The Sparky Examiner - The official newsletter of HamTestOnline

Online courses for the ham radio license exams.

FCC to Instate $35 License Fee, Black Friday Cyber Weekend Sale, Improved HF Propagation, Team Updates, Oh My!

 

 

FCC to Instate $35 License Fee

You may still have time to upgrade before it happens!
Back in my day, we had to walk to the FCC office uphill...

The FCC will soon instate a $35 fee on all new amateur radio licenses, upgrades, renewals, and call sign changes.  (The fee will not apply to administrative changes such as change of name or address.)  They haven't specified exactly when the fee will go into effect, but there may still be time to get your license, upgrade, or vanity call sign!

Studying for your ham radio license or upgrade has never been easier.  With our concentrated study and intelligent repetition algorithm to focus on your weaknesses, you can go from zero to Extra in just a few weeks.  Look at this student who passed all three exams after only 23 days of study!

Most clubs have resumed in-person exam sessions now, but if your club still isn't doing them, there are plenty of online exams available.


 

 

Black Friday Cyber Weekend Sale

Big savings on our courses for 4 days only!

Take advantage of our Black Friday Cyber Weekend Sale from Black Friday through Cyber Monday (November 26-29).  If you've been wanting to get your license or upgrade, do it now and save $10 on each of our courses and $35 on the FCC fee:

  • Technician — $19.95 (33% off the $29.95 list price).
     
  • General — $24.95 (29% off the $34.95 list price).
     
  • Extra — $29.95 (25% off the $39.95 list price).
     
  • Renewal — $14.95 (50% off the $29.95 list price).

 

 

Improved HF Propagation - Get Radioactive Now!

The 11-year solar cycle is approaching its peak, bringing improved HF propagation!

The number of sunspots has been steadily increasing, and will peak over the next few years.  This means that HF radio propagation will keep improving, and ham radio operators will be able to make use of the 6, 10, 12, and 15-meter bands more often.  We feel that the most fun part of the hobby is talking around the world without wires, and you need the General class license for that.  Now is a great time to get your General or Extra and become active on HF.

We first talk about the impact of sunspots on radio propagation in the Technician course (see the section outlined in red):

Image of the HamTestOnline Technician course infotext about Lowest and Maximum Useable Frequencies, which first introduces the concept of solar cycles.

We go into more detail about the solar cycle in our General course:

Image of the HamTestOnline General course infotext about The Sun and Radio Propagation.

 

 

Team Updates

Welcome Greg, our newest Customer Service Representative!

We're delighted to announce the newest member of our customer support team, Greg!  Greg has considerable radio experience from his time in flight-line operations in the U.S. Air Force, and is eager to get into ham radio using HamTestOnline!  He is a father to three absolutely adorable children, ages 9, 7, and 4 months.  Please help us welcome Greg to the team!

 


Feel free to respond to this email with comments for the HamTestOnline team.  We love feedback!

Thanks for being a part of the HamTestOnline family!

73,

W1AI AZ license plate


John, W1AI
Owner/Developer/Coursemaster
Extra class accredited VE
w1ai@hamtestonline.com

W1AI AZ license plate


Brandon, W1SI
General Manager
Extra class accredited VE
w1si@hamtestonline.com

WA1RON AZ license plate


Ron, WA1RON
Technical Editor
Extra class accredited VE
wa1ron@hamtestonline.com

W1LIN AZ license plate


Marcus, W1LIN
Customer Support Representative
Extra class operator
w1lin@hamtestonline.com

Call sign coming soon


Greg, (call sign coming soon)
Customer Support Representative
greg@hamtestonline.com
   


HamTestOnline Team Zoom Photo

HamTestOnline 3009 E Lynx Way, Gilbert, AZ 85298, 888-857-6164.

The best study method, study materials, customer support, and guarantee in the industry!