HAM Radio Test - Changing

[Bagstr 295]

This morning I talked to Bill Hays (N9Q0) 619-312-7319 regarding Technician Class Amateur test. Bill administers the test.

Test schedules available at HRO. Saturdays 0900 rotating around town locations.

He is of the opinion that a New/Revised test will be in place in July and that it will be much more difficult. So, if you are planning on getting your Element 2 amateur license, get your study book and take the test before the change.

Study Prep Book and Radios available locally at Ham Radio Outlet, 5375 Kearny Villa Rd. SD. 858-560-4928

$19 for book, $142 incl tax for FT-270R radio, $12 for CT-91 cable adapter

Taking my test this Saturday.

Favorite Question

How often due announce your call sign when communicating on the amateur band?

[Strega 0]

Every 10 minutes. Am I close?

[paulmbowers 236]

Beginning and end and every 10 mins of conversation.

Interesting, as they dropped the morse code requirement to make it easier to get licensed. Wonder what the changes will be?

Licensing came up this weekend on the dash when it came time to close the lunch tents. I knew the sweep team was still out there, but wanted to keep some part of the setup specifically for them- but had no way of knowing where they were. If everybody were licensed, it would be and easy thing via the local repeater to keep in touch with everybody.

[KTMrad 617]

Is there a website for this Ham Radio testing and stuff ?

[Erick 0]

Out of interest.. How would using the repeater play out? You go to a specific channel, talk to the operator, then they bounce your signal provided you're legitimately licensed to do so?

[Strega 0]

But that would require taking off the Ogio and changing frequencies...that's a lot of WORK!!

Now if I could just find a way to switch back and forth with a COM1/COM2 on the bars...

[paulmbowers 236]

Out of interest.. How would using the repeater play out? You go to a specific channel, talk to the operator, then they bounce your signal provided you're legitimately licensed to do so?

Think of a repeater as a big radio with a big antenna, usually on a mountaintop. My weak transmission from my little radio in a canyon somewhere is received by the repeater and automatically- with the speed of light- rebroadcast with its greater power from its bigger antenna and its better location.

There are some tricks. The repeater listens on one frequency, and transmits on another slightly different one. That's called "offset". Anyone wishing to use the repeater to communicate needs to have the offset programmed into their radios.

Repeaters can also use identity codes, called pl tones. These need to be programmed as well.

[KTMrad 617]

Is there a website for this Ham Radio testing and stuff ?

Asking again.....please.

[bikeslut 1]

Is there a website for this Ham Radio testing and stuff ?

I found this

http://www.qrz.com/testing.html

but didn't find a study guide yet... looks like people want to charge for it

KA9452 clear

[paulmbowers 236]

Is there a website for this Ham Radio testing and stuff ?

Asking again.....please.

There are several- the frequencies are regulated by the FCC- so there's that site. The amateur radio frequencies are administered by the ARRL, the Amateur Radio Relay League, so they have a site, and are authorized by the FCC to administer the tests and licensing. The site to learn about the tests themselves are varied- here is one that I've not personally used, but looks pretty good. The test questions are public- just study a bit and you'll pass.

[KTMrad 617]

thanks paul !

[paulmbowers 236]

More about repeaters from DigDug:

Lets say you want to hit the first repeater on the Mt. Otay (146.640 - 107.2). It transmits on (you receive on) 146.640. It receives on (you transmit on) 600 kHz less than (indicated by the '-') that or 146.040. It also requires a PL (sub audible) tone of 107.2 Hz to activate the repeater. There are three pieces of information you need to program in to the radio. Frequency, offset, and in this case PL tone. Go into VFO mode (press the VFO button). Punch in YOUR receive frequency (on the VX-170 hit 4 6 6 4 0, you don't put the leading 1). You'll notice up top on the screen there is a '-' symbol. The radio already knows this frequency has a negative offset. If the repeater is non-standard (ie uses a + instead of a minus) press 'F' then '4' (RPT) then the tune knob for + - or OFF. Here, leave it at the default for this frequency, minus.Press the transmit button, you should see 146.040 appear on the screen - indicating that the shift is working.

The final part is kind of tricky. To avoid unintended operation, most repeaters require sub-audible tones be sent in order to turn on the repeat function and avoid erroneous tripping(you can use this function between radios too, so you don't hear anyone that isn't using the tone - on FRS/GMRS radios it's called the "privacy" codes - even though anyone else can hear you, you just can't hear them). It's called CTCSS. On the VX-170, hit 'F' then '1' (SQTYPE). Rotate the tune knob (at the base of the volume knob) until the word 'TONE' appears on the screen. Press the 'F' key to confirm. Now you'll see the 'T' indicator next to the '-' on the screen. The final step is to set the tone frequency. Hit the 'F' key then the '2' (code) button. Rotate the tune knob until '107.2' appears on the screen. Hit the 'F' key to confirm. You should now be talking to and able to trip the repeater. Key it up and ask for a signal check!!!

Then the trick is to save this into a memory slot so you don't have to go through all that work next time!!!

Pages 19-22 of the manual do a pretty good job of telling you how to set up the radio for repeaters, but they assume you already understand how a repeater works.

[Bagstr 295]

http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=349

http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html

http://www.hamtestonline.com/ $25 for two year test prep

[cmayer31 3]

I used this site for my study. Practice Ham Radio Exam

[BrendenSD 0]

I used this site for my study. Practice Ham Radio Exam

+1 on this site

[jbw 0]

http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=349

http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html

http://www.hamtestonline.com/ $25 for two year test prep

Cannot go wrong if you have all the questions in advance.

[Joliet 0]

Just so you guys know, if you post your call sign anyone can go to the FCC website and look up your name and address. Won't bother some people, others it will. Just want you all to be aware of it. Ken