Greetings, and welcome to the SCARS Online Technician licensing class. This class will help you get ready for your amateur radio Technician license test. This class meets on seven Wednesdays, which started on November 4th. We record the class sessions, and they are linked below in the class syllabus. The class is free. The test is free (in Norman, OK). ($10 online tests are available here and $15 tests can be found across the country at this link). The license is free. The books listed at the bottom of this page are about $20 each.
Online Practice Tests
Use these sites to gauge your knowledge and learn the question pool. When you start getting 82% or higher on these tests, you should be ready to take your license test. Online practices are available at any of these sites:
- https://hamstudy.org (will track your progress)
- http://hamexam.org/ (will track your progress)
- http://www.eham.net/exams/
- http://aa9pw.com/radio/
Session 1 – Mark Kleine N5HZR
Link to Slides: – PowerPoint
Link to Slides: – PDF
Test Subelement T1: FCC Rules, Descriptions, and Definitions
ARRL Book: Chapter 1 – Welcome to Amateur Radio
ARRL Book: Chapter 7 – Licensing Regulations
Buck Book: Introduction, How To Study, How I Got Started, Introduction To Amateur Radio, Who Are You? Where Can You Operate? What Do We Talk About? Who Can You Talk To? Who Is In Control?
ARRL Training Module: 1
Session 2 – Phil Sinnett KD5UGO /
Ron LaSpisa K5RJL
Link to Slides: PowerPoint
Link to Slides: PDF
Test Subelement T5a: Electrical Principles: Math For Electronics; Electronic Principles
Test Subelement T8a: Modulation Modes: AM, FM, PM, CW
ARRL Book: Chapter 2 – Radio and Signals Fundamentals
Buck Book: Bands and Frequencies, Modes, FM, AM, CW, Band plans, Decibels, Moving Decimals
ARRL Training Module: 2, 5a
Bandplan Download: ARRL Bandplan 8 1/2″ x 11″
Bandplan Download: ARRL Bandplan 11″ x 17″
Session 3 – Kenn Goodson KA5KXW
Link to Slides: PowerPoint
Link to Slides: PDF
Test Subelement T5b: Ohm’s Law
Test Subelement T6: Electrical Components: Circuits Diagrams; Component Functions
ARRL Book: Chapter 3 – Electricity, Components, and Circuits
Buck Book: Electronic Theory, Volts, Ohm, Amperes & Power – Ohm’s Law, How To Draw A Radio, Building Equipment And Measuring Values
ARRL Training Module: 3a,3b,3c,3d
Online Circuit Simulation: HTTP://falstad.com/circuit/
Session 4 – Ken Sanborn AG5PQ
Link to Slides: PowerPoint
Link to Slides: PDF
Test Subelement T3: Radio Wave Characteristics: Properties of Radio Waves; Propagation Modes
Test Subelement T7: Station Equipment: Common Transmitter and Receiver Problems; Antenna Measurements; Troubleshooting; Basic Repair And Testing
Test Subelement T9: Antennas and Feed Lines
ARRL Book: Chapter 4 – Propagation, Antennas, and Feed Lines
Buck Book: Propagation, Antennas
ARRL Training Module: 4a, 4b
Wiki Dipole Antenna Link: Wikipedia link
Propagation Summary: PDF Link
Antennas and Feedlines: PDF Link
Test Sign-Up
You are halfway through the studying, and now would be a good time to sign up for your Federal Registration Number (FRN) and your testing session.
Obtain your FRN at this link https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do.
- You can sign up for your test in Norman, OK, at this link https://w5nor.org/license/.
- There is a good online option to take your test with the Greater Los Angeles Amateur Radio Group (GLAARG). The test costs $10, and there are frequent online sessions. You can sign up at https://glaarg.org/.
- And in other areas of the country, you can find in-person tests at this link, http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session.
Session 5 – Bill Lockett AE5F
Link to Slides: PowerPoint
Link to Slides: PDF
Test Subelement T4: Amateur Radio Practices and Station Set-Up
ARRL Book: Chapter 5 – Amateur Radio Equipment
Buck Book: Radio Operation, How To Start A Conversation, Radio Design, Clean Up The Signal
ARRL Training Module: 5b, 5c
Week 6 – Lea Greenleaf W5HLG
Link to Slides: PowerPoint
Link to Slides: PDF
Test: Subelement T2: Operating Procedures
ARRL Book: Chapter 6 – Communicating With Other Hams
Buck Book: Extending Your Range With Repeaters, Operating Simplex, Emergency, Satellites, Computers, Batteries
ARRL Training Module: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Link to SCARS Repeater Etiquette
Week 7 – Gayland Kitch WX5MOR
Link to Slides: PowerPoint
Link to Slides: PDF
Test Subelement T0: Electrical Safety: AC and DC Power Circuits; Antenna Installation; RF Hazards
ARRL Book: Chapter 8 – Operating Regulations
ARRL Book: Chapter 9 – Safety
Buck Book: Be Safe, Stay Safe
ARRL Training Module: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
License Tests
- License tests are given in Norman, OK on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm. All details are listed on the SCARS license page.
- There is a good online option to take your test with the Greater Los Angeles Amateur Radio Group (GLAARG). The test costs $10 and there are frequent online sessions. You can sign up at https://glaarg.org/
- If you are outside of the Norman, OK area, you can find an exam location on the ARRL exam locator site at this link.
Books / Study Guides
Many books or study guides can be used to help you study for the Technician test. Most of them are organized in the same way, but we have linked the class sessions above to these two books. They are available on Amazon.com
 | Pass Your Amateur Radio Technician Class Test – The Easy Way by Craig Buck K4IA contains the entire question pool for the Technician test. It also contains a general overview of the requirements for the class. This book is great for people that are focused and ready to pass the test. Kindle $8. Paperback $17. SCARS receives a commission when this item is purchased via this link. |
 | The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual contains the entire question pool for the Technician test. This manual contains a lot of additional reference material and expansions on the topic. This book is good for people who want to spend additional time learning more about the content. This book can be used as a reference after the test. Kindle $20. Paperback $30. SCARS receives a commission when this item is purchased via this link. |