Hey everyone! I just wanted to share that today I took my technician license exam and passed.

So, as soon as it hits the ULS I'm looking forward to joining the community (beyond just listening).

And now, on to studying for my general exam...

-Zarnock

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: The Zone BBS - zonebbs.net (21:1/174)

Zarnock wrote:

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share that today I took my technician license exam and passed.

So, as soon as it hits the ULS I'm looking forward to joining the community (beyond just listening).

And now, on to studying for my general exam...

Congrats. It took me 8 years from getting my license to getting a radio, and
it is only a small HT at that. I passed my general but haven't upgraded. I
want to pass extra before doing that then I won't have to worry as much as to which frequencies I can and cannot use.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (21:2/101)

On 22 Nov 2020, Nigel Reed said the following...

Congrats. It took me 8 years from getting my license to getting a radio, and it is only a small HT at that. I passed my general but haven't upgraded. I want to pass extra before doing that then I won't have to worry as much as to which frequencies I can and cannot use.

Thanks! Also, wow 8 years? How did you get interested in amateur radio without having a radio? That's got to be a pretty interesting story!

I also have a small HT. I got it because I have people HT simplex range that
I want to be able to get a hold of in the event of an emergency. 2020 has really made me realize just how unprepared I was.

I started learning about it and finding repeaters in the area and listening
to the nets and general conversation and got really interested in the hobby/practice.

I just got a RTL-SDR that helps make it easier to find random conversations
and repeaters I didn't know I could pickup. I've been sticking to
listening to things in the 2m and 70cm range just so I don't get interested in something I can't talk on anytime soon. LOL. There is a ton of activity on both of them in my area, so they should keep me well occupied while I study
up.

-Zarnock

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: The Zone BBS - zonebbs.net (21:1/174)

Zarnock wrote:

On 22 Nov 2020, Nigel Reed said the following...

Congrats. It took me 8 years from getting my license to getting a radio, and it is only a small HT at that. I passed my general but haven't upgraded. I want to pass extra before doing that then I won't have to worry as much as to which frequencies I can and cannot use.

Thanks! Also, wow 8 years? How did you get interested in amateur radio without having a radio? That's got to be a pretty interesting story!

I used to have a CB radio back in the UK with all sorts of illegal mods like SSB and the like. I managed to speak to someone in Brazil one night, so it's always been a bit of an interest.

Now I'm a member of the local CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and one thing you learn is no matter what happens, ham radio is going to be able to transmit and relay when everything else around you is down.

I also have a small HT. I got it because I have people HT simplex range that I want to be able to get a hold of in the event of an emergency. 2020 has really made me realize just how unprepared I was.

I can't reach much with mine. We have a repeater run by the local radio club and I can just about manage to hit that and have a few conversations. I generally don't have much so say so when I use it, I mainly just listen.

I started learning about it and finding repeaters in the area and listening to the nets and general conversation and got really interested in the hobby/practice.

Now that you're going to get a callsign, you'll be able to use EchoLink too http://www.echolink.org which is interest based but you can talk to repeaters or others direct. It really defeats the object of finding people randomly, but it is useful if you're having a bad reception day.

I just got a RTL-SDR that helps make it easier to find random conversations and repeaters I didn't know I could pickup. I've been sticking to
listening to things in the 2m and 70cm range just so I don't get interested in
something I can't talk on anytime soon. LOL. There is a ton of activity on both of them in my area, so they should keep me well occupied while I study up.

My HT also has 2m/70cm for the same reason, and like I said earlier, why I've not upgraded until I pass my Extra. The thing I balk at is the insane prices some of these radios fetch....and where am I going to put the antenna!
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (21:2/101)

Congrats Nigel :)

Several years ago I was interested in amateur radio too, but the requirements to pass the exam are very hard in Germany.

How ever, I am happy that you did it (Y)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Omega BS (21:3/128)

Andy wrote:

Congrats Nigel :)

Several years ago I was interested in amateur radio too, but the requirements to pass the exam are very hard in Germany.

How ever, I am happy that you did it (Y)

It's not unusual for non-US citizens to gain a license through FCC exams. All you need is a US mailing address and I'm sure someone can help you out there. --- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (21:2/101)

11-22-20 22:45 Zarnock wrote to All about Passed technician exam to
Howdy! Zarnock,

Congratulations!!!!!

@MSGID: <[email protected]>
Hey everyone! I just wanted to share that today I took my technician license exam and passed.

So, as soon as it hits the ULS I'm looking forward to joining the community (beyond just listening).

And now, on to studying for my general exam...

73 de Ed W9ODR . .


... 6 out of 7 dwarfs are not Happy.
--- MultiMail/MS-DOS v0.49
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (21:1/175)

On 22 Nov 2020, Zarnock said the following...

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share that today I took my technician license exam and passed.

Congrats! Kind of sucks that you're coming in now, with everyone in lockdown mode, since finding a good club and set of mentors (elmers) is pretty
critical to success.

Like anything tech-related, most of the people in ham radio are self-learners... So they really respond best if they can tell you've made some effort to figure something out before asking for help. People who are a bit dense or are instantly asking to be shown everything end up being shunned.
Not saying it's right, just saying what I've seen.

But once you find the right friends in the hobby, it gets fun pretty quickly. Also, try to find a good Field Day site (if in the US, check ARRL's website). It's mine (and my son's) favorite part of the hobby.


- Andre, WT9X

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: Runaan BBS (21:3/117)

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share that today I took my technician license exam and passed.

Congrats!

nristen (Karl Harris)
https://karl.theharrisclan.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/07 (Linux/64)
* Origin: The Search BBS bbs.theharrisclan.net (34123/2222) (21:1/161)

On 23 Nov 2020, Nigel Reed said the following...

It's not unusual for non-US citizens to gain a license through FCC
exams. Allyou need is a US mailing address and I'm sure someone can help you out there.

I use Kinek for a free US mailing address. Sometimes it's free shipping within the US and something stupid like $80 for shipping to Canada, so I'd just ship it there and then go pick it up since I'm only 45 minutes away.

Well, I used to, before covid...

There's also a service called usa2me.com where they'll scan your mail to you, but it's not free.


Jay

... Inspecting mirrors is a job I could really see myself doing

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2020/10/23 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: Northern Realms (21:3/110)

Warpslide wrote:

On 23 Nov 2020, Nigel Reed said the following...

It's not unusual for non-US citizens to gain a license through FCC exams. Allyou need is a US mailing address and I'm sure someone can help you out there.

I use Kinek for a free US mailing address. Sometimes it's free shipping within the US and something stupid like $80 for shipping to Canada, so I'd just ship it there and then go pick it up since I'm only 45 minutes away.

Licenses are no longer mailed out, you have to print it, but you do need a US address. This helps with all the other junk you get from being listed on an open government computer system.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (21:2/101)

In article <[email protected]>
"Nigel Reed" <nigel.reed@21:2/101> writes:

Licenses are no longer mailed out, you have to print it

This particular point makes it seem like your liscense is forged,
especially with the "Official *copy*" watermark. I've had to back my
paper liscense up with the database entry before to curious passers-by,
and I can only imagine what would happen if a cop decided you were
forging it.
-----
-nkeck72 (Mac Plus)
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
* Origin: Final Zone BBS - finalzone.ddns.net (21:3/122)

Nkeck72 wrote:

In article <[email protected]>
"Nigel Reed" <nigel.reed@21:2/101> writes:

Licenses are no longer mailed out, you have to print it

This particular point makes it seem like your liscense is forged,
especially with the "Official *copy*" watermark. I've had to back my
paper liscense up with the database entry before to curious passers-by,
and I can only imagine what would happen if a cop decided you were
forging it.

All they have to do is stick your callsign into Google. When I enter mine, the FCC ULS entry is the first result. They can then check the address in the
entry with the address on your ID. Simple enough though they're probably not trained to do that.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (21:2/101)

On 22 Nov 2020, Zarnock said the following...

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share that today I took my technician license exam and passed.

So, as soon as it hits the ULS I'm looking forward to joining the community (beyond just listening).

Congrats!

de KG4CNA

----
Thanks!
Orbitman (Allen)
Orbit BBS, Opp, AL USA
orbitbbs.ddns.net:7210

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Linux/32)
* Origin: Orbit BBS-Opp, AL. USA | orbitbbs.ddns.net:7210 (21:2/131)

On 22 Nov 2020 at 10:45p, Zarnock pondered and said...

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share that today I took my technician license exam and passed.

Congrats!

ZL4PH

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 11/22/20, Zarnock said the following...

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share that today I took my technician license exam and passed.

Congrats! KT2KT

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A38 2018/01/01 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Eternal Domain (21:1/108)