Testing is back in Session
- 22 May 2020
- West Georgia Amateur Radio Society
Did you take the time to study for a new FCC amateur radio license commonly referred to in the hobby as a ticket? Maybe you took some “home” time to do some studying to upgrade to General or Extra? If you answered yes to any of the above, you have likely found that most, if not all, test sessions have been postponed. If you have found yourself in this situation, we have some good news for you.
The novel coronavirus that has taken the world by storm effected all of us in many different ways. Whether it be fear, anxiety, loneliness, or simple frustration, we have all had to adjust our daily lives. In these trying times, social distancing has become the mantra we have been inundated with and encouraged to follow.
Amateur radio offers a way to maintain contact with our friends and serves as a fun hobby where social distancing is the norm. While this is true for most aspects of the hobby, there are of course events that have been cancelled or altered. Field day, fox hunts, and balloon launches are certainly events that WGARS has either had to cancel or been forced to reimagine.
One major event that has been altered is that of license testing. Test sessions in general go against all of the CDC recommendations. They are held indoors, generally in a small area, and require at a minimum 3 volunteer examiners present to complete the session. When added with a few people testing, the recommendation of no gatherings larger than 10 people will be exceeded and a six foot distance is generally impossible. The state of Georgia has begun the process of opening up and as a result, some clubs have taken a look at options to hold test sessions again safely. The good news is, there are two sessions in the near future that will serve as an opportunity for you or someone you know to test.
Paulding Amateur Radio Club (PARC) has recently announced they will be holding a test session May 25th starting at 1pm at the Paulding Chamber of Commerce. The session will be held outside and will require all participants wear a mask. More information about the session can be found at http://www.pauldingarc.club/events/test-sessions/.
West Georgia Amateur Radio Society (WGARS) will be holding a test session on June 6th at 10am at the VFW fairgrounds on Hwy 61 at the Wagon Wheel building. Plans are still being secured so be sure to watch the WGARS Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/W4FWD) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WGARS) for more information as details are finalized.
Both PARC and WGARS have members that put a lot of time and effort into structuring the sessions in such a way to keep everyone as safe as possible. While these sessions have been updated for the safety of all involved, we encourage those who may be at higher risk to evaluate whether attendance is the best decision for you. There will be future sessions.
