Subj : Getting Started
To   : Warpslide
From : echicken
Date : Wed Aug 19 2020 00:53:48

  Re: Getting Started
  By: Warpslide to All on Sun Aug 16 2020 10:02:11

 Wa> I recently received a TYT TH-UV88 as a gift. I don't know much about HAM
 Wa> Radio (anything really), but it looks like this small handheld supports 2M and
 Wa> 70cm frequencies. From what I understand, it's ok for me to turn this on &
 Wa> listen but I won't be able to talk until I get a license.

I don't remember what the letter of the law is, but basically you're fine as long as you don't transmit.

 Wa> There's an online course starting soon or a local club has a course starting
 Wa> in September. Does anyone in Canada have experience with rac.ca's online
 Wa> course?

No experience with it myself. I used hamstudy.com when I was preparing to take the test, and frequently went off to read elsewhere on the web when I wanted more (or differently-explained) information on a given topic. I kind of hammered my way through each section until I felt like I understood it enough and wasn't just memorizing answers. 
 Wa> I noticed that Synchronet has a built-in quiz for Canadian HAM Radio basic &
 Wa> advanced questions. I went though about 30 questions before I realized I'd
 Wa> fail pretty bad. Looks like I need to get studying.

That's a good resource for checking your progress, and it (should) present you with questions from the same pool that will be used for your actual exam. Don't be discouraged when you fail at first, or only get a bit better each time. Use it to inform you on which areas you need to study more.

Try out the USA Technician-class exam, and bring your common sense with you. It'll probably cheer you up.

 Wa> I'm located in Canada and a quick Google search says I'd need at least at
 Wa> least 70% to pass or 80% to pass with honours (allowing access to < 30MHz).

Do a lot of proper studying in advance - take a month or two or whatever you feel you need - and then in the days before your test, run through the practice exams as often as you can manage. When you get some answers wrong, go back to your study materials and reread the relevant portions, try to understand why your answer was wrong and why another one was right. (This is basically what I did, wound up with 98%, can't remember which one I missed.)

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echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com
 * Origin: electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com (21:1/164)

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