Wanted to be a Ham....BUT!!!!

[Gregg Lengling]

Well if you ever considered (and I know there are a lot of geeks on here) wanted to get a Ham (Amateur Radio License) Ticket but were always daunted by Morse Code then you've waited almost long enough.  The FCC published new rules today that take effect on February 23rd, 2007 that Morse Code testing will no longer be required.  Just thought I'd pass along the information to all of you.

[Todd Wiedemann]

Well if you ever considered (and I know there are a lot of geeks on here) wanted to get a Ham (Amateur Radio License) Ticket but were always daunted by Morse Code then you've waited almost long enough.  The FCC published new rules today that take effect on February 23rd, 2007 that Morse Code testing will no longer be required.  Just thought I'd pass along the information to all of you.

I'd love to.

Got some old equipment you want to move along ?

[Gregg Lengling]

I'd love to.

Got some old equipment you want to move along ?

I can always find something in the garage or storage shed....get with the program...go to AES buy a book to study and then there are free sites on the internet to test your knowledge before you take the exam.  Normally exams are held almost every month around here I can point you to one.

[mhz40]

- .... .- -. -.- ... --..-- --. .-. . --. --.
(Thanks, Gregg)

[Gregg Lengling]

- .... .- -. -.- ... --..-- --. .-. . --. --.
(Thanks, Gregg)

You know that is actually hard to read, a wave file would have been better at about 25 or 30 WPM.Badger

[Todd Wiedemann]

I can always find something in the garage or storage shed....get with the program...go to AES buy a book to study and then there are free sites on the internet to test your knowledge before you take the exam.  Normally exams are held almost every month around here I can point you to one.

Have you got a link? I'm curious what I'd need to study.

[Gregg Lengling]

Have you got a link? I'm curious what I'd need to study.

Here you go:
http://www.hamtestonline.com/

http://www.dcarc.net/practice_tests.htm

http://www.aa9pw.com/radio/

Google is your friend!

[jkane]

When I upgraded to general, I used a tool called HAM University.  They had a free demo that worked for about a month.  That was long enough to get the test down pat.  It is a sample test program.  You learn by taking the test over and over and over and over until you pass it every time.  I don't know if it still exists or not.  I hav ethe zip file yet, but the test questions vary slightly over time, so it might not be good enough anymore without an update.

[Gregg Lengling]

You should have been around when I took my tests in the 60's and 70's, they didn't go to multiple guess until the late 70's.  Before that you have fill in the blank and such.  My 1st Class RadioTelephone license actual was a killer...draw a certain oscillator circuit and then the next 10 questions related to it.  If you drew a Colpits instead of a Hartley you ended up with all 10 questions wrong.  Of course I got it right...took 2 tests that day in Chicago...(back then the FCC did the testing), my 1st Class and my Advanced Class Ham license...passed them both...it took me another 10 years to get my code speed up from the 13wpm at that time to 20wpm to pass the Extra.