For the last couple of decades I have wanted to get a HAM radio license. I never got really serious about it, but it was always there in the back of my head waiting for “someday.”
Someday finally arrived. The stars aligned a couple of weeks ago and I decided to just go out and do it soon. I discovered that there was a test scheduled monthly in Salt Lake and I decided to study and take the exam during one of the tests this summer. I started studying from a library book – Now Your Talking – on Monday. I already knew that much of the knowledge was common sense rules about being considerate and so yesterday when I looked to see what dates the test was to be administered I discovered that the first one was that evening. Having taken some practice exams and seeing that I almost always got passing scores with the little study I had done, I decided to take the leap and take my test yesterday rather than agonizing over the material for another month. I took the test at 7:00 last night and passed on the first try (you can have three tries in one sitting). They encouraged me to take the test for the General class and I got closer to passing that than I would have expected.
Today my callsign got assigned and published in the FCC database so I am now KF7DQE – a HAM without a radio. (Of course I’ll be on the lookout for an appropriate rig.)
Congrats, that’s exciting! My someday hasn’t come, but I hope it will soon! Meanwhile, I’ve learned Morse Code just for fun –although I’m pretty sure it’s not too useful these days.
Jordy
I can’t vouch for how useful it is or isn’t but I can say that it is not necessary for any class of license anymore.
73′s! Too bad you’d be out of range to talk to Houston. KC5IET
It is too bad, but hopefully that’s temporary. My goal is to get to a point (with both license and rig) where I can reach any place in the Continental U.S.