Reddit reviews Ham Radio License Manual with CD (Arrl Ham Radio License Manual)
We found 9 Reddit comments about Ham Radio License Manual with CD (Arrl Ham Radio License Manual). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
I got started by using the ARRL technician class manual. You can then find yourself a testing session and get your first license. With your background you may want to go ahead and test up to General class. Even if you decide not to study for the General exam, your test administrator will probably ask you whether you want to take the General exam once you pass the Technician exam. I recommend doing it. It paid off for me.
Once you're there, you might want to get involved with a local club, as others have said. Maybe get a VHF/UHF rig (my first was an HT) and make some friends on the local repeaters. If you get a license that gives you HF privileges, there is a lot to explore in the HF world. I enjoy building my own HF antennas out of wire. You might be interested in some of the digital modes, such as PSK31, which you can run using just your computer with a sound card and software such as fldigi. You might be interested in getting involve with your local ARES group, which aims to be ready to provide communications in emergencies.
There's a huge range of things to do. I recommend spending some time just trying to learn what's out there and get an idea of what interests you.
http://www.amazon.com/Ham-Radio-License-Manual-Arrl/dp/0872590976
This does a good job of preparing you for the test and also teaching the material. There are other guides out there that prepare you for the test, without really learning the material.
The ARRL book is great: http://www.amazon.com/Ham-Radio-License-Manual-Arrl/dp/0872590976/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1334091406&sr=1-1-catcorr
If you read through that, take your time, and look over the questions as you read, you will be well prepared.
you know what might be a GREAT idea that would cost you 15 bucks.
Go totally on the sly and get your Technican license. Dont go buy expensive crap yet.
Buy this
http://www.amazon.com/Ham-Radio-License-Manual-Arrl/dp/0872590976/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320626578&sr=8-2
read it cover to cover without her seeing
then go here
hamexam.com
When you got the questions down (it took me a week mild study)
go here
http://www.arrl.org/exam_sessions/search
and Viola!
that is how yours truly went from zero to third level (Extra) in like 4 months.
THAT would be a present I would appreciate.
No problem. Wrote this in reply to another comment that got deleted, so hopefully it'll help you...
Come check us out in /r/amateurradio You'll find that hams as a whole and the hobby of ham radio are very social and welcoming, and for the most part people are happy to teach a newbie.
As a side note- getting certified isn't hard, Just buy this book. It looks kind of thick but that's only because it takes things pretty slowly so as to not frustrate anyone. Read it and you can take a practice test online, once you can pass the practice tests every time then go take the real test.
There are three levels of ham radio license- Technician, General, and Extra. Tech gets you on VHF/UHF, General gets you on the longer ranged HF, Extra adds a few more HF frequencies you can use. Each requires a progressively harder test. The book I linked above is for the Tech exam, I suggest start there and then worry about General later if you're interested.
Sign up for an account on QRZ.com and then take their practice exams until you can pass every time. If you had any affinity for electronics as a kid most of the exam should be pretty easy stuff. Everything you need to know is in the Ham Radio License Manual if you're partial to studying via reading.
Looking to get some reading material on Technician Class exam.
The 2014 edition claims to cover newer pool of question, valid for 2014-2018. Did much change since 2010?
Hey, no problem!
As for the class, it really depends on how you think you learn best. I never took a class, so I can't speak as to how they are structured or how hands-on they are, but some people do learn better in a classroom setting and being able to discuss the subject with others. Other people can read and take notes solo, which, in the case of radio, is what I did, and be effective.
The online sources are okay, just like I said, be aware of how up to date the source is. If you go that route, I highly recommend looking at the ARRL question pool as you study. The beauty of the exams are that you get to see all the questions and answers before hand. You just don't know which questions will actually be on your copy of the exam. Since the question pool is public information, you can find any number of smartphone apps or websites that will simulate exams for you, which helps you see where your strengths and weaknesses are.
Note: The question pool changes every four years, and it's due to change at the end of June this year. The new pool will be up on July 1st in case you don't complete your exam by then.
Here are the resources I used to prepare:
That all looks like a lot, but it's not. I just wanted to give you a bit of variety. I mostly focused on the ARRL's official study guide, and I thumbed through the "for Dummies" book on and off, learning a bit more for the sake of knowing. I used both test simulations, but preferred the one for my phone since it was easy to just fire that up when I was sitting around waiting for other things. All in all, I'd say I devoted about 3 hours a week over about two months, simply because I planned ahead for my test date and wanted to break everything up into small, manageable chunks for myself. I fail at cramming for tests, but other people have studied one or two evenings, and taken the exams just fine. Again, it all depends on how you learn.
Any more questions, feel free, but there might be a delay in my responses because I am at work all day.
http://smile.amazon.com/Ham-Radio-License-Manual-Arrl/dp/0872590976/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1406125627&sr=8-3&keywords=amateur+radio+technician This is a good place to start.
You can just start digging in, and when you run into something you don't understand, do a search for that or ask around to see if someone can explain it.