CQ DX QRZ?

[HallisChalmers]

Click on this link that HallisChalmers posted.

http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl

Click on the Start Test button. And start with the Technician Class test.

It's the easiest, and they get harder from there.

The Technician test opens the door - from there, as you progress through the two remaining license classes (General and Extra), your privileges on HF (1.8 to 30 MHz) are expanded - as well as the ability to use high power (up to 1500 watts) on the HF frequencies.

[aarpazthelockpicker]

after i get to the tech. test it has like different forms of it like 1-100. should i do them all?

[HallisChalmers]

after i get to the tech. test it has like different forms of it like 1-100. should i do them all?

Start with the first one and then see what your score is. Then take the next test - as that will ask the same AMOUNT of questions - but the questions will be DIFFERENT.

In other words, there's 100 different combination of test questions that can be taken for the Tech test. Just keep hacking away at all of the different variations until you can consistently pass the majority of different test combinations.

Once you can consistently get a passing score, you'll be good for the real exam.

[elbowmacaroni]

Wow! Apparently, I remember quite a bit from my EE classes and from when I used to play radio. I took a few of the technical tests and passed repeatedly.

[HallisChalmers]

Wow! Apparently, I remember quite a bit from my EE classes and from when I used to play radio. I took a few of the technical tests and passed repeatedly.

There you go, elbow...you're 80% done. Just get familiar with the freq set-asides and operating rules & regs for the Tech license and all you have to do is find a local amateur radio club in your area. Find out when the next testing session is and schedule it up. They'll fall all over themselves to give you the test.

The test will probably cost less than $20 and the license is good for 10 years.

[elbowmacaroni]

yeah, I don't know how well taking up playing radio again would go over with swmbo... not to mention that I'd prob have to do mobile only and be low power as towers are against the deed restrictions where my house is. I know, I could run it all through a mismatched dummy plug and piss off my neighbors! LOL!!!

[HallisChalmers]

yeah, I don't know how well taking up playing radio again would go over with swmbo... not to mention that I'd prob have to do mobile only and be low power as towers are against the deed restrictions where my house is. I know, I could run it all through a mismatched dummy plug and piss off my neighbors! LOL!!!

Wow.

Just wow.

You are WAY behind the times, my macaroni-ish friend. Haven't you heard of Echolink? http://www.echolink.org/

Here's the scenario: Through a complicated system of tubes, pipes, valves and coils of wire - ham radio operators throughout the world have connected their local VHF/UHF radio repeaters to this thing that Vice President Al Gore invented, called the "Internet".

By utilizing this internet-thingy, a licensed radio operator can download free software that uses his computer to connect to this world-wide interconnected network of two-way radio repeaters

All you have to do is use your keyboard space bar as the transmit switch, use a mic headset, and you are good to go. No external antennas, no neighbors to bitch about interference, etc. You can literally sit in air conditioned comfort, using your computer, and carry on a conversation with a ham using one of 4000 repeaters throughout the world.

If you want to use a real radio, get yourself a multi-band mobile that you can run on a 12v power supply and use a mag mount antenna in your attic - or even on top of a file cabinet. You can easily connect to a local repeater on 144 MHz.

So don't use the "no antenna" restriction as an excuse.

[elbowmacaroni]

wow, now that's taking the concept of packet radio and flipping it on it's head! Cool stuff! Shit, it would sure make DX easier too, I mean damn! you could just hop on some repeater in another country and run with it!

God dammit, I don't need another hobby!!!!!!! Stop tempting me!

[HallisChalmers]

wow, now that's taking the concept of packet radio and flipping it on it's head! Cool stuff! Shit, it would sure make DX easier too, I mean damn! you could just hop on some repeater in another country and run with it!

God dammit, I don't need another hobby!!!!!!! Stop tempting me!

Well, as they say... a man has got to know his limitations. Obviously, if you are ill-equipped or unable to handle the so called "stress" of lockpicking, guns and ...RADIOS...then by all means, step aside and pee on the porch with all of the other puppies...while the big dogs run wild. Ahooooo! AwwAww-Ahooooo!

[elbowmacaroni]

Fuck stress, it's time! I don't have enough time to keep up with all my shit as it is... and yet, there is a chance I'll fall victim to another hobby anyway... dammit!

[bouncer965]

Just found a site that gives a free trial of ham radio and gives you a ham user no. after taking the exam its run through the pc and im currently scanning god knows where but its a good crack .

Its called hamshere.com

[HallisChalmers]

Just found a site that gives a free trial of ham radio and gives you a ham user no. after taking the exam its run through the pc and im currently scanning god knows where but its a good crack .

Its called hamshere.com

I think this is the site you are talking about: http://www.hamsphere.com/

I've never heard of this site before - but it seems to be a "virtual" ham radio transceiver. It doesn't transmit an actual radio frequency (RF) signal - but you get the feel for a real radio, I assume.

Unlike Echolink, which uses an actual internet interface to remotely located FM radio repeaters throughout the world, HamSpehere appears to give the illusion that you are using a real radio using various transmission modes (i.e. SSB, CW or FM)

I need to look into this further before I can render an opinion.

[Phatphish]

I have just caught the bug for amateur radio in the UK, so thanks to bouncer for that hamsphere link.

I thought I would chime in with some links to UK based info.

UK orientated mock tests: http://www.hamtests.co.uk/
Radio Society of Great Brtitain: http://www.rsgb.org/
UK repeater list: http://www.ukrepeater.net/index.html
UK band plans: http://www.rsgb.org/spectrumforum/bandplans/

Not in the UK but a good multiband shortwave reciever accessed and controlable from the internet.
http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

A friend of mine introduced me to amateur radio just this week and suggested getting one of these to start off with:
Ebay link to Wouxun KG-UVD1P DualBand DTMF radio

I've had a little play with this and it seems good value for money, anyone else encountered it and got an opinion?

[HallisChalmers]

I have just caught the bug for amateur radio in the UK, so thanks to bouncer for that hamsphere link.

I thought I would chime in with some links to UK based info.

UK orientated mock tests: http://www.hamtests.co.uk/
Radio Society of Great Brtitain: http://www.rsgb.org/
UK repeater list: http://www.ukrepeater.net/index.html
UK band plans: http://www.rsgb.org/spectrumforum/bandplans/

Not in the UK but a good multiband shortwave reciever accessed and controlable from the internet.
http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

A friend of mine introduced me to amateur radio just this week and suggested getting one of these to start off with:
Ebay link to Wouxun KG-UVD1P DualBand DTMF radio

I've had a little play with this and it seems good value for money, anyone else encountered it and got an opinion?

Nice list of links there phatphish...those Chinese radios look interesting, but the problem I have with them is that a lot of them are not FCC-type accepted in the US. If they are not type accepted, you'll be using an illegal radio.

Not to mention you will have a very difficult time finding anyone that could (or would) work on them here - let alone find parts for them. Oh, and don't forget the customs and import fees that you might get stuck with.

Of course all that might be a moot-point, as I am totally unversed in the radio importation rules & regs for the UK - my comments are strictly from the viewpoint of a US operator.

Anyway, I hope you are able to get into the hobby - you'll really enjoy it! There are so many different aspects that you can get into.

Good luck and let me know if you get your ticket.

[Phatphish]

Hallis, as far as I can tell Ofcom is the equivalent of the FCC here in the UK. From what I have manged to find so far they dont have type approval for ham radios, rather you must conform to licensing, interference, and power regulations. We do however have CE marks on most of our imported goods but this is more to do with electrical safety in this instance.
A quick look at Wouxun site says that these radios are FCC approved with ID:WVTWOUXUN04
Also they are apparently CE approved. It remains to be seen if these are genuine statements though.