Your Entry Into Amateur Radio
So, you’ve talk to other amateur radio operators, read all about the hobby and decided that amateur radio might be right for you. But how do you get started? What’s required? What do you need? Where do you go? Fortunately, here’s where you can find the answers.
As mentioned in the License Class section, each license class requires a written exam. But fear not. There are plenty of ways to prepare for the exam. Here are just a few.
Study Materials
There are a wide variety of study methods available. Different groups like the ARRL, Ham Radio Prep, and HamStudy.org, as well as others, offer study classes online, and even have study materials available for purchase so you can study at your own pace in the comfort of home. Interestingly, the study guides not only have the complete set of questions you will encounter for the test, but it will also have all the answers! One word about study guides: Make sure they cover the current question pool. Every so often the question pools for each license class are reviewed. Questions can be changed, added or even removed. Just be sure the study guides you are using cover the current question pool timeline.
Some groups also offer classes both online and real world. These classes can range in time from several hours in one day or cover several weeks, usually on weekends, so be sure you are able to invest the time. Check with the organizing group for the details.
Practice, Practice, Practice
When you feel like you’ve read all that you can read, have a fairly good grasp of the materials and concepts, put your knowledge to the test with a few practice exams. There are several sources online that provide practice tests, such as Ham Radio Prep, QRZ, Ham Radio License Exam and more. Best of all, they’re free. The practice exams are set up just like the real exam utilizing the same question pool you studied from. Practice as often as you like. Remember, just like the real exam, each practice exam will be different. Once you feel confident enough that you’re able to pass with at least a 70% (the required amount to pass) or better, head to the Testing section to see what’s next.
Quick Information
We meet the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm at the Colony Christian Church in Colony Kansas. Visitors of all ages welcome.
We conduct testing for all Amateur Radio license classes by prior arrangement. Connect with us via the Contact page or contact any of our club officers to arrange time and place.