Check this page often for new information on exam preparation classes, Amateur Radio license exams, and radio training sessions held by ACS and other organizations in the Bay Area. For information on Emergency Communications training, or ICS (Incident Command System) training, please check our calendar.
Get Ready for your Ham Radio License!
The Technician class test for your entry-level Amateur Radio License is not extremely difficult. You will need to learn about Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules regarding Amateur Radio, radio operator responsibilities and courtesy, types of radio equipment and usage, along with some basic electrical concepts so that you understand how your radio works and how to operate safely. The current question “pool” consists of 393 questions broken up into ten categories. The test has a total of 35 questions drawn from this pool, and you must answer 75% of the questions correctly.
It is important to prepare as much as possible before an exam, even if you will be attending one of the so-called “Ham Cram” sessions. If you have never been exposed to ham radio or electronics before, becoming familiar with the test material will make the exam much less intimidating. And, once you have your license and begin to use your radio, having this knowledge will help to make you a more effective operator.
The entire question pool, with the correct answers indicated, is available for download on the Internet for free. If you download and review the question pool, it will help you become familiar with what you will be expected to know. This is very important, and will not only help you pass the exam, but make you more prepared for the next step of using your radio. There are also a number of books and study programs available from the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) and other organizations. Another way to prepare for the exam is to take practice tests on the web - this will tell you how well you are learning the material, where you are having problems, and if you are ready to take the real exam.
Remember also that ham radio is first and foremost a wonderful hobby, with a number of different aspects, technical and social. It is something that you can use every day, and the more you learn, and the more you use your radio, the more you will enjoy it - and the better prepared you will be as an emergency communicator!
NOTICE: Effective February 23, 2007, the Morse Code test is no longer required for any Amateur Radio license class. What does this mean?
- Technician class operators will be able to use the Technician Plus portions of the HF bands (no, you are NOT a General)
- If you never tried to upgrade because you were afraid of the code, get a book and start studying!
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Below is a list of websites that can help you prepare for your exam:
www.arrl.org
The ARRL has free information on their website, online training (for a fee), as well as an online store where books and other training materials can be
purchased.
www.w5yi.org/catalog.php?sort=4
W5YI also has a large selection of books and other training materials, featuring Gordon West WB6NOA.
www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html
This is the link to the question pools on the ARRL website.
www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl
www.aa9pw.com/radio/
www.w8mhb.com/exam/
www.hamtestonline.com/
These websites have practice tests for Amateur Radio exams.
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Ham Crams, Radio Classes and Testing Sessions
The following is a list of radio groups that provide exam sessions and/or radio training in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please check their website for upcoming test or training:
SPONSOR: Bay Area Educational Amateur Radio Society
WEBSITE: baears.com/
SPONSOR: East Bay Amateur Radio Club
WEBSITE: www.eastbayarc.org/
SPONSOR: Hamilton Wireless Association
WEBSITE: www.qsl.net/k6bw/
SPONSOR: Marin Amateur Radio Society
WEBSITE: www.w6sg.net/
SPONSOR: Oakland Radio Communication Association
WEBSITE: www.ww6or.com/
SPONSOR: Silverado Amateur Radio Society
WEBSITE: www.napasars.org
SPONSOR: Sonoma County Radio Amateurs
WEBSITE: www.sonomacountyradioamateurs.com/index.htm
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The following is a list of scheduled exam sessions in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please check with the contact person listed for further information and fees:
DATE: Saturday July 10, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Gordon Girton W6NW
EMAIL: w6nw@amateur-radio.org
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
De Anza Park
1150 Lime Dr.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
DATE: Friday, July 16, 2010
TIME: 6:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
SPONSOR: Mount Diablo ARC
CONTACT: Jim Brunk (925) 372-8248
EMAIL: brunk@ix.netcom.com
WEBSITE: www.mdarc.org/testing.html
LOCATION:
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
1035 Carol Lane
Lafayette CA 94549
DATE: Saturday July 17, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM.
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Al Montoya WB6IMX
EMAIL: wb6imx@worldnet.att.net
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
Redwood City Library
1044 Middlefield Rd.
Redwood City, CA
DATE: Sunday, July 25, 2010
TIME: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
SPONSOR: ORCA & EBARC
CONTACT: David F. Otey (510) 918-4627
Email: davidotey@juno.com
WEBSITE: www.eastbayarc.org/
Location:
Oakland Fire Station 1
1605 Martin Luther King Jr Way
Media Room
Oakland CA 94612-1328
DATE: Saturday August 14, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Gordon Girton W6NW
EMAIL: w6nw@amateur-radio.org
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
De Anza Park
1150 Lime Dr.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
DATE: Saturday August 21, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM.
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Al Montoya WB6IMX
EMAIL: wb6imx@worldnet.att.net
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
Redwood City Library
1044 Middlefield Rd.
Redwood City, CA
DATE: Saturday September 11, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Gordon Girton W6NW
EMAIL: w6nw@amateur-radio.org
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
De Anza Park
1150 Lime Dr.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
DATE: Saturday October 09, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM.
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Al Montoya WB6IMX
EMAIL: wb6imx@worldnet.att.net
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
Redwood City Library
1044 Middlefield Rd.
Redwood City, CA
DATE: Saturday October 09, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Gordon Girton W6NW
EMAIL: w6nw@amateur-radio.org
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
De Anza Park
1150 Lime Dr.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
DATE: Sunday, October 24, 2010
TIME: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
SPONSOR: ORCA & EBARC
CONTACT: David F. Otey (510) 918-4627
Email: davidotey@juno.com
WEBSITE: www.eastbayarc.org/
Location:
Oakland Fire Station 1
1605 Martin Luther King Jr Way
Media Room
Oakland CA 94612-1328
DATE: Saturday November 13, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM.
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Al Montoya WB6IMX
EMAIL: wb6imx@worldnet.att.net
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
Redwood City Library
1044 Middlefield Rd.
Redwood City, CA
DATE: Saturday November 13, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Gordon Girton W6NW
EMAIL: w6nw@amateur-radio.org
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
De Anza Park
1150 Lime Dr.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
DATE: Saturday December 11, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM.
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Al Montoya WB6IMX
EMAIL: wb6imx@worldnet.att.net
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
Redwood City Library
1044 Middlefield Rd.
Redwood City, CA
DATE: Saturday December 11, 2010
TIME: 10:30 AM
SPONSOR: Sunnyvale VEC ARC
CONTACT: Gordon Girton W6NW
EMAIL: w6nw@amateur-radio.org
WEBSITE: www.amateur-radio.org/amateur.htm
LOCATION:
De Anza Park
1150 Lime Dr.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
