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since 1/21/02

Welcome to the Centerville Area Amateur Radio Club!

     After you have become a Technician Class licensee, you can try upgrading to a General Class license. This will allow you to operate on the range of frequencies which allow you to talk to far off places, hams in other countries, and maybe even countries you've never even heard of! Just go through the steps laid out before, except ask for a General Class study guide. Note - you need to pass your Technician Class test before you can take your General Class test. Tests may not be "leap-frogged" over, but must be taken in sequential order.

     In addition to passing the General Class theory, you must also demonstrate that you have the ability to receive Morse Code at a speed of 5 words per minute. Now this may sound tough, but it's very easy to do. The important thing to remember is that you DO NOT MEMORIZE THE DOTS AND DASHES! Memorize the sounds of the letters, i.e., a is didah, b is dahdididit, n is dadit, and so on. For some great tips on learning code, click here for ARRL's "Learn Morse Code!" page.

     Code practice tapes can be purchased from Radio Shack, but your best route is to download computer software that will generate random strings of text (see the software section). The reason for this is that the code tapes are memorized easily. Also, if you have a shortwave receiver you can tune into the W1AW code practice transmissions. Frequencies and times can be found at the ARRL website or by clicking here to go straight to the CW practice transmission schedule. If you do not have a SW radio, you can download the transmissions in .mp3 format at the ARRL's W1AW Code Practice Files page.

     When you feel you are ready to take your tests,  and set up another testing session. This time in addition to the things mentioned before, you will need to bring a copy of your current Technician Class license. You'll then be given your General Class test which consists of 35 multiple choice questions of which you must answer 26 correctly. You can take your code test at this time if you wish, or you can take it at a later date within a year (note - you will not be able to operate as a general class until you pass your code test even if you have passed your theory). To pass the code test, you must answer 10 fill-in-the-blank questions about the text you received, or have copied one minute of text without any errors. The written test will take between 30 minutes and an hour, and the code test will take between 15 to 45 minutes.

     When you pass this test, you will immediately gain access to the frequency range that ham radio is known for. You will be able to talk to exotic places such as Estonia, Antarctica, New Zealand, and Vanuatu just to name a few! There are even awards available for contacts you make! Visit the ARRL Website for some awards they offer. Click "operating activities from the menu, then select "awards".

     Is that not enough for you? Then it's time to take a shot at the top of the heap, the Amateur Extra Class license! This is the toughest of all the tests to pass. This test contains 50 questions, of which you must answer 37 correctly to pass. Again, follow the steps mentioned previously except ask for an Extra Class study guide. This may require some more studying than the other two, but it is worth it!

     When you have learned all the necessary information and have passed a few practice tests, then again to set up another testing session. This time, bring a copy of your General Class license, a pencil or non-red pen, a calculator (scientific will be a big help), and some scratch paper. This test is formula-heavy, but it isn't impossible! When you pass this test, you've reached the pinnacle of ham radio licensing. You will gain immediate access to all amateur radio frequencies.

     So in closing, take a shot at getting a ham radio license! It is a very enjoyable and rewarding hobby that many people enjoy.

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