Posts Tagged ‘HamRadioSchool.com’
Twisted Phonetic Alphabet
November 15th, 2014 | 
Author: 
Stu W0STU just posted an article on HamRadioSchool.com about the use of phonetic alphabets. I had previously posted a Shack Talk article on the same subject.
The “standard” phonetic alphabet is the ITU alphabet but I am starting to think that we might need to get a little more creative on our use of phonetics. Why not innovate in this area, just like we innovate on the technical front?
Towards that end, I was reminded of his phonetic alphabet listed over at netfunny.com:
A Are N Nine B Bee O Owe C Cite P Pseudonym D Double-U Q Queue E Eye R Rap F Five S Sea G Genre T Tsunami H Hoe U Understand? I I V Vie J Junta W Why K Knot X Xylophone L Lye Y You M Me Z Zero
Even this creative alphabet can be improved on. For example, I think H should be Honor.
What do you think?
73, Bob
The post Twisted Phonetic Alphabet appeared first on The KØNR Radio Site.
Three Steps to Getting Your Ham Radio License
These are the three basic steps to getting your USA amateur (ham) radio license: 1) Learn the Material 2) Take Practice Exams and 3) Pass the Real Exam.
This article is very short and to the point, for a more detailed explanation see Stu’s article over at HamRadioSchool.com.
1. Learn The Material
The entry level ham radio license is the Technician License, so you’ll need to get a book that covers the theory, regulations and operating procedures required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). My recommendation is the Technician License Course over at HamRadioSchool.com, which offers an integrated learning system (web, book and smartphone app).
While you can learn the material on your own, many people find classroom instruction to be very helpful. Check the ARRL web site for courses in your area or just do an internet search for “ham radio license class” and your location.
2. Take Practice Exams
The question pool for the Technician Level Exam is made public, so you have access to every possible question that will be on the exam. Better yet, various organizations have created online practice exams so you can test yourself in advance. After you study the material, take these practice exams to test your knowledge. Go back and study any topics you are having trouble with on the exam. A passing grade is 74%, so you’ll want to be consistently above that before trying the real exam.
These are a few of the available online practice exams: qrz.com, eham.net and aa9pw.
3. Pass the Real Exam
The FCC exams are administered by radio hams known as Volunteer Examiners (VEs), so the exam session is sometimes called a VE session. In most areas, there are exam sessions given on a regular basis. Check the ARRL web site to find a license exam session in your area.
Be sure to follow the instructions of the local VE team, since policies and procedures do vary. If you’ve studied the material and checked your knowledge by taking the practice exams, you should have no problem passing the Technician level exam.
4. One More Thing
Actually, there is one more step to this process. Getting the required FCC license is just the start, a learners permit for amateur radio. You’ll need to get on the air and gain some practical experience. It is extremely helpful to have some help during this process, so I highly recommend that you connect up with a local ham radio club. If you can’t find a club then perhaps make contact with a local ham or two.
There are many hams out there that are willing to help. However, it may be a challenge to find one. You can always drop me an email and I will try to assist.
73, Bob K0NR
This Spewed Out of the Internet #29
More important information insight stuff spewing forth from the interwebz:
The actor Tim Allen, who’s character on the TV show Last Man Standing is a ham radio operator, recently received his Technician License. According to Wikipedia, Allen holds the callsign KK6OTD under the name Tim Dick.
The FCC says that Marriott has been interfering with their customers’ use of WiFi hotspots at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. It seems that they wanted to “encourage” customers to pay for WiFi service.
ICOM has made available some cool amateur radio guides on their web site, including a World Map, USA Band Plan Chart and a USA VHF Grid Map. Oh, ICOM, please note that those grid locators are not actually “squares.”
Those Ham Hijinks guys must have bought a new ribbon for their typewriter since they’ve cranked our these articles: Obama Signs Ham Radio Executive Order and Man Creates Multi-Purpose Rotator.
Over at HamRadioSchool.com, I added another Shack Talk article, this one about ham radio awards: Operating Awards: Chasing Wallpaper.
73, Bob K0NR
Announcing the October 2014 WØTLM Technician License Class
Ham Radio Two-Day License Class
Sat October 18 and Sat October 25 (8 AM to 5 PM) 2014
Location: Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Station 1, Monument, CO
The Technician license is your gateway to the world-wide excitement of Amateur Radio …
- Earn your ham radio Technician class radio privileges
- Pass your FCC amateur radio license exam right in class on the second day
- Multiple-choice exam, No Morse Code Required
- Live equipment demonstrations
- Learn to operate on the ham bands, 10 Meters and higher
- Learn to use the many VHF/UHF FM repeaters in Colorado
- Find out how to participate in emergency communications
There is a $25 registration fee for the class.
In addition, students must have the required study guide and read it before attending the two-day class: HamRadioSchool.com Technician License Course $20.95
(make sure you get the most recent edition of this book, updated for the new FCC exam questions)
Advance registration is required (no later than one week before the first session, earlier is better! This class usually fills up early.)
To register for the class, contact: Bob Witte KØNR
Email: [email protected] or Phone: 719 659-3727
Sponsored by the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Radio Association
For more information on amateur (ham) radio visit www.arrl.org or www.wedothat-radio.org
This Spewed Out of the Internet #27
More important things spewing forth from the interwebz:
The Ham Hijinks guys have been at it again, with this article: New Drug Aims To Get More Hams On The Air
Warning: Do Not Take These Guys Seriously, It Only Encourages Them
Chiming in on April 1st, Dan KB6NU reported that the FCC is going to reinstate the Morse Code test.
I posted an article about using UTC over at HamRadioSchool.com: Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
KB9VBR has a nice article that explains the common types of antenna connectors used with ham radio.
Elliot KB0RFC has been writing some interesting stuff about D-STAR, DMR and other things digital on his blog. See his latest article: Developing a DMR / D-STAR radio
James R. Winstead, KD5OZY, of Coleman, Texas found out that sometimes the FCC does show up and bust radio amateurs that are causing problems on the air. See the ARRL article here. It always cracks me up when the FCC Engineer reports that during their station inspection, the offender’s radio is still tuned to the frequency where the problems were occurring.
Serious DXers all over the world are in severe depression after finding out that Crimea is Not a New DXCC Entity. Conspiracy Theory: the whole thing was instigated by a group of hams that believed Crimea would be a new one.
73, Bob K0NR
Announcing April 2014 Technician License Class
Ham Radio Two-Day License Class
Monument, Colorado
Sat April 12 and Sat April 19 (8 AM to 5 PM) 2014
Location: Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Station 1
The Technician license is your gateway to the world-wide excitement of Amateur Radio …
- Earn your ham radio Technician class radio privileges
- Pass your FCC amateur radio license exam right in class on the second day
- Multiple-choice exam, No Morse Code Required
- Live equipment demonstrations
- Learn to operate on the ham bands, 10 Meters and higher
- Learn to use the many VHF/UHF FM repeaters in Colorado
- Find out how to participate in emergency communications
There is a $25 registration fee for the class.
In addition, students must have the required study guide:
HamRadioSchool.com Technician License Course $19.95
Advance registration is required (no later than one week before the first session, earlier is better!)
To register for the class, contact: Bob Witte KØNR
Email: [email protected] or Phone: 719 659-3727
Sponsored by the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Radio Association
For more information on amateur (ham) radio visit www.arrl.org or www.wedothat-radio.org
This Spewed Out of the Internet #26
Here’s another update of interesting important stuff spewing forth from the internet.
The Ham Hijinks crew continues to pound out some provocative ham radio reporting. I can really relate to this story: Man Climbs Tower, Won’t Come Down Until Family Leaves. It was great to hear about this breakthrough: World Issues Solved On Local 2m Repeater. This one is destined to be a Christmas classic: Ham Op Gets CB Radio Christmas Gift Again Warning: Do not take these guys seriously.
The HamRadioSchool.com team has been busy as well. Check out Stu’s article: Introduction to UHF/VHF FM Repeaters and my article: Practical Signal Reports.
You may have heard about the ARRL petition (FCC RM-11708) to modernize how Part 97 regulates the bandwidth of digital signals. I’ve reviewed the proceeding and filed brief comments in favor of it. As I read through the filed comments, I found that some hams think this rule change is a threat to everything good in ham radio. I don’t know where they get this idea and I wonder if they’ve actually read the petition before commenting. For more on this, see: ARRL’s “Symbol Rate” Petition Nears Top of FCC’s “Most Active Proceedings” List .
Sverre LA3ZA posted a nice piece comparing the low cost Baofeng handheld radios: The best of the Baofeng handhelds . I don’t agree with his conclusion though…I find the UV-B5 to be the best choice due to the improved receiver, better antenna, improved S meter and rotary dial. But his article does a great job of comparing the radios so you can make your own decision.
Merry Christmas and 73, Bob K0NR
