One of the things that attracted me to Amateur Radio is the community of people who are eager to help. If you’re having trouble with the exam, wanting to design and/or install an antenna, repairing a radio, purchasing the correct radio, working a kit or project or whatever it may be and you need help, all you have to do is ask and most of the time someone is willing to help. With the advancement of the internet and the use of forums and social media, it’s eaiser than ever to get the help you need from someone who has the correct answers.
For my first WOTW (Website Of The Week… Yeah, I’m calling it that) is KB6NU’s blog. I like his site because it’s current and frequently updated both in design and content. However the main attraction of his website is his “No-Nonsense Study Guides” to obtain or upgrade an amateur radio license in the USA. These guides gives you the questions and answers that are on the test with a brief explanation in way that makes it easy to understand. This allows the reader to get a general idea of what the questions are about w/o having to read pages and pages. It’s more than just memorizing questions.
I’ll be honest and say that I’ve learned more about amateur radio after obtaining my license because I wanted to, not because I have to. License manuals from the ARRL are filled with all the information you could possibly need to get your license (or upgrade) but for someone who is brand new to the hobby, it can be overwhelming with all this information being thrown at you at once. Some might argue that this information is necessary to know before obtaining a license and I somewhat agree. I wouldn’t want to see an operator cause interference, damage property or injure themselves or others but I don’t think they will be building a legal limit amplifier and erecting a 100′ tower right from the start.
Personal opinions aside, the questions in the exam are in there for one reason or another. KB6NU’s guides makes it easier to learn and I wish used them while I was obtaining my licenses. KB6NU’s guides are public (in PDF format) and I strongly suggest that if you find them useful that you donate through his website
Thanks for reading,
– Jeff (NT1K)
Website of the Week. May 1st 2013: KB6NU’s Ham Radio Blog