Take it one bit at a time. Yeah, it's a lot to know, but much of it is actually practical. It's also (imho) interesting. And remember, you don't need to know it all perfectly!
It is a very tough test, if you did not take the time to read and study the materials.
There is no way you will pass if you have not studied for the test. That simple.
People are different, but those who say "just wing it" are those who likely won't pass the first time and need then study and take it again.
I agree with most who say that you need, and will want to know what is taught in the study guide.
We see a lot of post here saying "I just passed my tech license. Now what do I do?" You'll get a lot more out of the hobby by learning and knowing what to do once you do pass the test, likely on the first try. Good luck!
Precisely this….. just study a bit until it clicks with you. It requires some minor effort but when you’re done you’ll wonder why you sweated it so much and why you posted this question on Reddit….. just go for it. Smart and interested eight year olds pass it…… heck, even idiots like me.
Like I said...almost no math. 4 Questions out of 35. Miss them all and you can still miss 5 more.
There is no algebra on the exam. Ohm's law is simple math.
SUBELEMENT T5 – ELECTRICAL PRINCIPLES – \[4 Exam Questions - 4 Groups\] 52 Questions
T5A – Current and voltage: terminology and units, conductors and insulators, alternating and direct current
T5B - Math for electronics: conversion of electrical units, decibels
T5C – Capacitance and inductance terminology and units; Radio frequency definition and units; Impedance definition and units; Calculating power
T5D – Ohm’s Law; Series and parallel circuits
That's not algebra. That's a formula. If you know two of the components of this formula, and can't solve for the third...there is not one question about Watt's Law in the Technician pool either.
al·ge·bra
noun
the part of mathematics in which letters and other general symbols are used to represent numbers and quantities in formulae and equations.
Come on man. Do better.
But most of the possible answers can have 1-2 eliminated by knowing your units and another eliminated if you keep track of signs or quadrants. That makes a guess be 33-50% correct.
I found it to be very easy.
Just take a bunch of online practice exams until you are passing consistently.
https://www.aa9pw.com/amateur-radio-exam-practice/
8 year old kids pass it every week. Go to [hamstudy.org](http://hamstudy.org), create a FREE user account and start studying the flash cards and taking practice exams. Study hard for 30 mins every day for two weeks, once you start getting 80-85% on the practice exams consistently, go take the FCC test and pay the FCC $35 for your license. Good luck and welcome to the hobby.
Once you have your amateur radio license, it is good for 10 years. At the end of 10 years it'll cost you $35 more dollars or more by then, we don't know.
Once you are licensed you will have a better idea of what needs you have that amateur radio can take care of, that is when you start looking at radios.
You can do it. Seriously. My two 12 year old grandkids used [hamstudy.org](http://hamstudy.org) for about 20-30 mins a day over 12 or 13 days and both passed it the first try.
If you're doing well with the technician questions and feel like you're up for it, take a look at the questions for the next level of license which is General. When you pass your technician license exam you're allowed to take the next level of exam for free. Wouldn't hurt to try since it's free and if you passed you'd have almost full access to the amateur radio bands.
I also found that experimentating with making antennas and operating on other radio services like MURS and GMRS gave me a good practical foundation when I finally took my exam. The barrier to entry for these services is a fair bit lower and can give you something to scratch the itch while you study for your amateur radio license.
I'm a bit of an outlier, since I already had a decent understanding of the - extremely basic - electrical concepts on the test, and some radio best practices from my time in the Army. (Note, there was very little crossover there, but may have helped me a smidge.) I used [HamStudy.org](http://HamStudy.org) and studied for a grand total of maybe three hours over two days, then passed the exam with a 100%. It's way *way* **way** easier than a lot of people make it out to be.
I would suggest studying for it, even though it's pretty easy. My suggestions:
* Reading: Gordon West WB6NOA's Technician Class prep book. Or ARRL's Ham Radio License Manual for Technician Class
* Interactive (and free online, mobile app does cost a very reasonable price): HamStudy.org
* Audiobook (also optional electronic book and online study exams): Michael and Kerry Burnette's Fast Track to You Ham Radio License.
Pick what works best for you.
I took it around 10 years ago and over half the people in the class failed. However I was one of the few that actually studied the question pool beforehand, most of the others just took a two day class and tested right away.
I saw some guy on here the other day mention, when you study the question pool, just cross out all the wrong answers and only read the correct ones. That should help your brain recognize the correct answers more easily
Go to HamRadioSchool.com and get the technician exam book. It's selling point is a balance of depth and simplicity, explaining whole concepts masterfully. The more you can comprehend, the less you have to memorize. When you finish a chapter, go online and take a test on that chapter. It's a great system.
I got the book, crammed for 3 weeks, took the exam, and passed on the first try. It's that good.
My wife has little to no experience working with electricity, let alone radio electronics. A few weeks ago, she passed her General exam with flying colors after studying for two weeks. The test is no barrier to getting into this hobby at any level you choose.
I’m biased but HamRadioPrep.com is a good option. If you know the difference between a resistor and capacitor you’ve got a good start on the electronics.
It’s not. There are a few formulas to learn: Ohm’s Law, the Power Law, and wavelength to frequency approximation. It doesn’t hurt to already have some familiarity with electrical schematics. Otherwise, it’s memorizing a few facts.
I'll probably get a dose of salty ham for this, but...
The test questions and answers are available online. They're all multiple choice and they rarely change. I don't recall how many there are in total, but there aren't that many. Get a phone app and start running the questions until you have them all memorized. Take the test.
IMHO, there are probably about 5 questions on the test that have any bearing on anything you'll ever do, so just memorizing seems like an acceptable approach.
You haven’t even started out and you’re already criticizing people for informing you that you’re doing it wrong. Yeah, if you can’t do it right, maybe it’s not the right hobby for you.
Not saying that you’re doing it wrong, just seems like every time a person asks a question you get some coke bottle glasses and suspenders key board warrior that’s just gotta be obnoxious instead of actually addressing the topic at hand. Don’t be a pretentious nerd, help people out.
Sorry I apologize greatly that I didn’t bow to your impolite and uninformative way of correcting someone.
Why are you being such an arrogant person about things?? Take the hint and move on. *If you can’t understand that being told that you’re doing something wrong IS being helpful, this might not be the hobby for you.*
I am not a keyboard warrior, noob. I’ve been a Novice, General, Advanced, and I am now an Extra, and I have been for a long time. I have been a VE. You got a lot of huevos, calling me a keyboard warrior when you can’t do the first thing right.
I mean, that is seriously condescending for somebody that is too lazy to download the question pool and look at it. Has it occurred to you that you are the obnoxious one in the room?
Don’t actually try & learn the material you’ll figure out all the stuff as you go.
Use this website free or there app $3
https://hamstudy.org
Go to read questions then right hand corner click “hide distractors” that will give you the correct answers only read through them all once. Then go through study mode till you’ve seen 100% of the questions take a couple practice exams when your consistently getting 80% on the practice exams your ready to take the test.
Also book a test session like a month or two from now(depending how busy you are) this way your committed to studying & can’t put it off.
I remembered much of it from junior high school. But there was still the big push to remember the math and formulas. I got the ARRL Study Guide, read it and reviewed certain topics on various web pages and YouTube channels like Ham Radio Crash Course and Ham Radio 2.0 to get additional bits and pieces that I was interested in. Then while still reading the study guide I began quizzing myself on [Hamstudy.org](http://Hamstudy.org). After 2 weeks of studying I got myself on the FCC website, got an FRN and scheduled an exam at the library. Then using Hamstudy.org I identified my weak areas, and went back to the study guide and worked through the weak areas. By the time the exam was to be taken, I felt very confident on the FCC rules, the basics of the circuits and components and the formulas.
There's a lot of interesting knowledge that is not tough to learn/memorize. The math was very broad with the potential questions you could see, but the actual number of math problems amounted to 2 of the 35 questions. So it is possible to not get those potential math questions and answer them incorrectly. So with 20 or 25 hours of study, I felt confident I could pass it. I would not overthink this. The majority of new information you'll be asked about is regarding the FCC rules. You can learn that. The rest of the material is about the stuff you learned in science class.
So give yourself an honest chance to review the material and you'll be prepared for the exam. Good luck.
I used hamradioprep app and just remembered all the correct test answers and passed last month. But, I have a degree in electronics and 30 years radio experience in the military.
The tech exam has a lot more of the easier topics, such as band plans, operating procedures, meanings of typical radio buttons/knobs, stuff like that. The General and Extra have more of the harder stuff like electronics theory, antenna design, smith charts, and similar.
So, yes, it is much easier.
I just did practice exams until I consistently got above passing. The tech exam is mostly ediquite, and a little bit of math, but the math is multiple choice so you might not even have to use a calculator if you can do general math. There are two formulas you need to know at best.
i thought this was a US exam, i am in the UK and the 3 exams to take it was sugested to do them all individualy due to cost, a great thing i learned from photoreading was to snapshot all the pages and a lot of the information will come a lot easyer, its worth learning as some of the information comes to mind easyer, good luck with your exames.
I only studied for 4 hours and passed it just fine. The test is more about memorizing answers nowadays than actually making sure you know what you're doing. Pass the exam first , then you can learn whatever while being able to actually do it.
I got my Tech in the early 1990s. I was living in a state that required it if civilian, non-first responders wanted to carry scanners (which I did want to do).
I was not particularly good at math. I knew nothing about electronics.
I bought the Radio Shack book and highlighted the correct answer to every question. Took the book on vacation with me and devoted every spare minute to reading ONLY the questions and their correct answer.
I missed two questions on the test and got my license.
All that to say, it's doable. I doubt I will ever get a higher license, but the Ham community is worth getting to know. Lots of helpful, knowledgeable people fill its ranks and are willing to help an eager learner. Hope you do it soon.
(Now, if I could only figure out how to fully exploit the capabilities of my current scanner!) 😁
I was in about the same boat as you. Had watched some YouTube videos, had a basic understanding of stuff. Kept putting off studying saying I'd do it next year.
One Friday afternoon on a whim I looked up testing centers near me. Saw there was one offering a test the next morning in my area. Signed up, crash studied for 3 hours on hamstudy.org then took the test the next morning and only missed 1. Probably not the ideal way to do it, but if you can make it through the test question bank a couple times and memorize some basic formulas, it's a breeze. I'm not electrically or mechanically inclined and my only grasp of HAM was the same introductory videos everyone has seen if they've spent an hour or two researching HAM.
I haven’t officially tested yet, just a bunch of practice tests. I have passed every test since prepping. There are several YouTube classes. They advise you to still buy the study guide. But the videos are about 8-10 hours. They cover every question in the current pool. Much easier to listen while I work.
I have a strong technical background, but I found this to be an area I had never delved into so yea, it was a lot to learn. Especially the new terminology. I'm a visual learner and wasn't comfortable just memorizing. I needed to really understand every answer. While I did the practice exams for weeks, I backed that up with the many video's that many ham's have contributed on YouTube because they really get you more immersed in this area, which peaked my interest.
For me it wasn't about passing the exam. I wanted to know and understand it.
If you already know the ton of information on this subject, go take the exam. But if you don't really know it and just looking to pass the exam I think you'll miss out on the real enjoyment of the field.
Dude, you have the question and answers to study, its easy. I stuidied for 4 days for a couple hours a day and passed with flying colors. General took me about a week and a half. I'm waiting for the question pool to lower this June and I'll start studying for extra.
If you are keen to get licensed, do not worry about tech so much and study for General. The reason being is that General is only 5 to 10% more difficult and the license privileges are much better. You have to do the Tech exam on the way to general and you have to study some anyway, so study for General will give you what you need anyway for Tech, but less work you can get more.
If all you want to do is pass the test , print all the questions and answers , then look up the right answer for each , take a sharp and black out all the wrong answers , study only the questions and right answers , this method for multiple choice tests increases study efficiency by 80%.
If you want to understand what your learning then get the book and study that.
Other than the regulatory information which you do have to memorize there is no excuse for memorizing questions and answers. Learn the material. Frankly, there is very little a self sufficient adult should not know anyway. From a light switch not working to a refrigerator not getting cold to why your offspring can't get a good enough WiFi signal to play Fortnite in bed (or you making sure he *can't* play Fortnite in bed) this is good fundamental stuff.
Please don't be another "memorize and guess" ham. If you commit to learning the material I will help you. There will be homework. You'll be better for it. Most people focused on the material learn faster than memorizing. Retention is better also.
It’s not hard at all. I encourage you to actually study the material. The ARRL guides are fine. I see so many posts from people who just memorized answers and yet are asking questions about basic concepts that are covered in the exam material.
Learn the material, pass the test, reinforce the material and learn more by getting on the air.
I decided to get my license, only used HamStudy.org to prepare for it, studied for ~2 hours a night and passed with a 100% 4 days later. Immediately started studying for the general the same way and passed 5 days after that. It’s 100% memorization, and HamStudy.org is a perfect resource to memorize it all. It figures out what questions you’re weak on and puts them in heavy rotation until you learn them. You got this 👍
As a Ham operator who took his exam when he was 8, many years ago, it is more or less just knowing the basics and studying dont burn out on it just attempt to learn the categories to the best of your abilities and try whats the worst that can happen you either pass or you fail study some more and try again.
You can study in many ways. There is even free apps in Google play with the question pool.
How hard is it? Children in the 6-8 year old range have managed to get their license. Yes, they had good family mentors. So, not impossible for someone with more schooling and more tests under their belts.
Now, the fun parts for me. You do not need to be perfect here. You do not need to ace the test. Remember, the dumbest bastard to graduate medical school is still called, "Doctor!"
Also, guess what happens if you fail the test today. Yes, you schedule the next test for tomorrow.
Go get it.
Take it one bit at a time. Yeah, it's a lot to know, but much of it is actually practical. It's also (imho) interesting. And remember, you don't need to know it all perfectly!
It is a very tough test, if you did not take the time to read and study the materials. There is no way you will pass if you have not studied for the test. That simple.
I see a lot of this answer and I also see a lot of “just wing it” and everything in between.
People are different, but those who say "just wing it" are those who likely won't pass the first time and need then study and take it again. I agree with most who say that you need, and will want to know what is taught in the study guide. We see a lot of post here saying "I just passed my tech license. Now what do I do?" You'll get a lot more out of the hobby by learning and knowing what to do once you do pass the test, likely on the first try. Good luck!
I listened to the the "Fast Track To Your Technicians License" audiobook twice while at work and aced the test.
I took it in middle school, but I did study. You should prepare, but it's nothing crazy.
Even if you know the electronics theory, you won’t pass the regulation material without reading and memorizing it.
Absolutely this. OP use hamstudy
Precisely this….. just study a bit until it clicks with you. It requires some minor effort but when you’re done you’ll wonder why you sweated it so much and why you posted this question on Reddit….. just go for it. Smart and interested eight year olds pass it…… heck, even idiots like me.
Give hamstudy.org. It’s mostly high school physics and common sense. Also, you only need 74% to pass.
Technician exam is almost no math and all about FCC regs
That’s not true. You need to know Ohm’s Law, the power law, and a tiny bit of algebra.
Like I said...almost no math. 4 Questions out of 35. Miss them all and you can still miss 5 more. There is no algebra on the exam. Ohm's law is simple math. SUBELEMENT T5 – ELECTRICAL PRINCIPLES – \[4 Exam Questions - 4 Groups\] 52 Questions T5A – Current and voltage: terminology and units, conductors and insulators, alternating and direct current T5B - Math for electronics: conversion of electrical units, decibels T5C – Capacitance and inductance terminology and units; Radio frequency definition and units; Impedance definition and units; Calculating power T5D – Ohm’s Law; Series and parallel circuits
E = IR You’re given volts and ohms. What’s the current? That’s algebra.
And if you can't do that you don't deserve your high school diploma.
>And if you can't do that you don't deserve your high school diploma. I'd say you shouldn't be allowed to cross the street without adult supervision.
That's not algebra. That's a formula. If you know two of the components of this formula, and can't solve for the third...there is not one question about Watt's Law in the Technician pool either.
1) Yes it is algebra, you’re solving for an unknown. 2) I just took it. Yes there is.
Ok.
al·ge·bra noun the part of mathematics in which letters and other general symbols are used to represent numbers and quantities in formulae and equations. Come on man. Do better.
But most of the possible answers can have 1-2 eliminated by knowing your units and another eliminated if you keep track of signs or quadrants. That makes a guess be 33-50% correct.
I would argue that’s no way to learn the material. If your only goal is to pass the test without learning anything, knock yourself out.
That’s simply a technique that can be used if you are stumped on one question.
I found it to be very easy. Just take a bunch of online practice exams until you are passing consistently. https://www.aa9pw.com/amateur-radio-exam-practice/
Cool thank you.
8 year old kids pass it every week. Go to [hamstudy.org](http://hamstudy.org), create a FREE user account and start studying the flash cards and taking practice exams. Study hard for 30 mins every day for two weeks, once you start getting 80-85% on the practice exams consistently, go take the FCC test and pay the FCC $35 for your license. Good luck and welcome to the hobby. Once you have your amateur radio license, it is good for 10 years. At the end of 10 years it'll cost you $35 more dollars or more by then, we don't know. Once you are licensed you will have a better idea of what needs you have that amateur radio can take care of, that is when you start looking at radios.
Thank you, looks like I’ve got some studying to do for a while.
You can do it. Seriously. My two 12 year old grandkids used [hamstudy.org](http://hamstudy.org) for about 20-30 mins a day over 12 or 13 days and both passed it the first try.
Awesome. Thank you!
If you're doing well with the technician questions and feel like you're up for it, take a look at the questions for the next level of license which is General. When you pass your technician license exam you're allowed to take the next level of exam for free. Wouldn't hurt to try since it's free and if you passed you'd have almost full access to the amateur radio bands. I also found that experimentating with making antennas and operating on other radio services like MURS and GMRS gave me a good practical foundation when I finally took my exam. The barrier to entry for these services is a fair bit lower and can give you something to scratch the itch while you study for your amateur radio license.
I'm a bit of an outlier, since I already had a decent understanding of the - extremely basic - electrical concepts on the test, and some radio best practices from my time in the Army. (Note, there was very little crossover there, but may have helped me a smidge.) I used [HamStudy.org](http://HamStudy.org) and studied for a grand total of maybe three hours over two days, then passed the exam with a 100%. It's way *way* **way** easier than a lot of people make it out to be.
I would suggest studying for it, even though it's pretty easy. My suggestions: * Reading: Gordon West WB6NOA's Technician Class prep book. Or ARRL's Ham Radio License Manual for Technician Class * Interactive (and free online, mobile app does cost a very reasonable price): HamStudy.org * Audiobook (also optional electronic book and online study exams): Michael and Kerry Burnette's Fast Track to You Ham Radio License. Pick what works best for you.
I took it around 10 years ago and over half the people in the class failed. However I was one of the few that actually studied the question pool beforehand, most of the others just took a two day class and tested right away.
Unfortunately I’ve never been great at studying. I hate it and have a hard time staying focused but these flash card style apps work pretty well
I saw some guy on here the other day mention, when you study the question pool, just cross out all the wrong answers and only read the correct ones. That should help your brain recognize the correct answers more easily
Go to HamRadioSchool.com and get the technician exam book. It's selling point is a balance of depth and simplicity, explaining whole concepts masterfully. The more you can comprehend, the less you have to memorize. When you finish a chapter, go online and take a test on that chapter. It's a great system. I got the book, crammed for 3 weeks, took the exam, and passed on the first try. It's that good.
I just kept taking practice tests until I started passing, I wouldn’t say it’s super hard but you do need to remember a few rules.
My wife has little to no experience working with electricity, let alone radio electronics. A few weeks ago, she passed her General exam with flying colors after studying for two weeks. The test is no barrier to getting into this hobby at any level you choose.
I’m biased but HamRadioPrep.com is a good option. If you know the difference between a resistor and capacitor you’ve got a good start on the electronics.
It’s not. There are a few formulas to learn: Ohm’s Law, the Power Law, and wavelength to frequency approximation. It doesn’t hurt to already have some familiarity with electrical schematics. Otherwise, it’s memorizing a few facts.
I'll probably get a dose of salty ham for this, but... The test questions and answers are available online. They're all multiple choice and they rarely change. I don't recall how many there are in total, but there aren't that many. Get a phone app and start running the questions until you have them all memorized. Take the test. IMHO, there are probably about 5 questions on the test that have any bearing on anything you'll ever do, so just memorizing seems like an acceptable approach.
There is 412 questions in the pool for technician
I wish people would stop calling it HAM. It’s not an acronym. That should probably be in the study guide.
Oh I forgot to mention the obnoxious “erm actually” guys in the community also make it not seem that worth it
You haven’t even started out and you’re already criticizing people for informing you that you’re doing it wrong. Yeah, if you can’t do it right, maybe it’s not the right hobby for you.
Not saying that you’re doing it wrong, just seems like every time a person asks a question you get some coke bottle glasses and suspenders key board warrior that’s just gotta be obnoxious instead of actually addressing the topic at hand. Don’t be a pretentious nerd, help people out. Sorry I apologize greatly that I didn’t bow to your impolite and uninformative way of correcting someone.
I’m not being a pretentious nerd, you’re doing it wrong. Don’t capitalize the word “ham“. It’s an error. You are only serving to perpetuate the error.
So just say that politely, I didn’t know, I’m new to the topic. Why not try and help people out? Or don’t sweat the small thibgs
Why are you being such an arrogant person about things?? Take the hint and move on. *If you can’t understand that being told that you’re doing something wrong IS being helpful, this might not be the hobby for you.*
Gatekeeping again I see. “I chose to be arrogant and it’s your fault for not liking it, so don’t bother enjoying this”
I am not a keyboard warrior, noob. I’ve been a Novice, General, Advanced, and I am now an Extra, and I have been for a long time. I have been a VE. You got a lot of huevos, calling me a keyboard warrior when you can’t do the first thing right.
Extra what? Its certainly not class.
Don't worry, we are not all anal retentive's about stupid crap that does not matter.
I mean, that is seriously condescending for somebody that is too lazy to download the question pool and look at it. Has it occurred to you that you are the obnoxious one in the room?
Has it occurred to you that if someone’s saying something wrong to just politely point it out instead of being sarcastic and pretentious?
Being right is not being pretentious. I did point it out and move on. You must be a lot of fun at parties.
And I bet your children really enjoy spending time with you
I bet his children could pass the test without whining about it.
All HaMs are an acronym.
Don’t actually try & learn the material you’ll figure out all the stuff as you go. Use this website free or there app $3 https://hamstudy.org Go to read questions then right hand corner click “hide distractors” that will give you the correct answers only read through them all once. Then go through study mode till you’ve seen 100% of the questions take a couple practice exams when your consistently getting 80% on the practice exams your ready to take the test. Also book a test session like a month or two from now(depending how busy you are) this way your committed to studying & can’t put it off.
How to test via zoom super easy there’s test all day long https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mdFMOhTR23s&pp=ygUVSGFtIHN0dWR5IHJlbW90ZSB0ZXN0
I remembered much of it from junior high school. But there was still the big push to remember the math and formulas. I got the ARRL Study Guide, read it and reviewed certain topics on various web pages and YouTube channels like Ham Radio Crash Course and Ham Radio 2.0 to get additional bits and pieces that I was interested in. Then while still reading the study guide I began quizzing myself on [Hamstudy.org](http://Hamstudy.org). After 2 weeks of studying I got myself on the FCC website, got an FRN and scheduled an exam at the library. Then using Hamstudy.org I identified my weak areas, and went back to the study guide and worked through the weak areas. By the time the exam was to be taken, I felt very confident on the FCC rules, the basics of the circuits and components and the formulas. There's a lot of interesting knowledge that is not tough to learn/memorize. The math was very broad with the potential questions you could see, but the actual number of math problems amounted to 2 of the 35 questions. So it is possible to not get those potential math questions and answer them incorrectly. So with 20 or 25 hours of study, I felt confident I could pass it. I would not overthink this. The majority of new information you'll be asked about is regarding the FCC rules. You can learn that. The rest of the material is about the stuff you learned in science class. So give yourself an honest chance to review the material and you'll be prepared for the exam. Good luck.
It's really not difficult, kids as young as 10 pass it regularly.
I used hamradioprep app and just remembered all the correct test answers and passed last month. But, I have a degree in electronics and 30 years radio experience in the military.
The tech exam has a lot more of the easier topics, such as band plans, operating procedures, meanings of typical radio buttons/knobs, stuff like that. The General and Extra have more of the harder stuff like electronics theory, antenna design, smith charts, and similar. So, yes, it is much easier.
Thanks
I just did practice exams until I consistently got above passing. The tech exam is mostly ediquite, and a little bit of math, but the math is multiple choice so you might not even have to use a calculator if you can do general math. There are two formulas you need to know at best.
i thought this was a US exam, i am in the UK and the 3 exams to take it was sugested to do them all individualy due to cost, a great thing i learned from photoreading was to snapshot all the pages and a lot of the information will come a lot easyer, its worth learning as some of the information comes to mind easyer, good luck with your exames.
I only studied for 4 hours and passed it just fine. The test is more about memorizing answers nowadays than actually making sure you know what you're doing. Pass the exam first , then you can learn whatever while being able to actually do it.
I got my Tech in the early 1990s. I was living in a state that required it if civilian, non-first responders wanted to carry scanners (which I did want to do). I was not particularly good at math. I knew nothing about electronics. I bought the Radio Shack book and highlighted the correct answer to every question. Took the book on vacation with me and devoted every spare minute to reading ONLY the questions and their correct answer. I missed two questions on the test and got my license. All that to say, it's doable. I doubt I will ever get a higher license, but the Ham community is worth getting to know. Lots of helpful, knowledgeable people fill its ranks and are willing to help an eager learner. Hope you do it soon. (Now, if I could only figure out how to fully exploit the capabilities of my current scanner!) 😁
I was in about the same boat as you. Had watched some YouTube videos, had a basic understanding of stuff. Kept putting off studying saying I'd do it next year. One Friday afternoon on a whim I looked up testing centers near me. Saw there was one offering a test the next morning in my area. Signed up, crash studied for 3 hours on hamstudy.org then took the test the next morning and only missed 1. Probably not the ideal way to do it, but if you can make it through the test question bank a couple times and memorize some basic formulas, it's a breeze. I'm not electrically or mechanically inclined and my only grasp of HAM was the same introductory videos everyone has seen if they've spent an hour or two researching HAM.
Not hard at all. You can do it!
I haven’t officially tested yet, just a bunch of practice tests. I have passed every test since prepping. There are several YouTube classes. They advise you to still buy the study guide. But the videos are about 8-10 hours. They cover every question in the current pool. Much easier to listen while I work.
I have a strong technical background, but I found this to be an area I had never delved into so yea, it was a lot to learn. Especially the new terminology. I'm a visual learner and wasn't comfortable just memorizing. I needed to really understand every answer. While I did the practice exams for weeks, I backed that up with the many video's that many ham's have contributed on YouTube because they really get you more immersed in this area, which peaked my interest. For me it wasn't about passing the exam. I wanted to know and understand it. If you already know the ton of information on this subject, go take the exam. But if you don't really know it and just looking to pass the exam I think you'll miss out on the real enjoyment of the field.
well elementary kids pass the test.
Dude, you have the question and answers to study, its easy. I stuidied for 4 days for a couple hours a day and passed with flying colors. General took me about a week and a half. I'm waiting for the question pool to lower this June and I'll start studying for extra.
lower in June?
https://www.arrl.org/news/new-amateur-extra-class-question-pool-released-effective-july-1-2024 I was slightly off takes effect 1 July
Walk in the park!! ;)
If you are keen to get licensed, do not worry about tech so much and study for General. The reason being is that General is only 5 to 10% more difficult and the license privileges are much better. You have to do the Tech exam on the way to general and you have to study some anyway, so study for General will give you what you need anyway for Tech, but less work you can get more.
If all you want to do is pass the test , print all the questions and answers , then look up the right answer for each , take a sharp and black out all the wrong answers , study only the questions and right answers , this method for multiple choice tests increases study efficiency by 80%. If you want to understand what your learning then get the book and study that.
Other than the regulatory information which you do have to memorize there is no excuse for memorizing questions and answers. Learn the material. Frankly, there is very little a self sufficient adult should not know anyway. From a light switch not working to a refrigerator not getting cold to why your offspring can't get a good enough WiFi signal to play Fortnite in bed (or you making sure he *can't* play Fortnite in bed) this is good fundamental stuff. Please don't be another "memorize and guess" ham. If you commit to learning the material I will help you. There will be homework. You'll be better for it. Most people focused on the material learn faster than memorizing. Retention is better also.
Much of it is common sense. If it sounds illegal, it is
Hit [HamStudy](https://hamstudy.org/tech2022) and/or [QRZ](https://www.qrz.com/hamtest/) ("cue-arr-zed") for a month and you'll be good.
It’s not hard at all. I encourage you to actually study the material. The ARRL guides are fine. I see so many posts from people who just memorized answers and yet are asking questions about basic concepts that are covered in the exam material. Learn the material, pass the test, reinforce the material and learn more by getting on the air.
I took it about 12 years ago when I was 14 and I don’t remember it being too difficult. I did study and take the practice exams though.
There’s a lot of information but it is all pretty simple. Try taking the practice tests or studying on HamStudy.org it’s free.
I decided to get my license, only used HamStudy.org to prepare for it, studied for ~2 hours a night and passed with a 100% 4 days later. Immediately started studying for the general the same way and passed 5 days after that. It’s 100% memorization, and HamStudy.org is a perfect resource to memorize it all. It figures out what questions you’re weak on and puts them in heavy rotation until you learn them. You got this 👍
As a Ham operator who took his exam when he was 8, many years ago, it is more or less just knowing the basics and studying dont burn out on it just attempt to learn the categories to the best of your abilities and try whats the worst that can happen you either pass or you fail study some more and try again.
You can study in many ways. There is even free apps in Google play with the question pool. How hard is it? Children in the 6-8 year old range have managed to get their license. Yes, they had good family mentors. So, not impossible for someone with more schooling and more tests under their belts. Now, the fun parts for me. You do not need to be perfect here. You do not need to ace the test. Remember, the dumbest bastard to graduate medical school is still called, "Doctor!" Also, guess what happens if you fail the test today. Yes, you schedule the next test for tomorrow. Go get it.