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Ok, I've got Zoom set up and I've taken the Practice Test a couple more times, Scored 32/35 and 34/35. I think I'm ready. Just need to set up a time to take the test remotely.

I went on HamStudy.org last night and took a few practice tests. I finally got one where I was 26/35 which I guess would be passing. The electronics part is easy for me(Electronic Tech Degree, DeVry)but some of the legal stuff and other "HAM" stuff was a toss up. I'm sure with a bit of study I could pass. Thanks for the link.

I have been restricted from racing by three doctors because of three different surgeries. I was hit by car when a 92 year old driver ran a stop sign and hit me while I was riding my bicycle 4 years ago. My last surgery was for by lower back last April. So, no racecar driving for me yet. I did put 10 gallons of fresh Sunoco Race Fuel in my car this morning and took it for a 25 mile drive up and down the freeway just to keep the car happy since it has been sitting for awhile and I mean awhile. The tires are hard as a rock but everything seemed to be ok. I am able to get in and out of the car ok without any soreness or pain and I am able to lift/raise a 15 foot metal roll-up door and open/close the ramp door on my trailer. However, I am not ready to lift my tires and wheels up and into my tire rack in my trailer yet and that is my goal. Maybe later this year. I do feel like I may be able to change the tires now since I graduated from Physical Therapy three weeks ago and the progress I'm making with the exercises that were given to me by the doctors. All I can do now is just be in charge and organize the events. I think I may be able to drive after the first of the year. The Doctors don't want me to go crazy yet, but they are very pleased with my recovery so far and have allowed me to take on more exercises with more weight resistance. They have been real impressed with my speedy recovery especially for an old person. "XP", you have to run against Andy and Teresa McKee.

Not unless you intend to make something mandatory. The single largest problem with regulations is that people don’t know how to read them. Words have very specific legal implications, no more and no less. Lawyers are trained in how to interpret those meanings. Most other people read something into them that doesn’t exist. I am a member of the NFPA Pyrotechnic Technical Committee. The amount of work and time it takes to add, subtract, or change a few lines of NFPA sample code is immense but the end goal is always that there be one and only one interpretation.

Take them out of the scan list. I do that one one guy decided he's going to blab all day on the repeater. On my radio it's just an on/off toggle on that channel slot.

Ahhh yeah, the I Understand All The Rules checkbox above the esignature with the link to Title 47 next to it. I almost forgot I read all that...anyways, how bout them Dodgers?

Or maybe they just dont want to talk to you.

So the Examiner will file FCC Form 605 for me(I guess I fill in the info before I take the test?) so all I'll need to do is log into my FCC Account and pay the $35 for the license. That's a bit different than getting the GMRS license was. Thanks.

You either certify the equipment or the users. The reason why nearly every service requires certified transmitters is so typical users don’t have to have expertise in all of the requirements. It’s a service for users, not people who have to prove some level of expertise.

My old microwave in my kitchen is 1200 watts, capable of a really nasty burn

You don't apply or pay for your amateur license until after you pass your test AND the examiner submits the paperwork in to the ARRL who then forwards everything to the FCC. Once the FCC gets your paperwork and approves everything, they will email you with a link to pay for your amateur license and also to download a copy of the actual license.

Here’s your chance. The FCC is asking for people to make suggestions for how to improve the regulations:

I've used the QRZ practice exams, HamStudy and ham exam.All three work.

Yes, all FM radios need to have a fully variable squelch, analog not digital. Or like the power settings are individually saved for each channel slot the squelch should be too instead of a broad squelch over the band.

I went through and read the questions(with the answers) this morning then took the practice test. 1st test I scored 33/35 and the 2nd time I got 35/35. I need to make sure I can get Zoom installed on my MX-Linux set-up so I can schedule a Remote Test for sometime in the near future. Then after I pass(thinking positive here, LOL) I can use my FRN to get my Tech HAM Lic. I just hope I don't become one of those "Sad HAMS" that Randy is always talking about.

I probably would have participated in the jabber jawing on the local repeater if they talked about smoking meat instead of soup.

I haven’t tried the QRZ tests. In fact I didn’t realize that they had them. HamStudy allows you to choose different ways to focus as well, plus it remembers which questions you need more help with and inserts them into the process more frequently. There’s another one called hamexam that does something similar I believe. It’s wonderful that we have so many different ways to learn the material.

I actually read it so I didn't perjure myself. By the time I was done doing the license I had 8 tabs open. Nice efficient govt website eh?

Well we have one guy who likes to drink and talk to himself and gets upset when no one wants to talk. I don't think he realizes that people have jobs.

Ham Study Org is pretty good.. I'm passing the General on it. I just need to schedule the test...

The flash cards each have references that can help you get as much background information you want. For me that was the fun part. I could go down a rabbit hole whenever I wanted. You’re going to do great.

Could be a lot of trees in the way and they're using a more powerful transmitter and antenna. Maybe your signal isn't strong enough to reach them. They might be using a Rx tone and can't hear you. Or they just don't want to talk to you like OffRoaderX said.

Fixed

The technical aspect of ham radio is like the cost, it goes from very little to...well no one really knows the limit.

I was going to mention that specifically but I mentioned it in an obscure sense when I gave my microwave example.

Just for the heck of it, and not knowing much at all, I just took the Technician's level test on the freeham website. Failed it. 45%, but that's with ZERO studying or prep. I'm sure that with some effort and prep, OP could do it. Go for it!

From personal experience it certainly makes programming channels MUCH easier.

Yes, you can with some VECs, such as ARRL. And just so you know it’s a multiple choice test. HamStudy.org (free) has practice tests that you can take as many times as you want. They come right out of the official question pool so it’s a great way to prepare. If there’s anything I can do to help you please feel free to send me a private message.

This is just my opinion and by no means intended to be legal advice, but I have to agree with Randy and others with the same type of response. It seems that unless someone is committing some wild infraction, they aren't getting FCC attention. There are way too few enforcement agents and way too many people with radios for anything else. I used to think it mattered, but time and inaction have unequivocally proven otherwise. I have an XTL5000 that has the ability to run wideband digital encryption on UHF at 115 watts. From a technology standpoint, it exceeds every single minimum requirement established for type approval. If I where to program it to transmit 20w of output, only able to access the upper channels for high power simplex and repeater operation, narrow-band analog voice only, adhere to all of the other configuration requirements (including not transmitting on non-GMRS frequencies) and the FCC enforcement team knew I did it... I highly doubt anyone is going to care. Shoot... unless I were to get on the internet and start bragging about it, there isn't even any way for anyone to know. Signal interception sure isn't going the tell anyone anything. The bottom line is, I would never advocate or condone intentionally violating the rules... but damn dude... the FCC has way more important things to worry about then if you are using an iCom, Kenwood, Motorola, Yaesu, Harris, Baeofeng, TIDRadio, or any other radio. Ensure you don't cause harmful interference by using a quality radio and not acting like a Richard Cranium and im pretty confident if you roll the dice, you won't go to prison or get a $14,000 fine.