Got it!

So, I finally got my finger out, as started studying 1 January. I studied hard for the past two weeks and took the Extra Exam this evening and passed it. I missed 5 (90%). It sort of ticked me as thought I would do better cause I put a lot into it but that question pool is big...so I'll take the passing grade and smile.

I am not sure if I will even get a radio but, if I do, it will be probably be that iCom 7100 or 7300.

Anyway, this is something I always wanted to do and couldn't because I was overseas all those years, so hit a milestone today.

 

Congrats!

Don't forget the IC-9100 if you want a shack in a box

 

What lic is that ?

 

Awww ok, been awhile since I looked into this myself.

 

The proverbial invitation.
I have two radios that I can't operate " legally so been meaning to get it done I have the book, and there is test place local.
So probably me just being slow on the go with it. Just seeing this post made me go, oh yea..

 

@techsar "Don't forget the IC-9100 if you want a shack in a box"
Holy smokes! That sucker is $3000 bucks! Not sure I can jump in that deep yet...LOL!

EDIT: Okay, found it for $2200 at DX Engineering...but that's still a pretty deep pool to jump into...



@ghrit "Let @BTPost know your call"
Will do. I will do it now...

'You will find that a good antenna..."
Yes, and if I decide to buy then expect me to be pestering everyone come this Spring as want to get the antenna up before I buy a radio.

 

The books are too slow...unless, of course, you got the time, nice to have as reference though... Here are the two websites that I have used and they truly are all you need for all licenses. Free too!

Callsign Database by QRZ Ham Radio then look under 'Resources'
I like QRZ practice exams because for some reason I found them more difficult, maybe they mix the questions up better...don't know. I use practice exams from both sites but this one always found something I didn't know...

HamStudy.org: Cutting edge amateur radio study tools
This site is amazing as it has got Flash Cards, Practice Exams or you can simple Read Questions (with answers)
But, why it is so amazing is that the Flash Cards and the Read Questions have an explanation for why this is the correct answer in 'plain' language - not some Professor trying to impress, not some Technical Writer that doesn't understand what they're writing but language used by down to earth Engineers/Techs/Hams so it really helps retention to not only learn the answer but to understand it also...

 

Congrats @Bandit99 good coms is an awesome asset to have in your Bag-O-Tricks!

 

Congratulations Bandit! Hope you get a radio.

 

Congrats and welcome to the Extra club! Don't overlook the FT-991a!

 

Yes, I have it on my list. So far I have:
IC-9100 (~$2200)
IC-7300 (~$1000-$1200) need to compare this with the 7100, it does direct sampling which is a big plus but pretty limited (0.030-74.800Mhz)
IC-7100 (~$1000)
Yaseu FT-991A (~$1200)
Yaesu 857D (~$800)

But, I haven't dug into these yet and of course need power supply and possibly an antenna tuner depending on which radio I get so still a lot of researching to do. I am very interested in SDR as read some of the first White Papers on them years ago (maybe 20+) and sort of been following the technology ever since but we'll see...not sure if I want/need a car rig or not which is another question but I think my main interest is in long-haul communications...

 

Woo-hoo

 

@Bandit99 - COMgratulations, sir! Lots of great advise above!