• Technician License

    From Patch@VERT/R2LOTW to All on Tue May 17 19:55:42 2016
    I'm looking to seek help from anyone willing to be patient enough to teach me more about the technical license quiz questions so that I can follow in my grandfather's footsteps.

    The problem that I have is that I cannot absorb anything that deals with numbers or any type of programming due to an accident that I was in when I was 14 years old.

    On top of that, I also get severe test anxiety.

    I attended a technicians class here in Utah and when confronted with 'test time' ... I literally could not move, had trouble breathing ... it was embarassing for a man of 47.

    Is there anyone who would be willing to help, or can assist me in a way that I can retain the information to pass the test?

    Any help and reply is greatly appreciated!


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  • From echicken@VERT/ECBBS to Patch on Wed May 18 00:38:35 2016
    The problem that I have is that I cannot absorb anything that deals with numbers or any type of programming due to an accident that I was in when I was 14 years old.

    On top of that, I also get severe test anxiety.

    Is there anyone who would be willing to help, or can assist me in a way that I can retain the information to pass the test?

    I think that you'll need to get in touch with the examiners in your area and see if they can accommodate you somehow. This could mean a private session in which you're given extra time to take the test, without feeling any pressure to keep up with others, etc. If you're lucky you'll find someone receptive to this.

    As for helping you to learn ... I don't know. There's tons of information available online already, and plenty of places to ask questions (including here). None of that's going to be of much use to you if you face challenges with retaining / recalling information. What you really need is an "Elmer" who also happens to have some training re: educating people with learning difficulties, though I doubt if that person will be easy to find.

    Are there methods of learning that have worked better than others for you since your accident? Can you think of something complex that you've learned since then, and can you identify how it "clicked" for you when you made sense of it? This may help you to find a way to conduct future studies.

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  • From Tiny@VERT/PHARCYDE to echicken on Wed May 18 06:17:52 2016
    echicken wrote in a message to Patch:

    I think that you'll need to get in touch with the examiners in your
    area and see if they can accommodate you somehow. This could mean a
    private session in which you're given extra time to take the test,
    without feeling any pressure to keep up with others, etc. If you're
    lucky you'll find someone receptive to this.

    I don't know all the facts, but here it is possible to take the test in a private session. I am currently studying online in my spare time and hope to get a ticket sometimes late this year.

    Ask for a private session, and see if the examiner will have a coffee with you first, just so you feel secure with the person. Tell them you have sever anxiety and they should be able to help you, as that's something that most people have experienced at least once in their life.

    I used to suffer horrible anxiety and couldn't go to very many public places.
    I no longer have that problem because I no longer care what anyone thinks. Hell I wear white socks and sandles around the trailer park now. hahahaha

    Shawn
    ... 2000 years ago, Egyptians worshipped cats. The cats never forgot it.
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  • From Daryl Stout@VERT/TBOLT to PATCH on Wed May 18 00:54:00 2016
    I'm looking to seek help from anyone willing to be patient enough to teach me P>more about the technical license quiz questions so that I can follow in my P>grandfather's footsteps.

    The problem that I have is that I cannot absorb anything that deals with P>numbers or any type of programming due to an accident that I was in when I wa P>14 years old.

    On top of that, I also get severe test anxiety.

    Is there anyone who would be willing to help, or can assist me in a way that P>can retain the information to pass the test?

    First, the Volunteer Examiner (VE) Team can make special examination accomodations for you, since you have medical issues. They can come to
    your residence, if needed, to give the exam, where it's you and the VE's
    -- a minimum of 3 VE's are required.

    You will still have to provide a photo ID, and either your Social
    Security Number, or a Federal Registration Number, plus whatever the
    group charges for an exam fee (usually $15 or less).

    However, I would recommend contacting a VE Team leader when you're
    ready to test, and get the special session set up. For a list of VE
    Teams, you can go to www.arrl.org, click on exams, and look for the link
    to "Find A License Exam Session In Your Area".

    But, that's after you study, obviously. You will have to do some memorizing...there is just no way around it.

    What they can do is give you an exam without any schematic diagrams or graphics, and read the questions and available answers to you, then you
    tell them which answer to mark down. With the ARRL/VEC (the group I work
    with), it's a multiple choice test, with answers of A, B, C, or D. They
    can NOT do any vocal coaching, inflections, etc. There are 35 questions
    on the Technician exam, with the Question Pool of just over 400. FCC
    Rules require at least 10 times the number of questions in the pool
    (which is public domain, but recycles every 4 years), as is on the exam.

    Second, if you can get a good grasp on the topics such as rules,
    regulations, propagation, and RF safety, you can "forget about the math"...according to Ham Test Online. They are what I used to go from Technician to General in 14 days...and General to Amateur Extra 13 days
    later, in the summer of 2007. It was the BEST MONEY I ever spent in ham
    radio. This is from an individual who did good on everything EXCEPT the electronic theory and math.

    There are several study options off of a website I set up off of my
    personal homepage. Go to http://www.wx1der.com/hamradio.htm#study for a
    list of options. Some are free, and some charge a fee, such as Ham Test Online...although you can browse a limited view of the site for no
    charge.

    With Ham Test Online, it's $25 for the Technician, $30 for the
    General, and $35 for the Extra...but if you're happy with just a
    Technician Class license, that's all you need...especially considering
    the FCC dropped any and all Morse Code tests back in 2007.

    Even though I myself am an Amateur Extra Class licensee, I had to
    become that to be a VE Team leader in central Arkansas. However, I
    operate EXCLUSIVELY in the Technician Class bands, as I enjoy them.

    Ham Test Online is all Web Browser Based...there is NOTHING to
    download or install to your computer. You can do it on dial-up internet,
    or broadband. You get a 2 year subscription, where you study in the
    privacy of your own residence, at your own pace.

    I did 2 hours a day for 2 weeks, but some may take longer, or less
    time. I do NOT recommend more than 2 hours a day study time, even for
    those who are "good at it"...too much study time will get you "burned
    out".

    Questions are covered, and concepts are explained. So, you are
    actually LEARNING SOMETHING, and NOT just memorizing answers. When you
    get to 80% studying, start taking practice tests. When you start scoring
    80% or better consistently, then you are ready for the exam.

    But, after adequate study and practice tests, if you still fail on

    (Continued to next message)
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  • From Daryl Stout@VERT/TBOLT to PATCH on Wed May 18 00:54:00 2016
    (Continued from previous message)

    exam day...send them proof of the failure, and they will cancel your subscription, and refund your money. So, you either get your ham radio
    license, or your money back. Try getting a book publisher to make that
    kind of offer!!

    Third, there is ABSOLUTELY NO DISGRACE IN FAILING. Not every ham radio operator has passed an exam on the first try. If it takes you a dozen
    tries or more to pass the exam, even if just barely...you have as much
    right to be on the air as someone who made a perfect score the first
    time.

    And, once you have your license and callsign, it is NO ONE ELSE'S
    BUSINESS on how many times it took you to pass the exam, or what your
    score was. As far as they are concerned, you aced it the first time.

    But, take a look at those options I noted on that website. I don't
    know much about the others, but I give an "expert opinion" on Ham Test
    Online. In fact, at every license exam session I do in central Arkansas,
    I pass out information handouts on it.

    Daryl Stout, WX1DER
    UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison

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  • From Patch@VERT/R2LOTW to echicken on Wed May 18 06:12:43 2016
    Re: Technician License
    By: echicken to Patch on Wed May 18 2016 12:38 am

    I think that you'll need to get in touch with the examiners in your area and see if they can accommodate you somehow. This could mean a private session in which you're given extra time to take the test, without feeling any pressure to keep up with others, etc. If you're lucky you'll find someone receptive to this.

    That may indeed be what has to happen. I'm not sure how accomodating it would be for one person, but I can certainly try to find out.



    As for helping you to learn ... I don't know. There's tons of information available online already, and plenty of places to ask questions (including here). None of that's going to be of much use to you if you face challenges with retaining / recalling information. What you really need is an "Elmer" who also happens to have some training re: educating people with learning difficulties, though I doubt if that person will be easy to find.

    I know of a few down in St George, my father-in-law is working towards his other licenses at this point. Problem with that is I live four hours north of them now.



    Are there methods of learning that have worked better than others for you since your accident? Can you think of something complex that you've learned since then, and can you identify how it "clicked" for you when you made sense of it? This may help you to find a way to conduct future studies.

    I have a degree in computer science, I aced my network administration class the first time around while also obtaining the CCNA to go along with it.

    But don't give me a math question ...



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  • From echicken@VERT/ECBBS to Tiny on Wed May 18 08:31:58 2016
    I don't know all the facts, but here it is possible to take the test in a private session. I am currently studying online in my spare time and hope to get a ticket sometimes late this year.

    It's possible (and possibly typical) to take the tests that way in Canada, but IIRC in the USA multiple examiners need to be involved. The barrier there would be getting three people (I think) on board with helping you.

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  • From Gate Keeper@VERT/THEGATEB to Tiny on Wed May 18 14:48:13 2016
    Re: Technician License
    By: Tiny to echicken on Wed May 18 2016 06:17 am


    Hello, just wanted to jump in here. I am an ARRL VE (Volunteer Examiner) and also a club president (North Carolina Radio Group) www.ncrgnet.com

    Anyway, private sessions are allowed as long as all the VEs agree on it. It's totally up to the VE team to allow for private sessions. Most will not have a problem with it.

    My team and I offer private sessions all the time for people that simply can not make it to the session (we make house calls).

    Check with your local VE team leader or a local club and tell them of your predicament. You shouldn't have any trouble finding a team that will help you.

    73 de N4DLT

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  • From Daryl Stout@VERT/TBOLT to PATCH on Wed May 18 14:47:00 2016
    Patch,

    But don't give me a math question ...

    I can handle things like Abbott and Costello:

    13 times 7 equals 28

    Or with QuickDraw McGraw:

    2 and 2 is 22...and don't you forget it. <G>

    According to Ham Test Online, if you have a good grasp on the rules, regulations, frequencies, propagation, and RF safety, you don't have to
    worry about the math on the license exams.

    Plus, the tagline below is applicable.

    Daryl

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