Ham Radio

[streetglideok]

To find a place to take a test, go to the arrl site, http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-...e-exam-session
enter your zipcode, and it will tell you when there will be tests. Sometimes they are at schools, sometimes churches(think LDS as they are big into emcomm), etc. I upgraded last saturday at the LDS in monument. $15 and an hour of my time, and I was done.

[two shoes]

My background is in electronics/calibration, avionics and micro-miniature repair, specifically. I have been pondering the tech license for a number of reasons. I do not know if my limited budget could allow me another hobby...

I did find an online practice exam and passed it 3 out of 4 times with just a vague memory of what I did 18 years ago... Here is the practice exam for tech: hamtest

ETA: I don't really care so much about "talking" over the air as I am more wanting to get back into electronics portion. I held a 2M Blue card (Soldering to NASA Standards beneath a microscope) while on the .gov payroll. That and $5 will get me a Grande Frappaccino at Starbucks...

[ChadAmberg]

My background is in electronics/calibration, avionics and micro-miniature repair, specifically. I have been pondering the tech license for a number of reasons. I do not know if my limited budget could allow me another hobby...

Ham radio has definitely gotten cheaper with the chinese handhelds breaking into the market place in the past year.

You can be up and running for 60 bucks: 15 for the test and 45 for one of these https://www.hamcity.com/store/pc/UV-...MO-10p2789.htm.

[two shoes]

Ham radio has definitely gotten cheaper with the chinese handhelds breaking into the market place in the past year.

You can be up and running for 60 bucks: 15 for the test and 45 for one of these https://www.hamcity.com/store/pc/UV-...MO-10p2789.htm.

Thanks Chad! WOW have prices come down... I'll go ahead and knock out the test here shortly.

[ChadAmberg]

Thanks Chad! WOW have prices come down... I'll go ahead and knock out the test here shortly.

Oh yeah... the Japanese handhelds (Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood) are still a couple hundred bucks for handhelds, but the chinese ones are really getting good reviews. Apparently you want to spring for the programming cable so you can set up everything on your computer, but once it's running, you'll be in good shape.