Passed Tech exam!

[BobCB]

Alright guys, I took and passed my Tech license exam. I'm now officially a licensed ham radio operator . I can't wait to get out there and make that first contact, just like I did with CB. The test wasn't hard at all. After a few days of doing practice tests and looking over the "No-nonsense" study guide, the answers just jumped right out at me.

I'll go ahead and say one thing, before anyone asks. I don't consider my hobby to be "CB", I consider my hobby to be "Radio". To me that includes scanners, CB, HAM, shortwave, etc. so I'm not going to be one of those people you hear about that gets their ham ticket and then starts bashing CB-not going to happen here. If anything I'll still spend most of my time on CB.

[hilltop 439]

Congrats BobCb to you passing your exam . May i say do not stop there the real fun begins on the HF bands study up for your upgrade to General or even Extra while your mind is fresh and still in study mode. The Tech license is just a taste of what you can do in Amateur radio. And yes i'm with you Amateur radio or CB radio it's all radio to me .

[gunner57]

Congrats man. I plan on taking mine soon too then upgrading from there. Maybe we'll run into each other some day on 2 meter or 11 meter if skip is rolling.

[231]

Congrats' Bob!

[Nagant]

Congrats Bobby!!!

[str8stroke]

Good job! You are 100% correct about the hobby being radios. When i read that I was like, he is so right! I love just about every kinda of radio too! Just seems broken ones are attracted to me! lol Keep it up and get the General!!

[Ronin]

CONGRATULATIONS Bobby! I agree with you 100%,.... it's a 'radio' hobby. Shortwave, CB, Ham, scanners, AM broadcast, FRS, etc., etc., etc!

And,.. Good luck Doug (gunner57).... I am sure you will pass with flying colors!

[BobCB]

Thanks for the comments everyone! I may wait a little while before I try and test for a higher class, right now I just want to get my feet wet and finally be able to use the 2m radios I have in the shack forever! haha

BobCB

[hilltop 439]

What kind of 2 meter radio and antenna do you have ? I use a Kenwood TM 261a in the mobile and a icom V8000 here at the base. The mobile antenna is a Comet SSB25 and the base 2 meter antenna is a Crushcraft 13b2.
You will have to find your local repeater frequencies and tones. They should be listed on the internet that's were i got mine.

[BushHog]

congrats bob, there are many dual users on the forum. its always good to have options.

[MDYoungblood]

Congrats BobCb, I have my study guide laying open here on the desk. I had a chat with "Bombero" yesterday went upstairs and got the books back off the shelf. Be talking to you on the airwaves.

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Greg

[BobCB]

What kind of 2 meter radio and antenna do you have ? I use a Kenwood TM 261a in the mobile and a icom V8000 here at the base. The mobile antenna is a Comet SSB25 and the base 2 meter antenna is a Crushcraft 13b2.
You will have to find your local repeater frequencies and tones. They should be listed on the internet that's were i got mine.

For 2 meter I have an Azden PCS-6000H and my antenna is a homebrew Moxon beam. My mobile is going to be an Alinco DR-135T, and I haven't yet decided on an antenna. I already have all of the local repeaters programmed in both rigs. I'll have to check out that Comet antenna for my mobile, do you know if they make a lip-mount version?

Some may wonder why I'm using the Alinco(a much nicer rig) in the car instead of the other way around-it's because the Alinco has alpha tags and while I'm driving I think it'll be easier to make sure I'm on the right repeater. Plus the fact that I'm using a directional antenna should make up for the lower power of the Azden when using it for a base.

For 70cm I have a Shouao TS-228 and an old Kenwood TK-350(gotta reprogram it from old police freqs to ham freqs when my cable gets delivered). Both are handhelds but they should do the trick since we don't have much 70cm activity around here.

I was all set up with equipment, the only problem was finding the time to actually go and take the test/comit to studying for it.

[hilltop 439]

Great radios those Alincos are my father inlaw loves his Alinco VHF and Hf rigs they sound very good over the air and are user friendly to program. I am not familiar with the Azden or Shouao i'll check them out on Google.
The Comet SBB-25 antenna so far has served me well it's a 5/8 wave 48 inch 200 watt VHF mobile antenna. The mounting system is a little odd is uses a PL 259 connector at the bottom oposite of most mounting systems. What i did was use a Wilson 5000 mag mount unscrewed the Wilson off the manet and screwed the Comet in it's place works like a charm. As far as a lip mounted system not sure i thought i saw some different mounting hardware on the HRO website were i bought the antenna.

[BobCB]

Sounds good. I'll definitely check that Comet out. As for the Azden rig, Azden was a Japanese manufacturer of ham radios in the late 80s and early 90s. They're a little difficult to program(not for me, I'm good with stuff like that) for most people, but they are pretty durable. The Shouao was just a little UHF handheld I picked up on Amazon for $40 a few months ago. It's one of those newer cheap Chinese handhelds, kind of like the Puxings, Wouxuns, etc. It's actually a pretty decent little handheld, although there's not a lot of info about them out there. I did put an in-depth review of it on my Youtube channel, if you're interested. The link is on my sig.

[hilltop 439]

Sure i'll have a look i am alway up for a new exploration aspecially when it come to radios and STUFF.

[721HACKSAW]

Great post Bob, that's how I describe myself, "Radio Communicator". LOL
It won't be long you will want to be up on 80m exploring more Voice options on other bands.

[Island_0860]

Congrats Bob !

Hey dont have a heart attack when you get a letter from the FCC....it's only your License man !

Good Job

[Bombero]

Congratulations Bob...Hope to hear you soon on HF.

A lot of time a guy will get his ham ticket and start knocking CBers....but that is a minority.

Remember this...Once you do 11M...you'll always be back.

Bombero

[Sporty Mike]

Oh No!!! We lost another local!!......JK Bobby , congrats on the ticket...I'll be listening for you on the repeaters....Since I'm still a Pirate , all I can do is listen Arrrgghhh


Mike

[BobCB]

So for those of you who have their licenses, how long did it take for yours to show up in the ULS database? I would've thought that either my application or license would've shown up by now, but no such luck. At what point should I become worried?

[Bombero]

So for those of you who have their licenses, how long did it take for yours to show up in the ULS database? I would've thought that either my application or license would've shown up by now, but no such luck. At what point should I become worried?

Hey Bob..

It took 6 of the longest days in history.

Bombero

[str8stroke]

Passed on a Thursday evening, posted by the next Tuesday evening. Same for the upgrade.

[Slim Pickins]

Congrats on the license. Enjoy.

Slim

[BobCB]

Well, now it really is official. My license showed up on the ULS database today!

[Sheriff Bart]

Congrats Bob. You will like your priviledges on phone very much. I'm usually @ 28.450 USB at various times throughout the day chatting with some friends.



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