Posted: 2/6/2017 11:38:00 AM EDT
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A few months back I found a local radio museum that was giving the exams for a tech license.
Awesome!! So I start studying up for the next one - then a job opening came open at work which would be a huge promotion for me. Got side tracked preparing for the interview. Long story short I got the job which has led to me being super busy. I'm starting to get caught up again, so I pick up where I left off studying to get my tech license only the museum no longer lists any exams. I message them on FB - got a response saying they will check on it. I hear nothing so I message again, still nothing. Next closest place thats giving an exam listed on the ARRL website is 2.5-3 hours from me at the first of March. I guess thats my only option at this point. Just sucks having to make that trip. Sorry just ranting 
anyone know of any other website that will list exam locations other than ARRL? |
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Any ham radio clubs in your area? Our local club will set up VE test sessions by request. Many clubs will bend over backwards to help. The museum hosts the only club im aware of even remotely close. I live in a pretty rural area, heck the closest grocery store is a 1 hour round trip almost. When I messaged them on FB they honestly didnt seem like they cared at all. They responded back saying "thats not my area but I will check" I week later when I sent another message the reply I got was "I forgot to ask, I will check for you" then nothing for 2 weeks, I sent another message last week but have gotten no reply. There are a few repeaters in my area and where I travel but ive never heard any chatter on them through the week or weekend. So I just mainly listen to the local PD. |
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ARRL isn't the only VEC playing the game. Check with http://www.w5yi.org/exam_locations_ama.php for starters. Depending on where you live, there may be other local VECs. Maybe the museum testing session was a part of one of those?
edit: Quoted:
Any ham radio clubs in your area? Our local club will set up VE test sessions by request. Many clubs will bend over backwards to help. Nevermind what I said, this is the correct answer. Local clubs are the best bet to getting a nearby session organized. |
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Damn bro.. wish you was closer.. Girlfriend & I are both VE's as is a ham down the street. We've pulled off impromptu tests in a matter of hours. Got the test materials right here in the shack.. All I can think of is it must have really died in this area. but you would think as remote and "backwoods" as the area I lived it would be popular. It's a shame there is not a place to take an online exam or something you can send in. I work in IT and ive even completed some certifications "remotely" Launch a SFB session with a webcam and share my screen so they can see me at my desk via webcam and they can see my screen as I work. |
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Sounds like you may be in a place where the deer and the antelope play in your back yard. What state? You may be a popular guy when the state-specific QSO parties roll around, so go ahead and knock out your General at the same time as your Tech. Funny you should mention that. this is the "back yard" 
im in KY |
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Nice yard!
Now go and find an test session. http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session |
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Funny you should mention that. this is the "back yard" im in KY Quoted:
Funny you should mention that. this is the "back yard" im in KY Quoted:
Nice yard! Now go and find an test session. http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session Fuck that! Go hunting Lucid, then get your license. Remember, we were AR15 first, Black Radio Disease second. J/K great yard view! Hope the freezer is full of venison. |
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The museum sounds like the location where the club meets or just gave tests. You need to find contact information for the club itself. It's likely that they just didn't have enough people showing up to published test sessions so they stopped having them on a regular basis. But they might have them on an as-needed basis, you just have to find the right people to talk to.
All you need for a test session is 3 certified VE's. If there were some in the local area they could give you a test. Best place to start is find a better contact for the local radio club. Do an FCC amateur license search on your hometown and surrounding towns and see if you recognize any of the names. Which part of KY? |
so I heard back from them, maybe someone on here actually belongs to that museum because last night I got messages from them hours after posting here 
They actually have an exam this weekend - im not ready though. The next one there will be in April. or the first of march at the location thats alot further away. I could go to the one in march just to get my tech, or should I just spend all the time studying and knock out up to my general at the exam in April? how hard is general? I have basic electronics knowledge from my job. |
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how hard is general? I have basic electronics knowledge from my job. General is not bad. Lots of folks recommend studying for it FIRST and then studying the tech questions. I only studied for the Tech and passed General at the same time, but I was a comm major in college. |
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Start going through the online study/practice tests a couple times a day, then go take it this weekend. Agreed. You said you have some basic electronics. Focus on bands, regs, and go for it. 3 days is plenty of time. When you pass tech, go ahead and test for general. Quite a bit of overlap. |
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There are two or three free online practice test websites. Take the tech test a couple of times, later on another couple of times. After a few go-arounds you'll have seen the entire test pool and have a good idea if you can pass or not.
Since you're apprehensive as it is, just go take the tech, set a goal to upgrade to General at the next local session in a couple months. Some get tied up in trying to become completely informed on all the material before taking the test. The real learning starts after you pass, so don't sweat the test material itself too much. |
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thanks for the replies and encouragement.
If I can fit it in to the schedule I will try saturday but its not looking promising with all the other things going on. On a good note though In the past I studied on hamstudy.org they have the question pool as well as a mock test you can take to see how well you do. I havent studied in months but laying in bed I grabbed the ipad and took a practice exam and passed. maybe I am not as rusty as I thought. I think mostly because of my electronics background and common sense really 
ETA: I think my goal right now if I cant make it this weekend is to make the longer trip at the 1st of march and get my tech. Then study more and when the next session is in April I will get my General. Heck maybe even Extra if im doing good with the material. |
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ETA: I think my goal right now if I cant make it this weekend is to make the longer trip at the 1st of march and get my tech. Then study more and when the next session is in April I will get my General. Heck maybe even Extra if im doing good with the material. If you wait until March, do Tech + General. There is a lot of similarities between the two tests and both together are a reasonable size. The Extra test is quite a bit more technical material, less "common sense" stuff, and it's a longer test. Not that it's not doable, but I would not suggest doubling up General + Extra. |