Getting a HAM radio licence
LoopyByteloose
Posts: 12,537
Many years ago [noparse][[/noparse]circa 1963], I studied for the HAM radio licence, but I never got it.
The textbooks were reasonable cheap and the information was very well organized.
Now I am wondering if I should reconsider.· It seems to provide a low of education is a well organized format and they have courses by mail or web.
About the only thing that seems a bit tricky is that I am living abroad.
So I wonder about taking the exam.
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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
The textbooks were reasonable cheap and the information was very well organized.
Now I am wondering if I should reconsider.· It seems to provide a low of education is a well organized format and they have courses by mail or web.
About the only thing that seems a bit tricky is that I am living abroad.
So I wonder about taking the exam.
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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
Comments
There should be a similar amateur service over there....and I've heard of people transfering licenses but don't know how easy it is!
The US no longer has morse endorsement, but Canada still has the 5wpm to open up all the other bands (of which you had a 5wpm and 12wpm endorsements).
I think the US has the technician class and such....in Canada we have Basic and Advanced (then add the morse endorsements)....
But, I've been out of the loop the last 5years with work and travel!! A shame!
Just with chatting on the 'Nets' with guys, you can go for coffee with some very knowledgable guys!
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Steve
"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
As an amateur operator I can assure you it is alot of fun, there are many new things like amateur satellites which you can work, digital modes like psk31 and with todays equipment comms go farther. As far as your question,
Info seems to be sketchy on the subject of a foreign operator in taiwan, these links contains some information. Might you possible be in the states in the near future for the holidays? That might make things a bit easier?
http://www.qsl.net/oh2mcn/bv.htm
http://www.qsl.net/oh2mcn/by.htm
If you want to read about some of the neat stuff, head over to amsat.org to read about the current birds and arrl.org also has a wealth of info.
To get a better answer to your questions I suggest you head to either http://www.e-ham.net or http://www.hamforum.com/· or the biggest forum is http://www.qrz.com/·and post there. You will likely get a a better answer than what I was able to google.
Good luck and I hope you are able to get your license, while not as popular as it used to be,·amateur radio·is alot of fun!
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QSL is definetly the source.
I was pretty much into tubes. Transistors can only in single packages. The cheap Japanese AM transistor radio was the rage and we were sending dogs and monkeys into orbit. Trying to catch up with the Russians. Pretty weird stuff.
I learned Morse code [noparse][[/noparse]came in handy as it was required for my First Class rank in the Boy Scouts] , but thank heavens it is no longer a requirement [noparse][[/noparse]._ _... _._. _.. . ._.. and so on.]. I suspect I could handle 5WPM, but not much more.
Mostly it seems that the radio interface with remote control would be a lot clearer once I studied for it.
After all, you are using the air waves and it helps to understand both the hardware and the regulation environment.
I suppose that Taiwan would not really allow me to put it to use - too many political and security implications. Radio has been severely restrict here until just recent. I do have someone that could tell me if it was possible to do something like shortware.
But, the knowledge is really what I am after as I feel my electronic fundamentals are a bit rusty. The ARRL handbook taught me an enormous amount.
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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
I'm not knocking the new books...but they tend to focus a lot more on digital equipment and off the shelf add-ons, where the older ones had all sorts of true homebrew stuff.
At least that's my limited view on it!
I do love those hamfests and the Hints & Tricks books...
If you are still a US citizen, then you should be able to get your ham license abroad...however, you might have to get permission there....
I remember my instructor mentioning that many countries honour each others licenses, but that you still had to get a station license when you were in other countries!
something like that....
VA3SRV
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Steve
"Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
List of all countries and details of reciprocal agreements.· Tiawan is in there.
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/recip-country.html
Free online test
Corrected:
http://www.aa9pw.com/
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John J. Couture
San Diego Miramar College
Post Edited (john couture) : 12/8/2005 4:08:21 PM GMT
The ARRL has a few simple text books.
I haven't located the ARRL Handbook though.
I can take the exam in Japan.· And yes, I am still a US citizen and plan to remain so.
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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
Post Edited (Kramer) : 12/7/2005 8:00:26 AM GMT
I got my license long ago (circa 1974) I feel out of the loop. The U.S. has not totally dropped the morse requirement. I beleive for the more advanced license you still do 5 WPM, please correct me if I aqm wrong. Last I heard we were going todrop the morse requirement totally. I have no problem with dropping the requirment. I hated the morse stuff. I now however, use it all the time.
My girls are studying now for their tickets. I have been using the code quick method for teaching the code. Finding old arrl books for info is fine. You will need a more up-to-date book for the test. There are a few sources for the test pool. I have found this to be the quickest route to passing the exam. Good luck.
Sofalogic
KF4GOM
[noparse][[/noparse]Besides, anyone can handle 5 words in a minute. That is s l o w .........]
This is a great place to get started for anyone who wants to know more about electronics.
I need the review and want to know more about using radio in my robotics.
{It is a community, like Parallax. So it provides shared experience and knowledge, not just some big old books.}
I am going to give myself the License books for Christmas.
I think that the Technician and General Class books come to about $40USD. Not a lot these days.
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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
I bought the Gordon West series of books (www.w5yi.org). I got the "Ham Operator Software Value Pack" which included the three exam books (Technician, General, Extra) along with the FCC rule book and a practice program for $80 USD. His books are easy to work with (I passed the Tech and Gen exams) and the nice thing about them is that he cross references each FCC question and explains it. These are "test prep" books not in depth theory books.
If you are looking for a free MP3 series for practicing code, go to www.k7qo.net and scroll down to his "code course". He has a download that you can burn right to cd (iso format) and get started. Great for listening in the car (by yourself!) etc.
There are many free online tests for the exams (for example, www.qrz.com ) and the FCC publishes all of the questions and answers if you want to download them. I used that file and wrote a little program for my personal home page that selects a random question and upon pushing a button shows the answer. Many in the Extra class are though but eventually I get through it.
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John J. Couture
San Diego Miramar College