Licensing Education & Training

Licensing, education, and training

Licensing Education & Training

New ARRL Mentoring Guide Available

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From WMA ARRL web: Western MA Section Manager Ray Lajoie, KB1LRL,  Technical Coordinator Greg Algieri, WA1JAR, Technical Specialist Paul Topolski, W1SEX, Technical Specialist Bob Meneguzzo, K1YO, and others in the section have put together a mentoring guide which is intended to be downloaded by whoever needs it and can edit it specific to their club or group.  This should be given to a person that has passed their test to provide basic information, club and contact information so they do not seem lost when they leave the room.  Hopefully it will introduce them to an Elmer (Mentor) to aid in …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training

New Amateur Extra class (Element 4) pool will take effect on July 1, 2020

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From the ARRL VE Newsletter, January 2020: The new Amateur Extra class license examination question pool, effective from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, has been released and is available at the National Conference of Volunteer Coordinators (NCVEC) website. The 2020 – 2024 Extra class pool incorporates significant changes compared to the current 2016 – 2020 question pool, which expires on June 30. The number of questions in the pool was reduced from 712 to 622. The result was 239 modified questions, 49 new questions, and 139 questions removed due to changes in what was felt to be an abundance of outdated questions, while areas of …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Public Information

Message to US Educators: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal US education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS will open a proposal window February 1, 2020 for ham radio contacts that would be held between January 2021 and June 2021. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations whose proposal features a way to draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The window for accepting …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Technical

Antennas 101 with Kiersten Kerby-Patel, January 24, 2020

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Have you ever wondered what an antenna actually does? Why all those big pokey things on top of many tall buildings look the way they do? How we’ve engineered the ability to radiate electromagnetic waves across continents and oceans? If so, join us this Friday to hear about: Antennas for Amateur Radio: Everything is a Dipole (except when it’s a loop) Friday, January 24th at 5:00 PM at MIT in room 4-270 Kiersten Kerby-Patel, University of Massachusetts at Boston Hosted by the MIT Radio Society Part of the IAP Radio Lecture Series <http://w1mx.mit.edu/iap/2020/> DINNER (Pizza) will be provided

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech General Class Course, Natick, February 1-2, 2020

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a Technician level license, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the GENERAL license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum.  Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent approximately a week before the course. The GENERAL level course runs Saturday, 8:30 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 8:30 am to noon, followed by the FCC General exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 …

Read More
Affiliated Clubs / Licensing Education & Training / Technical

MIT Radio Society W1MX Announces January Lecture Series on “Everything Radio”

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From the ARRL Web, 01/02/20: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Radio Society (W1MX) and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science are hosting a lecture series in January that may answer some of your questions about such topics as radar techniques, interferometry, imaging, and radio astronomy, to antenna design and modern chip-scale RF devices. No prior experience with radio is necessary, and all are welcome. All lectures will take place in the Green Building — MIT’s tallest academic building. Sessions will be live streamed and archived for later viewing. The lectures kick off on January 10 with “The Next Generation of Weather Radar.” Other topics …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training

Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC Technician Course Begins January 15, 2020

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The Sturdy Memorial Memorial Hospital ARC will sponsor a Technician licensing course beginning at 7 PM on Wednesday, January 15,  2020, lasting for eight weeks. Sessions will be conducted in the Michael Poissant Room / Clinical Education Center at the front entrance of the Hospital. For more information, contact Gary Powers, KB1KA, at  kb1ka@cox.net.

Read More
Licensing Education & Training

Whitman ARC General License Class Begins December 10, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The Whitman Amateur Radio Club will hold a weekly General license class for eight sessions beginning Tuesday, December 10, 2019 from 7-9 PM at the Whitman Police Station. The class will conclude on January 28, 2020. A volunteer exam session will follow, date to be determined.  Material will be based on the ARRL General Class License Manual. The course is offered free of charge; however students are responsible for acquiring their own textbooks. Interested parties are asked to contact the course instructor, Ross Hochstrasser, W1EKG via email at bavarianradio@comcast.net or by phone at 781-447-9104 or visit http://www.wa1npo.org/training/training.htm for additional information.

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Technician License Course, January 11-12, 2020

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults interested in wireless communications and electronics, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the Amateur Radio Technician license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent a few days before the course. The Technician level course runs on Saturday, 9 AM-4 PM and Sunday, 9 AM-1 PM, followed by the FCC Technician exam at 1:00, at New England Sci-Tech, …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Technician Course, Five Weekdays, January 8-February 5, 2020

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

We are pleased to offer a beginner level ham radio license course for adults, children, and child-parent pairs to facilitate their successful completion of the FCC radio license test. This course is appropriate for children ages 12 and up. Adults without children and children without adults are also welcome. Please call for logistics and permissions if any parents are unable to accompany their children for classes. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. The FCC Technician test will be given in the final class. This course is similar to the weekend course, …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training

“Beyond Tech in a Day” Course Update

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Gardi WInchester, KA1BTK, writes: As all attendees to the current BTiaD course are already licensed, we’re going to shift gears a bit and focus more on understanding the concepts instead of passing the exam.  At the request of those attending, we’re going to flop a couple of nights.  This Tuesday, we’re going to get into programming radios both manually and with computer programs.  If you would like to learn more about programming, please attend tomorrow evening. Times:  18:30 – 20:30 (6:30 – 8:30 PM).  I will be available a half hour before and after.   Location:  Ipswich Town Hall Downstairs Training Room …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Technician License Course, December 7-8, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults interested in wireless communications and electronics, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the Amateur Radio Technician license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent a few days before the course. The Technician level course runs on Saturday, 9 AM-4 PM and Sunday, 9 AM-1 PM, followed by the FCC Technician exam at 1:00, at New England Sci-Tech, …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech General Class Course, Natick, December 14-15, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a Technician level license, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the GENERAL license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum.  Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent approximately a week before the course. The GENERAL level course runs Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm, followed by the FCC General exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech General Class Course, Natick, November 16-17, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a Technician level license, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the GENERAL license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum.  Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent approximately a week before the course. The GENERAL level course runs Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm, followed by the FCC General exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Technician License Course, November 2-3, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults interested in wireless communications and electronics, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the Amateur Radio Technician license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent a few days before the course. The Technician level course runs on Saturday, 9 AM-4 PM and Sunday, 9 AM-1 PM, followed by the FCC Technician exam at 1:00, at New England Sci-Tech, …

Read More
Affiliated Clubs / Licensing Education & Training / Public Information

Nashoba Valley ARC Members Participate in “Massasoit Fall Camporee,” October 4-5, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Members of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club (NVARC) participated in Eastern Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America’s “Massasoit Fall Camporee” at Camp Collier, near Gardner on October 4-5, 2019. The camp is situated deep in the woods on a 500-acre tract of land owned by a preservation trust and leased to the Boy Scouts. Participating were: Bruce Blain, K1BG; Stan Pozerski, KD1LE; Jim Wilber, AB1WQ; Owen Salter, KC1KZT; Skip Youngberg, K1NKR; Phil Erikson, W1PJE; Dan Pedtke, KW2T; Dennis Marandos, K1LGQ; and George Kavanagh, KB1HFT.  A 130-foot long wire and a vertical were erected for HF contacts, thanks …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training

“Beyond Tech-In-A-Day” License Prep & Refresher Course, Ipswich, Starts November 5, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Beyond Tech-In-A-Day Amateur Radio Technician (Element 2) License Preparation and Refresher Course Sponsored by: Ipswich Emergency Management. Dates:  Five Tuesdays, November 5 / December 3 Times:  18:30 – 20:30 (6:30 – 8:30 PM).  Help will be available a half hour before and after each session. Location:  Ipswich Town Hall, Downstairs Training Room / EOC. 25 Green Street Ipswich, MA. 01938 Preregistration:  Recommended Course Fee:  Free Prerequisites:   No pre-study is required but we recommend you skim through the material.  Morse Code is no longer required for any Amateur Radio license.  Required Class Textbook:  Gordon West’s 2018-2022 Technician Class Book (see below) Exam sessions:  Offered at CAARA, …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech General Class Course, Natick, October 19-20, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a Technician level license, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the GENERAL license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum.  Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent approximately a week before the course. The GENERAL level course runs Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm, followed by the FCC General exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech …

Read More
Licensing Education & Training / Technical

Build-Your-Own “HABCAR” Course Coming Soon to MIT Lincoln Lab

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

MIT Lincoln Lab employee Brian Smigielski, AB1ZO, has been awarded funding to design a course in which participants will learn how to build a prototype High Altitude Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio (HABCAR). “The [MIT Lincoln Lab] Technology Office wanted to create another kit building course where each kit would have a price  point of about $400/kit,” writes Brian.  “I had suggested a Build-Your-Own High Altitude Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio course focused on a long-endurance flight using WSPR and transmitting back telemetry (as well as other sensor related data) using the “invalid” WSPR messages which begin with a 0 or Q (that …

Read More