The Clarksville Operating Radio Enthusiasts' (C.O.R.E.) Group Volunteer Examiner (VE) Team

The next CORE ARES ARRL Volunteer Examiner session will be on Saturday 25 August 2007 at 9 a.m. at the Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union location at 2050 Lowe's Drive, Clarksville, TN 37040. For more information, contact Hank or Howard at (931) 237-2672. Talk-in is on the W4CHM 442.900+ repeater, 110.9 tone.

OK- let’s assume you’ve decided you are interested in getting your Amateur Radio license because…….(fill in reason here). You ask yourself “How does that work? Do I have to give a DNA sample or something? And what’s all this about a test?” Well, only the test part is actually true. There is no mystery, no secret meetings to attend or handshake to learn- the process is remarkably straightforward.

To put it in a nutshell, you have to pass a 35 question multiple-choice test on basic radio theory, operating procedures and FCC rules. “I haven’t taken a test in ___ years!” you protest. Calm down now- this one’s not all that bad. All the questions and answers are available for you to study word for word and only the A,B,C,D order of the answers can be altered. In short, you can’t be asked a question you’ve never seen. Most of us studied on our own, using one of the many excellent study guides available or you can ask questions of anyone in the group. Also, you can take practice tests online when you think you are perhaps ready for the test.

Ok- so you’ve practiced for the test and you’re ready. Now, where is the test given? One place the Licensing Exams are commonly given is any Hamfest (think radio and computer equipment swapmeet). (Just ask Al, he can smell one about to happen 2 states away.) A listing of them can be found on the ARRL Website. Failing that, there are other ways of arranging a testing session. We have our own team of Volunteer Examiners, all Extra Class amateurs, meaning we can adminster any exam you are ready to take. While some of us are active-duty Army, we have adequate depth in our VE Team that the testing sessions will occur even if duty calls and we are out of the area. Testing sessions will be once a quarter and the dates will be published on this website as well as in the Leaf-Chronicle.

In addition to amateur radio licensing exams, the CORE group is also able to offer the ARRL Emergency Communications course exams - Levels I, II and III. The Emergency Communications exams are offered at our regularly sheduled exam sessions. If a large enough group is interested, special ECOMM exam sessions may be possible. Contact Hank Koebler Jr. for more information. These exams may be taken after studying the course materials available from the ARRL Website.

Another testing option in Clarksville is the W5YI VE Team which sponsors testing at the Gateway Medical Center's Cumberland Room on the last Sunday of alternate (odd-numbered) months at 1pm. Check here or contact Dan Baker, N4GXE for more information.

CORE Group Events | Museums on the Air | The ARES Group | The Big Tornado- Why ARES Matters | Field Day 2002 | The C.O.R.E. Group at the June 2004 Relay for Life | Field Day 2004 | Field Day 2003 | Frequencies in regular CORE Group Use | The CORE Group at Play | CORE Group Tornado Response | The CORE Group and the 2002 Simulated Emergency Test | The CORE Group Home Page | Starting out in Ham Radio | WinAPRS Maps of All Kentucky and Tennessee Counties- Street Level | How to contact us

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Page updated 13 July 2007