Ham Cram and License Exam Session – TCF 2023

at The Trenton Computer Festival 2023
Saturday March 18, 2023
The College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing, NJ 08628
Education Building, Room 103
Ham Cram 9:00 AM
License Exam 3:30 PM
Sponsored by the David Sarnoff Radio Club


Ham Cram
9 AM

To receive an amateur radio license, you must show technical proficiency on topics including electronics and operating a station. This Saturday morning session can help you prepare for the License Testing session on Saturday afternoon.

Preparation prior to participation in the course and the exam is strongly encouraged. The slide presentation in the class follows the truly wonderful and free study guide that can be found at http://www.kb6nu.com/tech-manual/.  Students are strongly urged to make use of it.

If you wanted to get an amateur radio license but never had the time, now is your opportunity! To obtain the entry-level Technician license, all one has to do is pass a multiple-choice exam. The course will step through the information needed to pass the FCC Technician License exam.

Online practice exams are also of great benefit, http://qrz.com/hamtest/ (free registration required.)  For further study a comprehensive set of slides that have been used in past classes, along with the complete Technician Class Question Pool material can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B8Kvsw95jCqIU29oMTJVOFYxU3M?usp=sharing

The topic agenda for the Technician Class Ham Cram will be:

  • What is Amateur Radio,
  • Electrical Principles,
  • Math for Electronics,
  • Basic Electronics and Components,
  • Schematics,
  • Radio Wave Properties,
  • Propagation,
  • Antennas & Feedlines,
  • Amateur Radio, Signal/Modulation Types,
  • Safety Concepts,
  • RF Exposure,
  • Station Setup & Operation,
  • Operating Controls,
  • Station Equipment,
  • Common Troubleshooting,
  • Using a Multimeter or DMM,
  • Operating Procedures,
  • Public Service,
  • Amateur Satellites,
  • Fun Activities & Internet, and Rules,
  • Regulations & Definitions.
  • This is why we call it a “Cram”

The Ham Cram class will begin at 9:00 am, lunch at 12:30 pm, and end about 2:00 pm. Time permitting, we will run through a few practice exams prior to the license exam session, which will begin at 3:30 pm.


License Exam SessionĀ 
3:30 PM

Take the Federal Communications Commission examination for an amateur radio license. You do not have to attend the Ham Cram to participate in the exam session. The FCC examination will be administered by ARRL-certified Volunteer Examiners (VEs).

An exam fee ($15.00) must be paid by each examinee. A legal photo ID (identification) will be required to take the exam. If no photo ID is available, see http://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session for alternatives.

You must bring your FCC Registration Number (FRN). Examinees are required by the FCC to submit your FRN with your license application form. If you do not have a FRN, go to https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/universal-licensing-system-uls-resources/getting-fcc-registration-number-frn

All license exams will be offered (Technician, General and Extra) at this testing session. If upgrading, bring a printed copy of your current license. Results of your test will be provided after the exam session is completed.


Since 1976, the Trenton Computer Festival is the parent of all technology festivals!