Session Preparation Info 

Amateur Radio Study Session and Test

August 9, 2025

Produced by: Bay Area Educational Amateur Radio Society

Sponsored by:

San Mateo County Sheriff's Communication Unit
( Home Page (smso-scu.org))

Here are the directions to the Redwood City Study Session, as well as other necessary information and the day's schedule:

Ham Study Session Directions for Saturday, August 9th, 2025

This is going to be a large group, so please have your ID ready and the payment with you when you sign in. If you can’t make it, please let us know; the class usually fills and we have to turn people away, spots that we can re-use if we know.

The Fee is $35.00 for this session, pay at the session, cash or check. This covers the cost of the study materials and the W5YI Examination Fee.

• $14.00 W5YI Exam Fee
• $21.00 BAEARS Session Fee

Make checks payable to: Ross Peterson.

Bring check or cash with you. Please don’t mail the fee in.

We MUST check 2 forms of ID, one must be a picture ID. You MUST have your FCC FRN available for the license application, the application can’t be processed without it.

Effective 05/20/2021 you MUST obtain an FRN (FCC Registration Number) in order to obtain an amateur radio license. (FCC FRN Requirements Info https://www.fcc.gov/rofrn)

The FCC has created a YouTube video to demonstrate how to obtain an FRN. The link to the video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a4doKEPN5M

You may go the FCC website at: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/universal-licensing-system-uls-resources/getting-fcc-registration-number-frn to register for a FRN (you will need to give them your Social Security Number).

Effecctive April 19, 2022, the FCC will begin charging a $35.00 application fee. https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee BAEARS will not collect this fee, you will be charged directly by the FCC.

For those of you who don't have a sponsor, leave that part blank, we will help you locate a sponsor at the session.

If you wish to take the Extra exam, you MUST study prior to the session. The question pool is too large to cover in one day of study. Feel free to join us for additional study and bring your study materials. the exam fee is $14.00.

The building will be open at 8:00 AM and we will start sign-in then. The session introduction will start promptly at 8:30. Please don’t be late, if you miss the orientation it will be extremely difficult to catch up.

The session will be at:

San Mateo County Regional Operations Center (ROC)
501 Winslow Street
Redwood City, CA 94063

Plenty of parking is available.

Directions to the venue are:

From San Jose or Palo Alto

• Take US-101 North toward San Francisco
• Take US-101 N toward San Francisco
• Take exit 409 for Whipple Ave.
• Use the left lane to turn left onto Whipple Ave.
• Turn left onto Veterans Blvd.
• Turn right onto Brewster Ave.
• Turn left at the 1st cross street onto Winslow St.

Destination will be on the left.

From the East Bay

• Take I-880 to CA-84 (Dumbarton Bridge)
• Take CA-84 W toward Dumbarton Bridge
• Use the middle 2 lanes to turn left onto Marsh Rd.
• Merge onto US-101 N toward San Francisco
• Take exit 409 for Whipple Ave.
• Use the left lane to turn left onto Whipple Ave.
• Turn left onto Veterans Blvd.
• Turn right onto Brewster Ave.
• Turn left at the 1st cross street onto Winslow St.

You should bring a highlighter, pencils, a blue or black pen, a pocket calculator and a photo ID. If you are upgrading, please bring copies of; your current license, any CSCE’s or other documentation that you have. Bring any documents that you have, including expired licenses, etc. We sometimes need them to establish dates.

This is a cram style session, we have found that it works best if you do NOT study any of the material prior to the session, rest well and have a light breakfast and come prepared to study.

Lunch is available at shopping areas a short distance away, or bring a sack lunch. We will have coffee, tea hot water and hot chocolate available.

CONTACT: Ross Peterson, 650-349-5349

FAX: 650-570-5558

E-MAIL: wb6zbu@arrl.net (preferred method)

73, Ross Peterson WB6ZBU