Taking the test

Finally took the plunge (if this is a correct english expression). On jan 18 2024 i'll be taking the exam to become a licensed Ham. Suppose the Dutch organisation is a bit different then the English one. We know 2 types of licenses N(ovice) and F(ull), I'll be taking the novice exam.

73

Good luck with your exam Karel, hope you do well.

73 Derek

Good luck.
Tip read all questions twice just to be sure.

That's great news to hear Karel and having previously read your postings surrounding the radio interest I am sure you will do very well.

Good luck with your exam and I wish you all the very best for 2024!

Regards,
Victor

Good luck Karel. Do you know what your Novice Licence allows you to use (bands and power), or are you still learning about this?

Good luck Karel,

I hope to work you on the amateur bands.

73 Gary.

SangueG wrote:

Good luck Karel. Do you know what your Novice Licence allows you to use (bands and power), or are you still learning about this?

on 40-20-10m 100W
on 2m and 70cm 25W

karelgol wrote:

SangueG wrote:

Good luck Karel. Do you know what your Novice Licence allows you to use (bands and power), or are you still learning about this?

on 40-20-10m 100W
on 2m and 70cm 25W

Thank you for letting know. It is interesting, bands and power privileges look to be somewhere between those allowed with the USA Tech licence and next years UK Intermediate ones. Fingers crossed for you in Jan, and look forward to working you on one of those bands next year.

It's looking good. I took some practising exams on the internet. I'll have to score 29 out of 40 and for these i scored 31, 32 and 36.
I'm offered a Yaesu Ft-897 with an ATAS-120 antenna. What do you think about this set? Or should i ask this question in the HF radio section?

Good luck Karel,

Not long took the UK test myself oct 23, good luck and hope to catch you on the bands at some point in the near future.
dont forget to put your ham call sign on your CT profile

Well done with your practice exams there Karel and I'm sure you'll do well on the actual test.  

I've used the FT897 myself and rather liked it especially seeing it's a shack-in-the-box working HF/VHF/UHF with a good power output on the VHF/UHF bands too. As with any radio there'll be opinions that differ from person to person but being lucky enough myself to compare it side by side to other radios there isn't much in it reception wise. (There isn't a lot of difference between most rig performances unless you delve into the nitty-gritty. )

Just remember that it's a 20-odd year old radio nowadays so don't pay too high a price for it.

The ATAS-120 is in my own opinion very expensive for what is merely a mobile HF antenna but some people swear by them whilst others have complained about grounding issues especially working 40m. It must be amusing watching it 'tune' and I'd presume using it mobile will get you clear of QRM but being in the Netherlands you'll struggle to drive up to any height although you are mostly in the 'clear'. I've seen instances where people run these as balcony antennas and if you have no other option it must be better than nothing.

It's very tempting to proverbially chew off someone's arm and quickly grab hold of the first setup you can when first licenced but best to pause for a while and see if it will actually fit your needs as well as budget. 

Do remember after all that this is a fantastic hobby you should enjoy as only you can see fit.

If the package is a good price and within your budget then make your decision and be happy with it. Some people still have their very first rig years after being on air happy with their lot whilst many others constantly strive for 'perfection' and land up owning many rigs one after the other. Unfortunately they usually 'trade-in' or sell the previous model before buying the next so don't actually get to compare it side by side, plus a vested interest in the latest 'toy' gives enough smiles to not concern oneself.

I wish you well with it all Karel.

All the best,
Victor

I passed the exam! Now reprogramming my at5555 for 10 meters and then looking for something for 40 and 20m. Got a loaner Quansheng handy from my son to use on 2m and 70cm.

Congratulations!!

Very well done Karel and I hope you get to enjoy all those extra frequencies really soon.  

Have fun.

73,
Victor

Congrats Karel. So pleased for you. When you get your callsign, if you let us know what it is I will put on my list to listen and look out for on the airwaves.

Well done my friend well done.

Congratulations Karel, well done on passing the exam.

73 Derek

Congratulations Karel, I hope to work you on the bands.

73 Gary.

Well done catch you on air at some point I hope

Today my license came in. My ham callsign will be PD0GOL. The ATAS works fine on 20m and 10m, but i think i need some more couterpoise for 40m. Will work on that tomorrow.

73

Nice one hope to get you in my log soon.

Well worth the wait there Karel.  

(If you like you can add your Amateur Radio callsign next to your CT one on your forum profile as many of us here have done. Always nice to know we have caught a fellow CT on the airwaves no matter what bands we are working on. )

73

Belated congratulations Karel. Hope to make contact further down the log. I listen a lot to the online wideband SDR at the amateur radio club ETGD at the University of Twente so will also look for you on there.

73
Deb