Customer Reviews

2007-11 General Class

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

WN6NOA's book is a collection of the Element 3 questions. reorganized but in a logical manner for learning. Gordon West also keeps some humor along the way and lists a lot of useful websites. I passed my US Amateur Radio Element 3 written test using this book and recommend it highly. It is faster and much less boring than the ARRL book (I have both)!

Study and Upgrade !!!

This review may be a moot point by the time anyone is ready to purchase this book because June 30th, 2007 this book expires due to the new FCC Question Pool begining July 1st, 2007. However, having taken my Technician Class License & now my General Class License I used both of Gordon West's books, I scored 100% on both tests!!

The things I liked most about the book are the explanations for each answer, this helps you learn the material & not just memorizing answers. This also helps you on the test.

In addition, he points out alot of useful resources to the "new HAM" through out his book.

If you take advantage of getting his "certificate" personally signed, He includes ICOM's "Band Plan" Charts for both VHF/UHF. Another for HF & the US "grid Square map" all on heavy gloss card stock. Very Nice.

In addition, a coupon for discounts on ICOM gear. (Which I personally took advantage of) Plus some other material.

I'm sure his new book for General Class will be equally as good. I know I'm going to purchase his Extra Class book next.

His books are all you need.

He scores another home run.

If you want to know what is on the test, and get an entertaining explination of the topic, this is the perfect book. Gordon West does an excellent job in keeping a flow to the information you will need to pass the General FCC License element 3 test. It is the best, bar none!! I recommend this book highly, a must have.

I bought this book to take my General exam AND TEch on the same day. I had the ARRL book for Tech and this book for the General. I felt like the ARRL book was better laid out. It was larger and had better content. I felt like I learned more from the ARRL version. That being said I passed both my tech and general on the same day so the results were just as good.

Good book for studying for General license, but you need to read the ARRL General License book first. This book is for quickly mastering the answers to the test questions, not mastering the material needed to really understand the questions. Then, going over one of the "correct answer only" study guides on the web, you'll have no trouble cramming the answers into your head.

I like the book more for the tidbits of radio operating practice and theory, material that really should be presented better in the ARRL book.

I used Gordon West's book to pass my Technician exam a while back, and found it to be very useful. Gordo not only gives you the FCC exam questions and the correct answers, but he explains why they're the right answers so you actually have an understanding of the theory and/or practice before you go in for the FCC exam.

I just wonder who the guy on the front of this book is who looks like Ned Flanders from the Simpsons... :-)

Good book. I'm expecting that I'll pass the General Class exam in a few months with no problems thanks to Gordo.

This is a very good book if you just want to pass the test

Gordon West's books are just the bomb, they make studying for your General Class exam a lot more bearable. He presents the information in an entertaining manner that enhances the learning process.
Honestly, the West books are just the best on the market for studying for your exam!

This is the book if you are going for your General. Easy to understand and has all of the test questions and answers.

Overall I think Gordon West's books are very good for studying for the general class exam. I used this book, while on travel, I studied for the exam, took a bunch of practice exams and aced the general class exam easily. West's book has a lot of helpful hints for memorizing the correct answers. I would highly recommend this book if you just want to use root memorization to get through the exam.

On the other hand, if you are like me and want to understand why an answer is correct, I feel the book is lacking at times. I do not think West does a good job explaining certain items and issues, more just memorize the answer to the question. As an example, there was a question about ALC for audio output, which West never bothers to tell the reader what ALC is(I still don't know what it is). Being someone who has read his fair share of textbooks - not defining a term like that is a big no-no. For someone who likes to understand why something is the way it is or how it works, this book is a little bit lacking. I also think West is a bit condescending in his presentation, he makes it sound like "you should know this already." For me, I am coming back to the hobby(not having been in ham radio for 50 years!), so some stuff was rather new to me.

Again though I reiterate, it is a good book and I gave it 4 stars for a reason! I am going to give the ARRL books a try for the extra class and see what I think. If you use this book and take a lot of practice exams, you won't go wrong.