This is was my experience getting an Amateur Radio License. This is not necessarily a recommendation.
A little about my background. Nearly 25-30 years ago, I was a two way radio installer. That was probably the biggest advantage I had versus many others in the general public. However, I feel that was really a minor advantage overall, as there just wasn't a ton of overlap between day to day application of installing radios, and ham course material.
Around the 3rd of this month, I asked read a post where @NYECOGunsmith was offering members the question and answer material for the Technician test. So, after years of me procrastinating, I asked him for it. I printed it off a day later and read the first page or two. I figured I would dedicate 30-60 minutes per day to study. What I found after a couple of days was, whenever I had down time, I didn't have it with me. So around the middle of last week, the 9th according to my email, I started taking tests on EHam, then QRZ. For me, it was more convenient because I could access from my phone from anywhere. For example, instead of spending time browsing my favorite websites when waiting to pick up kid from school, I would take practice tests.
Was getting in the 70%-80% range when I started, probably some in the 60s even. Here's the great thing about QRZ's tests. When you miss a question, it tells you what course(s) you need to study. So then I would take those practice tests, so I wouldn't miss thise questions again.
By Saturday the 11th, I felt I was ready. So I booked time to take the test online. Sunday the 12th took the online test via Zoom with this radio club, which seems to have some sort of affiliation with Auburn University:
https://parcradio.org/pages/online.html
(You can find other exams from all of the VE teams here:
http://www.arrl.org/online-exam-session )
Took test, Sunday and yesterday the 15th got my call sign. Not bad for the Feds!
So there ya have it!
Now, this method isn't for everyone. A course is probably the best method as with a course, you are learning the material, rather than memorizing answers to questions. But again, this was just my experience.
A little about my background. Nearly 25-30 years ago, I was a two way radio installer. That was probably the biggest advantage I had versus many others in the general public. However, I feel that was really a minor advantage overall, as there just wasn't a ton of overlap between day to day application of installing radios, and ham course material.
Around the 3rd of this month, I asked read a post where @NYECOGunsmith was offering members the question and answer material for the Technician test. So, after years of me procrastinating, I asked him for it. I printed it off a day later and read the first page or two. I figured I would dedicate 30-60 minutes per day to study. What I found after a couple of days was, whenever I had down time, I didn't have it with me. So around the middle of last week, the 9th according to my email, I started taking tests on EHam, then QRZ. For me, it was more convenient because I could access from my phone from anywhere. For example, instead of spending time browsing my favorite websites when waiting to pick up kid from school, I would take practice tests.
Was getting in the 70%-80% range when I started, probably some in the 60s even. Here's the great thing about QRZ's tests. When you miss a question, it tells you what course(s) you need to study. So then I would take those practice tests, so I wouldn't miss thise questions again.
By Saturday the 11th, I felt I was ready. So I booked time to take the test online. Sunday the 12th took the online test via Zoom with this radio club, which seems to have some sort of affiliation with Auburn University:
https://parcradio.org/pages/online.html
(You can find other exams from all of the VE teams here:
http://www.arrl.org/online-exam-session )
Took test, Sunday and yesterday the 15th got my call sign. Not bad for the Feds!
So there ya have it!
Now, this method isn't for everyone. A course is probably the best method as with a course, you are learning the material, rather than memorizing answers to questions. But again, this was just my experience.
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