London learned of the Argentine invasion into their Falkland islands by ham radio operator passing the news to another amateur station in London.
London learned of the Argentine invasion into their Falkland islands by ham radio operator passing the news to another amateur station in London.
I like HAM very much we usually have an Emge Ham they are delicious.
Thanks for the responses!
What kind of expense is involved in all this? Testing? Basic equipment?
Last edited by Stormstaff; 02-07-2011 at 03:21 AM.
Originally Posted by Stormstaff
I paid $20 for the Tech study guide, $15 for the test, and my first radio and antenna cost me $150 all together out the door.
I still use the radio, and antenna to this day. I've been licensed for a few years now. I've upgraded my main radio I use for mobile, and bought an HF rig. Basically you can spend as much as you want to to get started.
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Storm Chaser, Adventurer, Explorer, Student of the Old Ways, Amateur Radio Operator, and Axe Mobster in training
Bushclass USA Basic: 13/13 Required, 5/5 Electives, 3/5 Outings
For me to get started was $15 for the test and I traded some goodies with BST for my first radio. My mobile radio in my pickup I got from another HAM for $65. My first "big" expense was the HT I recently got. It was $210 with shipping and some other goodies added in.
You can spend thousands of dollars on radios and support equipment. Most local emergency comms will be on 2M at the start and you can get that equipment at the prices under a couple hundred.
Last edited by Buckskin; 02-07-2011 at 09:27 AM.
Actually you can Save the $15 dollars on testing by going to a Laural VEC affiliated club. For Laurel VEC doesn't charge for tests. When I tested for No-Code Tech in 1992, I payed only four dollars and some change for the test, but $15!!!!!!! If you fail a test by a few questions, the VEC examiner has the discretion to allow the test taker to try again. With Laurel VEC they hand you another test if your willing to try again. Where as ARRL test will cost you another $15.
I tested through Laurel VEC for both my General in May and my Amateur Extra the next July. Both for free.
I'm not bashing the ARRL when you become a HAM it is a great idea to be a member of the ARRL. I'm just not crazy of their testing policy.
I did my General through Laurel, and it was free. Most ARRL examiners at least the group I went to to take my Tech exam, would let you retry the exam for free immediately after if you failed . It all depends on the folks giving the test.Actually you can Save the $15 dollars on testing by going to a Laural VEC affiliated club. For Laurel VEC doesn't charge for tests. When I tested for No-Code Tech in 1992, I payed only four dollars and some change for the test, but $15!!!!!!! If you fail a test by a few questions, the VEC examiner has the discretion to allow the test taker to try again. With Laurel VEC they hand you another test if your willing to try again. Where as ARRL test will cost you another $15.
I tested through Laurel VEC for both my General in May and my Amateur Extra the next July. Both for free.
I'm not bashing the ARRL when you become a HAM it is a great idea to be a member of the ARRL. I'm just not crazy of their testing policy.
My Blog
Storm Chaser, Adventurer, Explorer, Student of the Old Ways, Amateur Radio Operator, and Axe Mobster in training
Bushclass USA Basic: 13/13 Required, 5/5 Electives, 3/5 Outings
A couple of other things to study for the exam. Yes, get the the ARRL test study books. Their a material is well presented. It has the Actual test question & Answer pools in the back.
Don't be intimidated by the material, when your "new" it all looks like rocket science in technical Mandarin Chinese!! The way I had the material sink in was to both read read more and "Just do it". So don't let something slow you down if you don't completely understand it. It will come in due time.
To study for the actual test I highly recommend that you take the FREE online practice tests on QRZ.com. They make a hundred sample tests on each level of test. By the time you do the 35th to 40th practice test, passing with 90% or better, your ready for the written exam.
Last edited by Rifleman336; 02-07-2011 at 02:23 PM.
Agreed. I took a class that last the whole day. By the time I was done my brain was full! OUCH! But I went home and re-read the powerpoint presentation then starting taking online exams. I took maybe 4 or 5. By the time I was done I was passing easily. I actually started understanding all the gibberish.Don't be intimidated by the material, when your "new" it all looks like rocket science in technical Mandarin Chinese!! The way I had the material sink in was to both read read more and "Just do it". So don't let something slow you down if you don't completely understand it. It will come in due time.
To study for the actual test I highly recommend that you take the FREE online practice tests on QRZ.com. They make a hundred sample tests on each level of test. By the time you do the 35th to 40th practice test, passing with 90% or better, your ready for the written exam.
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"The only thing you can guess about a broken down old man is that he is a survivor" - Joe Sarno
ham radio is almost unlimited.you can do local/world wide voice, digital,satelite,moon bounce,amateur tv,phone patch, meteor scatter,repeater,digipeater,cw,and many other modes.
the spectrum covers pretty much from dc to daylight or vlf to microwave.
you can do public service, foxhunts, cert,special events(car shows,sporting events etc)
be forwarned it can get addictive.
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