So, last Thursday I took the FCC's Element 3 exam and upgraded my license to General Class. The update hasn't shown up yet in the FCC's Universal Licensing System database, but I have my CSCE.
To prepare for the exam I used three resources:
- The ARRL's General Class License Manual
- Free online practice questions from QRZ.com
- Free online practice questions from Hamexam.org
Although QRZ.com and Hamexam.org contain the same pool of questions, they present the questions differently. When you take a practice test at QRZ they are shown to you one question per page, and immediately graded. However, when you take a practice test at Hamexam all 35 questions are presented on one page, and not graded until you click a button after finishing all of them. I found Hamexam's format to render better on my iPad, but I found QRZ's format better for learning.
With my newly acquired HF privileges I need to get a new radio. The modes I'm interested in operating on HF are SSB, PSK-31, and Olivia MFSK, on 10M to 40M. 60M and 80M would be cool, too, but I don't know yet if I'll be able to setup an antenna suitable for them.
After seeking input on Arfcom and doing a lot of online research, I am leaning heavily to the Icom IC-718. It's been out for awhile and gets good reviews on eHam.net. Plus, compared with radios like the Yaesu FT-857 of -897, or similar Icom and Kenwood HF/VHF/UHF capable units, it's less menu driven, which should make it easier to use. The IC-718 does 80M to 10M, lacking 6M, VHF, and UHF. For the latter two I have a Yaesu FT-7800R and VX-5RS. While 6M might be nice to have I don't think I'll really miss it that much.
Along with the new radio I'll need a new antenna and an antenna tuner. Due to space constraints I'm leaning towards an Ultimax 100 strung between the roof of my house and a short mast near my back fence. (At least I don't need to deal with a homeowner's association.)
For mobile use I'll also pick up some sort of portable vertical antenna and/or a multiband dipole that I can string up between a couple of trees.
This should be fun.
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4 comments:
Congrats!
DE KG4GVL a "Know Code" Extra class op (I got my tech+ ticket and waited for the requirement to drop to 5wpm before testing, even though I can operate at about 20wpm, cuz I's a nerd like that)
See you on 40m? And don't forget that low power is your friend when SHTF!
Thanks!
I will be getting on 40M once I get a rig. I'm now also looking at the IC-7200. More money, but it's designed for PC-based control using just a USB cable, which I find very appealing because I am interested in digital modes.
7200 is fb, I know several guys who love theirs. I use a Swan 100MX or homebrew stuff. The Swan has instructions for using it with RTTY, but I don't know if the PTO is stable enough for any serious use. I might decide to build the Digi interface for Android fone QST had this last year, but we shall see.
"fb"?
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