Getting Started
So you want to get your license and don't know where to start? Perhaps you want to upgrade to a higher license. Well, let's get started...
The Basics
There are three amateur license classes: Technician, General and Extra. The Technician license gives you permission to transmit on certain frequencies. The General allows access to even more frequencies and the Extra allows you access to all amateur frequencies. All licenses are good for 10 years before you need to renew and none of them require you know Morse Code.
Getting Your Technician License
The best place to start is www.hamclass.org. Brian [KCØBS] & Matt [KC4WCG] have a great class they offer every month or two. The nice thing they do is move the class around to different locations throughout the KC area. At some point during the year, there probability will be a class in your vicinity. They have PowerPoint presentations and PDF files you can download for studying in advance. With their class, you take the test during the last session. I went through their class and was able to ace the test. I highly recommend going this route.
Perhaps you want to go through a different group or go it alone. That's okay. You can purchase testing materials online from ARRL here, sign-up for an ARRL online course here, or even check them out from your local library. You can do a ARRL Affiliated Club Search to find a different local Amateur Radio Club (ARC) that provides help for newcomers and perhaps even entry-level classes. Another good source for information is Ham Radio for Dummies.
Here are some other sites where you can download Technician Class training materials:
HamTestOnline.com
MicroHAMS
Triangle East Amateur Radio Association - TEARA
Ham Radio Podclass - Podcasts
HamElmer
Alphalpha Repeater Group - Technician Class PowerPoint / PDF Technician Study guide
W9PE
Study Guides by N8KBR
AHØA.ORG - Amateur Radio Education Web Site
Amateur Radio Class Index - Things to know for the Technician Class Exam
de K7EVE - Two different Technician Drills
You've been studying hard, now it's time to try some practice tests:
QRZ.com
73Hams.net
KB0MGA.net Practice Exams
AA9PW FCC Amateur Radio Practice Pages
When you're ready to take the actual test, you can either go through the club that's been helping you, or there are three places that regularly conduct
testing only:
The Independence FM Amatuer Radio Club sponsors testing on the second Saturday on each month.
The Raytown Amateur Radio Club conducts testing the third Tuesday of every month.
The Johnson County Radio Amateurs Club conducts testing on the third Saturday of every month. You can find more information here.
Most Hamfests offer testing for all license classes.
Upgrade Your License
I've been able to find a few sites with study materials for either the General or Extra class. When you're ready, you can then use one of the above testing routes:
www.hamclass.org - Brian [KCØBS] & Matt [KC4WCG] have put together a nice sudy guide for the General class upgrade
HamTestOnline.com - Study online for either the General or Extra
Ham Radio Podclass - General Class Podcasts (Podcast for the Extra class will be produced soon)
HamElmer - General Test Information
Study Guides by N8KBR - General & Extra
HamElmer - Extra Class test math study guide
Jack Swinden - Extra Class Study Materials
Did I thoroughly confuse you, just email me and I'll help you or direct you to someone who can.
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