New Ham Help

Here are some thoughts on becoming an amateur from KC8YWH, a recent ham and member of GMARC:

Let me assure you that there is plenty of help available.  HAM Radio is a "community" and there are many people significantly more skilled than I who will give you more help than you ever imagined.  I am quite infamous in that I failed to pass the exam by one question twice.  Yes, I took the exam two times in December and missed a passing grade by one question.  I passed in January, as I knew I would, based on the preparation that I will share with you.

HAM radio is more exciting than ever. The new technology of repeaters, Voice-over-IP (VoIP) connections via the internet, dual-band / tri-band Handi-Talkies (HTs) and 50-watt dual-band / dual-receive mobile transceivers, etc. (at affordable prices) keep the hobby new. The Amateur Radio Clubs provide a very valuable service to the community for Emergency Communications, Emergency Siren Maintenance, Emergency Weather Awareness (SkyWarn), National Security, Education, etc.  There has never been a better time to be a HAM.

I suggest you go to http://www.qrz.com/testing.html and take a look at some "sample tests" for the Technician Exam. Once you become familiar with the scope of the questions, I believe that http://www.aa9pw.com/radio/index.html is a better site to actually take practice tests.  It is more like a real "test environment" and it gives you a graph at the end showing "areas in which you are weak".

Here is a site that offers lots of links and a different approach which might be helpful to a new HAM:  http://www.qsl.net/k8zt/hamhelp.html#tips