At this time Fauquier Amateur Radio Association ( FARA) is not offering specific classes but the membership is willing to Elmer Hams. An Elmer is a Ham who acts as a mentor to others. As a member you can ask or send a question to our reflector with specific questions. We have relationships with other clubs who do have specific in person classes periodically if that is what you prefer.
You do not need to know Morse code for any of the three available classes of licenses. With the internet, there are plenty of ways to learn the material online at your own pace and time frame.
Here are some websites that we know well to help get you started on learning. If you have any questions feel free to contact us at board @t w4va.org.
To get yourself started visit the “Getting Licensed” page at the ARRL – National Association for AMATEUR RADIO. http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed
Study materials for amateur radio exams
https://www.kb6nu.com/study-guides/
Free Online Study course with a nominal fee cell phone app can be found here
https://hamstudy.org/
For a self-paced online course that doesn’t cost a lot (~$25) and really learn the theory and concepts you can check out HamTestOnline.
https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/
Practice exams and information can be found here
https://hamexam.org/
Why should I get licensed?
Before you can get on the air, you need to be licensed and know the rules to operate legally. US licenses are good for 10 years before renewal and anyone may hold one except a representative of a foreign government. In the US there are three license classes—Technician, General and Extra.
Technician Class License
- Exam Requirement: 35-question Technician Written Exam (Element 2).
- Privileges: All VHF/UHF Amateur bands (frequencies above 30 MHz). Limited operations in certain HF bands.
General Class License
- Exam Requirements: 35-question General written exam (Element 3).
- License Privileges: All VHF/UHF Amateur bands and most HF privileges (10 through 160 meters)
Extra Class License
- Exam Requirement: 50-question Extra written exam (Element 4).
- License Privileges: All Amateur band privileges.
Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area
Search the ARRL test session database for test locations near you: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session
OPTIMIZE YOUR SEARCH: Less information entered in the search fields will return more information in the list. The more specific the search criteria, the less information returned. Zip Code searches can use the mileage range in the drop-down menu.
Testing Day!
Be sure to bring Valid ID (driver’s license), a basic calculator, if needed, and $15.00 cash to take the exam. Candidates who pass their test may then be given the next exam element at no additional charge. If a candidate retakes an exam element, an additional $15.00 is charged.
Federal Registration Number
FARA submits test results electronically to ARRL. In order to submit test results electronically candidates need to register for a Federal Registration Number (FRN) with the COmission REgistration System (CORES) and receive your FRN before sitting for your exam to ensure your new license is processed quickly and easily through the FCC’s ULS (Universal Licensing System).
To conduct business with the FCC, you must register through FCC CORES and be assigned an FRN. This number will be used to uniquely identify you in all transactions with the FCC.
View the FCC web page New Users guide to ULS for step by step instructions on the registration process or the Commission Registration System Video Tutorials page for videos that help guide CORES users through a variety of situations.
https://www.fcc.gov/new-users-guide-getting-started-universal-licensing-system-uls
Upcoming FARA Test Sessions can be found under Upcoming Events on our home page.
David, N7RCE, has kindly provided a video on getting started in amateur radio at the following page: Getting Started In Amateur Radio
A remote online testing option is available from the Aurora Amateur Radio Group located in Kodiak, AK with times convenient for the East Coast. For more information you can go to their website at https://auroraveprogram.org/remote-testing.htm.
An Important Video Topic for Those New to Amateur Radio
