SARA VE TESTING

SARA VE Testing ~ last update: 13 Jan 2023

10 January 2023 ~ FREE RADIO(s) - New Ham after SARA VE session and Attending SARA Club Meeting

In the January SARA meeting it was announced that SARA VE Testing for a 'new Ham license' and then attending a SARA club meeting will get for a 'new Ham {only}' a brand new Baofeng UV-5R handheld transceiver. This is a limited offer for the first five (5) people. Mike, AB8VS, has donated a supply of radios and will assist us in setting the radios up and teaching any new ham how to get started. Details will be provided at the SARA VE testing sessions.

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2023 SARA VE Testing ~ Plans

SARA VE 2023 testing dates are in the "setup stage".

Location: James P. Capitan Center, 149 E. Corunna Ave., Corunna, MI, 48817

Dates/Time: Time for all events: 6:30 PM Paperwork / testing 7:00 P.M.

February = No testing

27 Apr 2023

A June test date is TBD {will post before 31 May ~ usually on the 'Field Day' Saturday}

24 Aug 2023

16 Oct 2023

27 Dec 2023

We require preregistration. If no one registers, we 'cancel the session'. Our VE volunteers travel quite some distance to and from our test sites and we wish to not cause them to waste their efforts. We will allow 'walk-ins' if we are having a VE session - a quick call or email can determine our status.

Contact: Don Warner, WB8GUS to preregister: <email>wb8gus@arrl.net or call/SMS text to [810] 599-0729.

Details:

Face Mask are not required, Social Distance (8 ft.) will be enforced as much as possible.

Our test team is 100% Covid vaccinated and 'boosted'. Status of others being tested cannot be predetermined, so use your own judgement.

Enter 'South East Entrance' and look for the testing team on lowest level (basement), stairs and elevator are available.

We may ask about your vaccine status. We will require a contact phone number and will make a temperature check when you arrive. We will use the State of MI COVID meeting status to establish our guidelines for our testing sessions.

We suggest you use the ARRL VE Testing locations page to search for any other testing locations or go 'Online' if you need something different from what we offer.

SARA Testing PREREGISTER and Reservation Contact:

A reservation is very strongly requested, but we will accept walk-ins - if we are there. If no one reserves a session, we do not show for testing and sometimes there is a 'last minute' change on location or detail that Tom Carpenter, Testing Coordinator, can assist you with. Please contact him:

Don Warner, WB8GUS ~ Testing Coordinator

You can email: wb8gus 'at' arrl.net (replace "at" with @) or Phone: (cell/text) [810] 599-0729.

FCC Registration - A Pretest Requirement

ULS & FRN System Registration ~ You MUST register with the FCC to obtain or change any amateur radio license. The Universal Licensing System [ULS] and FCC registration numbering [FRN] filing systems were deployed in the Amateur Service on August 16, 1999. To conduct business with the FCC, you must register through the FCC COmmission REgistration System [CORES]. You will be assigned a Federal Registration Number. This number will be used to uniquely identify you in all transactions with the FCC. To conduct business with the FCC you must register in CORES (COmmission REgistration System) and receive your FRN (Federal Registration Number) this is "Required before you can take the test". This is to ensure your license is processed quickly and accurately through the FCC's ULS (Universal Licensing System). To do this you must register through FCC CORES and be assigned an FRN. If you are already licensed, you have already registered ~ Check your license on the database to obtain your FRN.

View the FCC web page New Users guide to ULS for step by step instructions on the registration process. [GO HERE to get your FRN.] The FCC has taken great strides to make the ULS and the CORES easy to use and has devoted a section of their website to the Amateur Radio Service. Discussion suggests that a "valid e-mail" address will be a requirement to interface with the FCC (probably early in 2021) You should establish your method to meet the new requirement, we would suggest using a 'Gmail' or 'ARRL' based (if already licensed) as these reflectors can establish a long-term 'common' address at the FCC. The FCC is going 'Green' which means interfacing with them will become 'all electronic' and if your e-mail goes invalid then your license will be terminated.

You MUST bring your FRN with you to the test site! No FRN means you will not be allowed to test!

List of Other Paperwork Required:

Bring along a photo ID, copy of FCC license (if any) and certificates of completion (if any). The FRN that you MUST HAVE ahead of time!

The FCC now requires a 'valid email address' {started July, 2021}.

The paperwork is promptly started on the 'start time' (at 6:30 P.M.) & Testing is 30 minutes after the registration start time (7:00 P.M.) Please arrive by the start time (nominally 6:30 P.M.) to allow paperwork completion prior to testing. If it is a 'special testing' event, start time may vary, but structure is the same.

If you have any special requests, let us know ahead of time.

SARA is certified under the ARRL VEC. SARA usually offers a "special" testing sessions in June (not at the regular time/location). It is normally held at our Field Day site (3rd full weekend in June ~ the Saturday). Testing time at this event is different ... check ahead for the details.

Remote Online Ham Exams

Some VE organizations have setup 'do it at home' online exam sessions. SARA does not offer such a service. SARA's suggested path right now is through Ham Study. org. Read their right side 'blog notice' (Press Release), then do the 'Find a Session' link at top of right side links. This is a "free" study and testing site ~ Ignore the 'Buy the App' link - it will tell you it is free. Checkout blog.hamstudy.org to connect to their blog.

Our local SARA group found some local concerns and will not pursue in the near future a remote testing activity at this time.

SARA Testing Schedule [ARRL Ham VE]

We require some one to Preregister for testing - See Don Warner's [WB8GUS] information above. If there are no 'Preregistered Requests' we DO NOT HAVE A TESTING EVENT!! {Traveler's Beware!} We 'advertise' as registration required - but do accept walk-ins when we hold events.

Current Scheduling is follows. Testing is generally on the "fourth Thursday of even months except February and June". If there is a holiday on that Thursday, then there is no testing for that month ~ mainly Christmas every few years. We skip June's 'regular testing' and use our Field Day site (on Saturday). February is skipped as 'many of our VEs are snowbirds'. Please reserve your testing in advance to avoid confusion. The paperwork starts at 6:30 P.M. & Testing promptly at 7:00 P.M. Please arrive by 6:30 P.M. to allow paperwork completion prior to testing. We accept walk-ins if we are having a test session.

EXCEPT for Field Day Session which is on a Saturday afternoon ~ see below.

If there are no "Pre" registrations for testing we usually cancel the test session... again travelers beware! Check in with Don Warner. Some of our VE's travel 30+ miles to and then from the test site, so they need to know if someone is coming. {Gasoline has become expensive! Also, personal time is important!} If you register and something changes in your schedule, please let us know in advance.

You can email Don Warner, WB8GUS: wb8gus 'at' arrl.net replace the "at" with @ or Phone: (cell/text) [810] 599-0729.