CQ - How to Study for Ham Radio License Test

[mightyhorton]

Greetings All - I need to get my Ham license. I've found two websites that have the questions and answers, but haven't been able to find any free websites that have a textbook like format. hamtestonline.com has a $49 course and shows some of the questions and answers. qrz.com seems to have all of the questions and answers. I can either just memorize all the qrz questions and answers or pay the $49, but would rather find a free coursebook online. Any ideas or leads? How have other people studied for this test? Thanks. Ian

[Gary1]

I never found a free course that really worked. I did find a course from the ARRL that had all of the up to date questions and answers that worked for me. I haven't been playing with any of my ham radios lately, so I haven't kept up, but I'm sure there is something on the ARRL site. (American Radio Relay League, the biggest organization in the US.)

Good luck...
_._ _._. _.... _ _ _ _ _ . ..._
KC6OGV

[EO32]

I got my novice license when I was 16 (WN6TZE), 35 years ago, and passed my advanced class at 17. I studied a book that was written for the tests and also used the Amateur Radio Handbook. I practiced morse code until I could do 20 WPM.

I haven’t been active for the last 25 years and I believe the morse code requirements have changed. A lot of the test has to do with the rules and requirements, which you should know when using a transmitter.

[brak]

I got my novice and general ham license 5 years ago (just before they canceled the morse code requirements).

The best thing to use for the study, in my experience, is those ARRL guides.
I used one called "Now you are Talking" (that's their novice license guide) and then for general "ARRL Tech Q&A". Having a decent grasp of high school level physics also helps (so if you need to brush up on any of that, a reasonable textbook would help).

I also used morse code training software, but you won't need that anymore.

[rhaley]

Any of the Ham books by Gordon West are also top notch.

[denverd0n]

Got a local library? Mine has most of Gordon West's books, as well as many others. If I want to learn something for free, and can't find it on the internet, the library is always the first place I go (though nowadays very few people seem to think of it).

[Boasun]

The next QUESTION!? I have a GMDSS license. When I finually have my next boat would I need an addum of a Ham Operator's License appended to it?

[chris_gee]

There is a free course at the NZ Amateur Radio Society which is downloadable.

[btrayfors]

Forget free instruction. You've gotta ante up at least a few bucks.

And, luckily, few it is. Less than $25 will get you all the info you need from the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL).

Here's where/how to start: ARRLWeb: ARRL Resources for Licensing Instruction

Bill
WA6CCA

[RichNH]

I agree with Bill on those books, they are not that much. They have the complete question pool plus answers and they have a textbook section which gives a good description of the principles that the questions are based on. What I did for studying was read the text book portion and as I finished each section they listed the questions that that section dealt with. So then I would go to the question pool, read the question, go back to the text book section I'd just finished and highlight the text that gave the information needed to answer the questions. At the end it made for an easy review of the text book portion.

One caution, if you want to get a license above Technician, you need to get the books that are for lower classes than the one you are going for. For instance, if you want a General license, you also need to get the Technician book as the General book only covers the questions pertaining to the new information needed for the General license. If you don't have a license now, just start at the bottom and get the Technician license and work your way up.

Rich
N1ZSC