HAM Technician.....Why do the nerds have to be in charge?

Tim

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I'm going through a prep course (hamradioprep.com) for my Tech license test on Thursday. These test requirements were definitely made well before the popularity of cheap hand held radios. All I care about...hell, I don't actually care, is what the proper etiquette and procedures are for behaving on a 'net.

I don't give a rat's behind about Ohm's Law, resistors vs. transistors or the Ionosphere. I have zero plans to bounce waves off the space station. All I wanna do is use my $35 Baofeng to relay messages while hunting, or at a Run n Gun.
 
I'm starting to believe they make the test so annoying to drive people away from the hobby so they can sell off that part of the spectrum for cash. Seems like most hams are old dudes.
 
It was a bigger deal back in the day when many folks built their own radios either from scratch or kit (more common).

I agree tho. Now days for a basic license you really just need to know what bands you can operate on, some etiquette, power limitations, and basic radio operation.

That said, a little extra knowledge never killed anyone.

I knew a fair amount before I started studying, learned what I wanted to learn, the things I didn't care about or feel I needed to know I just memorized the test answers. Right now I'm not 100% sure what bands I'm allowed to operate on, but I know what bands I want to operate on, fortunately those are the same bands I have equipment to operate on. I am a little salty that my HAM license doesn't open GMRS to me.
 
You can bypass the "learning" if you put in a little studying time.

They publish the entire exam test pool AND the answers (including the wrong answers). http://www.arrl.org/question-pools

When I first started to study, I figured I would take the time to learn why the correct answers were correct, and why the incorrect answer weren't.



I bailed out on that approach, and just learned the answers. The key to doing that "for me" is to not look at the wrong answers. That way only the "correct" answer looks familiar when I see the question again.


I read through the test a few times. Started using a iPad test tool that asks the questions. When I figured I could get enough to pass, I took the tests.


Sadly, I didn't learn a darn thing. I don't even remember my call sign. But I passed on the first try. Took maybe 12 hours of studying.




I figured if I ever needed to actually know "Which of the following frequency ranges are available for phone operation by Technician licensees?....." I can look it up when it matters to me.
 
Me. said:
You can bypass the "learning" if you put in a little studying time.

They publish the entire exam test pool AND the answers (including the wrong answers). http://www.arrl.org/question-pools

When I first started to study, I figured I would take the time to learn why the correct answers were correct, and why the incorrect answer weren't.



I bailed out on that approach, and just learned the answers. The key to doing that "for me" is to not look at the wrong answers. That way only the "correct" answer looks familiar when I see the question again.


I read through the test a few times. Started using a iPad test tool that asks the questions. When I figured I could get enough to pass, I took the tests.


Sadly, I didn't learn a darn thing. I don't even remember my call sign. But I passed on the first try. Took maybe 12 hours of studying.




I figured if I ever needed to actually know "Which of the following frequency ranges are available for phone operation by Technician licensees?....." I can look it up when it matters to me.
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That's spot on for me too. Run thru the tests several times until you've seen all the questions several times. When I tested I wasn't recalling the information, I was recalling the correct answer. Finished the test a good 10 minutes before anyone else. Not because I knew the material, but because I knew the answers.
 
I couldn’t agree more! I bought my first Boafeng earlier this year and thought I’d spend 5-10hr on the HAM Radio Prep app then take the Tech test.

HA! That wasn’t happening. I couldn’t pass the first section practice tests with any consistency, so I put it on the back burner and will stick to my Midland GMRS for now.

And yes the entire HAM world is super nerdy! Who wants to sit on a “net” and talk to strangers on the radio for an hour every Wednesday evening? I equate this to a 40yo dressing up for a local Comic-Con. Clearly it appeals to many, but not to me.
 
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I've got the Baofeng radios. I don't have or desire the license. I learned enough watching Ham Radio Crash course on youtube that I was able to program them with FRS and GMRS frequencies plus a weather station and shut them off and put them in the box and dropped them in the bin of emergency supplies. I'll only ever use these if I need comms and the world went tits up.
 
Tim said:
I'm going through a prep course (hamradioprep.com) for my Tech license test on Thursday. These test requirements were definitely made well before the popularity of cheap hand held radios. All I care about...hell, I don't actually care, is what the proper etiquette and procedures are for behaving on a 'net.

I don't give a rat's behind about Ohm's Law, resistors vs. transistors or the Ionosphere. I have zero plans to bounce waves off the space station. All I wanna do is use my $35 Baofeng to relay messages while hunting, or at a Run n Gun.
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Where are you taking your exam?
 
Timfoilhat said:
I've got the Baofeng radios. I don't have or desire the license. I learned enough watching Ham Radio Crash course on youtube that I was able to program them with FRS and GMRS frequencies plus a weather station and shut them off and put them in the box and dropped them in the bin of emergency supplies. I'll only ever use these if I need comms and the world went tits up.
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I try to find reasons to use them to keep myself familiar with their use/programming.

Car-to-car comms is pretty nice. It's a lot quicker and easier to key up the mic to announce a potty break, fuel stop, radar trap, etc. than it is to dial/answer a phone. When surf fishing it's pretty easy to get out of shouting distance, having a radio handy is nice. When working in the woods behind the house I'd rather have a $20 radio handy for comms with the house than having a $1000 phone to lose or break.

Edit to add, car-to-car comms with a HT gets pretty flaky once you lose visual contact unless you have an external or window mount antenna.
 
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Timfoilhat said:
I've got the Baofeng radios. I don't have or desire the license. I learned enough watching Ham Radio Crash course on youtube that I was able to program them with FRS and GMRS frequencies plus a weather station and shut them off and put them in the box and dropped them in the bin of emergency supplies. I'll only ever use these if I need comms and the world went tits up.
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The point of sitting on a net every Wednesday talking to folks on the radio is to build skill and familiarity with your gear.

You wouldn't do the same thing with a firearm and figure you were good to go...
 
Just like range safety, we learn it and pass the knowledge on to new folks.
The amateur frequencies we are granted access to are close to other agencies like fire, ens, aviation and law enforcement, we have to be sure we are not causing problem when we operate. Many agencies are now operating in higher frequency allocations but we must follow the rules. Remember you can only communicate with other licensed operators within the amateur bands.
Good luck with your testing.
 
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Car0linab0y said:
The point of sitting on a net every Wednesday talking to folks on the radio is to build skill and familiarity with your gear.

You wouldn't do the same thing with a firearm and figure you were good to go...
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I'm not the guy who dropped the play with your ham radio friends every wedsnesday night comment. If a person enjoys playing with ham friends I encourage him to enjoy his hobby.

As far as my specific (non)use case, yes I know how to dial both radios to the same pre-programmed frequecy, and I know how to key a mic. That's all these will ever be to me, just powerful glorified FRS radios. I feel fine with my decision.
 
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Lucky63 said:
In my Amazon cart. Just waiting to buy a radio….
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Grab a programming cable and download a copy of Chirp when you get one, so much easier than programming using the keypad. And you can keep setups on your pc and just swap out your programmed frequencies in seconds
 
NCLivingBrit said:
Grab a programming cable and download a copy of Chirp when you get one, so much easier than programming using the keypad. And you can keep setups on your pc and just swap out your programmed frequencies in seconds
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Well, well, look at Brit speaking Nerd to us po's.


I have some Baofengs, but no idea how they work, need to get on yTube and start figuring that out.
 
What is the actual harm in just using a handheld like the Baofungs and not becoming certified?

Aren’t they pretty low power? Is there real risk there? I understand it’s illegal, but does anyone actually look into such things?

I’m not advocating doing illegal stuff, genuinely curious.
 
Frack N Cylons said:
What is the actual harm in just using a handheld like the Baofungs and not becoming certified?

Aren’t they pretty low power? Is there real risk there? I understand it’s illegal, but does anyone actually look into such things?

I’m not advocating doing illegal stuff, genuinely curious.
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Very good question, if you want to use amateur radio frequencies then you need the license, otherwise nobody will talk to you because it risks our license and fines. If you are using other frequencies then the rules that cover them need to be followed. We can cause interference to other services without realizing it if we don't understand the band plans.
 
Frack N Cylons said:
What is the actual harm in just using a handheld like the Baofungs and not becoming certified?

Aren’t they pretty low power? Is there real risk there? I understand it’s illegal, but does anyone actually look into such things?

I’m not advocating doing illegal stuff, genuinely curious.
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I may or may not be regularly involved in organized events that may, or may not, use exactly these radios to provide comms for safety and admin during these alleged events that you may have been present at.

But, there's a major event in TN in a couple weeks, basically 4 run n guns in the same weekend. The match director wants a licensed tech on each stage to handle comms.
 
Frack N Cylons said:
What is the actual harm in just using a handheld like the Baofungs and not becoming certified?

Aren’t they pretty low power? Is there real risk there? I understand it’s illegal, but does anyone actually look into such things?

I’m not advocating doing illegal stuff, genuinely curious.
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Tim said:
I may or may not be regularly involved in organized events that may, or may not, use exactly these radios to provide comms for safety and admin during these alleged events that you may have been present at.

But, there's a major event in TN in a couple weeks, basically 4 run n guns in the same weekend. The match director wants a licensed tech on each stage to handle comms.
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I've got a few contractors the use the marine band radio. Maybe that is an option
 
heavydoc said:
I've got a few contractors the use the marine band radio. Maybe that is an option
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Marine radios can function on land; however, because marine radios are used by vessels in situations of distress, navigational issues, personal communication, and business needs, it is not legal for a person to use a marine radio on land without an approved coast station license and for communicating with a boat. This can cause a boat in distress to have their MAYDAY not to be heard.
 
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Button Pusher said:
Marine radios can function on land; however, because marine radios are used by vessels in situations of distress, navigational issues, personal communication, and business needs, it is not legal for a person to use a marine radio on land without an approved coast station license and for communicating with a boat. This can cause a boat in distress to have their MAYDAY not to be heard.
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Mayday's are broadcast on channel 16 which is the emergency marine channel. Coast guard has channel 21 and 22 set aside for them. Iirc 12 is for bridge to bridge. So if you aren't on one of those you would be fine. 6 is used to but don't remember what for. And we don't have large enough lakes in this area
 
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