CB Radio Talk

Congratulations! Full speed ahead!!!!

MDYoungblood wrote: Sep 16 2020, 16:35 When I first started studying, I did the Tech first, about a week in studying I realized it was only one element of questioning. I immediately got to studying the General Questions which is 2 elements of questions thinking that I'll take the General right after passing the Tech, which I did, but wasn't ready for. So back to the studying, this time the Extra which has all the exam questions and in 2 weeks (waited for my FRN and License), passed the General, aced it! It took me less than a year to get my Extra, waited for a hamfest I go to.
Even though studying is the way to go memorizing the answers is a necessity, several of the question have answers that could be right, the way it is worded makes it wrong.
Good luck to all planning to take the exams, glad I have it over and done with.

3's

Greg

I just ram across this MDY what did you use to study with Im having issues with my mind on the Tech stuff

Gunner357 wrote: Sep 23 2020, 17:12

MDYoungblood wrote: Sep 16 2020, 16:35 When I first started studying, I did the Tech first, about a week in studying I realized it was only one element of questioning. I immediately got to studying the General Questions which is 2 elements of questions thinking that I'll take the General right after passing the Tech, which I did, but wasn't ready for. So back to the studying, this time the Extra which has all the exam questions and in 2 weeks (waited for my FRN and License), passed the General, aced it! It took me less than a year to get my Extra, waited for a hamfest I go to.
Even though studying is the way to go memorizing the answers is a necessity, several of the question have answers that could be right, the way it is worded makes it wrong.
Good luck to all planning to take the exams, glad I have it over and done with.

3's

Greg

I just ram across this MDY what did you use to study with Im having issues with my mind on the Tech stuff

It's been over 7 years, the one app for my iPhone, don't remember the name, the person's name was Watson that wrote it, I did the practice exams while waiting for my wife to get out of work. My study material was online, eHam.net, QRZ.com, QTH.com, and a few others were what I used and bought a study guide off eBay. The ARRL handbook s another source for studying.

3's

Greg

MDYoungblood wrote: Sep 23 2020, 18:56

Gunner357 wrote: Sep 23 2020, 17:12

MDYoungblood wrote: Sep 16 2020, 16:35 When I first started studying, I did the Tech first, about a week in studying I realized it was only one element of questioning. I immediately got to studying the General Questions which is 2 elements of questions thinking that I'll take the General right after passing the Tech, which I did, but wasn't ready for. So back to the studying, this time the Extra which has all the exam questions and in 2 weeks (waited for my FRN and License), passed the General, aced it! It took me less than a year to get my Extra, waited for a hamfest I go to.
Even though studying is the way to go memorizing the answers is a necessity, several of the question have answers that could be right, the way it is worded makes it wrong.
Good luck to all planning to take the exams, glad I have it over and done with.

3's

Greg

I just ram across this MDY what did you use to study with Im having issues with my mind on the Tech stuff

It's been over 7 years, the one app for my iPhone, don't remember the name, the person's name was Watson that wrote it, I did the practice exams while waiting for my wife to get out of work. My study material was online, eHam.net, QRZ.com, QTH.com, and a few others were what I used and bought a study guide off eBay. The ARRL handbook s another source for studying.

3's

Greg

well i guess Im covered then cause I have all that already Arrl books ham test,ham study,etc etc etc Im just having some issues and like the dummy I am was taking exams for the GEN class didn't figure out why I wasn't passing practice exams

I just used the ARRL question pool found in the following link.
[Please login or register to view this link]
Then I stumbled onto a different set of the same questions but delivered a little differently in the following link.

That one is excellent and up to date. They also have a "General" and "Amateur Extra" version as well.

3's

Greg

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 24 2020, 00:52 I just used the ARRL question pool found in the following link.
[Please login or register to view this link]
Then I stumbled onto a different set of the same questions but delivered a little differently in the following link.
2018-no-nonsense-tech-study-guide-v1-1.pdf

I like that one!! and boy I need help thank you

Gunner357 wrote: Sep 24 2020, 11:46

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 24 2020, 00:52 I just used the ARRL question pool found in the following link.
[Please login or register to view this link]
Then I stumbled onto a different set of the same questions but delivered a little differently in the following link.
2018-no-nonsense-tech-study-guide-v1-1.pdf

I like that one!! and boy I need help thank you

There is no one that anyone needed more help than I did. I spent my whole life not wanting to know a thing about electricity. I did good to change a battery. Sparks just scared the heck out of me. So watts, volts, amps and ohms was way over my head. Plus I literally shut my brain off when I retired. So if I can do it, anyone can. But they did rub it in about some 9 year old girls that took all 3 tests in one sitting and passed all of them. That hurt my feelings.

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 25 2020, 10:06

Gunner357 wrote: Sep 24 2020, 11:46

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 24 2020, 00:52 I just used the ARRL question pool found in the following link.
[Please login or register to view this link]
Then I stumbled onto a different set of the same questions but delivered a little differently in the following link.
2018-no-nonsense-tech-study-guide-v1-1.pdf

I like that one!! and boy I need help thank you

There is no one that anyone needed more help than I did. I spent my whole life not wanting to know a thing about electricity. I did good to change a battery. Sparks just scared the heck out of me. So watts, volts, amps and ohms was way over my head. Plus I literally shut my brain off when I retired. So if I can do it, anyone can. But they did rub it in about some 9 year old girls that took all 3 tests in one sitting and passed all of them. That hurt my feelings.

Thats what kills me Ive been working with electric for 40 years and I can get most of those questions except serial and parallel Im using the wave talkers its now 3:46pm Ive been on it since 6 am and took 1 practice exam after i finished all the question pools and got 33/35 went and ate watch a movie took another practice test totally different wording on some and got 30/35 which is fine but my 2 cents after all the studying for me now its been 3 weeks I should be acing it[/quote]

Gunner357 wrote: Sep 25 2020, 13:50

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 25 2020, 10:06

Gunner357 wrote: Sep 24 2020, 11:46

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 24 2020, 00:52 I just used the ARRL question pool found in the following link.
[Please login or register to view this link]
Then I stumbled onto a different set of the same questions but delivered a little differently in the following link.
2018-no-nonsense-tech-study-guide-v1-1.pdf

I like that one!! and boy I need help thank you

There is no one that anyone needed more help than I did. I spent my whole life not wanting to know a thing about electricity. I did good to change a battery. Sparks just scared the heck out of me. So watts, volts, amps and ohms was way over my head. Plus I literally shut my brain off when I retired. So if I can do it, anyone can. But they did rub it in about some 9 year old girls that took all 3 tests in one sitting and passed all of them. That hurt my feelings.

Thats what kills me Ive been working with electric for 40 years and I can get most of those questions except serial and parallel Im using the wave talkers its now 3:46pm Ive been on it since 6 am and took 1 practice exam after i finished all the question pools and got 33/35 went and ate watch a movie took another practice test totally different wording on some and got 30/35 which is fine but my 2 cents after all the studying for me now its been 3 weeks I should be acing it

[/quote]

Yep. I don't know how they do it but they change the wording just enough so that it looks exactly like the last question just like it but mean just the opposite. Those tripped me up every time. I was finally getting over 90% then here comes a bunch with different wording and I drop to 60%. Part of that problem also was I clicked on an answer and didn't realize it didn't take so it was a miss by omission. You don't have to worry about that when you take the real test. Any you pass up or click but doesn't take will be listed in the upper left hand of your screen if you take it online. That was a bonus for me.

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 26 2020, 02:35

Gunner357 wrote: Sep 25 2020, 13:50

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 25 2020, 10:06

Gunner357 wrote: Sep 24 2020, 11:46

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 24 2020, 00:52 I just used the ARRL question pool found in the following link.
[Please login or register to view this link]
Then I stumbled onto a different set of the same questions but delivered a little differently in the following link.

I like that one!! and boy I need help thank you

There is no one that anyone needed more help than I did. I spent my whole life not wanting to know a thing about electricity. I did good to change a battery. Sparks just scared the heck out of me. So watts, volts, amps and ohms was way over my head. Plus I literally shut my brain off when I retired. So if I can do it, anyone can. But they did rub it in about some 9 year old girls that took all 3 tests in one sitting and passed all of them. That hurt my feelings.

Thats what kills me Ive been working with electric for 40 years and I can get most of those questions except serial and parallel Im using the wave talkers its now 3:46pm Ive been on it since 6 am and took 1 practice exam after i finished all the question pools and got 33/35 went and ate watch a movie took another practice test totally different wording on some and got 30/35 which is fine but my 2 cents after all the studying for me now its been 3 weeks I should be acing it

Yep. I don't know how they do it but they change the wording just enough so that it looks exactly like the last question just like it but mean just the opposite. Those tripped me up every time. I was finally getting over 90% then here comes a bunch with different wording and I drop to 60%. Part of that problem also was I clicked on an answer and didn't realize it didn't take so it was a miss by omission. You don't have to worry about that when you take the real test. Any you pass up or click but doesn't take will be listed in the upper left hand of your screen if you take it online. That was a bonus for me.
[/quote]
Yeh well Im still trying to decide on a online test or in person I bought a web cam it came in yesterday plus I have my cell and a Surface pro Laptop but not sure I like the Idea of 4 people watching me do a test.....

not sure I like the Idea of 4 people watching me do a test.....

I was so nervous that I didn't really notice they were there except for the initial set-up.

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 21 2020, 06:12

BikePacker wrote: Sep 21 2020, 04:40 Nice going Hog.... glad u have the Technician zam off ur plate.
Is "Step 2" the General?

Nope. Some equipment so maybe I can begin to understand what some of this stuff means as far as frequencies and bands. That's where I know I probably got the wrong answers. What can a Technician do on the 30 meter band? Heck, I don't even know where it is compared to the 70 meter or 10 meter except between those 2. And that's probably wrong too. So a little practical stuff before step 3.

Yo Hog - Pawleassseeeee do this before you spend hard earned on ANY handheld VHF/UHF "handie-talkie" "HT" -
Somehow someways do a real good search and destroy on WHICH HTs today is/are the EASIEST to understand and operate which therefore means also WHICH has the clearest IN American ENGLISH User Manual.
THEN look at the price tags.... it will not take much searching and chatting on your part to find that some of the HTs are not fun to figure out.
I bought one 10 years ago just before Beofangs (sp?) came out and mine turned out to be a fairly decent Chinese translated manual....
but it still took me a year to figure out what all the buttons did ..
and by the time did I found I had already forgotten what I learned on the front end of said learnin' curve.
I heard Simon Say "Keep it as easie peasie as possible, Bro."

I think I've already figured out if they can't use RT Systems or Chirp it's a no go on any HT. Let the software do it for me. But I might be wrong too.

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 30 2020, 12:01 I think I've already figured out if they can't use RT Systems or Chirp it's a no go on any HT. Let the software do it for me. But I might be wrong too.

I love RT Systems ... for me, it is worth every penny and then some.
Meanwhile, RT Systems will not save you from a not understandable HT user manual.

What model HT are we talking about?

I agree with using RT-Systems to program, just got a copy for my IC-7100. It makes D-star programing a cinch.

3's

Greg

MDYoungblood wrote: Oct 01 2020, 07:23 What model HT are we talking about?

I agree with using RT-Systems to program, just got a copy for my IC-7100. It makes D-star programing a cinch.

3's

Greg

I have a Ham friend that's going to give me one of his HTs so not really sure yet. Plus the RT software. So at some point I'll be letting him walk me thru at least one set-up. Can't go too wrong with help like that.

Get the license. There's always someone to talk to on the ham bands, especially the repeaters that are linked up. There are only 35 questions but once you get it, you will connect to people who for example who build all kind of antennas, modify radios, send data, contests and much more. There are also laid back people too so it's good to connect. I still have fun going back to channel 38 LSB, shooting skip running low power and test antennas. From talking to a lot of people at the testing site, some recommend [Please login or register to view this link]. What I like the best about the amateur radio is going portable, using an air cannon and launching antennas into the trees on field day, setting up radios, competing with thousands of hams while drinking some beer around the camp fire. There's a lot of hands on skills to be picked up in case the SHTF. lol
[mod=Bozo] corrected ham cram link for user[/mod]

hogcowboy wrote: Aug 29 2020, 00:33 Is the CB radio and it's usage trending to the point that some day there won't be any new radios produced? I know it's not like it was in the 60's where every trucker had one and you could get highway information very easily from anyone with the hammer down. I really don't know what truckers are using but I assume it's a darn phone.

My brother-in-law is a trucker and he and his trucker buddies use some kind of phone app to chat while they're driving. I don't know if he even has a CB in his truck. I hear a lot of truckers aren't using them any more. Let's face it - the internet and cell phones have basically destroyed CB. They've even hurt amateur radio to an extent. Back before the late 90's, CB and ham radio were THE methods to communicate with people in your community, across the country, and around the world. Now all you need is a cell phone. People don't want to go to the trouble of studying for a ham license or putting up an antenna when they can use the phone they already have to communicate with any other person with a phone anywhere in the world. Plus the phone is far more convenient, no bulky radio, power supply, or antenna needed. Just 4 or 5G coverage or local wifi connections.

That being said, I still enjoy communicating via radio and there are still a bunch of diehards out there. There will always be a market for ham and CB transceivers even if the market shrinks. Though, not to be a pessimist, I'm not sure how much more of a market there will be for CB. CB is totally dead in my area. Nobody has a CB in their cars or trucks any more. I actually did see a CB in someone's truck and was surprised to see it. But I don't think it had been used much in recent years since it was dusty and there wasn't a CB antenna mounted on the truck.

Even ham 2m FM has suffered. 2m used to be the busy local ham band, but activity has dropped way down in the past 10-20 years. Repeaters are often silent for days. Give your call out over a repeater and hope someone replies to you, often nobody will.

Really wondering which way I should go. So I guess I'm really asking, are CB's going to make a come back? Or should I close myself in a dark room and try to memorize all that electrical stuff that I'll never use again just to get a Ham license?

As a ham I would encourage you to get licensed. Even if you don't understand all that electrical stuff at first, it will likely click later. The tests are multiple choice so you can basically choose the answer which sounds most logical. At least you don't have to learn Morse Code any more.

---

We have merged posts.


Added in 6 minutes 51 seconds:

hogcowboy wrote: Sep 02 2020, 13:06 I think I have Alzheimer's sometimes because I just don’t remember things. Especially when I don’t consider it important.

I've been like that since, well, forever.

Sorry, correction on my last post. It's [Please login or register to view this link]

TNT1450 wrote: Dec 02 2020, 08:15
My brother-in-law is a trucker and he and his trucker buddies use some kind of phone app to chat while they're driving. I don't know if he even has a CB in his truck. I hear a lot of truckers aren't using them any more.

Do you happen to know what phone app truckers are using these days instead of CB? When on the road, I miss their chatter about traffic and such.

BTW...isn't there a Ham frequency used similarly as truckers CB 17 or 19?

For anyone else watching my growth in Ham...

Well, I've got a Yaesu FTM400 and a short car antenna sitting on top of about two feet of aluminum foil and can at least hear my local emergency broadcasts. I've connected to one guy about 30 miles from me, totally by accident playing with Echolink. That really surprised me. I told that to my best friend in Oregon and he walked me thru it again to connect with him. I've yet to make contact with anyone on 2 meter Simplex but I think a
better antenna will make that happen. I got one but it's a matter of getting a monkey to install it on my 50 foot tower. I'm sure not climbing that thing. And see, right there says I'm learning. I had no idea what was meant by 2 meters and Simplex when I started this process. So I guess I'm slowly getting there.

In addition, I've pulled my old Regency scanner out to see if any crystals I have are 154.325 MHz and discovered that's a big nope. So I've been looking
for one of those. My thought is, the scanner might be better at monitoring my local emergency stuff than this mobil ham rig. I've also got a Yaesu
FT70-R handy talky which I'm plugging in frequencies with RT Systems software on. So far not connected to anyone but that's probably because I've not gone outside my house with it yet and the roof of my house is metal. So thinking that metal roof is acting as a shield. No biggie as I really want to get that 2 meter antenna in the air before I try actually contacting anyone. This accidentally contacting someone isn't the way I want to do it, if you
know what I mean.

@hogcowboy, I'll try to answer a couple of your questions,

Do you happen to know what phone app truckers are using these days instead of CB? When on the road, I miss their chatter about traffic and such.

A lot of the truckers around Baltimore use "Zello" on their cell phones locally, the channel is usually the company name.

BTW...isn't there a Ham frequency used similarly as truckers CB 17 or 19?

On 2m you might find traffic info on a random repeater but I know of no dedicated frequency for this.

Cool on your equipment, I do D-star myself, I can be found on several reflectors.

3'2

Greg

MDYoungblood wrote: Jan 04 2021, 09:35 @hogcowboy, I'll try to answer a couple of your questions,

Do you happen to know what phone app truckers are using these days instead of CB? When on the road, I miss their chatter about traffic and such.

A lot of the truckers around Baltimore use "Zello" on their cell phones locally, the channel is usually the company name.

BTW...isn't there a Ham frequency used similarly as truckers CB 17 or 19?

On 2m you might find traffic info on a random repeater but I know of no dedicated frequency for this.

Cool on your equipment, I do D-star myself, I can be found on several reflectors.

3'2

Greg

Intersting about Zello. Wife and I use the app as our ranch handy talky. I never thought to see if there was any trucker traffic. Thanks for the tip. But the way truckers are reading by braille these days, they must be using more than Zello.

Too bad Ham didn't appeal to truckers but I guess the foul language some use might have worried them about getting fines. Maybe????

Just saw this one. If it is still "alive" and still matters.....
I can NOT recommend the No Nonsense General Class License Study Guide (from KB6NU) enough!

What I like about it is....... it works off of the current question pool and ONLY SHOWS THE CORRECT ANSWER.
You never see the OTHER choices.

Something about THAT made it easier on BOTH of my brain cells to latch on to the CORRECT answer on seeing the question. It just "locks" in and I found that it helped me on the actual test to go "straight to" the right answer.

Good luck to you on this. My son got his General Class in the same test session and that kid is having a BALL with HF.

BikePacker wrote: Sep 02 2020, 06:44 Yo "Ho...,"
Have carefully read your post.
And, btw, concur with Swan that there are excellent on-line exam prep thing-a-ma-bobs 'out there.'
Back to your specific sentiments....
How about this notion b 4 you spend any further time thinking about a Ham, of any type, license....
Consider spending $30 or 40 and buy a Ham VHF handheld* ...
put is on scan .... as I'd guess you know... listening is entirely legal ... it is the transmitting whereby a license is call for.
Spend a week just listening to whatever chatter is hearable within your vicinity.
Why give some thought to doing this?
Cause then you would gain an understanding of who the Hams are in your area and
that might cause you (or not !) to want to slog thru the Technician Ham License test preparation?
Also you'd learn if you have any Hams at all in your neighborhood ...
if not then you'd know that you were going to have to not just do the Technician License,
but also the General (cause the General is needed for longer distances than line of sight).
_____
*Purchase-able from CBRadioTalk sponsors/vendors probably.

That’s one approach, but, as I suspect you are pointing to, local repeaters are dead silent in many areas. However, being able to go digital ham is a blast and this requires a ham license. Digital allows you to talk with folks all over the world with digital clarity. I say do the study. Memorizing the answers is not that hard.