Transmission1

I was thinking of sitting the US amateur radio exam in October at the RSGB convention.
I understand there is also 3 classes of the license much like our UK set up.

-Technician License
-General License
-Extra License

I aim to sit the technician license.

I have heard that you need a US postal address though.

So my question to you guys on here, have any of you sat the US exams and achieved a US callsign and what did you do for the US postal address requirement?

Regards

The obvious question and elephant in the room is...


WHY?

Road_Hog wrote:The obvious question and elephant in the room is...


WHY?

Because you can...

You can "do" a lot of things these days, but bottom line is its only of any use if you intend to migrate, or spend an awful lot of time there!
As you can operate reciprocaly with a full licence, unless you intend to spend a lot of your time there, I also ask what is the point?
If you feel their standards are somehow higher, then the question is higher than what?
Just attain the full UK licence, unless you already have it of course, and most of the world is your "oyster" as far as reciprocal operation licencing is concerned!

Just so that he can tell the yanks how easy their own tests are

Why not? Some people simply enjoy the challenge.

The great thing about the US system is being to be able to take all the tests in one sitting. Something we can't do here. I'd have preferred to do that then apply for a reciprocal here. But that's just me.

If only such an option was available for Spain! (I don't mean the reciprocal bit )

GeeFull wrote:
Just attain the full UK licence, unless you already have it of course, and most of the world is your "oyster" as far as reciprocal operation licensing is concerned!

He does http://www.transmission1.eu/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=47014

thedeerhunter270 wrote:The great thing about the US system is being to be able to take all the tests in one sitting. Something we can't do here. I'd have preferred to do that then apply for a reciprocal here. But that's just me.

You can do all 3 tests for the UK licence at the RSGB convention.

Other options is Ireland where a single RAE is still in effect and the licence is transferrable to a UK advanced licence.

I came on today specifically to ask about US licensing - didn't expect a thread to already exist!

I've been trying to find out if they are offering US exams at the Convention this year - there's nothing online or in RadCom as yet. I e-mailed the address given for US exams at 2014 Convention about a week ago and haven't had a reply.

I'm already fully licensed UK-wise, but want to do it 1.) for the challenge and 2.) because I am married to an American and it's not unlikely that we will move over there eventually. I have the technician and general license books from the ARRL (ordered on amazon.com - not amazon.co.uk) and I've been reading through them. Have plenty of time to get up to speed before October and qrz.com offer practice exams from the real question pool. Question pools are in the books too (and downloadable free from ARRL website).

My question is do we need to book in advance or just turn up? If you fail one, can you retake it immediately?

Mark, M0LXQ.

You can take PRACTICE tests via QRZ.com if you are registered on there. They cover the complete set of pool questions and I thought the only tricky questions on the technician paper are the more US appropriate licencing conditions which differ from ours a bit. Even so, I still managed a "pass" even if most of the licencing conditions were a complete guess.

And don't forget, if you let your US licence lapse for 2 years or more then you have to re-sit the exams to get your licence back !

http://forums.radioreference.com/gettin ... eriod.html

A completely pointless rule that serves no useful purpose at all.

Maybe the the RSGB were involved ? <grin>

73 de WNP

Mercunium wrote:I came on today specifically to ask about US licensing - didn't expect a thread to already exist!

I've been trying to find out if they are offering US exams at the Convention this year - there's nothing online or in RadCom as yet. I e-mailed the address given for US exams at 2014 Convention about a week ago and haven't had a reply.

I'm already fully licensed UK-wise, but want to do it 1.) for the challenge and 2.) because I am married to an American and it's not unlikely that we will move over there eventually. I have the technician and general license books from the ARRL (ordered on amazon.com - not amazon.co.uk) and I've been reading through them. Have plenty of time to get up to speed before October and qrz.com offer practice exams from the real question pool. Question pools are in the books too (and downloadable free from ARRL website).

My question is do we need to book in advance or just turn up? If you fail one, can you retake it immediately?

Mark, M0LXQ.

Hi Mark,

im pretty sure that information will be released soon regarding the US exams at the RSGB convention.
Are you aiming to sit both the technician and general exams there on same day? Is there any practical elements like there is for the UK procedure?
I think i shall buy the same books you have bought and get reading.
I just need to find how im going to get round the issue of not having US postal address.

keep me updated on any info you have

73s
Scott
MW0SWA

RedDragon wrote:Are you aiming to sit both the technician and general exams there on same day? Is there any practical elements like there is for the UK procedure?
I think i shall buy the same books you have bought and get reading.
I just need to find how im going to get round the issue of not having US postal address.

Hi Scott,

From the reading I've done, there is no practical at any level. The ARRL books I've got tell you a fair amount about the exams and the ARRL website has a list of "things to bring" (http://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session). In the US, you can just turn up to an exam session unannounced as they are all listed on the website so I would imagine you need to do very little before the exam. They are the same sort of style exams as the UK version except the question pool is public. Pass mark is 75%.

Yes, I was planning on doing both exams on the same day, but will be guided by however they are doing it. Hopefully see you there then!

Mark.