When the Tamaqua Wireless Association offers testing Saturday, it will be doing so remotely.

“We don’t know of any other place in Pennsylvania that is doing it this way. We think it is a first,” said Jim Munley, association member.

The tests will be administered through the Aurora Amateur Radio Group of Kodiak, Alaska.

“This was developed by the Aurora radio group. We’ve been corresponding with them since the end of January,” Munley said.

Instead of pencil and paper, participants will use electronic tablets. Applicants will be able to test for their technician, general or amateur extra licenses.

Munley has been a volunteer examiner for more than 20 years, and said he finds the new way “interesting.”

Without the amount of paper to process, the electronic method should reveal scores quicker.

The tests will be administered beginning at 9 a.m. from Tamaqua Borough Hall, and preregistration is being taken at https://hamexamgen.com/pre605.php.

“They do remote testing up in Alaska,” Munley said. “We had heard about it before. This winter, it wasn’t too bad out but we had some Zoom meetings and we had some meetings in person. We thought we would give it a try, and thought that it would be easier and quicker for the people.”

Once applicants complete the tests, Munley said the Tamaqua group will gather feedback.

“The ones that are registered so far now have already done the paper tests,” he said. “We are going to see what they think and what they like.”

Results are forwarded to the American Radio Relay League, which issues licenses through the Federal Communications Commission.

“This group in Alaska is affiliated with them and they have the full blessings of the American Radio Relay League to go ahead with this - they’ve been doing it,” Munley said.

The Tamaqua group of amateur radio operators started after major flooding occurred in August, 1955. The goal was to have individuals trained and ready to provide emergency communications in the event of another devastating flood.

The volunteer group works with the Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency as additional lines of communication during emergencies and disaster.