General Information:

- Welcome to the Official Webpage of the Suffolk County UHF/VHF Association! We are also known by our call sign, N2NLI. 

- We conduct Amateur Radio Testing (through the ARRL) and Commercial Radio Testing (through the NRE) on the second Saturday of each month, every month of the year.

- We currently have a contest station with a full wave diamond shaped wire up about 70 feet, thanks to John Bagno/KD2RD the designer and installer with the help of Scott/NQ2F. We look forward to more new additions to our new station in the coming year. In December 2022, our club participated in the 10 meter contest using this antenna. 

- Don't forget to consider supporting our ARRL by joining and help keep amateur radio alive and well. 

Amateur (Ham) Radio Exams:

There is no magic wand or trick to make you pass the exam. What we offer is a pleasant exam site with long time, non-judgmental and easy going VEs. Hope to see you soon!

- The total cost will be $50 ( $15 testing fee to be paid on the day of testing + $35 FCC Application Fee to be paid online after passing the exam)

- We are currently offering Technician (Element 2), General (Element 3) and Amateur Extra (Element 4) exams.

- We will have a limited amount of ARRL Licensing Handbooks available for purchase for a slightly discounted price if interested (approx $30).

FIRST TIME TEST TAKERS:

YOU NEED TO HAVE AN FRN NUMBER. APPLY IN ADVANCE AND BRING WITH YOU ON TEST DAY! 

This number is mandatory for a filing and used to uniquely identify you in all transactions with the FCC. To obtain an FRN : Click this link,  FCC Registration Number (FRN) Commission Registration System and follow the instructions on the page to obtain your FRN electronically. You may also obtain the form manually at http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html  or by calling the FCC at 1-877-480-3201 (TTY 717­338-2824).  Mailing instructions are on the form.

SUGGESTED WAYS TO STUDY:

We are often asked about how to study and prepare for the exams. Different learning methods will be more or less effective based on your learning style. Here are some suggestions:

- Purchase the official study guides and manuals from the ARRL website. 

- Watch the licensing videos on youtube by W4EEY

- Check out the book by Criag "Buck" K4IA 

- Review Practice Questions on HAMSTUDY.ORG

HT RAFFLE!!!

We will be conducting a raffle every four months, you will be given a card to enter the raffle when you come to test. You must hold a radio license at the time of the drawing in order to win. The prize is a BOEFENG VHF/UHF radio. Each Radio will be pre-programmed for Nassau and Suffolk Counties. We hope to see everyone in 2023 and good luck to all!

Commercial Radio Testing:

- We are currently able to conduct Commercial Radio Testing for ALL COMMERCIAL ELEMENTS. We are one of the only IN-PERSON (non-computer) testing centers within the Long Island, NY area.

- You will need to bring with you:

* Your FCC Registration Number (FRN number)

* Any two of the following original documents along with a photocopy: State Issued Driver's license, US Passport, Social Security Card, Amateur Radio License (if you have one). At least one document must include a photo.

* $60 Testing Fee per element (Cash)

* A calculator with memory erased and formulas cleared is allowed. You may not bring any notes or calculations to the exam session.

- If you have a Commercial License and are testing for another new element, it would be helpful to bring the original license and a copy of the license or a copy of a recent (within 1 year) Proof of Passing Certificate.

- There is also a $35 FCC Application Fee to be paid online directly to the FCC after passing the exam. The testing team does not collect this.

- Pre-Registration is required by emailing Scott (NQ2F@optonline.net) at least 24 hours in advance.

HAM RADIO OPERATING AUTHORITY:

As a new ham, Your operating authority begins when your license grant information appears in the Amateur Radio Service licensing information, available by searching the Universal Licensing System (ULS). If you are already in the system and have recently upgraded your license through testing you may operate right away using /AG (when upgrading to a general) or /AE (when upgrading to an Extra) after your call sign.

COMMERCIAL OPERATING AUTHORITY:

(Operating While Application is Pending)

A person who has filed an application for a commercial operator license with the FCC, and who holds a Proof of Passing Certificate(s) indicating that he or she has passed the necessary examination(s) within the previous 365 days, is authorized to exercise the rights and privileges of the applied-for operator license during the period before the FCC acts on the application, but only for a period of 90 days from the date the application was filed, provided that the applicant has not had a commercial radio operator license revoked or suspended in the past, and is not the subject of an ongoing suspension proceeding.

<https://www.fcc.gov/commercial-radio-operator-license-program>

Testing Dates:

EVERY SECOND SATURDAY AT 10A.M. 

(PLEASE BE ON TIME)

February 10th, 2024 (2/10/24)

March 9th, 2024 (3/9/24)

April 13th, 2024 (4/13/24)

May 11th, 2024 (5/11/24)

June 8th, 2024 (6/8/24)

July 13th, 2024 (7/13/24)

August 10th, 2024 (8/10/24)

September 14th, 2024 (9/14/24)

October 12th, 2024 (10/12/24)

November 9th, 2024 (11/9/24)

December 14th, 2024 (12/14/24)

Volunteer Examiners (VEs) & Commerical Examiners (CEs):

About Us/History:

The Suffolk County VHF/UHF Association goes back over 35 years where we first started holding exam session at the Blue Point Cottage on Montauk Hwy. in Blue Point, NY during the 1980s. Ironically, most of the clubs members operate on HF. We made history when we had an American Ham from Saudi Arabia come to our exam session to upgrade to Amateur Extra. ARRL posted this in an issue of QST. It was titled “How Far Would A Ham Come To Upgrade? How about 14,000 miles.” Our team hopes to see many new faces for many more years to come.

We have also held testing at the Centereach Library for a number of years. We are currently holding all testing sessions at the Elks Lodge of Smithtown, NY located on 120 Edgewood Ave since 2020.

On June 11, 2021, the club mourned the passing of Carmel P. Kenny/KF2KF. She had suffered from pulmonary fibrosis which affected her lungs, muscle mass and breathing. She was our VE and VP for over 30 years helping the amateur community at out monthly exam sessions. She is truly missed by us all who knew her for many years. To her honor and as a display of her dedication, she often came to the exams sessions even when not feeling well to make sure we had a full VE team. She will be seated at our side in spirit for every exam session to come. KF2KF/SK.

The club would also like to take a moment to recognize Lenny/N9LAB, Past President who moved out of the area in 2021. He was a dedicated and irreplaceable founding member of the Suffolk UHF/VHF Association and we owe him a great deal of gratitude.

We are proud to continue our 35+ years of service to the Suffolk County, NY and Tri-state areas in furthering the Amateur and Commercial Radio communities.

73s

Club Highlights: