🔷 ABOUT US

Who We Are

The Suffolk County UHF/VHF Association (N2NLI) is a Volunteer Examiner (VE) team dedicated to helping people earn and upgrade their Amateur Radio and Commercial Radio licenses. We are FCC-accredited and proudly serve the Long Island ham radio community.

Whether you are getting your first Technician license or upgrading to General or Extra, our team is here to make the testing process easy, fair, and professional.

🔷 WHAT WE OFFER

📡 Amateur Radio Exams

• Technician

• General

• Amateur Extra

🎙️ Commercial Radio Exams

• GROL

• GMDSS

• Marine Radio Licenses

🧪 Exam Environment

• Friendly, non-judgmental Volunteer Examiners

• Relaxed, supportive testing environment

• No shortcuts — just a fair and professional exam process

All exams are administered by accredited Volunteer Examiners following FCC and ARRL/VEC standards.

🎙️ Amateur Radio Exams

• Technician (Element 2)

• General (Element 3)

• Amateur Extra (Element 4)

💵 Exam Fees

• Total cost: $50

• $15 testing fee (paid on exam day)

• $35 FCC application fee (paid online after passing)

• Strongly Recommended at least 24 hours in advance
• Email Scott (NQ2F) at NQ2F@optonline.net

📚 Study Materials for Sale

• Limited number of ARRL Licensing Handbooks available

• Discounted price (approximately $30)

🆔 First-Time Test Takers

• An FCC FRN is required

• Must be obtained before exam day

• Used to identify you in all FCC transactions

• A Youth Licensing Grant Program is available for those under 18 Click here for info

Ways to get an FRN:

• Click here to apply online through the FCC Registration System

• Call FCC support if needed at FCC at 1-877-480-3201 (TTY 717­338-2824)

📖 How to Study

• Buy official ARRL study guides ARRL website

• Watch YouTube videos by W4EEY W4EEY

• Read the book by Craig “Buck” K4IA

• Take practice exams on HAMSTUDY.ORG

🎙️ Commercial Radio Exams

• Testing available for all FCC Commercial Radio elements

• One of the only in-person (paper-based) testing centers on Long Island, NY

🧾 What to Bring

• FCC Registration Number (FRN)

• Two original IDs + photocopies

  • Acceptable: Driver’s license, U.S. passport, Social Security card, Amateur Radio license

  • At least one ID must include a photo

• $60 testing fee per element (cash)

• Calculator allowed (memory & formulas must be cleared)

• No notes, papers, or stored calculations allowed

📄 If You Already Hold a Commercial License

• Bring your current license

• Or a copy of a recent (within 1 year) Proof of Passing Certificate

💻 FCC Fee

• $35 FCC application fee paid online directly to the FCC after passing

• Not collected by the testing team

📧 Pre-Registration

• Required at least 24 hours in advance

• Email Scott (NQ2F) at NQ2F@optonline.net

📬 When Will I Get My License?

• Test results are sent to the FCC within 1–2 days after you pass

• Licenses are typically issued within 3 weeks

• If you don’t receive an FCC email after 3 weeks, contact the exam team

📡 Ham Radio Operating Authority

• You may begin operating when your license appears in the FCC ULS database

• If you upgraded your license:

  • Use /AG when upgrading to General

  • Use /AE when upgrading to Extra

• You may operate immediately after your call sign is updated

🎙️ Commercial Radio Operating Authority

• You may operate while your FCC application is pending if:

  • You have a Proof of Passing Certificate (issued within the last 365 days)

  • You filed your FCC application

  • You have not had a license revoked or suspended

• This temporary operating authority is valid for up to 90 days after filing

Looking for radio equipment?
SCUVA proudly recommends ScheckLABS for quality amateur and commercial radio gear.

🔗 Visit: Scheck Labs https://schecklabs.com/?temp-new-window-replacement=true
📧 Email: 4sale@schecklabs.com

Volunteer Examiners (VEs) & Commercial Examiners (CEs)

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has attended our past sessions, and especially to our dedicated Volunteer Examiners (VEs) and Commercial Examiners (CEs) who donate their time each month to make our exams possible. Your commitment helps keep amateur and commercial radio thriving.

About VEs & CEs:

• VEs and CEs are unpaid volunteers who contribute their knowledge, expertise, and time.

• Any funds retained by the club for test administration are nominal and go toward club or test operations.

• Each exam session typically lasts 1–3 hours, depending on the number of participants.

• Sessions are offered every second Saturday of the month, year-round.

Interested in volunteering?

• Volunteer Examiners (VEs): Must hold a General or Extra license

• Commercial Examiners (CEs): Must hold a GROL license

• Reliable volunteers are always welcome!

Current Officers, VEs & CEs:

• Scott / NQ2F – President & Chief Examiner

• Paul / WI2Z – General Secretary

• Eugene / KD2ZNO – VE & CE

• John / KD2HVS – VE & CE

• Jimmy / KD2TYY – VE

• Oleg / K0LEG – VE

• Gary / N2ADC – Vice President

• Charlie / K2ATF – VE

For more information, including official study materials:
ARRL Licensing & Education

History

The Suffolk County VHF/UHF Association has a rich history spanning over 40 years. Our first exam sessions were held at the Blue Point Cottage on Montauk Highway in Blue Point, NY during the 1980s. While most of our members operate on HF, our club made history when an American ham traveled 14,000 miles from Saudi Arabia to attend one of our sessions to upgrade to Amateur Extra — a story featured in ARRL’s QST magazine, titled “How Far Would a Ham Come to Upgrade? How About 14,000 Miles.”

Over the years, we have also held testing at the Centereach Library. Since 2020, all exam sessions have been held at the Elks Lodge of Smithtown, NY, located at 120 Edgewood Avenue.

We honor the memory of Carmel P. Kenny / KF2KF (June 11, 2021), our VE and Vice President for over 30 years. Despite battling pulmonary fibrosis, Carmel dedicated herself to the amateur radio community, often attending exam sessions even when unwell to ensure a full VE team. She is fondly remembered and will be with us in spirit at every exam session.

We also recognize Lenny / N9LAB, Past President and founding member, who moved away in 2021 and passed away in late 2024. His dedication and contributions to the Suffolk UHF/VHF Association were invaluable, and we remain grateful for his legacy.

The club is proud to continue over 40 years of service to the Suffolk County, NY, and Tri-State area, supporting and advancing the Amateur and Commercial Radio communities.

73s