Ben Bailey
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
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Ben Bailey
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Nathan Henson
| | 05/30/2010 8:57 AM |
 Alert | I am traveling to Michigan this summer and will not have time to take my test here before I leave. Has anyone run into issues taking a test in another state? Do you have to take the test in your state of residence??
Nathan | |
My NWOS Blog | |
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
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Ryan Donald
| | 05/30/2010 10:21 AM |
Alert | | I've been putting this off for over a year now. I signed up for Ham Test Online last summer and was into it for awhile, then things came up and I kept making excuses on why I didn't have time to study. Seeing that the question pool changes on July 1st, has given me the motivation to get this done ASAP! I see there is a testing date in Olympia on June 16th, 2010 at the American Red Cross. I'm going to hit the studying hard now and try and pass that test! | | | |
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
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Ryan Donald
| | 05/30/2010 10:24 AM |
Alert | | That's great to know, thanks for the encouragment! | | | |
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
| | 06/11/2010 4:10 PM |
Alert | Last nag before the new test kicks in at the beginning of July. I hope a few more of you can find the time to study and get licensed this month.
Study: http://hamtestonline.com
Find a test: http://www.arrl.org/finding-an-exam-session
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My Overland Adventure Blog | |
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Ryan Donald
| | 06/16/2010 9:50 PM |
Alert | | Seems the studying paid off, I passed the test tonight! Now the question is, should I study for the General, or is Tech. enough to get me by? Is there a site that breaks down the advantages of the different levels? | | | |
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Ben Bailey
| | 06/16/2010 9:53 PM |
Alert | | Cool! I got my call sign by the end of the week -- check online. | |
RBBailey
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Rovers | |
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Brett Curry
| | 06/16/2010 10:24 PM |
Alert | | Congrats, I'm sure others will chime in that know much more bit it seems tech level meets all the club's needs. The HF would be of most helpful thing about the general. Longer range. Anxious to hear what others have to say. | | | |
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
| | 06/16/2010 10:32 PM |
Alert | Congrats! That was fast. Yes, Brent is spot on. For vehicle to vehicle trail communications the tech level is sufficient. It gives you a range of about 50 miles, more if you can hit a repeater. If you want a radio for communicating over greater distances, you need the higher license, a better radio, a bigger antenna, etc. There are only a handful of guys on here that do that, as it is typically something you setup in camp rather than use on the road.
For typical NW Overland Society use, you are all set.
Craig | |
My Overland Adventure Blog | |
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Ryan Donald
| | 06/19/2010 7:44 AM |
Alert | | Great info, thanks guys! I may end up studying for the General, just because it gives my brain something to do and I rarely have an opportunity to use it....my brain that is. | | | |
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Mike Rupp
Member Sponsor
| | 06/19/2010 10:38 AM |
Alert | | Craig, it really isn't any more typical to only do hf at camp. Plenty of guys do mobile hf. The only issue is that it is really hard to do mobile hf and not have it end up being completely hamsexy. The most effective mobile antennae are the screwdriver type and look hideous. | |
WZ7V
Study for amateur radio exams here
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
| | 06/19/2010 11:13 AM |
Alert | LOL - Yes, it is one of the reasons I didn't bother going for the higher license level. I promised my wife I wouldn't put one of those antennas on my truck.
Admittedly, I don't know a whole lot about HF. What sort of range do the mobile HF setups get?
I went to a HAM field day and those guys were talking to people half way around the world. I always thought that would be pretty cool if say I was on a remote area of Alaska and needed to coordinate help. That said, if I take a trip to a remote corner of Alaska, I'll just rent a sat phone for the time I'm on the road.
Craig
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My Overland Adventure Blog | |
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Mike Rupp
Member Sponsor
| | 06/19/2010 11:43 AM |
Alert | | Craig, with 100 watts, it is common to talk to others on different continents. The problem is that range isn't guaranteed at all. Sat phones are much more reliable, but even those aren't completely reliable from what little I've read. | |
WZ7V
Study for amateur radio exams here
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
| | 06/19/2010 12:05 PM |
Alert | That's my understanding of both as well. The benefit of the sat phone is that my wife can answer... she's not likely to get her HAM license anytime soon. :)
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My Overland Adventure Blog | |
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Don Childers
Member Sponsor
| | 08/30/2010 9:59 PM |
Alert | Just signed up for a free 2 day HAM class and the $14 exam through work on 9/17-9/18. I've been wantng to do it for some time. I work for Providence Health in Portland and they need HAM operator volunteers for emergencies and natural disasters so they are providing the free training (although volunteering isn't necessary). I'm looking forward to it. | | | |
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Don Childers
Member Sponsor
| | 09/19/2010 10:45 AM |
Alert | Well it's done. The class was fairly intense but was taught by 3 Amateur Extra HAM guys from Seaside, OR. Very knowledgeable guys. 4 hours on Friday and 7 hours on Saturday then we took the test right after. In a class of 20 only one person didn't pass. I don't think I would have done it before I found NWOS. Reading about it got me stoked. So I should have my callsign soon. I just have to get a radio, learn to use it, learn the lingo, etc... | | | |
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