Communications

[Flash]

The tests are really very easy these days as they've dumbed the test procedure down a ton since when I got licensed.

Back in Moses' day when I got licensed, you had study guides but they weren't very accurate with respect to what you'd be tested on so you had to know radio and electronic theory pretty thoroughly. A guy named Dick Bash, KL7IHP changed all that when he started interviewing guys who had just taken the tests and he would record the questions and put out a study guide that covered what was being tested at that time.

The code tests were the stumbling block for a lot of people. I'm a volunteer examiner for the ARRL, have been since the program first started and I've seen a guy who hopped on a plane in Tahiti, flew to the west coast, started learning the code when the plane took off and passed a 5 wpm test when he landed.

The 13 wpm test was harder, especially when these were administered by the FCC at one of their field offices and while most people eventually passed if they tried hard enough, quite a few didn't.

The 20 wpm test was where the rubber met the road. The FCC sent code that they deliberately had misspelled words and when you filled in the blank, you had to misspell the same words in order to pass. When I took it, 35 people sat for the test and 10 passed, which gives you a rough idea of the degree of difficulty. If you passed, you were then allowed to take the written test for Extra and that one was advanced radio theory and basic digital electronics. Around half of the people passed that one. I found it easy as I'm an Electronic Engineer and did the written in around 10 minutes. Most people found it difficult.

Anyway, study any of the current study guides and you'll pass with no problems. The guides give you the questions you'll see on the test with parameters changed a bit but that's all.

[AZF350PSD]

Also took most of the exams at the Field Office in Chicago.

As I remember, they only tested on Friday. Unlike now, no retakes without a 30 day wait back then.

They provided a straight key. If you used a bug or iambic you had to bring your own.

A carload of us made the 200+ mile one way trek.

The good old days.

[Flash]

Way, way back when, you had to send also and my dad took the test in Anchorage Alaska. He went with a friend who verified his story.

When he was in his early 20s, he was a high speed code operator for the Union Pacific Railroad and later for the Alaska Railroad. They mostly sent and received at around 60+WPM. He sent the code for the FCC examiner and then asked how he did. The examiner said "I don't know. I can't read code that fast but it sounded good." He was using his own bug from work that was cut down to run faster.

[AZF350PSD]

Thunderbird Hamfest 2019
Saturday, January 12, 2019
An ARRL Sanctioned and ARCA Co-Sponsored Event
This Event will occur Cold, Rain, Wind or Shine. Come prepared!

Location:
Glendale Nazarene Church
5902 W. Cactus Road
Glendale, AZ 85304
(Note the new address - just north of Cactus Road on the west side of 59th Ave.)

Date:
Saturday January 12, 2019

Time:
Open to Vendors at 7:00 AM
Open to Public from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Commercial Vendors can set up Friday night after 5:00 PM or Saturday after 6:00 AM
Vendors must supply their own tables

Cost:
Tailgate Swap and Vendor: $10.00 per Parking Spot with 2 admissions
General Admission: $5.00 per person

[AZF350PSD]

Scottsdale Hamfest New Location This Year.

When:
March 16, 2019 @ 7:00 am – 11:00 am
Where:
Coronado Highschool
7501 E Virginia Ave
Scottsdale
AZ 85257

https://www.scottsdalearc.com/event/sco ... fest-2019/

[62Grains]

Anyone give lessons? I have a good training manual, but it seems like it's more of the technical side, which I know is needed for the test, but it would be nice to get to see some real world communications in action.

[Teuton]

As mentioned above, take the online PRACTICE tests. Same material as the real test and you get sample graded so you can see what areas you are deficient in. Focus on those. Once you get on the air the practical learning starts. Join a group or club according to your chosen Ham starting point.
I went with and stayed with the 2 meter band, it was all I needed. Good luck.

73
Kim
KF7AEJ

[AZF350PSD]

DeVry Hamfest

04/20/2019

Location: DeVry University
2149 West Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85001

Website: http://www.w7io.org
Sponsor: Arizona Amateur Radio Club

[AZF350PSD]

Tucson Spring Hamfest 3.30.2019

Hosted by the Radio Society of Tucson
The Target Store, 9615 E Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ

Hours - 6:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Free Admission and Buyer Parking.

Tailgate Spaces $10 per Parking Space. Free VE Testing at 9:00 AM

No Alcohol, Drugs, or Firearms.

For Information & Map, visit http://www.k7rst.org

[AZF350PSD]

DeVry Hamfest Saturday April 20, 2019

Hosted by the Arizona Amateur Radio Club and
the Arizona Red Cross Communications Club

DeVry University, 2149 W Dunlap Ave, Phoenix, AZ

Hours: 6:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Admission Donation: $2.00 - Spaces: $10.00 per parking space
Commercial Vendors, Tailgaters, Prizes
Coffee, Donuts, Sodas
Grand Prizes & Hourly Prizes

Email k7gh@arrl.net for information or to reserve a space

[AZF350PSD]

FYI, the West Valley Club has a new Fusion repeater up on UHF.

Located on top of Boswell Hospital in Sun City Arizona. This repeater is a DR-2X Yaesu System Fusion Digital Repeater, set to Digital Mode.

449.8 MHz Tuesday Night Net at 7 PM

Also several Fusion presentations available on the website.

https://westvalleyarc.com/

[ooda]

Are there any Ham radio clubs in Northeast valley and do they conduct testing as well.

[impulse]

Are there any Ham radio clubs in Northeast valley and do they conduct testing as well.

With covid, testing has moved to online. Don't even have to leave your house!

[rockbronco]

Are there any Ham radio clubs in Northeast valley and do they conduct testing as well.

With covid, testing has moved to online. Don't even have to leave your house!

Really? Maybe this is the time to finally get my license

[impulse]

Are there any Ham radio clubs in Northeast valley and do they conduct testing as well.

With covid, testing has moved to online. Don't even have to leave your house!

Really? Maybe this is the time to finally get my license

Yep! https://hamstudy.org/sessions

Great site, I also used to study for my tech license. The covid and remote testing pushed me to finally get my license also.