Why you should get licensed?

Amateur radio is a dependable means of communication when traditional systems break down. When cell towers and other infrastructure fail—often due to power outages caused by natural disasters or human-made incidents—amateur radio remains
operational. Unlike modern communication networks that rely on centralized infrastructure, amateur radio operators are capable of transmitting and receiving messages independently. This independence makes amateur radio a vital resource during emergencies, allowing critical information to be exchanged even when other
communication methods are unavailable.

Becoming a licensed amateur radio operator is essential for those who wish to assist their community during times of crisis. Licensing ensures operators are prepared, knowledgeable, and able to participate in emergency communications. By being licensed, individuals can stay informed and trained about local situations and play an active role in supporting their community when conventional communication channels fail.

Once you earn an amateur radio license, you gain the ability to legally operate on specific radio frequencies, experiment with radio technology, and join a worldwide community of operators. The exact privileges depend on which of the three U.S. license classes you hold — Technician, General, or Amateur Extra — each unlocking more of the radio spectrum and more operating capabilities.

VE Sessions

Our VE Sessions are held at 10 a.m. on the last Saturday of every month at the EOC in Babylon Town Hall.

Please note that an FCC issued FRN number is required to take the exam.

You should obtain your FRN Prior to showing up for an exam. We do not have resourced for you to use to register for the FRN.

1. Register here for an FCC account. If you don’t have one.
2. Then once the account is created in the menu select register for a new FRN. Just creating the account does not get you an FRN.

Please contact us with your FRN number and let us know when you will be attending a session. So, we can add you to the schedule and contact you in case there is a scheduling change, due to weather or another event.

Pre-Registrar for Exam tools

We use Exam Tools to administer exams. To speed things up we request that you Pre-register On Exam tools

How to become a volunteer examiner

GSBARC is always looking for volunteer examiners. Please follow the Arrl or the Larc-VEC links below to become a VE and contact us directly for more information. Once you are accredited, we can invite you to our team. If you are already accredited by either Larc-VEC or ARRL we can add you immediately.

• VOLUNTEER EXAMINER MANUAL
• ARRL/VEC Application and Test

You can become a VE either via ARRL or Larc-VEC (Laurel).

GSBARC also uses Larc-VEC

LARC-VEC is an accredited VEC under the FCC. You can follow the link below which has detailed steps on how to register. Laurel allows us to offer exams free of charge.

• https://larc-vec.org/becomeve.php

ExamTools

GSBARC uses Exam tools to administer tests. If you are already registered with Exam tools, ask one of our team to invite you to our team. If you are not registered, use the below link to register. You will need to already be a VE.

ExamTools: Amateur Radio License Exam Tools

Forms