Tuesday, September 23, 2008

General Class License

Hey, check it out, I just passed my General Class radio ham exam! Just like last time, the test popped up too quickly for me to study properly so I've been cramming the 484 multiple choice questions in the question pool for the last week and it went pretty well. I think I got 30 out of 35 right (I needed at least 26). I had been practicing on my iPhone using AA9PW's online practice exams and it had been going pretty well. It was a surprise to note that the answers weren't in the same order in the real exam as they are online. I also took the Extra Class exam, but I hadn't studied for that at all and failed miserably with a 25 out of 50.

I still have no idea why I took the test. With the new license I can operate at different frequencies that can travel further, but I don't have a radio that can transmit at those frequencies and I don't plan on getting one. I have enjoyed learning all the stuff though. I already bought the Extra Class book so I guess at some point I'll try and pass that, but not this year. I have until 2011 when the question pool will change and my current book will be out of date. Extra is as high as it goes. It's like being a frickin' black belt in radio geekery. Bad Ass!