RedRiverII

I did pass the test today and appreciate these conversations. I continued to study up to an hour before leaving my house. I used the Laurel VEC group which allowed me to take the exam without any cash payment. $15 more for stuff. Out of 40 practice exams I never did get 100%, but did manage to average the high 80's. I tried the General exam while there but did not pass, I took a shot. I'm glad in a way because now I get to study some more and stretch out some of the gray matter furls. I did buy and will return my Baofeng UV5R. It was too much of a nuisance programming with CHIRP, for me anyway. After all was said and done my cost ran about a $100. I'll get a refund and search elsewhere. I'm still up in the air about which radio to get. I may just get the Kenwood D74A and forget about all the others. IDK...shrug. Often asked question I get, " What are you going to do with it?" Well, I'm shooting for communicating with the World. That seems a big enough reason and a task that will keep me busy for a long time. Of course I realize I'll begin with local areas and continue to learn. My initial reason for Ham Radio was assisting others or pleading for help if the situation arises for myself. My Nextel went down during 911 as did most phone service. There are plenty of folks home bound and reach out for contact as they can. I can lend an ear. I gotta walk the pup, later.

I'm backing off posting until I get this exam done. I became stupid all over again, I can't make it through 10 questions without missing 3 or more.

I talked with the VE's ( Volunteer Examiners) a couple of times. The FRN# from the FCC is a must before taking the exam. I think having that # makes the data entry that much simpler. I've yet to see those combo answers on the Tech exam. All of the above I've seen, but not A) C and D are correct.Maybe on the higher ranks. In the beginning I thought I could not grasp all the info. After a few days of not surrendering to my doubts concepts began to gel, wrong answers became clearer, and the discipline mode set in. I cannot do 20 pushups until I can do 2, discipline rules supreme. I may take the general on the same day if they still allow multiple tests. Expert is way off for now. I bought a Baofeng UV5R and have not even tried it yet or downloaded CHIRP.

OK, newer info which I think is correct. You can set up the exam online, especially with this Covid panic. I hear it may be a pita but a 4 hour ride it is not. It was explained to me the results are rapid now. The info goes directly into a computer at the test site, I understand 24 hrs. is the new norm. I'd bet money on that info but wouldn't bet my life. @willbird I picked that longest answer habit they have as well. Although they put in a few long answer that seems identical until you read the whole question. Thankfully there are only a few questions meant to confuse the test taker, most of them are seeking to grasp the test takers retained knowledge. Shooting for 98-100 is never a bad goal. I have two more days of study and will use that time for more prep. My initial error was trying to understand all the new concepts while studying which proved monumental since I only gave myself two weeks to study. @Magwa no more morse code requirement which you may already be aware of. Thanks for the well wishing, back to the books.

I got them up to the high 80's. I did the hamstudy.org test for an hour today and lost maybe 5 questions. I did the prep work and will pass this thing. The easy folks were the exam prep course folks. Maybe they're electrical engineers and such. I did operate ECM gear but that was 50 years ago. Electric countermeasures during the Cold War, dang I've been around for awhile. The radio's were the size of 20 double stacked file cabinets. Thanks for the back up @Lane. I bought a few books and study courses. If you know anyone interested in this exam I suggest hamstudy.org because it is a self correcting type practice exam. If you get something wrong you can click the corner box and it'll explain the question, then they will ask the question again in a few more minutes.

I should've thanked all for the above info. gratitude bros. 73

I've been studying. Dang those who say it's an easy exam. If someone would take a course it might become easier. I'm trying to cram all these topics in my brain all at once. Tough stuff. Each topic taken alone and with some time, I guess it's simple enough but I'm one of those " me want, me want now," types. Anyway I take the exam Sunday. I had a dream last night and all of the facts and figures were dancing in my head like the brooms and mops in Fantasia. I'm ready.

Thank you Sir. That'll work for me I'm not a gunsmith although I spend money here like I am. How much have you spent hangin out here so far? I don't require an exact number just fixing you up for the drought that is soon to follow. Drought as in, where's my money at?

Where did you order the gauge pins from?

wrong video Do not feed the monkeys, nor rattle their cages. They bite.

Welcome from Fla.

Happy Birthday'

Thanks boys. That antenna is mint. Creating tools and parts from STUFF is genius.

You betcha, thank you!

Ordered the Baofeng UV-5R just to listen for now and keep me in the loop. About this item 128 Channels 50 CTCSS and 104 CDCSS Dual-Band Display, Dual Freq. Display, Dual-Standby, A/B band independent operation | High/Low TX power selectable: Busy channel lock-out(BCLO) Keypad Lock: Channel Step: 2. 5/5/6. 25/10/12. 5/25KHz | Voice companding: 50 CTCSS/ 104DCS coder & tone searching Tri-color background light selectable: 0-9 grades VOX selectable | FM Radio (65. 0MHz-108. 0MHz): Large LCD Display Emergency Alert: 25KHz/12. 5KHz Switchable | LED Flashlight: Hight /Low RF Power Switchable Support manually program. Easy to program via PC. Support CHIRP quick programming. This one goes for $26.61, I didn't know about the programming cable or CHIRP or the repeater book. So a big Thank you, ( 73 ). One of the guys that lives here told me about HAM. There is a club near me that I haven't learned to join yet, my neighbor lives here part time so I can't ask him who they are. The exam is held in a local firehouse and I bet I'll get a lot of help from one of the volunteer exam guys. I hope to get one of the Elmers helping me out soon.

Yep, all true^^^. I don't have a set yet. I will like listening in. I think I'll get that 22$ Baufung?? I hope I'm here in tenders. Thanks @Lane

Thanks for the encouragement, @Magwa. I'm learning more and more each day. I just visited QRZ, thanks again. Good way to keep in touch while separated from the Mrs.. When they told me I had cancer the first thing that went through my mind was " Oh no I won't be with my honey no more." It kicked me harder than anything that ever happened to me. Then 9/11 we lost comms, I scrambled over to her work place and got her. Ham is another tool worth it's weight in gold at the right time. When I get hooked up I'd like to try and get your call sign see if I can reach you. 73

I can't take three exams in one day brother. My head is spinning right now and the thought of three exams is daunting. Thanks for the info though.

Thanks LANE, I"m on the east coast of Florida and looking forward to enjoy a very broad subject. I didn't realize how deep a subject it is. One of my reasons for studying and passing the license exams is to assist during any emergencies. It's my understanding that Hams can and do help when all other comms fail. My Nextel phone services went dead during 9/11 and I felt helpless, but luckily my wife worked nearby. Going to check out the suggestions, thank you all.

Technician, general, and amateur extra. Thanks Ravenworks gonna look it up. HRE-TECH is the app I'm using as well as the ARRL Ham Radio License Radio 4th Edition. HanRadioprep.com is another program I'm using. I forgot what a PITA studying was but that HRE-TECH is a terrific app.

There's an app I just found on line from some guy. It only discusses the actual questions and correct answers only. No confusion from the other three answers, no sense filling your head with excess garbage. I'll look it up and get back here. The general ticket is now the Technician level I believe.

Taking the Technicians exam 11/1/20, and never knew how involved and interesting this hobby could be. I hate to admit what a dummy I feel like because I was an expert 50 yrs . ago.

WOW some times 60's 70's. I worked Academy of Music on 14th st., Manhattan and saw beaucoup groups and tried to steal beer from every one of them. I bet we could do a thread just on the crazy poop we did back then, y'know before we acted like citizens. Once again enjoy yourself I'm sure you paid a price.

Congrats on the achievement. It was never easy to make 65 especially if your tastes ran adventurous and bold.

Welcome from Florida.