best way to study for Ham Radio Technician License?

Scott

Scott

Adventurist
So, what are your thoughts here? After just borrowing Cris' handheld radio during the MRV scenic trail run, I was hooked on the clarity and distance of Ham Radios. First step is to take the technician license exam and get my license, but I'm not really sure what the best way to study is. So, tell me, what did you do to pass the test, and is it easier than my brain is making it out to be?

After the test, I'll more than likely end up with a cheap Baofeng handheld radio until I can pony up the dough on a real vehicle mounted solution. Any and all input is appreciated.
 
poriggity said:
So, what are your thoughts here? After just borrowing Cris' handheld radio during the MRV scenic trail run, I was hooked on the clarity and distance of Ham Radios. First step is to take the technician license exam and get my license, but I'm not really sure what the best way to study is. So, tell me, what did you do to pass the test, and is it easier than my brain is making it out to be?

After the test, I'll more than likely end up with a cheap Baofeng handheld radio until I can pony up the dough on a real vehicle mounted solution. Any and all input is appreciated.
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It is pretty easy, order the gordon west book. Read through it once, and highlight all of the questions and correct answers in the back. After you have read it once, just read the question and correct answers, ignore everything else. Take the free practice tests found here http://www.qrz.com/hamtest/

Use my free advice and I will give you a money back guarantee that you may pass one of your attempts


Disclaimer: no guarantee expressed or implied.
 
I like that money back guarantee! :D I'm already looking at the qrz site, and the test questions don't seem too difficult.. YET. I've read you can miss 9 out of the 35 questions and still pass, is that still accurate?

BlkWgn said:
It is pretty easy, order the gordon west book. Read through it once, and highlight all of the questions and correct answers in the back. After you have read it once, just read the question and correct answers, ignore everything else. Take the free practice tests found here http://www.qrz.com/hamtest/

Use my free advice and I will give you a money back guarantee that you may pass one of your attempts


Disclaimer: no guarantee expressed or implied.
Click to expand...
 
poriggity said:
I like that money back guarantee! :D I'm already looking at the qrz site, and the test questions don't seem too difficult.. YET. I've read you can miss 9 out of the 35 questions and still pass, is that still accurate?
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I thought it was 7, but it is something like that. When you get consistent with the practice test, then take the real thing.
 
BlkWgn said:
I thought it was 7, but it is something like that. When you get consistent with the practice test, then take the real thing.
Click to expand...

You're right, it is 7. What's your thoughts on the baofeng radios? From what I've seen, they tend to work just fine for the type of stuff we do on the trails.
 
I have 3 and will get more. $32 on amazon. Not user friendly, but work great. Getting the programming cable solves a lot of the problems with them

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk
 
BlkWgn said:
I have 3 and will get more. $32 on amazon. Not user friendly, but work great. Getting the programming cable solves a lot of the problems with them

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk
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Yeah my plan is to get one with the programming cable. I've seen them on amazon tonight for $32 plus another 6-8 bucks for the cable. For roughly $40 I figure they are hard to beat.
 
The tech test is mostly about frequency bands and operating procedures, it is easy if you can memorize lists of frequencies.....
 
Well, I just tried a couple test exams from the first link (qrz) and got a 64% and 57% with no prior reading material. Did really well on the electric questions. Guess I still remember a lot of my high school electronics class. LOL Got a lot of studying to do though...
 
not too bad Mike, gives you a good baseline on where to start your studying
 
Mike said:
Well, I just tried a couple test exams from the first link (qrz) and got a 64% and 57% with no prior reading material. Did really well on the electric questions. Guess I still remember a lot of my high school electronics class. LOL Got a lot of studying to do though...
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You need to practice in realistic test conditions before you attempt the real thing:

4 hours sleep in 48 hrs before test
Windy, hot environment
Loud, inappropriate behavior and shenanigans within 10 ft and abundant distractions
1/2 half a pencil and an old elmer staring you down like you are a criminal

These were the things I forgot to study for :)
 
What BlkWgn said about West's book and the practice tests. Most of the tech test is about proper ettiquete, history, need for amatuer radio, FCC, operating procedures, etc. If you aced the electrical already, you've got the rest nailed. From what I heard, you could miss every one of the math/electrical questions and still pass! Reading West's book once fairlly thoroughly is good for the history, etc. There's a bit of self promotion in his writing, but that's ok. Enthusiasm for hobby, for most of us, is his business! Ditto for highlighting just the question and correct answer in the book. Blitz through those a couple of times. When you are consistently scoring in the 80-90% plus on the practice tests you'll ace the actual exam. Remember, you've read every one of the questions and answers BEFORE even taking the test! I went so overprepared that I finished all 35 questions in about 5 minutes (there is no time limit). I recognized the question and knew the answer before I finished reading the question!

On the cheap HT's, I opted for the Wouxun vs the Baofeng based on reviews on some of the ham boards about quality, etc. It runs around $100. Looks so similar to the Baofeng it probably comes from the same Chinese factory tho!
 
brentbba said:
What BlkWgn said about West's book and the practice tests. Most of the tech test is about proper ettiquete, history, need for amatuer radio, FCC, operating procedures, etc. If you aced the electrical already, you've got the rest nailed. From what I heard, you could miss every one of the math/electrical questions and still pass! Reading West's book once fairlly thoroughly is good for the history, etc. There's a bit of self promotion in his writing, but that's ok. Enthusiasm for hobby, for most of us, is his business! Ditto for highlighting just the question and correct answer in the book. Blitz through those a couple of times. When you are consistently scoring in the 80-90% plus on the practice tests you'll ace the actual exam. Remember, you've read every one of the questions and answers BEFORE even taking the test! I went so overprepared that I finished all 35 questions in about 5 minutes (there is no time limit). I recognized the question and knew the answer before I finished reading the question!

On the cheap HT's, I opted for the Wouxun vs the Baofeng based on reviews on some of the ham boards about quality, etc. It runs around $100. Looks so similar to the Baofeng it probably comes from the same Chinese factory tho!
Click to expand...

That's my plan too.. just read read read, and then read again, right before going into the exam...
 
I had good luck with the Gordon West books and audio CDs. I didn't want to just pass the tests, I wanted to really understand as much as possible, and his materials did an excellent job of addressing both.
 
X2 on the practice tests. Do them over and over again and you will cover all of the 1000 possible questions on the test.


Sent from a mud puddle
 
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