You are correct! Dedicate yourself and set your goals for getting your license. For me, at 69 years old, I took the Technician exam in November, General the following February and Extra in April, total span of 5 months. I read the ARRL study guides, watched RU-vid videos and took lots of practice tests online. I joined the local club and am getting more involved and learning more all the time. Just set your mind to it and you will be successful.
First CONGRATULATIONS on that accomplishment!!! You are exactly right! Set goals, meet those goal and dedicate yourself and you are unstoppable at ANY age! Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!!
This was my technique to passing the Technician Class. It may not work for everyone but I hope it works for you! - I made a reference guide on a sheet of paper (front and back) of formulas, terms, rules, etc that I didn’t understand or would forget easily between study sessions. - I spent the hour leading up to the exam copying that sheet over and over and over again. - When they said “begin” I grabbed a blank sheet of scratch paper and brain dumped everything I could remember. Only after finishing would I start the exam. Don’t spend more than 5 minutes on this part. If it ain’t there, it ain’t there… - If I got stuck, I would write down the number so I could come back later and review. - When taking the exam, I would try to read the answers first, then read the question. The answer would pop out almost immediately. - Your first gut instinct answer is usually the right one. Not always but more often than not. - Good luck! Remember “Chance favors the prepared mind!”
What im doing right now is just taking practice exams over and over again. imo you kind of know when you are ready. but yes like you said the first instinctual answer is likely the right one the amount of times on the practice exam that I second guest myself and got it wrong is a lot.
Hi Bill ! I did something similar. I memorized and repeatedly copied the P.I.E. chart an other useful formulas just in case IU had a brain fart during the exam. It really helped with passing the test. What you suggest I forgot to mention, BUT, I do have those references on my website as well to aid others in their exams. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!!
@Project Purple keep up the good work! Keep the material fresh on your mind and you will ace those exams! Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!!
Thank you for such an amazing dedication to all of your tutorials. Prince Arthur from the diplomatic residence for the House of Homestead, a conservative established Micronation.
I watched 6 of your videos today and grateful for all your information which will guide me get back into Ham radio. Your last talking point in this video has been on my mind and you expressed my concerns quite well. Another video on HT radios will come in very handy when I shop this weekend. You motivated me to search out local clubs and found two that I emailed for more information. Just a note of thanks for your time and expertise. Producing videos is time consuming (I'm in the biz...) and can appreciate the quality of your work. Well done! Looking forward to checking out more of your work down the road.
Hey Gene!! Thank you very much for those kind words. Being a one man show isn't easy even for RU-vid...LOL But I will keep the content coming. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!
Its amazing when you find someone that you share more than one hobby with. Cigars, hunting and ham. Sign me in lol. Cheers from Sweden (soon with a call sign)
Congrats on the 1 mile. We have a 600yd at my club. I'd love to try a mile and hog hunt. Testing, we do a ham in a day class for Tech and General using the question/correct answer model. 99.9% success rate.
That is awesome! I think having classes available for first timers is an excellent service to offer newbies. Good on you for having it! As for the mile shot, it has its challenges, but it is doable. Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!!
Oh my, where have you been? I mean, I just found you on RU-vid. Someone who has good straight talk, no fluff. Glad I just saved this site. Great video. KD8APT
Hi James! Glad to have you on the channel! I hope you find the videos informative and the website resources useful! Hit me up if you have any questions! Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!!
sad part of being on the radio. i was helping out on a bike ride, was trying to get into a club (that was doing the air support), i accidentally said 10-4. one of the older hams jump the () all over me. what a way to make one feel unwelcome. that had to have been the first time in over 10 years i had said that. but for some i have worked around it is common language. even for the lady's in the office who never have touched a cb. so some older hams need to cool off a bit. when a "new guy" makes a mistake.
Unfortunately we have idiots like that who will chastise others and cause a situation like that. There are better ways to "correct" something without making it dumb. I am sorry you had that experience. The majority of hams are NOT like that. Thanks for watching and for the comment., 73!
Not sure why you only have 11 thousand subscribers, you should have 10 times that! I think the way you present on this topic, HAM radio, is fantastic. I just passed my Tech this weekend, and will go for my General a month from now. Thanks for the great content!
Wow, thank you! I really appreciate that! I hope I get to the point where I have 10 times the subs down the road. Congratulations on passing your Tech!!! Enjoy the videos and check out the website. Thanks for watching and for the comment. 73!
Glad to see you back!!! To all those trying to get licensed I will tell you how I made a 100% on my Tech and General Test... I got the books by Gordon West and went through all the questions and circled the correct answer and then I would read over the questions for 1 hour per night and then take 3 to 5 practice test...I was ready for the Tech in 3 weeks and I stepped it up on General and was ready in a little less than 3 weeks...I lazed around on the General and let time slip up on me in the sense that my club only test every other month so I had to kick it in a little harder on the General...But like Scott said, if your making an 80% on the practice test you are more than ready...Unless i got lucky and got 2 easy versions of the test it was much easier than the practice test..
I think you nailed it. Once you figure out how you learn the best, it is all downhill from there an your success is almost guaranteed with some effort. Thank you so much for sharing your story and experience! Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!!
I really enjoy your videos. Easy to understand and and alot of great knowledge in each and every one for us newbies. I started out with the ARRL book and was not getting anywhere and was frustrated. I have since moved on to Jim West book and the Ham Study app and now making progress.
Great to hear! I hope that whatever method you use to study for the exams that you are able to easily pass them and join us on the air! I appreciate having you as a viewer and hope I can bring you more value with each video I put out! Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!!
Great video. If you want to open an online cigar shop you should consider coming to Tampa ( the cigar city ) and take some background photos to put on your site. This is a beautiful historic city.
not quite in the mile club yet. it must be a repeatable shot deal. not just a "lucky" one off shot. but for me using a quality scope on a precision rife I would call it a win if I got within 100 yards of the target.
It took four shots to hit it and a lot of math and breathing control. I was amazed that I could actually see the target through my scope that far out. It was just taking my time, knowing the MOA and not hitting one of the cows on the ranch while trying to make that shot. LOL Thanks for watching and for the comment., 73!
Great video, when I upgraded I got the arrl book and went right to the back, highlighted all the right answers, then read the question and right answer, worked for me.
I’m just starting out and want to get my Ham licenses. I just watched one of your videos and noticed it was 2 years old. My question is, are the tests changed or updated ? I have a very hard time with tests and study habits, and don’t want to study for a test if the information is out of date or irrelevant.
They do in fact change the test from time to time. I think the test prep for today has been updated. When you search for the books, if you are going that route, make sure they are for the current license pool. I think in the new Technician test they may have changed 3-5 questions, but you should be ok. Just keep taking those online practice exams until you consistently get 75% - 80%+ and you will do fine on the actual exams! I hope this helps. Thanks for watching and for the comment! 73!!
Good video but check your settings. The close ups on your face looked overly contrasty or over processed. Your shirt had no details and the grey in your beard (don't feel bad, mine is all grey if I go without shaving) and the white flecks on your mike were almost glowing. Keep up the good work. De W4JZZ
Yeah...I noticed that. I was messing with my camera settings and the video was a bit hot. I think I got it under control now! Thanks for the comment and for watching. 73!!