Montana's Ham Radio Forum

As has been previously mentioned, the entry level license class for Amateur Radio is the "Technician" class. To obtain the Technician class license you must pass a 35-question written exam. Morse code is no longer required for any Amateur Radio license exam. You just have to pass the written exam, which is all multiple-choice questions.

The best way to prepare for the license exam is with a good reference book. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) publishes a study manual for the Technician class license. The title is, "The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, Level 1, Technician". The revised 2nd edition includes a CD with review material and practice exams. The book is available from http://www.arrl.org by clicking on the "ARRL Store" link on the web site. The catalog number is #0977, and it sells for $29.95 plus shipping. This book contains all the information needed to pass the Technician license exam, and is a great reference book to keep handy as you set up your first ham radio station. It is valid for Technician license exams given until 30 June 2014.

If you live in the Great Falls area, there are additional options available to you. The Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club (GFAARC) has donated two copies of the above mentioned ARRL Technician Class License manual to the City of Great Falls Public Library. Search for the books on the library shelves using the call letters:

621.384
Silver

If you have access to Malmstrom AFB, GFAARC also donated two copies of the Technician Class license manual to the base library. They are classified as "Testing Resources" and are found in Bookcase #1, a wooden bookcase located off to the left of the round librarian desk as you walk into the library. Just look for the signs: "Testing Resources" and "Bookcase #1" on the end of the bookcase rows. Search for the books on the shelves using the call letters:

621.38416
SIL
P

Take a look at the book and see what you think. It is a great study manual and well worth the purchase cost. But there are also 4 copies available from libraries in the Great Falls area if you wish to start reviewing the material now, before ordering a personal copy that you can scribble notes in.

73 de
Bruce, KA2ODP

As a "heads-up" warning: the question pool for the Technician license exam has changed. The new questions went into effect on 1 July 2014. As a result, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has published a new and updated Technician license manual for those studying to take their first ham radio license exam.

The updated manual is titled, "The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 3rd Edition". It is item #0222 and sells for $29.95 (plus shipping & handling) on the ARRL web site, http://www.arrl.org

On the cover it clearly lists the effective dates of 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2018 that the book will be valid for. The next scheduled update for the Technician question pool will be in July 2018. If you are shopping at Barnes & Noble or some other book store, be sure you do not purchase the previous (now expired) edition. Some book stores may still have the older edition sitting on their shelves. Check the cover of the book for the effective dates. Don't pay full price for an out-of-date book!

But wait, there's more! Copies of the new license manual were purchased by GFAARC and once again donated to local libraries. Two new copies were donated to the Great Falls Public Library, and two new copies were donated to the base library on Malmstrom AFB. The call letters and location information are the same as in the previous post. If you know someone who is interested in ham radio, have them check out the license manuals at their local library! They are chock full of background information, practical advice, and sample test questions. An additional chapter in the back of the book contains tips on choosing your first ham radio.

If someone wants to purchase their own copy for self-study, GFAARC still has several extra copies available locally for purchase. This is the most effective way to study for the test, as you can scribble notes on the pages and high-light the critical stuff to remember. The book will become a handy reference for operating your radio equipment once you pass your test and am ready to get on the air.

If anyone is interested in purchasing their own copy locally, please contact me directly concerning the extra copies available.

Just an update to let folks know that the extra copies of the Technician license manual have been sold. Thanks to all who were interested!

Again, copies of the study manual are available for check-out at both the Great Falls public library and the Malmstrom AFB library.

Once again, the question pool for the Technician license exam has been updated. The new question pool went into effect on 1 July 2018. As a result, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has published a new and updated Technician license manual for those studying to take their first ham radio license exam.

The updated manual is titled, "The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 4th Edition". It is item #0871 and sells for $29.95 (plus shipping & handling) on the ARRL web site, http://www.arrl.org New for 2018 is a spiral-bound version of the license manual, which allows you to open the book and lay it flat on a table or desk. The spiral bound version is item #0826 and sells for $32.95 (plus shipping & handling).

On the cover it clearly lists the effective dates of 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2022 that the book will be valid for. The next scheduled update for the Technician question pool will be in July 2022. If you are shopping at Barnes & Noble or some other book store, be sure you do not purchase the previous (now expired) edition. Some book stores may still have the older edition sitting on their shelves. Check the cover of the book for the effective dates. Don't pay full price for an out-of-date book!

But wait, there's more! Once again, copies of the new license manual were purchased by GFAARC and donated to local libraries. Two new copies were donated to the Great Falls Public Library, and two new copies were donated to the base library on Malmstrom AFB. The call letters and location information are the same as in the previous post. If you know someone who is interested in ham radio, have them check out the license manuals at their local library! They are chock full of background information, practical advice, and sample test questions. An additional chapter in the back of the book contains tips on choosing your first ham radio.

As a side note for folks with base access, the books are still considered to be "Testing Resources" and are in a special bookcase to the left of the round librarian desk as you walk into the library. The brown wooden bookcases were replaced with new white ones, but otherwise everything is the same. Two copies are available for check-out.

Attached is more information on the Technician License Manual published by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). As mentioned previously, a new spiral-bound edition is available that lays flat on the table. It is Item No. 0826 and costs $32.95 from the ARRL. It is also available from Amazon, but be sure the copy you order is the current 4th edition that is valid to 30 June 2022. Don't pay good money for an out-of-date edition!

The Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club has donated two copies of the study manual to the Great Falls public library, as well as two copies to the Malmstrom AFB library. So if you would like to see what the study manual looks like, stop by your local library and check it out!