Find a HAM Volunteer Examiner (VE) testing session...
Testing for FCC licenses in Amateur Radio and commercial radio is conducted by accredited Volunteer Examiners (VEs) and Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) as administrative liasons to the FCC.
The two largest VEC organizations are the ARRL and the W5YI Group.
In my area I usually see regular testing sessions (monthly or more often) hosted by clubs and posted on the
ARRL "find an amateur radio license exam session" web page.
I usually see the W5YI "HAM IT UP!" Group hosting testing sessions in annual
HAM radio conventions. They also have
VE contacts list to determine area testing.
My dad was licensed when
HAM radio was still pretty new, there were not as many "usable" frequencies, not as much equipment, it was in big (hot) boxes all with big fat discrete/individual components with lots of glowing vacuum tubes (no transistors yet) and big beam antennas with rotators on tops of crank-up towers on
HF (High Frequency 10mtr(28MHz), 15mtr(21MHz), 20mtr(14MHz), 40mtr(7MHz), 80mtr(3.5MHz)). My older brothers Scott and Chris were licensed, too. Morse code was very popular. My brother Chris was awarded for 5,13,20,40wpm (words per minute) on a certificate with smoke drawn around the 40wpm because that's smokin' FAST.
I waited until college to get my novice license callsign or "call" ka5zxc, later upgraded to technician and got my n5ozj call. My awesome wife also tested and got her novice *with code*, then later upgraded to tech then tech-plus, and I upgraded to general. With the summer 2014 HAMCOM on the horizon, my daughter and I signed up with
HamTestOnline to study. This browser-based service made it very convenient to study by logging in from anywhere or any device, like my phone, to squeeze in just a couple more questions. We attended a W5YI-VEC testing session at the convention. My daughter passed her first HAM test and got her own callsign as a technician! =-) And I passed my Amateur Extra.
Anyway... drifting down memory lane there.
Like you've seen in other posts, its a very approachable test and group of examiners... low cost and no penalty for failing and trying again. Many of us do that all the time when we build->fly->crash->build->fly again!
When you prepare for the test you may find some of it boring, some of it a little difficult; but more you may realize that it is really a broad bunch of material much of which is practical for more than just radio, familiar, common sense; some memorization. You will have basic electrical, radio, procedural, safety, rule book knowledge that will answer questions you have had and give you confidence, tools, community, and ideas for even more. You may find that more power makes it worse, that good connections are actually a really good thing, and that you may be the cause of your own radio interference. You will likely save on parts when you avoid risky radio-conflict situations, and you will know why there is a conflict.
The
HamTestOnline web site will let you try studying/testing a bunch (I think the first 50 questions out of the question pool) of each test (technician, general, extra) for free without requiring you to even log in... just pick the course and press [ OK ] to start. I don't get compensation for talking about it. I just found it to be a very helpful tool to me for studying. =-)
While you're at it, think about joining the
AMA to stay informed about our hobby at a national level and to help them speak on our behalf.
You CAN actually
KNOW BEFORE you fly!
See you on the air and in the air,
-Mike
n5ozj