How to get a Ham Radio license

by KJ4CCH | August 1, 2013 | (11) Posted in Tips

 

Many websites have been advertising getting an Amateur Radio license for the use of this wonderful hobby we call First Person View (FPV). It is actually very simple to do, and gives you access to a lot of information, as well as another expensive hobby. They’re are three types of certificates: Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. Each or in a respective order. You will be going for your technician test if you do not have any other Ham Certificate. 

A lot of the concepts you learn with Ham radio can be applied her in FPV flying: antenna construction, electronic circuits, electronic safety, ect. You can also purchase a lot of gear, and frequencies to use your radio gear with (legally). But all in all, it is a great hobby, and a lot of people will help you in your endeavors, many would more than likely be interested in FPV themselves. 

But where to start? Well first, you might want to take a trip up to a local club and find someone that will help you along the way. This way, you will have a more personal connection to the community, and a bunch nerdy friends. This person will be your "Elmer" or mentor throughout the portion of studying for a test. He or she will be able to help answer any question you may have. To find a local club go here  (http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club), on the left hand side you can put in either your zip code or any other location specific term (city, state, ect.). 

Now, you can find some study material, If you are rich you can buy this book from the ARRL (http://www.arrl.org/shop/Licensing-Education-and-Training/) GET THE TECHNITION BOOK, IT IS RED! But if you are like me, that kind of stuff is not an option. This website offers the whole question pool the FCC gives out (300+ questions), (http://www.nc4fb.org/wordpress/free-technician-study-guide/)

 

 Now memorize all the questions and answers. DO NOT MEMORIZE WHERE THE QUESTION IS OR THE LETTER ASSOCIATED WITH THE CORRECT ANSWER! Memorize the question and then the complete answer, forget what letter it is in. Its seems hard, but practice on a section at a time. It is pretty easy to do if you dedicate  10 hours a week on it. I managed to take my General test (the next step up from technician) in less than a day of studying. If you bought the book, you have questions and answers in the back of the book, but you could also read and learn the material. 

  Once you feel like you memorized most of the questions and answers, you can take practices tests here (http://qrz.com/hamtest/) and register for a free account, or  go here (http://hamexam.org/exam/9-Technician) and take the technician tests,  Once you can earn a score of 90 percent on all you are basically read to take the real one. 

  Go find yourself a club (using pervious link) or you can look here       (http://www.arrl.org/exam_sessions/search) and find out when they can possible test you. Be ready to cough up 15 bucks for the test, or if you are lucky, some clubs do them for free, when you pass the test, you can use most of your radio equipment legally, and have a lot of knowledge on radio. 

Here is a video explaining everything I just mentioned. 

Thank you for reading

 

COMMENTS

Auxiliarypower on August 2, 2013
Thank you for putting this together!

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skelator on August 4, 2013
how different the licensing on other country or it the same? like in my country to able to use 1.2++ band legally one need to have Class A license, which we need to take a Morse code test while class B license (tx/rx up to 500mhz 50w max) only need to sit for the paper exam (100 question) and when you pass that exam you can apply for AA, I still waiting for the next batch of CW (Morse code exam) failed 1 time and this is my second try - See more at: http://flitetest.com/articles/how-to-get-a-ham-radio-license#sthash.MGA3dkow.dpuf
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KJ4CCH on August 6, 2013
Good luck and keep trying! If you are in another country, I could not really help you, the best I could do is research it for you, (which I dont mind doing.) But google is gonna have to be your best friend. Have you seen the Morse code learning matrix? This website has the Morse matrix that gives you the letters you should learn first, and what letter to move on to. Thanks for reading!
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skelator on August 15, 2013
I think the question should be almost the same i guess, yes please do if you have any info on the morse matrix would be great :), Local ham community here are awesome too they sometime provide guides when asked :)
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jhitesma on August 4, 2013
I've been licensed since 3rd grade (N8INJ - and that was back when you needed morse and the days of the novice ticket) and have talked a good number of friends into getting their ticket because of other hobbies that can benefit from better radio communications. Most of them are shocked at how easily they can pass the test with little or no study. Even friends with no technical background are often able to pass practice tests reliably after just two or three tries. And more technically oriented friends often find they can pass their first try - by best guessing the regulatory questions.


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KJ4CCH on August 13, 2021
I did a terrible job writing this article lol
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How to get a Ham Radio license