Tech Exam

[HHD1]

I just passed my exam.  I took it remotely with VE from Ham Radio Crash Course.  

I don't mean to boast.  I'm just really happy that I accomplished a goal, and wanted to share it.

Thank you @SteveShannon for your support.

[SteveShannon]

19 minutes ago, HHD1 said:

I just passed my exam.  I took it remotely with VE from Ham Radio Crash Course.  

I don't mean to boast.  I'm just really happy that I accomplished a goal, and wanted to share it.

Thank you @SteveShannon for your support.

That’s excellent!!!  Good job putting in the effort. You have every reason to be happy. 

[WRUU653]

10 hours ago, HHD1 said:

I just passed my exam.  I took it remotely with VE from Ham Radio Crash Course.  

I don't mean to boast.  I'm just really happy that I accomplished a goal, and wanted to share it.

Thank you @SteveShannon for your support.

I enjoy hearing people share when they get their license, it reminds me of how I felt when I passed. That was a good morning. It’s definitely a well deserved feeling of accomplishment and @SteveShannon is genuinely a good guy and very helpful. Congratulations and 73’s.

[Northcutt114]

73's!

Got mine about a month or so ago. Currently putting together a POTA QRP rig and couldn't be happier.

 

[Davichko5650]

13 hours ago, HHD1 said:

I just passed my exam.  I took it remotely with VE from Ham Radio Crash Course.  

I don't mean to boast.  I'm just really happy that I accomplished a goal, and wanted to share it.

Thank you @SteveShannon for your support.

Excellent news. Now get off the Forum here and get on the air!!!!

Seriously though, enjoy going down the Rabbit Hole that is Amateur Radio.  I've been in the hobby/service for 33 years now and I'm still both enjoying it and learning new things about it every day!.

73 from NØTXW/WRJG283

[HHD1]

Got my call sign this morning.  Crazy, on a Saturday?  Took the test at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.  Payed the fee early after noon on Friday.  License granted early Saturday morning.

And I made my first contacts today with two friends of mine.

Then one of those friends paid me a visit with some gifts. A Yaesu FT-2800M, a SamlexPower power supply, a brand new 2m J-pole in the box from KB9VBR Antennas, and enough coax to connect it all.  Dude almost made me cry in front of his son. 

Please give my friend a look on his YouTube page.  It's the least I can do for such wonderful gifts.

https://www.youtube.com/@RadioGeek

 

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, HHD1 said:

Got my call sign this morning.  Crazy, on a Saturday?  Took the test at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.  Payed the fee early after noon on Friday.  License granted early Saturday morning.

And I made my first contacts today with two friends of mine.

Then one of those friends paid me a visit with some gifts. A Yaesu FT-2800M, a SamlexPower power supply, a brand new 2m J-pole in the box from KB9VBR Antennas, and enough coax to connect it all.  Dude almost made me cry in front of his son. 

Please give my friend a look on his YouTube page.  It's the least I can do for such wonderful gifts.

https://www.youtube.com/@RadioGeek

 

That’s a great friend!!!

A friend of mine dropped off a Christmas present to me today, a little Meshtastic node.  

[TNFrank]

Congrats, now you can use all those HAM Repeaters which will open up a whole new world of frequencies for you.

[Lscott]

On 12/13/2025 at 10:11 PM, HHD1 said:

Got my call sign this morning.  Crazy, on a Saturday?  Took the test at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.  Payed the fee early after noon on Friday.  License granted early Saturday morning.

And I made my first contacts today with two friends of mine.

Then one of those friends paid me a visit with some gifts. A Yaesu FT-2800M, a SamlexPower power supply, a brand new 2m J-pole in the box from KB9VBR Antennas, and enough coax to connect it all.  Dude almost made me cry in front of his son. 

Please give my friend a look on his YouTube page.  It's the least I can do for such wonderful gifts.

https://www.youtube.com/@RadioGeek

 

That was some very generous gift! Wished I had friends like that. 

Congrats on your getting your license. Now the fun part starts, spending money on all sorts of radio equipment. And you thought GMRS sucked up a lot of money, ha-ha. 

[Northcutt114]

On 12/13/2025 at 10:11 PM, HHD1 said:

Then one of those friends paid me a visit with some gifts. A Yaesu FT-2800M, a SamlexPower power supply, a brand new 2m J-pole in the box from KB9VBR Antennas, and enough coax to connect it all.  Dude almost made me cry in front of his son. 

Man...I need some of those.

Friends, that is. 

[Lscott]

On 12/11/2025 at 10:41 PM, HHD1 said:

I just passed my exam.  I took it remotely with VE from Ham Radio Crash Course.  

I don't mean to boast.  I'm just really happy that I accomplished a goal, and wanted to share it.

Thank you @SteveShannon for your support.

One practical note. You should keep a copy of your license in your wallet and or your vehicle. Some states are really picky about having a "scanner" in a vehicle, some cops aren't the sharpest tool in the shed, and may assume your radio is a "scanner" particularly if it's scanning when they walk up to your window. As far as I know most, if not all states, have a specific exception for Ham's, not for GMRS users to my knowledge, which allows scanners in a vehicle. It helps to have a copy of your license and a print out of the exact section in your state's motor vehicle code. It might save you some grief when a dumb cop wants to confiscate your radio, or worse.

[WRYZ926]

Missouri passed a hands free driving law that went into effect January 1 2025. It specifically exempts amateur radio and CB operators. It does not mention GMRS. But most local, county and state officers won't bother someone with a valid GMRS license. Most can't tell the difference between an amateur, CB, or GMRS radio.

I do carry a copy of both my licenses in my wallet just incase I run into an officer that doesn't understand or wants to give me a hard time.