Amateur exam turn-out

[vicorjh]

Been studying for the past couple of weeks for the amateur license tests and was planning to take the various element exams at Boxboro. But, I couldn't wait and went to the BARS (http://www.w1hh.org/) exam session held in Chelmsford last night (plus, I really wanted to spend my time at the sessions and swap meet at the hamfest).

BARS apparently sponsors a monthly exam session. Last night, there were around 20 walk-in exam takers from all around the metro-Boston area. I was surprised at the numbers. I also got the impression that the VEs were happy with the turn-out.

What is your experience with the turn-out for these exams? Increasing / decreasing numbers?

 

[cockpitbob]

I haven't been participating in my club's VE sessions so I don't know what's typical in Gloucester, but I'll say that the number of hams in the U.S. has been rising steadily since they dropped the Morse code requirement in 2007.
Note that this is an offset chart, so it's only an 11% increase since the bottom in 2007, but before then there were very, very few people getting their licenses. Just enough to equal the old hams dying and people not doing the 10 year renewal, or after 2003, not even keeping up with that.

It would be interesting to see a study of why it's become popular again. I mean, with cell phones and the internet, who needs ham radio? I'm thinking it's a combination of the cheap 2meter HTs like the UV-5Rs and people thinking in the back of their minds it would be good to have for a SHTF situation. Plus, I'm guessing the average person feels a SHTF situation is more likely than it has been in decades.

 

[blindfire]

Been studying for the past couple of weeks for the amateur license tests and was planning to take the various element exams at Boxboro. But, I couldn't wait and went to the BARS (http://www.w1hh.org/) exam session held in Chelmsford last night (plus, I really wanted to spend my time at the sessions and swap meet at the hamfest).

BARS apparently sponsors a monthly exam session. Last night, there were around 20 walk-in exam takers from all around the metro-Boston area. I was surprised at the numbers. I also got the impression that the VEs were happy with the turn-out.

What is your experience with the turn-out for these exams? Increasing / decreasing numbers?

Yep...back in December of last year when I took my tech test, we had about the same number...also at BARS.

Honestly, a lot of this increase is driven by the increase in the prepper movement. People realize that grid tied comms is fragile.

 

[robjax]

got my tech in a day today up in boxboro at the ham-apalooza through the Cape Ann in Glouster....lol

 

[vicorjh]

Congrats robjax! How many were at the class/test?

 

[robjax]

Congrats robjax! How many were at the class/test?

Thank you.

I think there were 20 people. Nine people left early as there was a group down the hall just giving tests. So they went down there and took the test. Not sure who the other group was. Those 9 all passed. I was the first to finish in what was left of the class and two people finished shortly after me passed. So a great success rate up until I left. One guy actually tried the general exam because it was free and he didn't do well. We had a little chuckle about it before he left. Hey, he had nothing to lose except a few minutes time and now he knows what to expect for that next phase. I didn't take the general. I'm going to be surprised..lol I'll study for it...

 

[cockpitbob]

Congratulations!!

Welcome to the hobby that's actually 100different hobbies. Until you decide on what gear to get, get a UV-5R, programming cable and download Chirp. Then, check into some weekly club nets. They love newcomers, and if you tell them you just got your ticket and it's your first net they'll be thrilled.

 

[robjax]

Congratulations!!

Welcome to the hobby that's actually 100different hobbies. Until you decide on what gear to get, get a UV-5R, programming cable and download Chirp. Then, check into some weekly club nets. They love newcomers, and if you tell them you just got your ticket and it's your first net they'll be thrilled.

Thank you....I actually bought a radio for the rolling rally. GOAL ended up having enough but I was concerned they might run out so I grabbed a UV-5X3...VHF, 1.25M, UHF Tri-Band FM Transceiver. I haven't really messed with it too much as far as programming. Just used it to monitor when I was in the rolling rally and I listen to 146.640 during the week. I've heard a few conversations...

But it's fun to listen.

 

[cockpitbob]

robjax, keep the ball rolling and get your general. At the flea market at Boxboro I saw lots of older, but perfectly functional HF rigs for < $500. The General opens up the whole world to you. Even if all you do is grind through 1 online practice test a day, you'll get there quick, so long as you don't loose momentum.

Not to brag(yeah, right!), but when my son was 11 he did the tech-in-a-day with me and passed his Tech and got 50% on the General. He was into it, so every night after school he worked the practice tests and 2 weeks later at a VE test session at a ham flea market he got his General (at the age of 11). Of course at that age the brain memorizes really well and he didn't really understand the theory, but as Stan Stone once said, don't worry about the theory. If you stick with the hobby the theory will come in time. Just learn the rules and procedures enough to stay out of trouble.

 

[robjax]

robjax, keep the ball rolling and get your general. At the flea market at Boxboro I saw lots of older, but perfectly functional HF rigs for < $500. The General opens up the whole world to you. Even if all you do is grind through 1 online practice test a day, you'll get there quick, so long as you don't loose momentum.

Not to brag(yeah, right!), but when my son was 11 he did the tech-in-a-day with me and passed his Tech and got 50% on the General. He was into it, so every night after school he worked the practice tests and 2 weeks later at a VE test session at a ham flea market he got his General (at the age of 11). Of course at that age the brain memorizes really well and he didn't really understand the theory, but as Stan Stone once said, don't worry about the theory. If you stick with the hobby the theory will come in time. Just learn the rules and procedures enough to stay out of trouble.

Thank you for that advice and encouragement. On my breaks I strolled outside and saw some stuff. I recognized a lot of it but I need to study up on the rigs and to gain lots more knowledge on theory....lol.

Kids...man that's fantastic. kudos to your son!!!!

It's funny because Stan said almost that exact same thing this morning. I signed up for hamtestonline....so I have access to the study questions and practice exams. I paid for all three so the plan is to take all three. Just couldn't study all of it before today. I also have the ARRL level 1. Need to grab 2 and 3 off off amazon. So I think Cape Ann has a schedule for the exams on Sundays once or twice a month. So I'll visit their website and then make a plan to complete level 2. When I'm ready I can either run up there or find somewhere closer...I told my wife about where they are so if they have a test I take there she wants to spend the day up there and do lunch with the kids. It's always about them....lmao...

 

[cockpitbob]

Don't get too worked up about getting the Extra license. I see very few benefits. With the Extra, you don't have to remember what part of the band you can't go in. You get bragging rights. I suppose on the busy days, the Extra slices of the bands are a little quieter. If you get seriously into Dx or contesting you'll want to be able to bag that rare station calling CQ in the Extra portion of the band. But it's a great challenge, and if you get it you will have learned a great deal about electronics.

 

[robjax]

Don't get too worked up about getting the Extra license. I see very few benefits. With the Extra, you don't have to remember what part of the band you can't go in. You get bragging rights. I suppose on the busy days, the Extra slices of the bands are a little quieter. If you get seriously into Dx or contesting you'll want to be able to bag that rare station calling CQ in the Extra portion of the band. But it's a great challenge, and if you get it you will have learned a great deal about electronics.

ok...thank you for that information. Right now I am just concentrating on the next one. Not sure if I will get into all those contesting events. When i'm outside I really like to be shooting or fishing. But you never know. I like different challenges. I'm starting to study for the general today. My 7th grader showed me this app that will help me study. Thank god for kids....lol Of course she'll have to show me how to use the app first..What can you do....

 

[Chet0729]

There were 20+ the 2 times I took a test

 

[robjax]

yeah and there were quite a few young people in the room too. I thought it would be guys my age or older. A young couple had to be in their early 20's....another kid there with his dad. Another kid and his dad dropped him off. Both of those kids were teens. Most of the others in there had to be mid 40's or less. A few older guys.....mostly younger people though. That's a good sign.

 

[blindfire]

While at Boxboro, I talked to a couple of the Cape Anne guys who were running the Tech-in-a-Day course. I asked about the boom in recent licensing. Their take was that a lot of first responders are getting their ticket...people like nurses, EMS and firefighters.

Hadn't thought about that since most of those folks use commercial radio for a living.

 

[cockpitbob]

While at Boxboro, I talked to a couple of the Cape Anne guys who were running the Tech-in-a-Day course. I asked about the boom in recent licensing. Their take was that a lot of first responders are getting their ticket...people like nurses, EMS and firefighters.

Hadn't thought about that since most of those folks use commercial radio for a living.

When I got my ticket in 2010 there were 3 EMTs there. They said they were doing it because of work, which was encouraging them to do it. I didn't know enough to be confused by commercial users getting amateur tickets. My guess is it's the cheapest way to become a "trained radio operator" and have a card to prove it.