RedRiverII

^^^ @jtallen83, What he said is correct plus you get a two year grace period passing the ten years. During that two year extra time period you cannot transmit, but you can renew. OK you're off to a great start because we just covered one question on the exam, perhaps two. Ten year period, and two year grace period.

@98Z5V, I'm still working out the antenna ideas. My HOA is as restrictive as most others. There's HOA rules and then there's my rules, Subterfuge 101. That 7' pink flamingo may be just the ticket. The attic wire antenna may also be the least expensive and best in class answer to the challenge. Thankfully or not, Florida is flat as a pancake for the most part. I have clear sailing East from my position. The ocean is only twelve miles away.

@jtallen83 If you want I could loan you my ARRL manual as a study guide to supplement the exam practice. During the practice exams some subjects interested me right away. I had to look up what was being tested out of curiosity. As it turns out I did not need the manual but it was a handy reference at times. Best of Luck!

@Lane Any DX'ing? I know the countryside in upstate NY is awesome this time of year and all the vegetation beginning to drop is a good time for long distance. Anyhow are you into the distance stuff ?

@Lane I am going to look up that Balun. I think I'll be able to use HF even though I live in an HOA community. I did not use the radio last night, I'm in the middle of a family crisis type thing. I feel certain I'll overcome the antenna challenge one way or another. @Magwa what kind of elevation are you at? Are you in the mountains or surrounded by them? It is awesome that you can talk to someone across the world, have you done any of the moon bounce, aurora, or other atmospheric type transmissions?

@jtallen83 When I first looked at the exam I knew I wasn't cut out for this, but I took it on as a challenge. I went to QRZ.com and for no charge began taking the practice tests. Failed the first few and then started to improve. The questions are the actual questions from the test. You will start to recognize the correct answers after a while. I did forty tests and averaged high 80's. Never did get a 100% but didn't need it. You don't need to do the math, just recognize the correct answer. You don't need to understand all the tech stuff. Merely recognize the answers. As I progressed some of the material started to gel in my head. I began to understand and continue to understand all the different areas. I see why they ask the questions they do but it isn't necessary to comprehend the subject matter, that will come later, really. I used the stubbornness technique, I just didn't quit. I became angry at myself several times but would not quit and I'm glad I didn't. BTW, after a while you can read just the answers and know the question. You'll pin out the correct answer with out reading the question. When you're at that point the test is a breeze.

Japanese ham's abound. That's a distant contact, Ft. Lewis. Any special time of year or time of day?

Cool, thanks @Lane. @Magwa thanks, what's the furthest contact? which country? I'm about ton have my first contact from a local repeater as soon as I get a few chores done. Figuring out distances and methods to contact Europe should be my next goal. This Baofeng is good for local and learning the radio, but I'm going to have a Happy Holiday, drunken sailor, damn the torpedos buying spree pretty soon. Gotta figure out the antenna challenge, i.e. HOA rules. I may go with running the wire in my attic, but would like to know some local folks who do the same. We may be getting an Amateur Extra class set up locally. We have 12 folks so far and if we get to 15 we're good. 20 folks and it's a definite.

Thanks @Radioactive

Amateur Extra not expert.

@Lane I am confused, which Chirp data file for me? I'm just back from the exam and my head is still swimming in data, info, and exam questions. I passed the General BTW. One more to go. The Amateur Expert is next. I figure to get it out of the way while I'm knee deep in study mode. I'll get on the radio this afternoon and learn some stuff. Once I know the correct questions to ask you I will. Thanks. Interesting gadget above, and file. What is it? Are you doing all radio through the computer? Man this is exciting stuff especially since I don't know what the heck I'm doing. So far I've been receiving local weather and shorts bursts of comms from others.

In study mode, well I'm in the pass the exam mode anyhow. Way too much info to enjoy and savor, the real learning is yet to come. @Lane Thanks once again for your help. I'll look into the repeater networks come Monday or maybe Sun. evening. I read somewhere online that a member of my community says there's a repeater about one mile away from me. ??? I never would have entered a community like this if I wasn't married. The place is run by Miss Prissy Botton and Mr. Sackless Sam. BTW I'm in a community with an HOA. Home owners associations generally shoot down altering the appearance of structures. i.e. I haven't seen any antennas. So I'm going to have to get devious and covert. I've seen some videos with attic antennas and such, gutter tech, very LARGE pink flamingo sculptures, we're talking 7 foot high flamingo and sunflower antennas. I may put a Flamingo out front just to break balls. Any experience with antenna subterfuge? As a newbie I get to think outside the box for a while, because I don't know any better. The easiest solution is to have a car/truck antenna. The HOA has no say so on our cars. I can put an antenna on the car roof and run a wire into the house. I can see passing this General exam by remembering as many points as I can, but there's no way for me to enjoy the challenge " of getting " the info. The math alone is nerve wracking, I will memorize the few answers, and then learn the formulas when going for the Extra. I read the manual, ARRL 9th edition, 1/2 of Buck's book, and am now listening to the General prep on Audible. If someone is looking for another hobby that's useful, fun, challenging, and perhaps lifesaving, Amateur Radio is all of those things.

Got on repeater book and have no clue as yet, what it is. I'll start digging in once this General exam is over. I find the General is totally different from the Tech exam. A few questions on safety remain but that's just about it. I've begun drilling with the questions and I know I learned a few things, but nowhere near where I need to be. Are you using HF? That seems to be where I want to be. I know I'm looking at some terrific units and a Thousand seems the place to begin.

It must still be down, I'm getting a Forbidden message.

Thanks again @Lane. I will go to repeater book and see if I can make heads or tails of it. Your offer of help is appreciated and I'll know soon enough how much help I'll need. I called a local outfit because they offer a two day course teaching the General. I found the group on ARRL. I assumed the course would give me plenty of time to prep but nope. I need to cram this week by reading the manual and taking a few exams then take the course Sat. and Sun. This Sat. and Sun. followed immediately with the General exam. I may have bitten off more than I can chew but I am going to try it. Do you think you could pass the General exam today? Do you remember all the jargon, or are those facts and figures merely qualifiers? I will visit repeater book now and begin the familiarization. 73

I hear the AE is a difficult exam and that's half the fun. I got too soft in retirement both mentally and physically. I've been putting in two hour study days on most days. Thanks for the encouragement it helps.

Glad to hear you enjoy it. I miss the place. We have a range with similar activities but it's a two hour drive for me. CJRPC was only 20 minutes away. Is John still running the High Power matches?

I see. I've decided to keep the UV5R for now and learn how to use the radio. I did download some new drivers and that allowed me to open Chirp. There is a ton of help on the internet perhaps too much help. So I'm up and running and will use this radio for a while. I'm studying for the General now. 12/6 is the next exam. One month should be enough to study. @Lane that post of yours was right on target. I do recall the over capability from reading a few articles. BTW I received the call sign yesterday, so it's official. KO4IZB. The VE's did tell me that Laurel VEC uses computers to forward test scores and the FCC authorizes the call signs quickly. It took one day, just about 24 hours to get mine. I need to know how to use the radio so I'll be working on that as well. This whole adventure in HAM has been rewarding in several ways. It is mentally stimulating and challenging. I get to meet new folks. I can become prepared to help out in dire straights. I heard about contests but don't know much about them. Collecting QSL ? cards, is that still viable? Oh yeah now I remember, we get to buy more stuff. You know how we like to buy stuff here on 308ar right? 73

I was able to connect and use the program to download from radio, then to radio. Forward progress. A game of inches. Now I need to learn how to use the radio. All that tech jargon for passing the exam and I still haven't covered the basics. PTT, release to listen.

Welcome and get ready for some fun. I shot at CNJR&PC for several years. It's a terrific range.

1/2 nuts. Tried new drivers, and stuff no luck. I gotta call one of the VE's that I met and ask.

Thank you. That's deep stuff for me to comprehend although I appreciate it. Maybe I'll take a crack at it.

Thank you @Magwa My buddy is out of State right now, I'll find someone soon.

Thank you for the post, it is well thought out and succinct. I appreciate the value added. The UV5R was $29. Add the extra battery, cable, car charger, antenna, etc. and that's how I approached $100. My challenge is the computer and it's unique way of confusing me quickly. I can download CHIRP easily. The computer will not open the program because, if I recall correctly and for want of actual terminology, it cannot validate the content. Please understand I may be way off base here. It is my understanding that Baofeng's info is being challenged by the FCC. I'll get into it a bit more and try and figure out how this works. As a newbie everything connected to HAM is complicated. That's one of the reasons I sought it out to begin with. Exercise for my mind. The jig saw puzzles are OK, exercise is moving along, and the honey-do-lists never get any shorter. My first look at the technician exam book was a jolt, but after a while things calmed down. The General book same same. Whoa! What the phooey? It's like eating the elephant, one bite at a time. I hope I didn't disparage Baofeng too much but some identical units are not always the same. I mention Kenwood not for simplicity but for quality. Of course there's Yaesu, Icom, TYT, et al. I didn't want to become so frustrated with a unit that I chucked the whole game. Just to fill you in I'm not sure I even want an HT. Those base models are pretty awesome. Icom 7300 with HF capabilities. What antenna can I use in my community I wonder? The fellow that introduced me to HAM is a snowbird and is back in Michigan so I have no fast and easy answers, no Elmers to be found just yet. The VE's were friendly enough there wasn't much time to talk to them. Thanks again @Lane

Thank you. It was an interesting endeavor, it woke up some learning molecules in the brain.