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Getting your extra class license is easy. There is every reason to do it and no reason not to. You can do it. Read the ARRL license manuals, then work through the question pools. Odds are you will know the answers to most of the questions. Memorize the rest (flash cards worked for me). Do it now.
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Apr 19, 2010 14:38
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I didn't realize how many of you weren't Extras. Makes me feel that much more awesome to go from non-ham to an Extra.  However, you guys are still considerably cooler because you have radios. Echolink...  Edit: After seeing the post below, I thought I'd share my callsign: KC9RZT xergm fucked around with this message at 00:08 on Apr 20, 2010 |
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Apr 19, 2010 18:18
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Just made Tech! Here's my sign, add me to the list: KJ4UHM No radio yet however, saving for one now.
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Apr 19, 2010 23:32
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VE6XOR checking in. Just got my Basic+. Now I need a radio. And get my Advanced so I can tinker more.
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Apr 20, 2010 00:19
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VE6NDX checking in too, I just got my Basic+ with DocCynical. I too need a radio and my Advanced license as well; I'll probably go with the flow and order an FT-60R off eBay, unless anyone has any other advice or recommendations for Canadian hams.
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Apr 20, 2010 01:05
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xergm posted:I didn't realize how many of you weren't Extras. Makes me feel that much more awesome to go from non-ham to an Extra.
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Apr 20, 2010 01:14
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Just got home from taking my exam. Got 100% on both Technician and General elements. You might as well add me to the OP. The VEs said I should be able to see my callsign on the database in about a week, and should receive my license in the mail in about 2. I'll post my callsign when I get it. Now to start studying for the Extra!
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Apr 20, 2010 04:06
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Xenpo posted:Just made Tech! DocCynical posted:Just got my Basic+. Now I need a radio. bokchoi posted:VE6NDX checking in too, I just got my Basic+ with DocCynical. AstroZamboni posted:Just got home from taking my exam. Got 100% on both Technician and General elements. :smug
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Apr 20, 2010 08:52
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Here's the finished LEGO morse key. I can't post a video of it in action because I don't have a video camera. Also, I didn't fully connect the wires because I'm going to redo the whole drat thing in industrial looking dark gray parts ordered from BrickLink.  Click here for the full 898x485 image.  Click here for the full 821x715 image.  Click here for the full 999x742 image.  Click here for the full 816x731 image.
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Apr 20, 2010 19:54
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That is just plain awesome and creative. Reiminds me of this link: http://timelesson.blogspot.com/2010/02/second-life-of-dead-mfm-hard-drives.html Some guy made an iambic paddle out of old hard drive armatures and spare parts laying around.
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Apr 20, 2010 20:05
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Jose Pointero fucked around with this message at 03:58 on Aug 28, 2019 |
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Apr 20, 2010 22:38
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I did a massive revision of the LEGO morse key and I'll post pics tomorrow. It is now much more compact and uses far less parts.
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Apr 21, 2010 05:30
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Jose Pointero posted:4 HIT COMBO When can we start the hazing??
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Apr 21, 2010 06:10
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There's actually been a lot of people who have checked in since last Oct. that aren't in the OP either.
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Just placed a Bricklink order of parts for the industrial-gray FINAL version of my Homebrew Morse key. Can I get a what what?
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Apr 21, 2010 06:52
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AstroZamboni posted:Just placed a Bricklink order of parts for the industrial-gray FINAL version of my Homebrew Morse key. Can I get a what what? What what! I just ordered a VX-7R last night. Coming from Hong Kong, so it might take a while to show up, but JESUS CHRIST I AM EXCITED. Next purchase, probably going to happen today or tomorrow: programming cable for the VX-7R because gently caress putting repeaters and simplex frequencies into the radio by hand. I'm also confirmed to be going to Dayton. Who's going? Let's get a role call. GOONS CONFIRMED TO BE GOING TO DAYTON: Phuzion - KD8LCV
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Apr 21, 2010 15:27
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Phuzion posted:I'm also confirmed to be going to Dayton. Who's going? Let's get a role call. I'm debating whether I want to adjust my moving schedule and drop in. If I end up shipping my stuff and just driving myself and the cat to MO, my route will take me straight through Dayton.
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Apr 21, 2010 16:42
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BigHustle posted:I'm debating whether I want to adjust my moving schedule and drop in. If I end up shipping my stuff and just driving myself and the cat to MO, my route will take me straight through Dayton. Showing up at dayton with a moving van would not get you the 'strangest method of transportation to a ham radio convention' award. You should go for it.
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Apr 21, 2010 16:49
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AtomicMonsters posted:Showing up at dayton with a moving van would not get you the 'strangest method of transportation to a ham radio convention' award. You should go for it. Actually, I'm shipping my crap from here to there. It'll just be me, the cat, and a few odds and ends in the Focus.
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Apr 21, 2010 17:54
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I was just listening to K7AGE's recent video featuring a 20m QSO party and happened to look up it this guy... I think the picture speaks for itself.
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Apr 22, 2010 02:01
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on that note ... something I saw on qrz the other day
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Apr 22, 2010 02:14
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^^^^^^ That guy looks he's about to kick the poo poo out of the ionosphere and slap that bitch until his waves propagate all the way around the world!
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Apr 22, 2010 02:31
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I almost want that guy as my avatar. He looks like he means BUSINESS. EDIT: It's even bigger on his QRZ page, and even BIGGER with a direct link. He's straight up ANGRY about AMATEUR loving RADIO. The Muffinlord fucked around with this message at 02:41 on Apr 22, 2010 |
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Apr 22, 2010 02:34
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Jose Pointero fucked around with this message at 03:58 on Aug 28, 2019 |
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Apr 22, 2010 03:40
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That guy is going to unleash the fury on your lovely dipole and secondhand rig running barefoot
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Apr 22, 2010 21:54
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xergm posted:I also used these study guides, which are more or less glorified question pools with the wrong answers taken out, but some provide equations and things. The ARRL website was updated massively last week and these seem to have disappeared. This sucks, because I was going to start studying for extra...
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Apr 22, 2010 23:38
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That sucks! The only think I really used the study guides for were to find formulas. I mostly used the practice tests from QRZ. That's probably your best route is to just hammer the QRZ tests and look up equations when those questions pop up.
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Apr 23, 2010 00:08
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AstroZamboni posted:The ARRL website was updated massively last week and these seem to have disappeared. This sucks, because I was going to start studying for extra... I have them on my laptop. BigHustle fucked around with this message at 05:57 on Apr 23, 2010 |
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Apr 23, 2010 03:09
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AstroZamboni posted:The ARRL website was updated massively last week and these seem to have disappeared. This sucks, because I was going to start studying for extra... http://www.arrl.org/question-pools -links to NCVEC Of course the zip file should work too
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Apr 23, 2010 03:47
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That post I put up earlier with links to study guides still works. Only one of those was hosted on the ARRL site and I fixed the link. Here's the links again for anyone who needs them. Technician Study Guide General Study Guide Extra Study Guide xergm fucked around with this message at 05:14 on Apr 23, 2010 |
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Apr 23, 2010 05:11
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Alright i've had enough, time to get my Basic... I am in Canada, Should be VE6***. I had an interest in HAM about 15 years ago but didn't get my license then, reading this whole thread definitely has renewed my interest again. Ill start with a handheld that can go everywhere with me.. see where it goes from there. Found the local club website and all the testing info. Can I use the same materials as the US for the Canadian test? EDIT: Found some good study materials.... http://www.emergencyradio.ca/course/ SiB fucked around with this message at 06:25 on Apr 23, 2010 |
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Apr 23, 2010 06:13
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Wow! It only took 4 days for my callsign to appear in the ULS database! KF7JKA
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Apr 23, 2010 20:32
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Why not... build your own private cell phone network?quote:The task of running a cellular network has usually been reserved for major carriers. But now an open-source project called OpenBTS is proving that almost anyone can cheaply run a network with parts from a home-supply or auto-supply store. Cell-phone users within such a network can place calls to each other and--if the network is connected to the Internet--to people anywhere in the world.
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Apr 24, 2010 01:44
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SiB posted:Alright i've had enough, time to get my Basic... I am in Canada, Should be VE6***. http://www.rac.ca/en/amateur-radio/beginner-info/exhaminer/ Get this and the question pack. Start going through it. This is the actual exam bank. IC has a tester but it loving sucks balls. I think they use it to generate the tests though. It's the same question bank regardless. I took a Basic course at NARC in Edmonton. For 50 bucks, we got the study guide, a year membership at NARC, and the test included. It was a pretty good deal. Also, you can pick a VA6***.
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Apr 24, 2010 02:06
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DocCynical posted:http://www.rac.ca/en/amateur-radio/beginner-info/exhaminer/ Get this and the question pack. Start going through it. This is the actual exam bank. IC has a tester but it loving sucks balls. I think they use it to generate the tests though. It's the same question bank regardless. Excellent thanks! Have the tester running with the basic.
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Apr 24, 2010 03:26
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xergm posted:I want from non-ham to Extra on my first try. I did this too, a year or two ago, thanks to this thread and some EE courses in school. Since then I have done jack, rear end, and poo poo. I need help getting interested again... The local repeater nets are a bit boring when there aren't any tornadoes, and I haven't learned any code beyond my own call. Any suggestions for stoking the fires? I have a VHF/UHF HT (FT-60R has the right arrangement of knobs) with homemade J-pole, and all sorts of ambition but no practical expectation of building some QRP equipment. Maybe I should just gently caress off with that idea and buy a cheap but decent HF rig. CW appeals to me the most. I'm not going to be able to manage much beyond a stealth or attic type of antenna though, suburbia ahoy. Is the Yaesu 817 really that good? I loving hate menus and I am a big fan of purpose-specific knobs (hence the FT60-R with separate knobs for freq, volume, and squelch). I'm interested in the USRP and GNU Radio, but don't see having the time for programming on that in the foreseeable future.
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Apr 24, 2010 07:19
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slap me silly posted:I did this too, a year or two ago, thanks to this thread and some EE courses in school. Since then I have done jack, rear end, and poo poo. I need help getting interested again... The local repeater nets are a bit boring when there aren't any tornadoes, and I haven't learned any code beyond my own call. Any suggestions for stoking the fires? I have a VHF/UHF HT (FT-60R has the right arrangement of knobs) with homemade J-pole, and all sorts of ambition but no practical expectation of building some QRP equipment. Maybe I should just gently caress off with that idea and buy a cheap but decent HF rig. CW appeals to me the most. I'm not going to be able to manage much beyond a stealth or attic type of antenna though, suburbia ahoy. You might want to pick up an older radio if you aren't a menu kinda person. I've got an old Yaesu FT-101 rig that has knobs for everything. It doesn't have DSP or any of the fancy stuff the newer rigs do, but it works and there's nothing to remember how to get to in a cascade of menu screens.
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Apr 24, 2010 13:21
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BigHustle posted:You might want to pick up an older radio if you aren't a menu kinda person. I've got an old Yaesu FT-101 rig that has knobs for everything. It doesn't have DSP or any of the fancy stuff the newer rigs do, but it works and there's nothing to remember how to get to in a cascade of menu screens. It also gives greybeards massive hard-ons. 
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Apr 24, 2010 16:12
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Thanks for the suggestion. Holy poo poo: http://www.qsl.net/nw2m/ (sorry, guess the FT-101 insanity page has probably been posted already somewhere in this thread) My beard started going grey a couple years back. My oldest Windows installation is XP right now but I'll try to do better. slap me silly posted:The local repeater nets are a bit boring when there aren't any tornadoes
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Apr 24, 2010 17:23
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TC the Giant posted:It also gives greybeards massive hard-ons. This too. You should also be prepared for 'I had one of these back in the day' and 'That rig came out when being a ham MEANT SOMETHING' kinds of comments. When I took my FT-101 to the local club, a lot of the OFs came over to reminisce, but only one made a jab about me being a 'no-code'.
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Apr 24, 2010 17:42
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Sorry for the double post... Slap beat me to the reply.slap me silly posted:Thanks for the suggestion. Holy poo poo: http://www.qsl.net/nw2m/ (sorry, guess the FT-101 insanity page has probably been posted already somewhere in this thread) If you want REAL insanity, check out Fox Tango. Anything you want to know about any Yaesu rig, new or old, is there. Their 101 page is especially poorly laid out. Be warned... If you get an old Yaesu and sign up for their Yahoo Groups, opt for digest mode or online only unless you want an inbox full of emails.
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Apr 24, 2010 17:51
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