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Saturday, January 10, 2009

General Ham Radio Class

On Friday night I started my Ham Radio class for my General license. For those who don't know that's the middle level of license that you can get. It goes Technician, General and then Amateur Extra. I got my Technician license last April but I really haven't done anything with it. I have a radio now but I never turn it on. I'm not certain I'm really into the whole chat-with-random-strangers-over-the-radio thing. I'm only taking the class because it's a free and it seems wrong to turn down the training.

When I started reading for the class I learned that one of the big things about the General license is that it allows you to use HF (High Frequency) bands. HF bands allow for longer distance contacts. My current Technician license mainly allows for local contacts. Of course my radio doesn't run HF so it wouldn't even work if I did have my General. I'm certainly not going to buy another radio either. There is a whole bunch of knowledge that is expected for the General test that I just don't have. I barely use my radio, let alone know all sorts of technical details about using it. I contemplated dropping the class after the first night but I think I'm going to stick it out. I just don't know, though...

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