| Author |
Message |
    
d104 Ohio
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 2:00 pm: | 
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I was just curious... the FCC and the ARRL all say find your local VEC... well I have no idea who this person is, and my local radio shop can't answer any simple questions for me! All I want is a no code license that would allow me to be in 10 meters legally, I've listened for the past 5 years and I'm ready to join... can anyone tell me how? No more consult the FCC or ARRL, I need to know directly... who do I speak to? |
Taz
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 8:33 pm: |
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there is a website that tells you the places, or just ask other operators. I forgot the site but somone here knows it |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 8:55 pm: |
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d104 Ohio
it's easy really, but not so easy as well.
First thing, if you want to talk on 10 meters you will have to pass the CW (morse code). Sorry bro but that's fact. No such thing as a no code tech on 10 meters. 10 meters is HF. You can talk on many frequencies as a "no code" but not 10 meters.
To find the local VEC, go to the www.arrl.org or www.eham.com and find the section for "exams". Then you can punch in your zip code and find the closest test and date for where you live. Eham.com and www.qrz.com both have practice test online for free, but you'll have to learn morse code (cw) on your own. Both have free down loads to help you out.
I just passed my tech no code test yesterday and will have to learn code to talk 10 meters as well. I also want HF capabilities. Buy a book for the tech licsense (Radio Shack sells them also, it's called "Now You're Talking") for tech and higher. The arrl.org webiste has morse code learning CD's or tapes for about $15.
You can do it.
Alsworld |
Calmspirit
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 8:58 pm: |
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d104 Ohio,
Here is the link to all upcoming ham tests in Ohio with phone numbers. You didn't state what city you are in.
http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml?State=OH
calmspirit
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Bulldog
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 9:06 pm: |
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no-code or tech lite won't get you on 10 meters |
bruce
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 9:30 pm: |
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d104 what city are you near ( like dayton ) sent it to my e-mail and ill see who can help you
wa4gch@juno.com
Bruce |
DE
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 11:13 pm: |
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Here is the scoop. There are VEs and VECs. A VE is the guy that administers the written and CW examinations, collects the fees, gathers up the applications and passes the whole mess on the the VEC. VE means Volunteer Coordinator.
The VEC is the agency that acts as the official agency giving the tests who forwards the required information to the FCC. They do not directly admisister the test themselves. They check out the paperwork and forward it to the FCC for the VE. There are two VECs in the US... The ARRL and the W5YI. They can be reached at the following web pages....
www.arrl.org
www.w5yi.org
If you leave a message they will contact you to let you know whome you can contact where you live.
However, the quickest and easiest way for you to find a testing site is to just contact the local ham club. The various Ham Clubs are listed at the ARRL site.
Good luck.
DE |
Deadly Eyes
| | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 11:24 pm: |
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Re D 104
You mentioned the no code and getting on 10 meters. To get on 10 meters you will have to pass a 5 word per min code test. The no code will only get you on vhf. All HF licenses, including 10 meters requre a code skill.
But the good part is once you get the tech plus (tech written plus 5 WPM code)license you never have to take another code test again.
Perhaps you are thining of the total no code proposal. This was proposed only fairly recently and has not yet been passed by the international organization. Even if it is passed by the internationl radio communications union (I think that is its official name) this does not meant that a country could not require some morse code testing. It only means you are not force to require it. So you still have to cross your fingers.
The problem with deleting the code is that the written testing will become harder to take up the slack.
Later
DE |
Hamcber
| | Posted on Monday, July 29, 2002 - 1:40 pm: |
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The confusion may be from the fact that a 'grandfathered novice' (had a novice class license prior to the no-code class creation) does have 10 meter privileges. The new no-code class does not have 10 meters. Only 6 meters and up.
If you would like to try the tests online to see if you would pass, go to http://www.hamtest.com and take the actual tests online. Then, you will be graded as you go or when you are finished (your choice) and you can tell if you would pass the test or not. Hamtest.com can also point you to the testing sessions near you (by zip code). The website is hosted by ADI/Pryme.
The good news is, 5 WPM is easy to learn, if you want it bad enough. Since you are obviously an intelligent person, 5 WPM should be no trouble for you. Good luck!! |
Funtimebob
| | Posted on Monday, July 29, 2002 - 4:29 pm: |
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Hey bruce, you in dayton ?? |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, July 29, 2002 - 10:01 pm: |
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Last time i got to dayton was 1969 nope not this year! |
Funtimebob
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 3:02 am: |
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online ham exam.....34 outta 35, now if i can only get that bleeping code down............ |
bruce
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 7:26 am: |
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funtime bob the BEST way is just to take say 15 min a day UNINTERUPTED and study even if its only a few letters at a time then lissen to it 5WPM is not hard my brother is tone deaf got rejected by all the military during vietnam for that and he passed it takes time but you'll do fine.
bruce |
Deadly Eyes
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 7:56 am: |
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Re Fun...
You are doing to yourself what I did to myself when I went for the 5 wpm. You are fighting yourself. Here is the trick, before you practice the code just think to yourself, 'Ok self, its just a code requirement that we have to learn for testing puroposes'. Remember that once you pass it you do not have to actually use it for the rest of your life. You do not have to learn every letter and character in one hour. So just relax, take the pressure off of yourself and take it one letter at a time. If you have any problems with certain characters dont panic just spend little extra time on that one/those each time you practice.
Dont worry you will get it. One day everything will just suddenly click into place.
DE |
Dcobb
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 8:01 am: |
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Question about the code: Is the code on the test really at 5 wpm, or is it somewhat faster? From reading a few tutorials, several people recommend learning at a faster rate. Apparently, sometimes they transmit the code at a faster rate and add more gaps between the characters to lower the overall wpm. |
Hamcber
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 10:32 am: |
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.. - , .. ... -. - , ... --- , .... .- .-. -.. !! |
Taz
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 3:57 pm: |
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hey dcobb. from what i hear its not hard at all. you dont have to learn how to transmit the code its just receive! |
Taz
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 4:00 pm: |
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hey dcobb. from what i hear its not hard at all. you dont have to learn how to transmit the code its just receive!
"I know it isnt so hard" Hamcber |
bruce
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 7:29 pm: |
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last i heard your correct sending has been droped seems no one vere failed or at least damn few |
Taz
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 8:39 pm: |
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lol |
Funtimebob
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 9:15 pm: |
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for some reason I keep wanting to switch l&f,
still need to do better on the prosigns 
got my MFJ trainer set for 7wpm using farnsworth & about 800+hz |
bruce
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - 4:41 am: |
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fulltime way to go! |
Kirk
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - 8:48 am: |
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I too had a stumbling block when I took my code, that's pretty common. What really helped me was "Code Quick" (www.codequick.com). It really helped me TREMENDOUSLY. I got my 5wpm using Gordon West's version, but after that, I could not copy faster than 7wpm. A friend recommended Code Quick and within 3 months I passed my 20 wpm. So don't give up, there are many tools available, you just need to find which one works for you. Code Quick uses character association (ex. "D" is _.. so the instructor would have you look at a card of a dog , peeing on something I think it was, and would say "D is Dog Did-it". Check this out, it may work for you. |
Phineas
| | Posted on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 6:25 pm: |
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.. ... . . .... .- -- -.-. -... . .-. ... .... --- .-- .... --- .-- . .- ... -.-- -.-. .-- .. ... .-.-.- .--. .-. --- -... .-.. . -- .. ... - .... .- - .-. . .- -.. .. -. --. **** .-.. .. -.- . - .... .. ... --- -. .... . .-. . .. ... .... .- .-. -.. . .-. - .... .- -. -.-. --- .--. -.-- .. -. --. .. - --- -. - .... . .- .. .-. .-.-.- .... .. .... .. ...-.-
-.. . -.- -.-. ----- .-.. ... -.-.
Forummaster Note : Please refrain from cursing in code.
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Mrhappy
| | Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 10:01 am: |
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Side note,Forummaster know's code.(LMFAO) |
bruce
| | Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 2:52 pm: |
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SHUSH DONT TELL ANYONE HE LOOKED THEM UP! |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 5:52 pm: |
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...how long did it take you folks to figure out the "morse code message " ? quite a while wasn't it ?....me too--- BIG FOOT |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 6:21 pm: |
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Phineas,
man that was hard on the eyes decifering from the forum but the greatest code learning experience of mine so far.
-. . .-- - . -.-. .... -.- --. ....- ..- -. -..
Obviously still learning code.
Alsworld |
Taz
| | Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 10:26 pm: |
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Congrats alsworld. You did a good job with that code! |
Taz
| | Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 10:27 pm: |
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Im taking my test on aug22! Already got it sceduled |
Taz
| | Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 10:30 pm: |
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.. -- / - .- -.- .. -. --. / -- -.-- / - . ... - / --- -. / .- ..- --. ..- ... - / ..--- ..--- |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 10:33 pm: |
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BIG FOOT,
guilty as charged!! Took me awhile but I actually enjoyed it.
Alsworld |
Phineas
| | Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 11:28 pm: |
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Cursing in code?...lol....they need a forum master on 80 meters :P
Phineas |
Taz
| | Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 12:45 am: |
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hey alsworld, looks like you just got it too. |
Taz
| | Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 4:54 am: |
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actually according to my technician book, you can have the tech license with the morse code cirtificate and operate 10 meters~! |
N8fgb
| | Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 12:42 pm: |
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Correct Taz,you must keep that certificate,if you lose it you are out of luck.Have it copied and put away.Look at code as one of two ways,music or forign language,then it is not so bad to learn.At least no one has to worry about 10wpm barier anymoreLOL.Good luck to all.
Rich
N8FGB |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 1:14 pm: |
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Taz,
you are right. It's not full access but it will surely get you onto the HF 10 meter band and there is plenty of room to start. I want to be able to talk worldwide.
This past winter, on 10 meters I could come out daily and listen clearly to conversations from US to Japan, Japan to Europe, South America, etc. It was always going and unlike skip, it rarely faded away. No real noise up there to speak of compared to 11 meters. I know we are on the down slope of the sunspot cycle so I want to be able to use it while it's good. Maybe by the next cycle I'll have me a million dollar base .
After listening then, and talking with Bruce on the endless amount of bands, modes and frequencies, it was just too tempting to not give it a shot.
Good luck Taz!
Alsworld |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 2:05 pm: |
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correct you must have code but im not sure on the tech ticket how they are now doing this since the tech+ is no longer issued also if you are going to get the code how much more could it be just to go get a general? Ill have to ask a ve next time he pops up on the repeater. |
ortsac1
| | Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 3:48 pm: |
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AGAIN WHY!!!!! Stay license free!!!
Keep your freedoms "free".
Requiring a license to talk on the radio is against your civil rights!!!
It would be the same thing as requiring you to have one to talk face to face with another person
Resist, fight regulation and work to protect your civil rights |
d104 Ohio
| | Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 11:58 pm: |
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You have to have a license to drive... doesn't it only make sense to have a license to key up in restricted areas? I look at it this way ortsac1, read the rules next time you get your drivers license renewed... driving IS NOT A RIGHT... it is a priviledge... they license you opon passing a written test...and then an on road test(like the morse code), they just wanna make sure people know what they are doing before they can key up where they please... just making sure the ham bands are free from becoming a big channel 19! I mean don't get me wrong... freebanding is all fine and dandy... I want to get a little beyond the 10/11 meter only radios actually... they are sooooo limited, I wish people would understand things a little bit better before they jump to say "stay license free". How am I to FREEBAND on 2 Meters? 160 Meters? Don't you think I'd get caught? Hmmmm, YES I WOULD. I might not get caught freebanding 10/11 meters, but I want more. There is a world beyond Galaxy, Ranger, and all those other hick chromed up radios. I'm sick of the 11 meter riff raff. Bruce... someone else... help me out here... you all know what I mean, there is a lot more to radio than all these cold-solder jointed export radios, where your frequencies are limited everywhere! Help me out guys! |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 9:36 am: |
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Bruce,
now it's just called tech with morse code. You get the same priviledges as the old Novice that had passed Morse code on 10M. 28.500 mhz is the highest you are allowed to transmit on at 200W PEP until the step to general as you said. I'm going to get the code first then move up to general. More so for the education but heck I'll take the additional prviledges and bands as well.
ortsac1,
freedom is not free
d104 Ohio,
man that's the whole reason I got my ticket! There is soooooo much more opportunities than what you hear on 11 meters. I like 11M for what it's was designed for, but also want to expand. Sattelites, moon bounce, it's really amazing what is all out there. Fax and photographs via radio, how cool! Yes I obviously like the internet and cell phones as well, and I'm sure it may be faster, but that's not my point. Doing it with my radio just appeals to me as a challenge.
hope that helps back you up. |
Hamcber
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 9:48 am: |
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You have an 'Amen' here. |
sandbagger #106
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 11:26 am: |
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Good for you Taz, and good luck. If you (and you will) pass the tech theory and 5 WPM do yourself a favor, and in a month or so upgrade to general. The general theory isn't much harder (if at all) than the tech written, then you will have a huge piece of the HF band. Good luck and keep us posted. sandbagger #106 |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 6:27 pm: |
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...by getting in on amateur radio you have so much to GAIN and nothing to lose !!...plus if you want to you can still talk on cb ( but my local ham-sters do not like it )..it is just too hard to get wreck info up ahead on a amateur radio, truckers HAVE to talk about what they saw, or what is tying up traffic up ahead...so go for your AMATEUR license, you aint got nuthin to lose !!....BIG FOOT |
Sintronic_Cpu
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 7:56 pm: |
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I know exactly what you mean, I'm license free right now, but I'm studying to pass my code test... I just bought a Kenwood TS140S... and I'm ready to go... this radio is much better than any Galaxy/Ranger Export radio every thought about being! I've owned a RCI2990, a Melaka... a DX99/DX55... they aren't worth the trouble really. I got this Kenwood for less than I paid for the 2990... and it has EVERYTHING but echo and a beep! I say WHY to buying these so called 10 Meter exports... I have everything from 500KHz to 32.0000 MHz... I can't transmit under 1 Mhz... but everything else is open... why spend over $500 for a 2990, when I got this for $400 and it has way more channels and capabilities... it's 100 watts also! Go figure! No need for a 10Kc switch... no need for a band selector... no clarifier... no limits... anywhere I want to go from 1-32 MHz!!! I'm ready to get my license... so don't give up d104 Ohio... you're right.. there is a lot more to radios than hick chromed Galaxies! I wish people would try it before they knocked it! |
Phineas
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 9:48 pm: |
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Bigfoot
I get frowned at for being on CB also, but I am also the President of the K-M-A club...lol
Sintronic
Dont think so small. After you become a general, not only will you have HF, but you will have everything above it also. In my van I have all of the amateur band from 7mhz(40meters) all the way up to 445 mhz(70cm) including a CB/SSB radio. All at the change of a switch.I can talk all modes (AM/FM/SSB/CW/other digital modes) up to 50 mhz, and have all FM/Digital modes above that. I can even change out one antenna for satelite.
With a just a tech, you can shoot skip and talk on any amateur band above 50 mhz. That is why I will never understand why HF is so hyped up when most of what is happening right now is on VHF, UHF, and SHF.
Just a few tidbits to think about.
Phineas |
Sintronic_Cpu
| | Posted on Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 4:17 pm: |
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I know that... but I know lots of people around me on HF... mainly 10 meters... I like the local talk more than DX at the moment... I was just comparing like d104 Ohio that there is lots more available than 24-32 Mhz, like a ranger! Better prices too... I will upgrade once I save a little more money... I have my eye on another Kenwood HF/VHF/and UHF Radio... just short by $1100.00 though! lol... I'll get it someday... I just want to start out on HF since I'm used to talking locally anyways! I love to meet my other radio neighbors! |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Sunday, August 11, 2002 - 10:06 am: |
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...SINTRONIC--- yeasu makes a ft-847 that does what you may be looking for , also YEASU makes the ft-100 and 817....ICOM makes a base ( unknown model number ) and a 706 MK II G model that does basically what the ft-100 does ...lots of options on radios for hf/vhf/uhf/satellite work/moonbouncve..etc...amateur radio has SO much to offer , if one band is QUIET, try another till you find some one... always new and innovative is the AMATEUR radio world....( and I am just a no-code tech !! )...BIG FOOT |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 8:56 am: |
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...so right, so right !! PRAISE the LORD BIG FOOT |
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