Congratulations! If you are here to obtain your General License I must assume that you have your first FCC Amateur Radio Service license the Technician License. If you don't yet have the first license may I suggest that you first go to our FCC Amateur Radio TECHNICIAN License Class web page. If you have your General License and you are thinking about the Extra License may I suggest that you go to our FCC Amateur Radio AMATEUR EXTRA License Class web page. With those instructions said I am going to repeat some of the words of wisdom from the Technician License web site.

  Let me begin by saying right off that the FCC Amateur Radio Service is not a give-me. To earn the Technician License, as well as the General License and the Amateur Extra license one must study and pass an exam. I am saying this because some have believed that all they needed to do was take the exam without any study. These guys usually fail the exam. There are those who have had a lifetime in electronics and radio and they usually pass the exams with minimal study. With a some study everyone can pass the General exam. I am not trying to scare you because you have already passed the Technician exam and know what it is all about. I believe the General License exam is similar to the Technician License exam but a little harder. It is like advancing a grade level in school. There is a little bit more information to learn on each subject. All I am saying is you still need to study to pass the General License exam.

  Obtaining an FCC Amateur Radio Service license is a worthy goal and also a great accomplishment. Being able to communicate, around the neighborhood or around the world, on the radio is a lot of fun. Some people need a Technician License for emergency preparation and actual emergency communication. With the General License you now have access to the High Frequency emergency communications. Some people use the Amateur Radio Service for personal sporting or camping events. Many students use the Amateur Radio Service to communicate with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Don't forget using radio for controlling model craft, talking through satellites, school science fairs, or just speaking to a friend. And don't forget that you will have access to most of the amateur High Frequency (HF) and Medium Frequency (MF) bands around the U.S. and around the world. There are many more reasons to use Amateur Radio Service.

  Set aside a little time each day for some un-obstructed study. Depending on your reading skills it could take a month or two to read the manual from cover to cover. While reading the manual be sure to watch the accompanying David Casler Youtube videos. Don't be afraid to reference other study materials. All the answers to the FCC exam are in the back of the ARRL manual.

  Most new HAMs are self taught. We are here to help. There are many other sources for assistance. If you don't study with us please study with someone and upgrade your FCC Amateur Radio Service license.

HamTestOnline - General License Class

If you are not into self study there are several General classes around online and you are welcome to use them. The ARRL recommends the HamTestOnline General Class from the ARRL for those who want to study online. You may also shop directly from the HamTestOnline. web site for the General Class from HamTestOnline.com.

David Casler, KE0OG (dcasler.com does not operate properly with Microsoft Internet Explorer)

  There are several online classes for the FCC General Class license. One of these is David Casler, KE0OG, who has a Youtube video for each chapter in The ARRL General Class License Manual, ninth edition, for 2019 through 2023. Mr. Casler's complete 38 Youtube videos can be found here. If you are using a browser other than Internet Explorer Mr. Casler has a detailed web site. You can start at my ham radio home where he describes amateur (HAM) radio. At another web site he describes the three levels of amateur radio licenses with their differences in examination difficulty and their different privileges. Since Mr. Casler is routinely updating his Youtube videos you might find it better to locate them through his web site. For the General Class ham license go to on-line help for your self study for assistance. Just a little way down this web site are links to all of his General Youtube videos.
(Remember that dcasler.com does not operate properly with Microsoft Internet Explorer.)

Gordon West, WB6NOA

  Gordon West, WB6NOA, offers in-person classroom license training for all classes of FCC amateur radio. Mr. West offers in-person class around the country. You may locate these classes around the country here. Mr. West also trains HAMs around the country to be instructors.

The ARRL General Class License Manual Ninth Edition - 2019-2023

General Training
  The first thing you need to do is get the The ARRL General Class License Manual - Ninth Edition - 2019-2023 . Then you get the errata information and post it in your manual. To get the errata information, first go to the ARRL here. Then click on the link marked "Updates and Corrections".

  The link the ARRL here contains links on the left to the ARRL reference to each chapter in the ARRL General License Manual.

  In the past the ARRL and King Schools produced a video course on VHS tape titled ARRL General Class Video Course For HAM Radio Licensing. These tapes have been converted to DVDs. These videos are way out of date but they contain valuable information. Some information in the DVDs are not related to current questions in the NCVEC General question pool. But, that information is very valuable HAM information. The information in these videos fly by very rapidly. So feel free to re-watch these videos until you catch the information. You can view these videos here. If these videos are too fast for you then watch the David Casler videos outlined above.
(Remember that dcasler.com does not operate properly with Microsoft Internet Explorer.)

  If you are still not into self study remember there are several General classes around online and you are welcome to use them. The ARRL recommends the HamTestOnline General Class from the ARRL for those who want to study online. You may also shop directly from the HamTestOnline web site for the General Class from HamTestOnline.com.

Exam Review
  Before you take the official FCC exam I suggest that you take plenty of online practice exams. Some of these exams are free and some require a small payment. These will prepare you for the FCC exam.

  Most online FCC practice exam sites require you to create an account with them. That allows them to keep track of your answers. That way you can get a different set of questions for each practice exam you take. Also they can keep track of any questions you are having trouble answering correctly and re-ask those problem questions.

  Those online FCC practice exams sites that charge a fee usually do more than inform you whether you answered a question correctly or not. These sites usually include online teaching to help you understand why you answered a question incorrectly.

ARRL Exam Review

Ask For Help
  Never be afraid to ask for help. I rarely have all the answers but I do have a lot of HAMs out there that I can ask for help. Please email your questions to education@k5qhd.org and I will get back with you.

FCC Exam Sessions
  You should be ready to test after you are making passing scores on the online practice exams. Since the exam consist of only 35 random questions out of a pool of over 300 questions, I recommend that you make a passing score on many online practice exams. That will insure you have received a fair sampling of the random questions. Then you need to locate a testing location.

Find an Amateur Radio License Exam Session

Find HAM Clubs In The ARRL North Texas Section

  When you are ready to test, you can locate an exam session by going to the ARRL web site: find an amateur radio license exam session.   At this web site, just go to the drop down box labeled "ARRL Section:" and select "North Texas". If you don't see any classes don't be discouraged. Go to the ARRL North Texas web site and email clubs and ask if they know of any exams.

Ham Study

  You can also go to Ham Study and look at their chart of upcoming test sessions.

Exam Tools

  If you are having browser troubles going to Ham Study you can try going to Exam Tools and on the right is a link to HamStudy.

WB9ZPH ARRL Volunteer Examiner Team
  But, I really think the first place you should try is Garland's own VE (volunteer examiner) team WB9ZPH ARRL Volunteer Examiner Team - Garland (Texas) Area. They offer both in-person test sessions and online test sessions. Go to their web site for more information or contact their lead Janet Crenshaw, WB9ZPH via email at wb9zph@gmail.com or use (972) 302-9992 for voice or text messages.

  There any many places in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex providing exams. Actually there are many places in North Texas providing exams. Each week in North Texas, except around the holidays, you will notice one or two places to test.

  DURING THE COVID-19 ISOLATION THERE ARE STILL PLACES TO TEST AS WELL AS ONLINE EXAM SESSIONS.

FCC Exam Passed
  Now that you have passed your FCC General exam what do you do next. Here are some examples.

GARC - 20 Things To Do After You Get Your Amateur Radio General License

ARRL - Youth Flier - 22 Things You Can Do

  The first item in the first list is "Join a club." Since this web site is provided courtesy of the Garland Amateur Radio Club may I suggest that you join GARC. Below is the sign up sheet for GARC. Just print the form, fill it in, and snail mail it to GARC Treasurer, 1027B Austin Street, Garland Texas, 75040. The GARC web site is at http://www.k5qhd.org

  There are many fine clubs in in the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex. It is nice to be able to communicate with others with your same interest.

  The second item in the first list is "Join the ARRL." The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is our representative in Washington DC. They fight with the FCC and congress to preserve our radio bands. The ARRL is also our representative to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Again, they fight to preserve our radio bands. Also, the ARRL publishes many fine publications which include QST and many books. The ARRL membership web site is at http://www.arrl.org/membership-levels

  The third item in the first list is "Find an Elmer." An "Elmer" is an experienced HAM who has interests similar to yours. He/she can assist you along the way to become experienced too. One way to find an Elmer is by joining a club or joining a group like the ARRL North Texas Section. Joining the North Texas Section will open up a whole new world in communications and emergency opportunities. The ARRL North Texas web site is at https://www.arrlntx.org/

GARC - Club Application "Join a Club"

ARRL Membership Levels "Join the ARRL"

ARRL North Texas Section "Find an Elmer"

Time To Purchase A Radio
  Now you need a transceiver to communicate with other HAMs. There are many kinds of transceivers and a wide price range. You can buy anything from a handheld, through mobile, up to full size transceiver.   There are many places online to purchase amateur radio equipment. Also, there are two places in North Texas to purchase amateur radio equipment. One is Ham Radio Outlet in Plano, Texas. The other is Main Trading Company in Paris, Texas.

Ham Radio Outlet in Plano Texas   The health and safety of our customers, employees, and associates are our top priority and we're committed to doing our part to help keep everyone safe. SHIPPING: There is no change to the processing of our phone and online orders for shipping. Orders are processing on our regular schedule at this time, however, items may be delayed in-shipment. Please be patient. As our shipping carriers inform us of any changes we will post them here. CURB SIDE PICKUP: We encourage curb-side pickup! You can place your order online and select 'Will-Call' or call in an order to your local store. When you arrive at the facility, one of our staff will bring out the product to your vehicle. Our staff will wear a mask and other appropriate protective gear during deliveries. We ask you to do the same. We recommend you CALL the local store before you arrive to verify your order will be ready!

Main Trading Company in Paris Texas   We are Main Trading Company. We are a real brick and mortar retail store located at 2707 Lamar Ave in Paris Texas (about a hundred miles North East of Dallas). We are Christine and Richard Lenoir.   Our retail store is normally open Mon thru Friday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 to 1:00. We are sometimes out of town doing a hamfest or electronic show on Fridays or Saturdays, If you are planning a drive in be sure and call first.

More From The ARRL
  The Garland Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Special Services club. Along with federal and international support the ARRL provides many services. These services include visibility on social media, pod cast, books, magazines, awards, emergency services support and more.

ARRL Social Services

ARRL "On-the-Air" Podcast The On the Air podcast is a monthly companion to On the Air magazine, ARRL’s magazine for beginner-to-intermediate ham radio operators.	ARRL "Eclectic Tech" Podcast ARRL’s biweekly Eclectic Tech podcast.	ARRL "So Now What" Podcast Just a brief introduction to the brand-new ARRL podcast for new amateurs.
ARRL "The Doctor is in" Podcast A bi-weekly podcast of everything technical as it relates to Amateur Radio. Sponsored by DX Engineering.	ARRL Audio News	ARRL Magazines

US Amateur Band

US Amateur Radio Band Chart This is a chart of all frequencies allocated to Amateur Radio Operators

Electronic Information

Some students are afraid of the electrical principle and electrical components portion of the exam Even if you fail all eight electrical questions you can still pass the exam These examples show how to solve the electrical problems.

General Formulas

Here are some formulas important for the General License

Metric System

Some individuals have trouble with the metric system I hope this information helps

Phonetic Alphabet

Here is the phonetic alphabet used by amateur radio operators to improve communications

Mobil Radio Installation

Modern vehicles require a little attention when installing mobile transceivers This information should give a little guidance

  I know there is much more so please email any question you may have to education@k5qhd.org.

  John Abbott, KF5FWK, Garland Amateur Radio Club, Education Director

  Kathleen Abbott, KF5UEI, Proof Reader