back4more70 Posted May 13, 2023 Report Share Posted May 13, 2023 I have a GMRS license and I decided I wanted my amateur radio license as well. So I studied for the Technician test for the last few weeks off and on, and I took the test this morning. (Side note: I live in California, but currently visiting Wyoming, so I took my test in Wyoming. The VE's were happy to have me.) I passed the Technician test 100%. Then the VE's asked if I wanted to try the General test, which I was completely unprepared for. Turns out I am pretty good at guessing, I almost passed (I scored 25 out of the required 27 to pass). My favorite part was when the VE was grading my general exam, he was shocked that I actually got as many correct as I did. "Unbelievable" was his exact word. Just thought I would share. I guess my point is that for the folks that complain about the testing, it really isn't that hard. kidphc, Hoppyjr, WRXB215 and 5 others 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lscott Posted May 13, 2023 Report Share Posted May 13, 2023 17 minutes ago, back4more70 said: I have a GMRS license and I decided I wanted my amateur radio license as well. So I studied for the Technician test for the last few weeks off and on, and I took the test this morning. (Side note: I live in California, but currently visiting Wyoming, so I took my test in Wyoming. The VE's were happy to have me.) I passed the Technician test 100%. Then the VE's asked if I wanted to try the General test, which I was completely unprepared for. Turns out I am pretty good at guessing, I almost passed (I scored 25 out of the required 27 to pass). My favorite part was when the VE was grading my general exam, he was shocked that I actually got as many correct as I did. "Unbelievable" was his exact word. Just thought I would share. I guess my point is that for the folks that complain about the testing, it really isn't that hard. Bit more studying and you’ll get your General. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
back4more70 Posted May 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2023 1 hour ago, Lscott said: Bit more studying and you’ll get your General. Yep, I would like to go all the way to Amateur Extra! I actually enjoy the reading and studying part of it. Lscott, Sshannon and WRUU653 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAF6045 Posted May 14, 2023 Report Share Posted May 14, 2023 When the requirement for Morse was dropped, I spent two weeks with the General guide. Come Thursday night I ran through something like 10 example tests from a web-site -- passed all 10 tries. I then tried a few of the Extra example tests. Passed about 75% of them. Saturday, drove up the bay to the testing site (my memory says San Mateo, but may have just been Menlo Park). Took both the General and Extra -- not really expecting to pass the latter; I had two weeks to go over the guide until the next test session closer to home (Sunnyvale). Passed both! My impression is that the Technician license was the most difficult to pass -- keeping track of all those band edges, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRZS316 Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 A friend and I both had Tech plus, and when the 13wpm code requirement was dropped for general, we spent the night with a 12pack of beer and the general book. we both passed the next day. Lscott and Sshannon 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n2877 Posted Tuesday at 07:04 PM Report Share Posted Tuesday at 07:04 PM Take it all the way to extra. Just passed my extra exam. It feels good to completely finish something. AdmiralCochrane, Sshannon, WRXB215 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sshannon Posted Tuesday at 07:37 PM Report Share Posted Tuesday at 07:37 PM 33 minutes ago, n2877 said: Take it all the way to extra. Just passed my extra exam. It feels good to completely finish something. Congratulations! WRXB215 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davichko5650 Posted Tuesday at 10:18 PM Report Share Posted Tuesday at 10:18 PM On 5/13/2023 at 6:29 PM, back4more70 said: I have a GMRS license and I decided I wanted my amateur radio license as well. So I studied for the Technician test for the last few weeks off and on, and I took the test this morning. (Side note: I live in California, but currently visiting Wyoming, so I took my test in Wyoming. The VE's were happy to have me.) I passed the Technician test 100%. Then the VE's asked if I wanted to try the General test, which I was completely unprepared for. Turns out I am pretty good at guessing, I almost passed (I scored 25 out of the required 27 to pass). My favorite part was when the VE was grading my general exam, he was shocked that I actually got as many correct as I did. "Unbelievable" was his exact word. Just thought I would share. I guess my point is that for the folks that complain about the testing, it really isn't that hard. The tests really are not that hard if you've got some background in radio. A friend of mine did Tech and General in one sitting and his "Elmer" (mentor) said that was "precision studying" when he scored perfect on Tech and missed 2 for the General. However you work it to get that ticket, do it. But cue the SadHam caterwauling about a) 13 wpm code and b) traveling to some FCC office and c) how much easier the tests are now... Many elements of ham radio and GMRS are not mutually exclusive, and it's never a bad thing to have one more tool in that toolbox! Dave WRJG283/N0TXW WRXB215 and WRYZ926 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXB215 Posted Wednesday at 01:08 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 01:08 PM @Davichko5650 I don't know what "caterwauling" is, but I'm pretty sure I agree with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lscott Posted Wednesday at 05:54 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 05:54 PM 22 hours ago, n2877 said: Take it all the way to extra. Just passed my extra exam. It feels good to completely finish something. So when at a swap and the nice person asks you if you want to buy any of the General or Extra Class study guides you can say you don't need them any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRYZ926 Posted Wednesday at 07:29 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 07:29 PM A reminder that the Extra question pool changes either next month or July. Wait to buy any Extra study guides until they have been updated. I passed my General test in January and went ahead and took the Extra test. I got 50% on the Extra without even studying for it. I need to start studying again for the Extra. WRXB215 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sshannon Posted Wednesday at 07:47 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 07:47 PM 15 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said: A reminder that the Extra question pool changes either next month or July. Wait to buy any Extra study guides until they have been updated. I passed my General test in January and went ahead and took the Extra test. I got 50% on the Extra without even studying for it. I need to start studying again for the Extra. The new question pool is already available to download for free. But honestly if you learn and understand the concepts in the old test you should be able to pass the new test. The concepts haven’t changed. Davichko5650, Lscott and WRXB215 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRYZ926 Posted Wednesday at 08:24 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 08:24 PM You are correct that the concepts don't change. I am use to working with electronic components for industrial machine controls which work a little different that when in radios. That has tripped me up a little. Sshannon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davichko5650 Posted Thursday at 10:28 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 10:28 PM On 5/8/2024 at 8:08 AM, WRXB215 said: @Davichko5650 I don't know what "caterwauling" is, but I'm pretty sure I agree with you. see below - the wailing of the "Ive been a ham for XX years, I had to test at FCC, I had to copy 300 wpm (interestingly enough, I have been a ham for 32 years now - was Tech+ for 28 of them) cat·er·waul /ˈkadərˌwôl/ verb gerund or present participle: caterwauling make a shrill howling or wailing noise like that of a cat. "he seems to think that singing soulfully is to whine and caterwaul tunelessly" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WSBW539 Posted Friday at 02:13 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 02:13 PM On 5/7/2024 at 2:37 PM, Sshannon said: Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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