced Class for the same reason.
This channel is one of my favorite channel ! It inspired me a lot so that now I have lauched my own vlog channel. Prior, it shows me as the "talented programmer" I am(I can do the work of 5 devs), how small stuff could become very big in terms of tech business ideas. And Now still being inspared.
One thing to consider is *when* to upgrade... just taking the Tech guarantees a 2x3 callsign, General 2x2, and even possibly shorter with Extra. If you are going for a particular callsign, timing is important!
Jayson Quilantan - really? I was robbed! I've never been anything but an extra and my call sign is 5 characters.
Another Dave 5 characters is 2x2 , don’t count the number
For what it's worth, I sat for the tech exam in 2017, passed that (all 30 of us did) and then some of us passed the general exam, and then continued to the amateur extra exam, which I failed by only a few points. I had studied the tech materials online for a few weeks and hadn't even read the Extra questions before, let alone the answers. I do have a BSEE in digital systems and tinkered with and operated commercial radios in the 1970s, for more comparative background. I needed the ham license to buy a 1-mile animal tracking system, using pulsed 222 MHz-band transmitters and FM SSB receivers. Now I have a small collection of dual-band HTs and a quad-band mobile. Have not been on the air in months.
I studied electronics in 1963-1965. Code kept me out of Amateur radio. In retirement I spent a little time on the code, but knew I wasn't ready. Went to a test session expecting to pass for Tech. Passed Tech, somehow passed 5 wpm cw, passed general, was 4 answers short of passing Extra. For the next testing session, I knew I didn't have to know everything. I just needed 4 more correct answers. Studied the Extra looking for stuff I didn't know that was easy to remember. I believe I have a knack for multiple choice tests. When I passed, someone said "you didn't ace it but you passed". Almost feels like I cheated, but I like the prestige of the Extra class license. Not very active on the air. Mostly I've just collected a few pieces of vintage tube gear and restored some of it. Shortly after I was licensed they eliminated the code requirement.
Remember when the no code tech came out? I sure do. Went to a class for the no code tech. You know what they started teaching? CODE! I didn't continue the class. But today I'm KE8DMB/AG
When I passed my technician license in 2001, the VE seemed surprised I passed it so quickly, which surprised me in return since the question pools were publicly available online and it was all multiple choice . I used a program called Ham University which let you quiz yourself with the question pools similar to flash cards, then it became simply memorization at that point.
i watched your video simply because i wanted to see why you would not want to upgrade and you were right you should only want to upgrade for yourself as for me i wanted to be the best i could be in my hobby! 73 DE KD5DNK ( amature extra class)
The Morse code used to be the one characteristic that all hams had incommon. It was hard work getting past that 20wpm code test for my Extra Class.
Hi. I was up to 18wpm when the code requirement was dropped
Hi Michael: enjoy your videos. I just passed my Technician test on 7/8. Yes, I was kind of tired from studying for the test, but after a few weeks off have just started to study for the General and will take that test in September. This material is interesting to me, but also not something I have any experience with so picking up the jargon and understanding the concepts is a bit of a stretch, but it is always good to continue learning! Keep up the great work. KE8YSR Bob
Passed Tech exam a couple weeks ago. Studied 6 days, and got my call sign this week. KI5JHX
Here in Finland we have only two license classes, both have the same frequency privlidges, so the only difference between the two is maximum transmitting power which is 120w for the novice class and 1500w for the advanced class. I myself am a novice class operator and just feel that 120 watts is more than enough for making QSO:s on HF, so no need to upgrade for me.
Oct 14th I took the Tech test. Passed. They asked if I wanted to take the General. So I passed it also. So got that upgrade. Thanks Ke0our 73
I've been a VE for over 20 years now and I always at least ask folks if they want to keep testing if they pass. There haven't been many that walked in without a license and out having earned and Extra class ticket but there are some. It's a heck of a kick for the VE team when they can't wipe the grin off their face. 73 DE KJ7NR
I run a VE team in San Diego and the number of times I've seen this happen I can count on one hand. What's more common is people coming in to successive exam sessions and upgrading each time they do.
DO you allow people to go back and correct answers if they get them wrong so they can pass?
ElfNet Designs Lmaoo
When I heard they did away with the code requirement, I bought a book and studied it until the next hamfest that had licensing tests. I had been to hamfests many times to buy RF parts. I walking in with nothing and walked out with an extra after being asked if I wanted to continue taking tests. I was told to leave as there were people taking their tech test for the 4th and 5th time present and I was upsetting them. I think people must over think the questions. But I'm glad they keep coming back. I only got a license because I like to design RF circuits and the thought of testing out designs on the air by listening, picking out an unused freq and going live just by announcing a call sign ever 15 minutes appealed to me. I have never communicated with another ham over the air. It was good prep for getting a commercial license which was more difficult.
I convinced my buddy to go from nothing to Extra in one sitting. He is clueless about ham radio, and still doesn't appreciate how rare his accomplishment is. I'm an Extra, and got 3-4 wrong on that test, but I was hoping for 100%. I'm generally not that good at test taking, but I think I got one wrong on my Technician.
I agree with the points on emergency communications that upgrading is important. I also have an Extra as well. That being said most RACES stations are using two meters and 440. And as far as HF the frequencies that are spelled out in the FCC rules for RACES operation are in the general portion of the band. BUT in all other respects i am totally with you. You learn more, you'll gain more skills in the art, and You will be able to enjoy talking to rare DX or DX stations that are not in the general portion. Lastly you won't have to be under the control of a higher class operator if you want to do FD by yourself in the GEN/ADV/EXTRA segments.
I couldn't imagine why a person should not upgrade so I skipped ahead a little bit to see what your answer was. It was perfect.
I like what you said and follow the same pholosophy.
When people (usually the guys who were licensed back when provisional was a class) start complaining about how the lack of CW test has ruined the hobby, I tell them I'm a no code extra.
I'm a VE on several teams, a liason for one of them, president of one of my clubs, instruct license courses, and operate. I am learning the code slowly, but never took any of the code tests, and have been licensed since 1995 (or that's what the FCC says. I didn'r get my call until Jan of 1996, and that's usially what I use).
One of my first quesrions to students (in both Tech and General classes) is why they want to get their license? I'll follow that up with what do they think it means to have that license?
The first is to get a feel of where they want to go, and may be make them aware of the other aspects and possibilities. The second is to see if they have a good idea and what it will take to get or upgrade their license.
Anyway, good job with this, and hope to see more.
73
de N1WKO
I have been a HAM since the 70s and started as a tech and eventually getting my General.
For me I never felt the need to upgrade further.
All personal choice but I can use all or most bands.
Just passed my Tech last Thursday. Taking my General next month and my Extra the month after that.
I got my no code first. Then the five words per min. code. When I felt comfortable. I got my general, after they lowered the code requirements from 13wpm to 5 wpm. Then when I felt comfortable, I got my extra class. But by then code wasn't an issue.
Something I have noticed from being an avid listener to the bands is that there are more code users than ever before. When the requirement was dropped, operators started learning code because they wanted to learn it, not because they were forced to learn it.
Ha! I am upgrading to the Extra License, not for me but my Extra Class License Manual expires on June 30th, 2020. No pressure there!
You aren't alone. I know more than a few hams that got their extra for that very same reason.
@@KB9VBRAntennas I took the Element 4 exam and passed last Saturday 2/15.
Congratulations!
@@KB9VBRAntennas Thanks!
I've heard the question pool will not be changing drastically, something around 30 question changes, some dropped, some new ones added.
your call sign was made for C.W. ,it just has that ring to it ,some calls do and some don't
I did Tech and General separately. Tried to take the Extra when taking General it didn’t pass it. That was 8 or 9 years ago now. Just started learning for Extra. Maybe I’ll make it this year!
They didnt even offer me to take the general at the sametime. Got 34 out of 35 for technical. My fault for not knowing. Would have definitely at least tried. Going for my General next week after two year hiatus. Life got busy and I am now excited again about the hobby so it worked out for the better.
With the three classes I note many stop at General. It's like the Extra class scares them. I got my Extra by drilling on the question pool.
If you passed your Technician, you can get to the General with a minimal amount of effort. The Extra class exam is significantly more difficult and I think a lot of people do find it frightening.
When I passed my Technician test, my examiner just put the General test in front of me and said "now take your General"
I figured "eh it doesn't cost me to take the test the first time so why not"
...I missed one question more than I could have without failing, and I didn't have the cash to retake it.
Here I sit with a Technician license regretting not retaking the General 😅
I passed the tech and general the same night. It is a big deal for some. It empress people when you pass both at once. If there had been time
I would have taken the last test also.I had looked at it some but didn't study for the Extra class. Think I may have had a 20% chance and felt lucky. But the tests were given before the monthly meeting and the meeting started before I finished the General test. If had been lucky to pass the 3 test that would empress them more. But some think if you have the top license you know it all. But you don't. I have a general and know Technician that know much more than me. They are all license to learn!
I got my technician license in 1989. I had to wait until they dropped the code requirement before getting my general. I have no plans to go any further. General gives me access to everything I will ever need or want. Extra would just be a status symbol, and I'm not the type that needs one of those.
One reason to pass Extra exams would be to help as a Volunteer Examiner.
That's one thing he didn't mention in the video. You can be a Volunteer examiner as a General Class license holder, but you will be limited to administering Technician exams only. To be a full-fledged VE, you need to hold an Amateur Extra Class License.
Who then, can administer the test extra test if extra is the highest?
Levi Burrows People holding the Extra class license can be a VE for other people wanting to take the exam for the Extra License as well as all the other licenses below Extra.
i have been a tech ham operator since 1990.....
i want to upgrade to general however after two strokes and TIA's i cant do it because i cannot retain anything because of short term memory problems......
on the other hand if i get re-married i can now legally state i do not remember saying that ....
just wish i could be a general come century
I'm studying for Extra right now for 2 main reasons. 1) I have a swiss cheese memory and I just KNOW I'll end up transmitting on a freq I'm not licensed for. 2) I have a good friend who encouraged me to go for my Ham license who is now a Silent Key and I want to use part of his Call (KD8NKX) in my new 4 character call (K1KD) after I pass the exam to memorialize him. And yes I checked, still open.
Those are excellent reasons. One of the reasons I upgraded was that so I didn't have to worry where the band segments began and ended.
I am taking the technician test in one week so if given the opportunity to take the general test. I am going to give it a shot
I was expecting some enlightening reason for not upgrading. I had to chuckle at the "do it for yourself".
Same cept I felt like I fell for clickbait instead of hearing legit reasoning.
When I first took my Technician license Exam in 1990 I had studied carefully for both the Novice and Tech theory, and I skimmed through the General theory on the 40minute ride to the VE session, and the examiners did offer me the general theory exam and I did indeed pass it, but I never got up to 13wpm code, about three years later I took and passed the 5wpm test and "upgraded" to "tech-plus" only later when they reduced the code requirement for general and I took and passed the general theory again, and later upgraded to "Extra", never rising higher than that 5wpm code.
Same here. I took the 5wpm code test and got my Tech Plus in 1999. I didn't upgrade til Extra until after they lowered the code requirement to 5wpm.
I passed my novice and tech exams together but needed a couple more months to get my code proficiency up to 13 wpm to pass the general. With code now gone, it's very possible to do it all in one leap. At least give it a shot.
CW was my only reason for any ham ticket. Phone is just varsity CBers with more money than brains. "HOW BOUTCHA SKIPLAND...YA GOT A COPY ON LOUD FART COME ON"
Meh, whatever.
Code is fun!
I think you missed the biggest reason to pass the General.....Chicks Dig It!
Yes, such a chick magnet. "That's quite a whip you have there!"
I am a novice and I am happy with QRP.
I got my Novice and Technician licenses back in the late '80s, when they came out with the Novice voice class. A local amateur and coworker gave me the Novice test at home, which I easily passed. When I got that license in the mail, I studied for the Technician class for a couple of weeks, and easily passed that. About a month later I took and passed the General written, thinking that would give me a year to pass the 13 wpm code test. But after 3 tries, I just couldn't do it. Never really even got close. So I gave up and settled into VHF/UHF. It was about 4 years after they dropped the code test that I finally got my General class license. I have no plans to go for the Extra class, you just don't get very much more than the General class.
To me HF is what amateur radio is all about. It's how amateur radio started out. VHF and UHF are too much like commercial radio or cell phones. You can get on the local repeater and almost always find someone, and you usually wind up talking to the same people every day. The voice quality is usually loud and clear. And I consider the use of repeaters as cheating to a point. I live in AZ. Right after I got my Technician license, I got into an argument with a CB'r (which I was at one time). Back then we had the ZIA link, a network of repeaters that covered most of AZ, NM, and CO. This guy said something to the effect that my tiny little Kenwood TH215 handheld couldn't possibly outperform his CB. I got on my little radio and quickly made contacts in NM and CO from Phoenix, AZ. You should have seen his jaw drop. But there was no magic involved. He did not know about the repeater system. My little radio only had a range of a few miles line of site. The rest was done with repeaters. I wanted to be able to talk around the world without repeaters. And that is precisely what the HF bands are for. But I have always been interested in how radio worked, not just talking on it. I got a Yaesu FT-DX 560 tube radio and rebuilt it from the ground up. These old radios can be worked on, which to me is where the "amateur" part comes in. I also have an Icom IC-718, but if it quit working, there is nothing I could do with it. Even the factory can only change boards. I also have my own home designed and built antennas for HF, and VHF/UHF. And they work surprisingly well.
Sounds like you're doing what amateur radio is all about! Good on you!
I am currently studying for my General. I am interested in it but finding I really lack enthusiasm when it comes to operating on HF. Starting to 2nd guess my idea to upgrade.
My good friend just sat for the Tech exam, and also then passed the General exam. Tried Extra, but only got 54%. That's OK. He got where he wanted to be. How long will he have to wait before getting call letters to be able to be legal on that UV-5R that he bought a month ago?
Hi great video. I'm from London and love radio since being on CB when I was 11. I have wanted to get my license to use 10,11, and 12 metre bands. Do you know if the exams are the same World wide or are they different in each County? I have been using Hamsphere for practice and I love it.
No, each country has their own exams and licensing requirements. In the UK. OFcom regulates amateur radio. Details here: www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio
Yes, everyone is different. I was reading a Canadian Ham club newsletter & it had an ad for books to pass 3 levels: Basic Qualification, Advanced Qualification, & Instructor Qualification.
Who is the manufacture of that desk you have in the background, I like the layout, it would be great for an electronics technician's workspace.
That's exactly what it is for. It's an Edsal workbench with a formica top and the electronics riser. My wife's employer used to do service work and I purchased it surplus when they cleared out that department. It looks like you could piece the components together via Amazon or Global Industrial.
I'm one of those dinosaurs with Advanced Class. I think it was code that stopped me from going for Extra, as the extra real-estate on HF was just not worth spending more time to get to 20wpm. I never thought to finally step up to the final frontier, but why not? The joke of it is, I got Advanced when I was 15, and ended up being the control op at a number of field day events because I was one of the higher-level hams in the club at that time.
That sounds like what I did lol
I got the same offer when I passed my Tech, I took the General and got 26 out of 35 right but missed too many in the wrong group. Maybe I’ll upgrade sooner or later.
Missed too many in the wrong group?
The minimum number correct to pass Tech or General is 26 out of 35.
I have administered around 170 exams since 2009, any VE team that doesn't automatically score your 26 correct as a Pass is doing you wrong. 26 correct is 26 correct, it doesn't matter what the exam question is.
Too bad it's been over a year since you took that exam, because I would have encouraged you to protest the VE's results to their accrediting VEC.
73 de KB5ILY
If I knew then what I found out 2 years ago then I would have challenged what happened back then. I didn’t know at that time, plus who’s to say the VE Didn’t throw out the failed tests. No problem, I’m working on my next license.
I just found this about the Ray Baum's act of 2018:
The Act would similarly require the Commission to establish a schedule
of regulatory fees to cover the agency’s reasonably expected costs. The
agency would be required to annually adjust the schedule. Government
entities, nonprofits, amateur radio operators, and noncommercial radio
and television stations would be exempt from regulatory fees. (Sec.
102(b)).
It seems the FCC may be overstepping its authority when they charge
amateur radio operators a fee to renew their license or to get their
first license.
This is going to discourage a lot of people from upgrading their license with employment being so unstable during coronavirus pandemic times.
Not that I necessarily agree with the fees, but I did a quick text search of the Ray Baum's act as found on the US Congress website. It appears that amateur radio license holders are exempt from paying regulatory fees, but not application fees. Wouldn't applying for or renewing a license, or requesting a vanity callsign be considered an application fee? I know it sounds nitpicky, but a regulatory fee would be different from an application fee, and I think that distinction needs to be made in the discusssion. The FCC defines regulatory fees as the regulatory costs associated with the its enforcement, policy and rulemaking, user information, and international activities. www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/regulatory-fees
www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4986
@@KB9VBRAntennas That does make a lot of sense. If this were brought up in court to oppose the $35 fee, it would likely lose to the FCC lawyer, even and inept one. I have not got my license. But with the coronavirus sporadically closing work without warning, it looks like I will just remain an unlicensed hobbiest. I do not know anybody to transmit to anyway. I can enjoy the unlicensed aspects of radio a bit longer until things stabilize, if they ever stabilize. Modifying radios for amateurs from radios used in other services, making antennas, making power supplies, making manual antenna tuners, setting up stations, tuning antennas for lowest SWR, climbing towers,, repairing radios, and the such, do not require a license. I will just wait a spell longer.
Kindly suggest a Double-Upgrade scheme of Amateur radio License
Thank you for the informative video Sir.
Thank you. How about why or why not upgrade to extra?
That video is coming. I wanted to keep the two topics separate.
KB9VBR Antennas Thanks for the great content and a reply!
It’s prudent to get your Extra Class License if you want to operate in within several other countries like Greece since they require USA operators to have a license above a General to operate a transmitter legally.
If you have the ability to receive the HF bands, I suggest you just listen in for awhile before increasing your license class.
For example, if you are a Technician, it makes sense to upgrade to general, but listen to 20, 40 and 80 meters for awhile and ask yourself what activity on these bands is something you are interested in.Of course this will all probably be SSB/phone.
Nets and DX protocols are good forms to learn about before diving in too fast. Digital modes are interesting, but learning to communicate in "ham speak" is a valuable skill on HF SSB.
If you listen to the Extra Class frequencies on HF, it's a usually a very sterile but gentlemanly approach to ham radio. Some Extra's want to be broadcasters and invest a small fortune to sound like it. Obtaining an Extra Class license too early and not using it or not being ready to operate in that world is something to be considered.
Yes, there is some good DX on the Extra frequencies, but most workable DX for the newer ham with limited antennas and power will be on 20 meters in the General portion of that band.
The fun Nets are also in the General bands and most (not all) QSO's are regional and welcome new hams to the hobby.
Listening is a skill. Digging out weak signals is an art form. If you don't develop solid listening skills, it will eventually catch up with new hams.
Have fun, enjoy the hobby and be safe !
I can receive everything from 100 kilocycles all the way up to 2.1gigacycles on all modes. It is very interesting to listen in, indeed. But the transmitting equipment for HF is extremely expensive and there is little, to no, equipment that can be converted from other services to be able to transmit on amateur radio HF bands. VHF and UHF surplus equipment from other services is plentiful, powerful, very cheap, and very easy to convert to amateur radio. There is also purpose made VHF and UHF amateur radio equipment that is very affordable as well. This is not the case when it comes to HF. There is not much surplus equipment from other services that is HF. I believe that is why the purpose made HF amateur radio transceivers are so expensive. It is because it can be made very expensive. Thus, I just keep listening. It is still quite interesting.
Maybe do a segment on established ARC's sponsoring a young hams ARC.
Those days are behind me.
Great video. Once a general class. How many power watts are you allowed to operate on?
Your power limit would be 1500 watts PEP. Although some bands where we have a secondary allocation, like 30m, have a lower limit.
Hello. My name is Joshua. I am 45 years old and live in Los Angeles, CA. I have been playing around with a Baofeng UV-5R walkie talkie for around four years now and have watched, studied and learn a lot about my radio and ham radio repeaters, antennas,call signs and whatnot. I REALLY want to talk with my walkie talkie via a repeater with other folks out there but I get scared or whatever to key up because I do not have a legitimate call sign to throw out there and also I'm scared of triangulation (I don't want to get caught up legally for ANYTHING!) I guess the next obvious thing is to get licensed. Please excuse my ignorance, but I don't know how or where to begin this journey to acquire a valid license. I guess I could Google it, but that would NEVER be the same as getting it straight from the horse's mouth.
If there is anybody out here in RUclips land that remembers the passion you felt for getting your license and start to be a legitimate ham operator I humbly ask that you please reply to this comment and let me know what you did step by step to achieve your goal. I'm not stupid, well, maybe just a little slow.
What do I need to do? How much $ do I need to do it? Where do I do it? When do I do it? For how long do I do it? Are there support groups for
It? Can I talk on a repeater and ask around?
I might sound off but the only stupid question I've learned is the question not asked.
Please help me figure it out.
Thank you...
Joshua Keene Hello Josh, I’m Joe from Virginia and 26 years old. To start off with, the radio you have is crap for transmitting. Because you do not have a license, do not transmit at all unless it is a life and death emergency when no other forms of communication is available. Go look on the www.arrl.org website for information. The second step would be to buy the Technican Ham Radio License Book from ARRL:
www.amazon.com/ARRL-Radio-License-Manual-Spiral/dp/1625950829/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Ham+radio+book&qid=1583569286&sr=8-3 This book will teach you everything. After you read the book, look for an available class or testing center by going to this link: Exams: www.arrl.org/exam_sessions/search Classes: www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class There are a lot of learning videos you can find on RUclips to help you study. After you pass the exam, consider finding a club to join: www.arrl.org/find-a-club/ They might help you out more with learning how to transmit, use repeaters, what DXing is, proper ham radio communication, etc. Message me or comment here if you have more questions. Both classes and exams can be available for free, but it depends. They may be walk-in or require to sign up ahead of time. My book was $30 and the exam I took was free. Do not transmit on repeaters without a license asking for help. The internet has more than enough information for you.
I did and sadly missed by 1. I should have actually spent more time on the band plan and i would have.
Personally I think you should be required to upgrade your license until you reached General and then maintain it every year (retest) with a one time unique test per person in order to remain legal, but that's me.. This would weed out those that are not interested in learning radio and only want a ham license so that can play Rambo survivalist out in the woods on Baofengs...
Extra should be an option if you want it.. I mean IDK if its worth a vanity callsign and extra band usage and power allotments when you already have people on bands they are not supposed to be on using power they are not allowed to use..
That's an interesting perspective but I'm not sure how compulsory testing and upgrades would benefit the amateur radio service. It would certainly weed out the inactive license holders. Originally the Novice license was good for a year and the clock was ticking for you to upgrade. But that requirement was changed many, many years ago.
@@KB9VBRAntennas I agree with you; I think the "weeding out" process would surely kill amateur radio!
Ive had my tech license for a few years but do not plan and taking the general....why? I see no need to understand electronics because if the radio craps out, Ill have someone fix it. That's the world now a days, when you have a product, its under warranty or there's a local shop that will repair it. This test would have applied back to the days of us building our own radios, but that is long gone. Its the 21st century and code is dead also. I copied it for 15 years in the army and cant think of many people using it other than VORS when you flying. So my 2 cents and will keep my R390URR for eavesdropping in HF.....
I did all three at once. W0IX
No one asked and I wasn't aware I could continue testing. Even if I had been asked, I would not have taken the test. I didn't study for it and it's unlikely I would have passed it. And I don't like failing. Seeing the test would be of no benefit to me. The question pool is already out there and I can take all the practice tests I want on QRZ. And I'll do that, once I've studied for the General. Only then will I take the General test.
Fair enough. There's no obligation to keep on testing once your pass your first test. If you don't believe you are ready for the next one, then there is no reason to go through the stress.
I got my license test at novice in 1990 and passed my general in the same session but didn't pass the 13 minutes code so thayt made made me a tech genreal i sat on it for 13 years as a tech genreal but I couldnt find my novice cert so i had to do the code again but I was still on a genreal test I had retaken that year 2003 so they offered me the Extra so I said yes unfortunatly without studying and I left my scientific calculator on my desk and work I ended up missing it by two questions when I found another text session 2 months later after having several bouts of pneumonia I went back and I nailed it was only for wrong the reason why I did there it wasn't for the reason of being under pressure it was for the reason that I would no longer have any restrictions on my license I can ride the Wide Open Range so yes I did it for myself
My call sign is AB10R by the way my test was a lot harder than it is today because they evened out the test qiestion pool and spread them out evenly acrossed all 3 test and dropped about 90 questions from the test I took so thats all the more to take the extea
I’ve been a Tech since 2000.
I passed the extra in 1992 . 👍
Just got my Tech!!!
KO4HEK
Congratulations!
The hardest theory test was the Advanced which they no longer have.
Almost everyone that got their Advanced or Extra license pre 2000 has said the same thing: the Advanced exam was brutal.
so when I renew my no code tech what will it be, tech
You will still be a Technician.
I want to use a local repeater to relay my call to a repeater in my buddy's town.
Charity HAMS!!!!!!!
How so?
One reason to upgrade to Extra is going overseas. The CEPT gives you full privileges in most of Europe. A General gives you nothing through CEPT.
That's an excellent reason. A General license equates to Novice privileges in a CEPT country.
Dropping code is a mistake....didn't anyone see Independence Day..;-)
Code? Not needed. I remember when they dropped smoke signals. Everyone thought that was a mistake too.
Welcome nerds!
I spent 3 years studding 20wpm code to get my extra, A year after they dropped code, so get your tech and wait they will drop the general and extra and you will be grandfathered in, hahaha, 73 KU4XQ
Thank you for your contribution.
I Think you american hams really need to work with your FCC to come up with a more modern form of licencing. Why do you need so many classes? Tech, Novice, Tech plus, General, Advanced and Extra is way to many steaps and Extra seems elusive when really it is not.
You need a Amatuer Radio licence with a no code requirement. If ones wants to learn morse code one will.
The test should include questions on electrical safety, general electronical knowledge, Ohms law, inductance, capacistance, npn vs pnp transistors, resistors etc etc, it needs to incluse the band plans both in Americas but also basic knowledge of region 1 and 2. It needs to include propagition modes from LF to SHF and which bands can is most likely to get a QSO between A and B. It need to involve some 10 most commonly used Q-codes and there should be questions on a "best practice" operating technique and behaviour on the band plus any additional FCC related questions.
That is the only licence class you need. To not make it too difficult one could potentially have a second lower class just to get people started. But it need to be time restricted by max 2 years. This in order for folks to study up on what they are mssing.
Cheers and 73
Magnus
The U.S. only has 3 classes... Technician, General, and Extra. There is no CW requirement.
The tests need to be unique per person, and NEVER online so people cannot cheat. The problem with FCC testing now is people remember only the answers and the knowledge never soaks in, They only want to get a license so they can use their prized Chinefeng radios to play doomsday prepper out in the boonies and not have the FCC drop the hammer on them..
The importance is to learn and understand more than mere passing an examination , there are questions within the pool that are wrongly answered and you need to study to know that in order to avoid future mistakes , also experience is needed in radio operation practices as is a pity to see a ""memory made""" licensed ham extra burn a $3,000 dollar HF radio out of the box to a crisp for lacking the BASIC knowledge only hands on experience brings ( User beware !)
WP4QIN
Yes, I agree that "memory-made" hams are not as much fun to work with as a bona fide elmer.
Awesome info. But get this man a teleprompter!
The exams are too difficult. That's why most hams don't go further than General. I see this especially in Europe. And that's why we loose the bands. We want to use those bands, but our general license forbids it. The youth isn't interested in all that study, and so that group is also out of sight. Amateur radio is dying, and we all know why. But the FCC and ARRL, IARU dont want to change.
2 min 7 seconds into a 5.5 min video and we still haven't gotten to the point. FFS the preamble to the US Constitution is shorter.
If you want to get to the point, you shouldn't be searching on RUclips for answers.
Thank you Mike your an inspiration to us all. Kk7juj/ag