HAM CRAM is free no code AMATEUR RADIO TECHNICIAN LICENSE cram course designed to be given in two, 3 to 3 1/2 hour sessions. Since 1991 over 900 of my students have used it as an aid to passing the FCC exam. A number of other instructors have also used it.
With a FCC no code Technician Class License, one may participate in Amateur Radio, and have full privileges at all HAM VHF/UHF frequencies above 50 MHz and the Novice/Technician Plus frequencies on HF. This includes UHF/VHF repeaters, all of the new digital modes, HAM satellites, and RACES/ARES. HF privileges are:
3525-3600 kHz CW only
7025-7125 kHz CW only
21,025-21,200 kHz CW only
28,000-28,300 kHz CW, RTTY and Data
28,300-28,500 kHz SSB
The power limit is 200 W PEP output for Technicians on these HF frequencies.
Technicians can upgrade to General by passing the Element 3 written exam and to Amateur Extra by also passing the Element 4 written exam. No Morse code test will be required.
This course will provide participants with everything they need to know to pass the FCC Technician license exam. Every question in the question pool is covered. The course does not attempt to go far beyond the minimum required by the FCC. This is a real cram course, not a rote memorization of the question pool answers. Knowledge of Ohm's Law type algebra (E = I x R and λ = 300 / MHz.) and memorization of some items is required, for example the HAM frequency bands. As a minimum, students should review the slides as a handout before taking the class. To obtain an edge and be better prepared, participants are encouraged to review any license manual. Check a public library or order "The ARRL Ham License Manual Revised 3nd Edition # 0222" ($29.95) from the ARRL at 1-888-277-5289 (toll-free US only) or click to order from: the ARRL on line store.
The name "HAM CRAM" was coined by George, W9ZSJ in 1993 the first time I taught it at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. It was listed as "HAM CRAM" in Harper's copyrighted catalog from 1993 through 2002.
I usually give session 1 in the morning and session 2 after lunch and then right into the exam. Our pass rate hovers just under 90%.
Ham Cram is now available free as a power point slide presentation. You can click on the hyperlink to download your copy. Schools and clubs are encouraged to offer the HAM CRAM course and to use the Excel Based Virtual Demonstration Lab (below) to display time and frequency domain signals.
HAMCRAM2014r1.0.ppt revised to cover the question pool in effect after 1 July 2014. The download will take some time with a dial up web connection, as the file contains 120 slides and is over 1.7 Mb long.
Handoutreadme contains printing instructions for a "two to a page, double sided, B&W, handout printing." This will convert 120 slides into a 30-page pre class study handout. Click on it to download.
WHAT INSTRUCTORS SAY ABOUT W9PE's HAM CRAM COURSE
"GOOD MORNING, JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I USED YOUR HAMCRAM SLIDE PRESENTATION OVER THE WEEK END TO TEACH A GROUP OF 10 PEOPLE. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAD 9 OF 10 PASS. THE GAL WHO DID NOT PASS WOULD NOT TAKE ANOTHER EXAM TO SEE IF SHE COULD GET IT ON THE SECOND TRY."
THANKS FOR THE GOOD WORK."
73 JIM K8KSN
A TYPICAL HAM CRAM CLASS.
> W9PE's FREE EXCEL BASED VIRTUAL DEMONSTRATION LAB.
Instructors do not miss this teaching aid.
The virtual lab has two frequency and amplitude adjustable signal
generators, a multiplier/mixer/product detector or a phase modulator, a
three channel oscilloscope and a spectrum analyzer.
The signal generators clip at 2 V peak to peak to allow adjustable
distortion through square waves. One Generator has an on-off DC offset
of plus 1 volt. When set to the
same frequency the generators are quadrature phase locked. The phase
modulator has a fully adjustable modulation index to control deviation.
The scope below is displaying the time domain of two sine wave inputs to
the multiplier/mixer/product detector and the mixer's output. The
spectrum analyzer below is displaying the
frequency domain of the mixer's output signal.
If you are using Excel, you already have what is needed for the virtual laboratory. The lab can demonstrates a large number of radio circuit functions, those based upon trigonometric products, for example: hetrodyne, AM, PM, DSBSC, clipped sine wave harmonics and more. If you teach or you would like to provide demonstrations but lack the laboratory equipment, this virtual lab will eliminate the need for hardware and the requirement to lug and set up a lot of test equipment. It also will allow a bigger display just use your laptop or any PC with an unlimited size auxiliary video display.
For a booklet that covers the virtual lab including how to download the free program, set up your computer and demonstrate many radio circuit functions click W9PE's Excel Based Virtual Lab. The booklet contains information on how the program uses Excel's FFT functions, a list of demonstrations with their set up parameters and will make running the progran a snap.
W9PE's FREE CW MORSE CODE COURSE
If you want to learn Morse code you came to the right place. Be you a senior citizen desiring to fulfill a put off ambition or a scout planning to earn a merit badge here is an easy free way to master the code.
When we start to learn Morse code we tend to count the dots and dashes. One dot followed by one dash is an “A.” This works, but we only can count so fast. Hence copy speed is limited to a few words per minute. To increase speed above this a large amount of additional practice (sometime full relearning) is required. The Farnsworth method of learning Morse code sends the characters at high speed with the spacing between letters long to train our mind to associate a letter/character with a sound, rather than counting dots and dashes. The goal is to prevent counting and start with the sound just as we learn language. Kotch found that some that learned this way also hit a roadblock hence he suggested that the characters be learned at higher speed, but only a few letters at a time until they were solidly learned. This course will sound the characters at 16 wpm with spacing between letters/characters long enough to have an actual speed of 5 wpm. Options allow higher rates. This course uses both Farnsworth and Kotch and adds a third item, some instant gratification. This positive feedback lets you know that you are making progress, i.e. words are copied as soon as possible even in the first lesson.
This course is based upon the software program "CwType" for Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP/Vista. It installed and worked fine on my both VISTA 32 and 64 bit in HP laptops. It is made available here with the author, Sergei Podstrigailo UA9OV’s permission. The practice macros in the "READ_ME.doc" file (the individual lessons) are then added to Sergie’s macro files to complete the CW course. The macros are in English, but feel free to translate to any other language and distribute the course. You have permission to distribute "CwType," however you must do it at no charge (for free) and no modifications to its original configuration when distributed are allowed.
Download "CwType" and "READ_ME.doc by left clicking each.
Please send me any suggestions/corrections to the address shown on http://www.rfgillette.com linked below. Subject HAM CRAM or CW. The email address is a graphic to avoid spambots.
This web site provided complements of RF gillette inc. http://www.rfgillette.com/
Click to join ham_instructor