Randall
Member
anyone know where i go to be tested for my grol? the fcc website?i know they teach the class for it at my local college but i have books from cie to study for it and would like to give it a try.
grol test
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KR4BD
Member
The National Radio Examiners is one group that gives these tests on a national level. The NRE is a different division of the W5YI VEC group that gives ham tests. Here is a link to their website:
http://www.w5yi.org
There are other national, regional and local examiners as well. I took my GROL exam through the NRE-W5YI group.
Good luck.
http://www.w5yi.org
There are other national, regional and local examiners as well. I took my GROL exam through the NRE-W5YI group.
Good luck.
biglaz
Member
I've never heard of this exam. What's the reason to take it?
KR4BD
Member
This is the General Radio Operator's License (GROL). It is a commercial license which replaced the old FCC First and Second-Class Commercial license about 20-25 years ago. It's importance is not as significant as it was in earlier years, but many employers require this license to work on radios. Also, anyone maintaining aircraft and marine radios should have this license. It is also required in areas where international communication is involved.
kingpin
Trailer Park Supervisor
You have to have the GROL (General Radiotelephone Operator License) to maintain or repair any maritime or aviation radio communications systems. There is also a radar endorsement for maintaining radar. It's a pretty intensive test in theory and operations. Having my General ham license helped me out a bit but there is plenty more on there to learn. I've found in MANY public safety communication engineer jobs require this license. I was working on it but took a detour in my career route. It's a great license to have. Kinda like the MCSE of the radio world.
Randall
Member
The site contained everything i needed to know, thank you very much.KR4BD said:
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nd5y
Member
Hi King and readers,
"Kinda like the MCSE of the radio world."
Actually closer to a BSEE than anything else and is accepted in lieu of one.
"Kinda like the MCSE of the radio world."
Actually closer to a BSEE than anything else and is accepted in lieu of one.
jhooten
Member
One of these days I guess I should do the Radar endorsement and GMDSS maintainer just for S&G.
rfradioconsult
Member
Back in the mid-80's the FCC converted all First Class & Second Class Ratelephone licenses that were renewable to a single GROL lifetime license. I sure miss my old "first phone" ticket lots of memories.
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N_Jay
Guest
I should be something more than an MCSE, but MUCH less than a BSEE (although much more focused on radio).
wlmr
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I sent in a photocopy of my First Class back then when it came time to renew/replace it with the "Generic Class" license. Still have the original paper - much classier looking than the replacement. Just wish the ship radar endorsement hadn't just been ink stamped onto the First Class license.
Wonder where I put those?
rfradioconsult
Member
I liked what was printed on the reverse; a place for the owner or captain could insert the dates of service for a work history. There was a lot of Elkins Institute wonders with first phones that didn't know how to turn on a broadcast transmitters.
wlmr
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I took my GROL long before I decided to become a HAMster.
There are several study guides out there. I used W5YI Group.
It takes some time to study and take the test at an approved facility.
Get the Aircraft and Radar/Ship endorsements so you have the full spectrum covered.
Employeers aren't as critical of the requirement as before, but it will still give you an edge.
Plus it's an ugly lifetime license printed on really flimsy security paper.
I've occasionally had to write job descriptions and requirements, and always insist that a GROL be made a requirement. While nothing is a guarantee, it's a useful tool in vetting out the people that are actually interested in radio as a career, as opposed to the IT types that fall into it as an extension of their "wireless" experience.
A ham license will also garner bonus points during the interview process, if I'm on the panel. Again, just another tool to show interest (not necessarily skill level).
There was a lot of Elkins Institute wonders with first phones that didn't know how to turn on a broadcast transmitters.
Simple, turn on power to the finals first so they can heat up faster!
How do you manage that with a Harris 3DX50 Destiny? Now shoving my tongue into the other cheek, older tube type units had a HV delay to keep idiots from arcing the mercury vapor rectifiers and destroying power supplies.
Simple, turn on power to the finals first so they can heat up faster!
How do you manage that with a Harris 3DX50 Destiny? Now shoving my tongue into the other cheek, older tube type units had a HV delay to keep idiots from arcing the mercury vapor rectifiers and destroying power supplies.
Not even remotely close to a BSEE. Maybe accepted in lieu of for the field technician jobs who like to call themselves engineers. A real engineering job requires a BSEE and the knowledge that comes with it. Many also require a PE (registered professional engineer).
It takes about 5 years of hard work to get a BSEE. You can study for a few weeks and get a GROL. There is no comparison between the two. I have a BSEE, GROL, and a PE. I know the difference.
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