Getting an Amateur Radio License
Local SF Bay Area License Events
Sunnyvale VEC
http://www.amateur-radio.org
Twice a month. 2nd Saturday in Sunnyvale, 3rd Saturday in Redwood City.
Silicon Valley VE Group
http://www.svve.org
1st and 3rd Saturday from 8AM until 10:30AM, Saratoga Firehouse
Tri-City VE Group
http://sbara.org
Alternates every month. A Tuesday evening, next month a Saturday morning, rinse repeat.
Bay Area Educational Amateur Radio Society
http://www.baears.com
Gives a one day Ham Cram for Technician and General licenses. Various locations
Every May at Maker Faire San Mateo
http://mfhamtest.com
Finding Other Testing Resources
ARRL: http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed
National Radio Examiners: http://www.w5yi.org
Other VECs http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=licensing_5&id=amateur
Online self-study: http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com
While the focus is on passing the test by studying all of the possible questions, there’s a lot of “how” and “why” information included.
Guides to amateur radio for beginners:
http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Operating_Aids/Beginner_s_Guides/
So, You Want to be a Ham? (NASA ISS reference website):
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/beaham.html
QRZ Practice Tests for amateur radio exams:
http://www.qrz.com/hamtest/
Free and open to the public, you must first register or log in with a QRZ User account. No license is required to register with QRZ.
Santa Clara County OES ARES/RACES: http://www.scc-ares-races.org
For those already licensed, there are many courses in communications procedures, packet, drills, etc. See Training/Events links on left side of website.
Suggested Books for your First License (some of these are available in the AARC library)
See ARRL site for license manuals, http://www.arrl.org/shop/Licensing-Education-and-Training/
Gordon West is well known for his books, see http://www.gordonwestradioschool.com
Now You’re Talking! All You Need to Get Your First Amateur Radio License, A once popular book by Larry D. Wolfgang is the 2003 publication. 114Mb PDF download from http://www.qsl.net/sz1a/download/now_talk.pdf
Many such books can be purchased locally at HRO (Ham Radio Outlet) located on 510 Lawrence Expressway # 102 in Sunnyvale, CA (between Hwy 101 and Central Expressway). http://www.hamradio.com
SF Bay Area Clubs and Organizations
FARS: http://k6ya.org
PAARA: http://paara.org
SBARA: http://sbara.org
Blackberry React: http://www.blackberryreact.org
SFARC: http://www.sfarc.org
West Valley ARC: http://www.wvara.org
Bay Area Radio Builders Club: http://www.fars.k6ya.org/events/barbc
Youth Nets: http://www.arrl.org/youth-nets
Find a club: http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club