The answer on how to get your licence depends on which country or locality you live.
If you are comfortable sharing that, we can likely get you a starting point.
HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.org 2 months ago
As a non-amateur who every few months thinks “I should consider getting a license”, I’ve been hoping for an obvious bootstrap point.
The library has some old “here’s every exam question” style cram books, but I’m actually looking for a course for understanding, so I don’t pass the exam and proceed to have no idea what to do or how to behave. That went so well eith the driver’s license exam. :)
vk6flab@lemmy.radio 2 months ago
ndz@noauthority.social 2 months ago
@HakFoo @vk6flab The real learning begins (and continues indefinitely) AFTER you get your license. Learn to follow the rules and not hurt anyone
Go through HamStudy.org and start taking practice tests. (I also picked up Gordon Wests books and did a once-through).
One tip is to grab the tech and general at the same sitting.
Got an cheap HT (handheld dual band)? Get on RepeaterBook, program repeaters in, and start listening to local nets. Test in person if you can but online is also avail
667@lemmy.radio 2 months ago
Here’s your bootstrap. Assuming you’re in the US, HamStudy.org. Spaced repetition studying for the exam, no Morse code requirement anymore.
FCC exams can now be administered remotely via computer. I’ve taken all three of my exams remotely; my first while sitting on a beach!
HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.org 2 weeks ago
It’s a bit late, but here’s my upvote. Ground the site for a few weeks, and took my Technician and General exams today, holed up in my bathroom.
BenDoubleU@lemmy.radio 2 weeks ago
Nice! I did the exact same thing. Remote exam in my bathroom. Congrats on the tech and general. If you plan on the extra, do it before you forget anything from the general because there’s a lot of carry over from the test.
jecxjo@midwest.social 2 months ago
I studied all the legal questions for all three license levels through brute force using that site. Went through the questions so many times that I could tell you the answer within the first few words.
Now is that a good thing? Meh, i think most of the learning occurs once you’re on the air. Then again, i do have a EE degree so the radio science part i already knew.
667@lemmy.radio 2 months ago
I agree. The FCC exam is a framework for learning. All my follow-on learning, including antenna building and using an NVNA have come from doing it.
jecxjo@midwest.social 2 months ago
That was the big thing I brought up when giving exams. You just need to pass and then you can start learning.
Bebef@mastodon.social 2 months ago
@jecxjo @667 Exactly the same thing here.
I must say however, that I NEVER EVER "learned" something and then was able to "just do it".
Even if learn everything by rote, you how have all the basic principals AND you can participate actively. THIS is when you start to learn! 😉
Everything else was just "on paper".
That said, I have my exam in about a month and I'm very excited. 😁
k0stk@mastodon.radio 2 months ago
@667 @HakFoo Unfortunately our club is fixated on scheduled instructor led classes (death by powerpoint for the most part) and in-person administration of electronic tests.
They deliberately conceal the fact that self-study and on-demand remote testing are options when people inquire about getting licensed.
edit: fixed wordwrap
667@lemmy.radio 2 months ago
That’s disappointing to hear. What would be the fallout within your club if you were to just go get licensed on your own? Does your jurisdiction permit licensure outside of clubs?
k0stk@mastodon.radio 2 months ago
@667 In the US licensure is independent of clubs.
There _is_ gatekeeping going on. It seems to stem from OMs who want to control how folks get into hobby.