CQ'ing all Hams and SSB users

[gamayun]

I bought an SSB for an upcoming passagemaking in June. I'd really like to use the ham bands to try to communicate with family on the East Coast; however, I let my tech license with code lapse more than a decade ago. Unfortunately, I never really used it way back when except for RACES events and a couple of Field Days with my son. And even then, someone just handed me a radio and told me what to do. Now, I'm studying for real for a testing session that is coming up very soon. Can I post questions to you hams as I go through the General study guide? I just can't seem to memorize this stuff like I used to, particularly when there's not enough context. Here's one question. I know I need to memorize the ham bands, but is there a reason, for example, that 10 m is allocated to 28 MHz and 6 m to 50 MHz? Was it a random assignment or does it have to do with bandwidth or somthing where I can correlate one number to the other? I've tried to Google the answer, but all I get is that different countries have somewhat different allocations. Argh! Before I get chastised for not taking advantage of the great value that's offered in the ham classes -- I know, I know....I truly wish I had started there first

[senormechanico]

10M + ten meters.
That's the wavelength of the carrier frequency.
As it travels at the speed of light, you can do the math to find out the frequency.
They are inversely proportional.
The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength.

[Frankly]

Wavelength (meters) =300÷ frequently in MHz

300 ÷ 14.3 MHz= 20 meters more or less

The conversion formula is accurate, because the ham bands typically cover a range of frequencies there is some shall we say slop in the reference "operating on 10 meters" 28 to 29.7 MHz.

[Kalinka1]

Are you sure your licence has lapsed? Here it's permanent and no fees. You might not have to reset the exam?

[Robert Tilbury]

I let mine laps , I filled in a form RPL i think ,
Something about previous learning they just re issued it ,,
But thats Australia ,,

When you get on air send me a message we can sked a contact .
Rob
VK2LOZ

[roverhi]

I tried to get my General Ham license after being a SoPac radio pirate many years ago. Have a mental block and could only get my code speed up to the 6wpm for the novice license. When I heard they'd dropped the code requirement and I was planning another cross ocean passage, got my General License. Used a couple of the license test prep courses on the internet. They were basically just sample test questions and after a couple of days of going over and over the sample tests felt confident to take the General Exam. The test was relatively easy and must have done pretty well as the exam people were surprised that I didn't want to also take the Amateur Extra Test.

FWIW, taking the Amateur Extra Test is highly recommended if you are planning on a sail to Europe. Understand that you cannot legally do HF voice with just a General License in England, for sure and possibly other countries.

[belizesailor]

A good prep site is www.hamtestonline.com.

Also see the ARRL web site...and I think they have a test prep app now.

[oilystain]

If you want some easy access ham go to brandmeister on the internet and you can listen all over the world on your internet device. I use a cheap tyt md380 radio with an openspot to talk to people all over the world while not near my hf rig. Lots of fun and a really active community without having to run all the equipment for a full hf rig. 74 and see you on tac310.

[gamayun]

Originally Posted by Kalinka1

Are you sure your licence has lapsed? Here it's permanent and no fees. You might not have to reset the exam?

Yeah, I checked. All I had to do was update my info in the FCC database and I would have been good, but I ran into some problem with the website, got frustrated and never followed up. After the expiration date, there's only a two-year grace period in the US. I have well surpassed that by more than a decade...

[gamayun]

Originally Posted by Robert Tilbury

I let mine laps , I filled in a form RPL i think ,
Something about previous learning they just re issued it ,,
But thats Australia ,,

When you get on air send me a message we can sked a contact .
Rob
VK2LOZ

Ha, I will do that! Just as soon as I figure out how to do that.

[gamayun]

Originally Posted by Frankly

Wavelength (meters) =300÷ frequently in MHz

300 ÷ 14.3 MHz= 20 meters more or less

The conversion formula is accurate, because the ham bands typically cover a range of frequencies there is some shall we say slop in the reference "operating on 10 meters" 28 to 29.7 MHz.

This should certainly help. Now I just need to memorize the wavelength of each frequency

Thanks also to everyone who suggested the links. I am using the test preps on ARRL's site. Super helpful for Tech level, but I'm scoring in the 30s for General. That's why I ordered the book so maybe it will make more sense.

[belizesailor]

Why not just remember the formula once and calculate the wave length when needed? That was the point of posting it I think.

[Davidhoy]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

A good prep site is HamTestOnline - Ham Radio Exam Courses and Practice Tests.

Also see the ARRL web site...and I think they have a test prep app now.

Another good free online resource is https://hamstudy.org/ - I used it extensively when I got my technician and then general licenses a couple of years ago.

-David

[brazenarticle]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

A good prep site is HamTestOnline - Ham Radio Exam Courses and Practice Tests.

Also see the ARRL web site...and I think they have a test prep app now.

I'll also recommend hamtestonline.com
It teaches to the test but with enough explanation to keep it interesting...the knowlege builds over the course and there is feedback and practice exams so you can see your progress.
After a month of study - usually an hour or so a day - I passed all three exams in one sitting.

[btrayfors]

Gemayun,

A little hint:

Don't waste time trying to memorize the authorized frequencies by license. There are only a couple of exam questions on this subject anyway, and even if you miss them all you can still easily pass the exam.

Focus on passing the General. You should be able to do this rather easily simply by doing the online sample tests, and reading a bit.

Also...don't waste time by posting on this or other site. While there are lots of well intentioned folks hereabouts, you'll likely get a ton of irrelevant steers (like maybe your license hasn't really expired) from people not totally familiar with U.S. licensing.

Stay focused on the online sample tests and license exam documents.

Bill