In this episode, I share the story of my recent journey toward earning my General HAM Radio License and how my experience in the Parks on the Air (POTA) program motivated me to fully commit to passing the exam. You'll hear about my study techniques, my unexpected weekend adventure with a seasoned HAM operator, and how it all culminated in acing the exam.

Introduction:

• Recap of last week’s episode where I mentioned I was hesitant but had signed up to take my General HAM Radio exam.
• I talk about how I was initially unsure if I wanted to pursue the General License because I already had privileges with my Technician license on the 10-meter band.

Parks on the Air (POTA) Experience:

• On Saturday, September 14th, I had an unexpected and life-changing experience. While studying, I heard Tim Lawrence, W4TWL, call out on the radio. He was heading to a park for POTA.
• For those unfamiliar, POTA is a program where HAM radio operators set up their rigs in state or national parks to make contacts. It’s a fun way to explore radio communication in the great outdoors.

My First Hands-On POTA Experience:

• When I arrived, I saw Tim’s full setup: an extendable mast, dipole antenna, battery, and his Icom 7000 radio. It was simple yet incredibly effective.
• Tim explained the basics of POTA and allowed me to use his call sign to make contacts while he supervised. I was nervous at first, but I quickly adapted.
• I made contacts with people in New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and other states, and the experience was exhilarating.
• This hands-on experience shifted my mindset from “I might pass the General exam” to “I have to pass this exam.”

Study Techniques for the General Exam:

• I immediately ramped up my study efforts. Over the next few days, I dedicated every spare moment to memorizing the answers to the 484 questions in the General exam pool.
• My method? I used hundreds of colored index cards (green for questions I was confident about, yellow for those I was unsure of, and pink for those I didn’t know at all). I went through every question meticulously until I had them all memorized.

Passing the General Exam:

• By Monday night, I had invested a total of 20+ hours studying, and I went into the exam with full confidence.
• I’m happy to share that I scored 35 out of 35 on my General exam—just like I did with my Technician exam a month earlier!
• I now have access to all HF bands, which opens up so many new opportunities for making contacts around the world.

What’s Next:

• Many have asked if I’ll go for my Extra License next, but right now, I’m focused on mastering the concepts from both the Technician and General exams.
• My goal is to fully understand every question and concept from both exams before moving on to the Extra License.

The Search for HF Gear:

• Now that I have my General License, I need HF gear. I’m currently considering a few different options:
  1. The Icom 7100, which is a great all-band radio, and I have an offer to buy one for $800.
  2. The Icom 7300, which has an amazing color waterfall display but is HF-only.

Creating A Budget For This Hobby

• I share that I've decided to put my 1974 Classic Volkswagen Beetle up for sale to fund my new radio hobby..

Gratitude for the HAM Community:

• The generosity and support of the HAM radio community have been amazing. Special shoutouts to Tim Lawrence (W4TWL), Greg Lamb (W0QI), and Rod Milligan (KY4ROD) for their mentorship and guidance.
• I’ve also joined the Northern Kentucky Amateur Radio Club and ARRL, and I look forward to building even more connections within this incredible community.

Affiliate Mention:

• If you’re studying for your Technician, General License, and/or Extra license, I highly recommend checking out Ham Radio Prep. Use my affiliate code "KQ4UUR" to get a discount on their course.

Want to connect on HF?

• Feel free to email me at cliff@cliffravenscraft.com, and I’ll put you on my desired QSO list.

In this episode, I share how this podcast has had the unexpected benefit of reconnecting others who had previously been active in amateur radio but had lost their passion for it over time.

In fact, this episode was inspired by a heartfelt Voxer message I received from my friend Marc Jeffrey (2E0MCJ), who had been inactive in amateur radio for several years, but was inspired to dust off his equipment and get back on the air after listening to the first few episodes of this podcast.

I then dive into my own journey, discussing my first international contacts made using digital voice modes like DMR and the Kansas Citywide network. I share the fascinating conversations I had with amateur radio operators from India, the island of Malta, China, and Ireland marveling at the ability to connect with people around the world through this technology.

I also recount my experience attending my first hamfest in the Greater Louisville area. I compare the atmosphere to a "niche flea market" for amateur radio enthusiasts, and share my observations about the demographic of attendees, as well as the valuable relationships I built by connecting with members of my local amateur radio club. This led me to discuss my plans to join multiple amateur radio clubs in my area.

Another focus of this episode is my preparation for upgrading to the General class license. I share my study process, confidence level, and motivations for getting the General ticket, even though I don't yet have the equipment to fully utilize the HF privileges. I also mention what I learned about the possibility of taking the exam remotely through the WM7X test team.

Throughout the episode, I express my excitement about the potential of digital voice modes, my desire to learn more about D-Star, and my plans to potentially host my own international net.

I also encourage listeners to consider obtaining their amateur radio licenses or upgrading to the next level. As a reminder, you can use the HamRadioPrep.com course with my coupon code KQ4UUR for a special discount.

If you enjoy this podcast, you'll likely find great value in my main podcast, The Cliff Ravenscraft Show. Give it a listen at http://TheCliffRavenscraftShow.com.

In this episode of Cliff's Notes on amateur radio, I share the story of my immediate buyer's remorse after receiving my assigned call sign.

It all began on August 21, 2024, the day I received my amateur radio license. I was so excited that I could hardly sleep, waking up at 4 AM to check my email. To my surprise, the FCC had already issued my license at 3:24 AM that morning!

When I saw my assigned call sign, KQ4UUR, my heart sank.

It just didn't resonate with me. Determined to find something more meaningful, I dove into researching how to apply for a vanity call sign. I hoped to secure something that reflected my initials, CJR, or referenced my business brand.

After identifying available options, I submitted an application and paid the $35 fee.

However, as I began using my call sign on the air, I discovered it wasn't as bad as I'd initially thought. People easily understood and remembered it. One person even remarked that it sounded like "thank you for who you are."

I also realized that many amateur radio operators are content with their assigned call signs, and I started to appreciate the unique identity that KQ4UUR had given me.

Ultimately, I withdrew my vanity call sign application. I realized that the benefits of changing my call sign didn't outweigh the hassle of updating all my amateur radio service accounts and apps, not to mention the relationships I'd already built using KQ4UUR.

This experience taught me that sometimes an assigned call sign can grow on us, and that the most important thing is getting on the air and building connections with others.

I'm now happy to continue using KQ4UUR and plan to keep it—at least until I potentially earn my Amateur Extra class license. I must admit, the idea of a coveted 4-digit call sign is quite appealing to me.

I'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Please feel free to leave a written review in your preferred podcast directory or send me an email at Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com.