[bars] [Emaclubs] Suggestions for a radio for new ham?

Thu Feb 6 16:04:43 EST 2020

I, like others, used HamTestOnline and can't recommend it enough. I got my
tech, general, and extra with HTO and went from tech to Extra in about 2
months using it. I liked that it quizzed me periodically and re-quized
me/showed me the parts that I was having trouble with, so it really drilled
in the info.

73,
Kayla
W2IRY

On Thu, Feb 6, 2020 at 3:58 PM KT1TK <QSO at kt1tk.com> wrote:

> I recently had the opportunity to use *HamTestOnline* (2017-Q4) and
> heartily recommend it.
>
>
>
> As a late life licensee, at 70, I wanted to accelerate the process so I
> took some freebie Tech/General courses -- getting what I paid for 😊
>
> They were a quick, crude intro to see if my synapses still sparked.  Seems
> they do.
>
>
>
> My avocational background (for the last 60 years ago) has been some
> physics, EE, space research, various degrees of others - but MATH is NOT my
> thing.
>
> Did a lot of computer design, art, engineering, photography, coding,
> writing, AI, etc.  All with no math beyond trig.
>
>
>
> I had used radios my whole life but only as a  passive (AM-SW) DX Listener.
>
> Been around AROs my whole life but never as an operational observer or
> shack buddy.
>
> My AR-specific knowledge for Tech, Gen, and Extra varied between 0 and 2
> (out of 10).
>
>
>
> So, I investigated online tutoring and HamTestOnline stood out in a field
> of few flowers.
>
> Being a late starter, I wanted maximum speed of knowledge acquisition.
>
>
>
> I studied and tested their Tech & Gen courses for 2 weeks until I
> maintained 9+5% scores.
>
> I then headed for Chelmsford Q4-2017.  I passed both with only moderate
> hair pulling.
>
> They suggested I try the Extra (which I neither knew nor studied for).
>
> As I expected, I failed, but to a lesser degree than I had forecasted.
>
>
>
> Went  back to HTO, signed up Extra, studied a week until I hit 95%, then
> to next earliest test (Lunenburg).
>
> To my utter delight, I missed only 3 questions on the Extra exam!
>
>
>
> So, from zero to Extra in a little over 3 weeks.  All with HTO as my sole
> education source.
>
>
>
> Mind you, as is *de riguer* for any course, I studied and self-tested
> 8-10 hours day.
>
> I self-tested maybe 20 times a day.  You see, the test process is the
> education process.
>
> You miss a question, it shows you a clip of supporting info and you try
> again.
>
> Around and around you go. It breaks the monotony by switching up the order
> and topics.
>
> I started literally with near zero knowledge. It took me the whole way.
>
>
>
> One anecdote that portrays what I liked about HTO is that it goes above
> and beyond what you might expect.  To wit: There was a question in the test
> pool whose accepted answer was wrong.  It was about the increase in gain to
> expect if you doubled a dish's diameter.  Well, that squares the area so 2x
> diameter becomes 4x area.  4x = 6db.  But the approved answer was an
> incorrect 3db. HTO taught me to enter the WRONG answer to pass that
> question. Sure enough, I got it, I entered to correct wrong answer and I
> passed it. I hear they've since corrected the pool question. HTO was one of
> those who petitioned for its correction.
>
>
>
> Overall, my modus operandi was nothing more than the online tutoring.
>
> I did NOT take side trips to research and study topics (as is my typically
> wont).
>
> I did not study books or articles.
>
> The online testing is, unto itself, the course on what you are being
> tested on.
>
> A beautiful example of positive recursion.
>
> You can visit them and use some of the courses for free to get a feel for
> it.
>
> http://HamTestOnline.com which takes you to
> http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com
>
>
>
> Don't judge its utilitarian UX (user interface).  The beauty is in the
> recursive testing/teaching.
>
>
>
> Give it a shot.  It's free to try. Nothing to lose.
>
> Ps. I found Tech harder than General since Tech has the basic tedious
> rules.
>
> Extra was a different kettle of fish. More questions at a much higher
> level of difficulty.
>
>
>
> TK Anthony
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bars <bars-bounces at w1hh.org> On Behalf Of sidj at day100.com
> Sent: Wednesday, February 5, 2020 8:20 PM
> To: Gary's Ice Cream <gary at garysicecream.com>; Andy Klock <
> andy at klockmail.com>; Tony Brock-Fisher <barockteer at aol.com>; bars at w1hh.org
> Subject: Re: [bars] Suggestions for a radio for new ham?
>
>
>
> Let me suggest that you use ham test online:
>
> https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/
>
>
>
> I used it several years ago, it seems to be an active web page today.
>
>
>
> The books put me to sleep, https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/ was a big
> help.
>
>
>
> After the Technician test, I used hamtestonline for the general and extra.
>
>
>
> Sid
>
> ab1nz
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On January 31, 2020 .2:57 PM Gary's Ice Cream <gary at garysicecream.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > We'd love to have you at our next VE test session on Feb 13th in
> Chelmsford.
>
> >
>
> > Gary F.
>
> > Gary's Ice Cream - Chelmsford Creamery, Inc.  Chelmsford, MA
>
> > garysicecream.com Ice Cream College - classes in Massachusetts and
>
> > Florida icecreamcollege.com
>
> >
>
> > -----Original Message-----
>
> > From: bars <bars-bounces at w1hh.org> On Behalf Of Andy Klock
>
> > Sent: Friday, January 31, 2020 12:50 PM
>
> > To: Tony Brock-Fisher <barockteer at aol.com>; bars at w1hh.org
>
> > Subject: Re: [bars] Suggestions for a radio for new ham?
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Thanks all for everyone's advice and encouragement.
>
> >
>
> > I ended up going for the General last weekend, but while things are
>
> > still fresh in my brain I'm thinking of taking the Extra on the 13th.
>
> > I've got a teenager who might come with me (and possibly a couple of
>
> > his buddies) as well if he is ready.
>
> >
>
> > I'm still not sure what my actual plans are but maybe that is a good
> thing.
>
> > I like to hike in the mountains and carrying an antena sounds like a
>
> > fun thing to do.  The thing that made me interested in the first place
>
> > was reading that story of a ham who found an old NASA satellite:
>
> >
>
> > http://www.arrl.org/news/view/canadian-radio-amateur-finds-resurrected
>
> > -nasa-
>
> > satellite
>
> >
>
> > That is just the sort of scientific inquiry that I find interesting.
>
> > But, since I'm a complete novice I'm sure I'll find some other interests
> too.
>
> >
>
> > My kids got out of school early today so we're going to head up to
>
> > Salem to check out that ham shop. Will keep you posted.
>
> >
>
> > Thanks again.
>
> >
>
> > Andy K
>
> > KC1MOW
>
> >
>
> > PS. I'll try and make it to the next meeting.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > _______________________________________________
>
> > bars mailing list
>
> > bars at w1hh.org
>
> > http://mail.w1hh.org/mailman/listinfo/bars_w1hh.org
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > _______________________________________________
>
> > bars mailing list
>
> > bars at w1hh.org
>
> > http://mail.w1hh.org/mailman/listinfo/bars_w1hh.org
>
>
>
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>
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>
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>
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