KB5TX Training and Testing

Meetings, Training and Testing

Meetings

Our meeting location is in the Pioneer House at The Agricultural museum and arts center. 102 City Park Road, Boerne, TX 78006. Please park along the drive and enter through the porch area in front of the building. If you're driving West on TX Hwy 46, make a left turn at Charger Blvd. Go to the end, take a right, go to the end, take another right, and go almost until you are back on 46. Location is on the Left.

If coming from anywhere else, get on Main St, and turn east on TX Hwy 46 - River Rd. (It "T's" with Main St). Continue to the first light (Esser Rd - Longhorn/Exxon station on the corner). Take the next right after the light onto City Park Rd. Location is the first turn in on the right. If you miss it, take the next light at Charger Blvd, turn right and follow the instructions for driving West of 46.

Below is a map of the Agricultural Museum area. North is to the right. Enter through the gate off Kendall County Fairgrounds Road and turn right. The Pioneer House will be on your left. A picture of the inside is shown at right.

We have frequent programs on a wide variety of amateur radio subjects including equipment, software, operating techniques, new technology, contesting, chasing DX, and antennas for the HF, 50Mhz, VHF and above bands. We offer license exams with our VE program for new hams and those upgrading.

Training

There are many sources for self-study materials for your first and successive Ham Licenses. Among the best are those offered by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). We will assign a mentor to help you select materials appropriate for the license class you wish or qualify for. This mentor will then help you through the materials, so you will feel confident when you feel you are ready to take the examination. Please -- do not call your mentor with a question in the middle of the night.

Preparation

Start with the ARRL book store. Buy the reference manuals for license levels you will prepare for at http://www.arrl.org/shop/Licensing-Education-and-Training/. Next, look at the web site area http://www.arrl.org/question-pools which give “how to” information about the tests. You will need the study manual which will give you all the technical details behind the various questions, and the question pool which is available to download and for your Kindle. You will also need a simple hand held calculator with enough power to do square route calculations.

Our suggestion is to read the study manual, understand the materiel and how to work the mathematical problems. With this, then go through the question pool time and again. Download the question pool to your PC and, if you wish, to your Kindle.

Know the band plans and the segments authorized for the level of license you are to be examined.

For Technician, know Ohm's Law, how to use it and how to do the related math. The math will become more complicated as you test for General and Extra. Work the problems time and again until you know the answers by examination.

You will not be allowed to use a programmable calculator during the exam. We avoid any problem by having a simple calculator available for use by the examinee.

This is not hard! Follow these suggestions and you will be ready to take your license examination in a very short period of time.

Testing

Volunteer Examiners: KARS has 11 VE's and can test candidates for Technician, General, and Extra Class licenses. Register before hand with Brad Peace - N5PBP, so we can be prepared to test. Do not try to walk in.

When: On the first Thursday of each month. Come at 1800 (6 PM) to have time to do the paperwork. Testing will commence at 1830 (6:30 PM) providing enough time to complete your test before our regular monthly meeting which commences at 1900 (7:00 PM).

Location: The Agricultural museum and arts center. 102 City Park Road, Boerne, TX 78006.

Exam Candidates:

The FCC is now requiring those wishing to test to register with the FCC first to to obtain their FRN (Federal Registration Number) prior to their testing session as we will now need this and can no longer accept your SSN. Please log into the ARRL web page at http://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session which describes all requirements. You do not need to be an ARRL member.

FCC to Require Email Address with Applications and on File. Log into the ULS License Manager System with your FRN and password to update your FCC license record. See FCC to Require Email Address on Applications Starting on June 29, 2021 (arrl.org).

What to bring: Please see the ARRL web page at <http://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session> for these details. Biggest change - you must apply for an FRN (Federal Registration Number) first. See above, and the link for these details. Then, if applicable, your original license plus 1 photocopy and any CSCE's (Certificates of Successful Completion of Examination) plus 1 photocopy, to be attached to your application. For those not yet licensed, bring a valid photo ID (see the ARRL web site if you don't have a photo ID), your FRN, plus $15.00 cash payment. Above all, go to the ARRL web site, read and comply with all the applicable instructions before you appear to be tested.

Contact: Brad Peace - N5PBP bjpeace1960@gmail.com

Phone: (210) 725-9508

Email: Testing

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