KD7BBC.org - Latest Comments

Re: Why Ham Radio?

Jim Gallacher — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 09:45:32 -0000

Great writeup. I got my Amateur Radio Operator license just after Morse Code was no longer required. Later I upgraded to General, then Amateur Extra, in an effort to help others get into the hobby and get their license.
I am part of a group that uses Exam Tools extensively. Thank you for such a great resource. N6JLG.

Re: Why Ham Radio?

Cordero_Negro — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 11:09:28 -0000

I've scheduled to have my technician's test next week, so I had already decided to start on this hobby. But this article has inspired me even more so, thank you.

Re: Ham Study

Keith Redmon — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 17:52:25 -0000

Used Hamstudy for about a week. Easy to learn this way. I tested today and passed the Tech test with flying colors.

Re: Why Ham Radio?

Jules Bartow — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:23:59 -0000

You sound like a geek with an adventure streak. Becoming a "ham" introduces you to the technology and the environment around you that 99% of the population remains woefully ignorant of. Erecting towers, building and analyzing tank circuits, having a clue about the troposphere and ionosphere, constructing coax connectors to make them waterproof, and knowledge of VSWR impedance matching, antenna patterns, and grounding and bonding are all high tech skills that pay well. Ham fundamentals of dealing with electromagnetism and bureaucracies (FCC) are all relevant to the cell phone industry. Deploying remote radio heads a hundred feet in the air on a microwave/cell phone tower at the top of a mountain while clipped in with a D-hook is not for the faint hearted. Learning satellite communications using Keplerian data means a kid is likely to grow up as an engineer for the intelligence community such as the NRO and NSA, who's nerds are out doing James Bond daring do that we never hear or read about --well, except for Edward Snowden. Designing the next intelligent transportation system (ITS) to finally let cars drive themselves so we can safely text while driving would be pretty cool too. The classic prussian education of sit at a desk and regurgitate what the instructor told you doesn't work for many. Few schools have teachers or equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers or S-meters for someone to just play with in an informal setting with folks that love to tell you what they know. It takes testicular fortitude to overcome the fear and trepidation of basic principles and all those frigg'n knobs and sub-menus. KIrchoff and Ohm's Laws? Most people have no idea how to obey them. Hanging out with a crew of experienced self-taught technical geniuses in a less structured setting of a radio shack may be all it takes to extract the most from someone that otherwise would be asking, "what size fries would you like with your value meal?"

Re: Ham Study

William Galoosis — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:35:01 -0000

Great study site! I wish I would have found it before I found hamtestonline.

Re: Why Ham Radio?

Kd7yyi — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:29:43 -0000

I agree 100%. Richard this is a FUN read. Thanks for sharing! KD7YYI