Licensing Education & Training

Licensing, education, and training

Emergency Communications / Licensing Education & Training / Public Service

SKYWARN Training, Natick, May 4, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

SKYWARN logoThe National Weather Service (NWS) in Boston/Norton Massachusetts will be sponsoring a severe weather spotter training session, part of its SKYWARN program.

The session is open to the public at no charge. Amateur Radio operators, emergency managers, police, fire, and other first responders are encouraged to attend. Everyone age 16 and older who stays to complete the training will be able to become trained NWS weather spotters.

The training session includes a two-hour thirty-minute computer-based presentation, which discusses the development of thunderstorms, the criteria for “severe” thunderstorms, as well as the cloud features associated with severe thunderstorms and tornados. Additional information will be presented about winter storms and proper snow measurement and reporting of coastal flooding, river, stream, and urban flooding and rainfall measurements. The session will also present the procedure for reporting weather information to the National Weather Service. Safety procedures for the various forms of summer severe weather (severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning), winter storms, and flooding will also be covered in the training session. Anyone attending should bring a pen or pencil and bringing a notebook is optional.

To register, visit <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-training-class-natick-ma-tickets-57356953191?aff=ebapi>

Contact Rob Macedo, KD1CY, at rmacedo@rcn.com for any questions or further info on the SKYWARN training class.

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Framingham ARA Flea Market and VE Session, April 7, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Framingham ARA logoThe Framingham ARA Spring Flea Market will take place on April 7, 2019 at the Keefe Technical School, 750 Winter Street in Framingham. Admission for buyers is $5; under the age of 12 is free. Tables are $20 in advance and $25 at the door if available. There will be refreshments, a VE session and door prizes.

For complete information, visit <https://w1fy.org/flea>.

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Technician License Course, March 30-31, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NE1AR logoFor 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, 16 Tech Circle, Natick. [Full description]

 

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

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

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Sci Tech logoFor 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 Circle, Natick.

Included with course fee: printed handouts, lecture study guide, license fee if tested at our location, a guest pass to the NEAR/STARS Radio Room and radio club meetings for 2 months, and free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate during the course. Advance registration and payment required.

For more information and to register, visit <https://www.nescitech.org/product/weekend-general-class/>. For questions, e-mail bobphinney at nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.

 

Licensing Education & Training

Cape Ann ARA “Tech In A Day”, Gloucester, March 30, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

See Cape Ann ARA Tech In A Day Session Cancelled

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association is conducting one of its highly successful Tech In A Day®  review sessions at the Lanesville Community Center in Gloucester on March 30, 2019.

“Interested people can sign up by sending a message to techinaday@caara.net,” writes Stan Stone, W4HIX. The cost is $5, which includes materials and snacks. Testing is $15.

Stone indicates they have room for 25 students.

Emergency Communications / Licensing Education & Training

ARRL Launches Intro to Emergency Communications Courses for 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL’s Lifelong Learning Department is excited to announce the launch of the recently revised Introduction to Emergency Communications (EC-001) course. As part of this new initiative, the course has been updated, beta-tested by a group of course mentors, and transferred into a new online learning platform.

With the closing of the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) in mid- 2018, EC-001 lost its virtual home and was taken offline. At that point ARRL’s Emergency Preparedness staff started working with the new Lifelong Learning team to explore short and long-term alternatives for offering the course. After a period of careful evaluation and review, the decision was made to move the course from the previous Moodle platform to a more modern Learning Management System called Canvas, which will be used while the new Lifelong Learning Initiative program is being developed. The EC-001 course will eventually become part of this new, comprehensive online learning environment.

EC-001 is designed to provide basic knowledge and tools for any emergency communications volunteer. We hope this course will be the starting point for you in your service to your community as radio amateurs and inspire you to think outside the box and look at new and useful ways the radio amateur can lend a hand to the public that has given us the trust of our spectrum of skills. With the online format, students can access the course at any time from anywhere during a 9-week period, so you may work according to your own schedule.

“We’re very excited to be able to offer Introduction to Emergency Communications EC-001 once again” states Kris Bickell, ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager. “The Emergency Preparedness staff at ARRL has been incredibly helpful while we’ve worked together to get the course back up and running. And the input from previous EC-001 mentors has been an invaluable part of the testing phase. The timing is right to put the course back online.”

As in the past, students will be able to register and take the course entirely online. The Canvas platform is also mobile-responsive, meaning that students can view the course materials, interact with fellow students, and complete assignments from any mobile device.

Each course will run for nine (9) weeks, with a group of up to 30 students who will be supported by an experienced mentor. There will be no cost for the course, although students must meet certain pre-requisites to be eligible to participate, which are listed on the registration page.

To view the 2019 course schedule and to register: http://www.arrl.org/online-course-registration.

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Amateur Extra Course, Take Any 9 Sessions

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Sci-Tech is offering ongoing Amateur Extra study sessions for high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a General level license. This slower-paced course will get you ready to take the Amateur Extra license exam. You may jump into this course at any time, pay one course fee, and take nine weeks worth of classes. A different topic group is covered each week; all topics covered in nine-week intervals. Take the exam whenever you are ready.

The course runs most Thursday evenings, 6-9 PM from February 28, 2019 until May 30, 2019 as a combination “study group” and keynote presentations by experienced instructors. Study group meets 6:00-6:30, presentations run 6:30-8:15 approximately, and remainder of time is Q and A with instructors or more study group time. Regular homework reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course.  [Full description]

Licensing Education & Training

New England Sci-Tech General-Class Course, Natick, February 9-10, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Sci Tech logoFor 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 Circle, Natick.

Included with course fee: printed handouts, lecture study guide, license fee if tested at our location, a guest pass to the NEAR/STARS Radio Room and radio club meetings for 2 months, and free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate during the course. Advance registration and payment required.

For more information and to register, visit <https://www.nescitech.org/product/weekend-general-class/>. For questions, e-mail bobphinney at nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.

 

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Algonquin ARC Flea Market, Marlborough, February 16, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Agonquin ARC logoThe Algonquin Amateur Radio Club is again holding its Marlborough Flea Market on February 16, 2019 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the 1Lt Charles W. Whitcomb School, 25 Union St., Marlborough, MA. Talk-in is on the MMRA repeater, 147.27+ (PL 146.2).

A VE session will be held beginning at 9:00 AM. General admission is $5. Vendor tables are $15 before February 9, 2018, or $20 at the door if space is available. Each table includes one admission.

For more information, contact Tim Ikeda, KA1OS at 508-919-6136 (before 9:00 PM), email fleamarket@n1em.org or visit http://www.qsl.net/n1em/FleaMarketFlyer.jpg.  

 

 

Licensing Education & Training

ARRL Board Gives the Go-Ahead to Lifelong Learning Initiative

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL is undertaking a new initiative to provide online educational opportunities to a broad range of radio amateurs. The Lifelong Learning Initiative will seek to provide a series of learning tracks that will serve the needs of the various interest groups within the Amateur Radio community.

While designed for everyone with an interest in learning more about Amateur Radio, the Lifelong Learning Initiative will initially focus on creating online learning opportunities for new and newer hams, a segment of the Amateur Radio community desperately searching for educational and instructional and resources. [ARRLWeb, Full story]

Licensing Education & Training

Whitman ARC Offering Amateur Extra Course, January 3 – March 7, 2019

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The Whitman Amateur Radio Club is offering an Amateur Extra License Class lasting approximately eight weeks, beginning Thursday, January 3, 2019 at the Whitman Police Station, 20 Essex Street, Whitman.  The class meets each Tuesday and Thursday (except February 14) from 7 to 9 PM and will culminate in an exam session March 7.  The training coordinator is Ross Hochstrasser, W1EKG. He can be reached at: (781) 447-9104 or email at: bavarianradio@comcast.net.

Ross Hochstrasser, W1EKG, and Paul DeLory W1GTX, will use the ARRL Amateur Extra Class License Manual. The current version of the manual and question pool are valid through June 30th, 2020. The class is free of charge.

For more information, see <http://www.wa1npo.org/training/training.htm>.

 

Licensing Education & Training

Foundation for Amateur Radio Scholarships

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Foundation for Amateur Radio logoThe Foundation for Amateur Radio, Inc., will be administering the scholarships listed below for the coming academic year, ranging from $500 to $5,000 each. All applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Hold a valid US or foreign amateur radio license,
• Be enrolled, or have been accepted for enrollment, at an accredited university, college or technical school.
• Submit a recent transcript covering their last term of school.
• Applicants who attend a school located outside of the United States must enclose a brochure describing the school.

[Full story]
Clubs / Licensing Education & Training / Technical

MIT Radio Society, EE and Computer Science Department Hosting Radio Technology Lectures

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

MIT Radio Society QSL/logoFrom www.ARRL.org:

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Radio Society (W1MX) and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) are hosting a series of public lectures on “everything radio,” presented by academics and industry professionals. The series begins on Tuesday, January 8, at 5:30 PM ET in Building 3, Room 270.

Each self-contained talk will address a different facet of radio, ranging from modulation, propagation, and Amateur Radio, to radar, radio astronomy, space-based applications, and cellular and 5G technology.  [Full story]

Licensing Education & Training / Operating

MMRA To Present K3LR Contest University, January 16, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Well known contester Tim Duffy, K3LR, will present Contest University via Skype at the Minuteman Repeater Association meeting on January 16 at 7 PM. The meeting will be held at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle,  Natick.

Duffy is a well know contester and the owner of the multi-multi contest superstation K3LR. He will discuss the following topics, followed by a Q&A session:

  • What is a contest?
  • What do you need to get started at contesting?
  • Where can you find resources to help you be a contester
  • What are the benefits of contesting?

The workshop is intended for hams  who are new at contesting or want to improve their skills.

https://www.nescitech.org/directions/

Licensing Education & Training

New England Sci-Tech Amateur Extra Course, Take Any 9 Sessions

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Sci-Tech is offering ongoing Amateur Extra study sessions for high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a General level license. This slower-paced course will get you ready to take the Amateur Extra license exam. You may jump into this course at any time, pay one course fee, and take nine weeks worth of classes. A different topic group is covered each week; all topics covered in nine-week intervals. Take the exam whenever you are ready.

The course runs most Thursday evenings, 6-9 PM from November, 2018 until March, 2019 as a combination “study group” and keynote presentations by experienced instructors. Study group meets 6:00-6:30, presentations run 6:30-8:15 approximately, and remainder of time is Q and A with instructors or more study group time. Regular homework reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course.  [Full description]

Licensing Education & Training

New England Sci-Tech Technician Course, December 21, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NE1AR logoNew England Amateur Radio, Inc. is pleased to offer as part of the school vacation-week workshops, a radio Technician license class course for adults, children, and child-parent pairs to facilitate their successful completion of the FCC radio license test on December 21, 2018 from 9 AM to 12 noon. This course is appropriate for children 4th grade and up. Details are at <https://www.ne1ar.org/event/amateur-radio-course-for-kids-tech-5>.

Licensing Education & Training

New England Sci-Tech Technician Course, December 20, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NE1AR logoNew England Amateur Radio, Inc. is pleased to offer as part of the school vacation-week workshops, a radio Technician license class course for adults, children, and child-parent pairs to facilitate their successful completion of the FCC radio license test on December 20, 2018 from 9 AM to 12 noon. This course is appropriate for children 4th grade and up. Details are at <https://www.ne1ar.org/event/amateur-radio-course-for-kids-tech-4>.

Licensing Education & Training

New England Sci-Tech Technician Course, December 19, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NE1AR logoNew England Amateur Radio, Inc. is pleased to offer as part of the school vacation-week workshops, a radio Technician license class course for adults, children, and child-parent pairs to facilitate their successful completion of the FCC radio license test on December 19, 2018 from 9 AM to 12 noon. This course is appropriate for children 4th grade and up. Details are at <https://www.ne1ar.org/event/amateur-radio-course-for-kids-tech-3/>.

Licensing Education & Training

“Virtual Elmer” Project Envisioned

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Gerry Hull, W1VE, writes on the YCCC reflector:

There’s a Facebook Group called “Ham Radio – New to the Hobby”.

I’ve seen many posts in this group with people stating “I’ve had my General or Extra for a while.  However, I’ve never had an HF QSO.”

Reasons?

– Don’t know how to use the radio.
– Don’t know the procedure for making a QSO
– Mic fright.
– Don’t want to screw up and get in trouble with the FCC.

Lots of these guys are outside any club territory.

So, I created a poll on that site this morning.   Here’s what I got for responses:

More than 56 people interested in getting into an online QSO  — in less than a day.   However, Jim, K1IR, pointed out it would be a much better process to combine some needy hams with some Elmers.   We can do this virtually.    A really good use of Internet technology.

So, I registered the domain virtualelmer.org   I’m going to use that to gather people and co-ordinate.

To be an Elmer, you’d need to have some form of Video Chat (Facebook Messenger, Skype, etc). and some time.   You could help the new ham understand how to use their rig.   How to connect an antenna.  How to choose what band to get on.

And most importantly, get on the air and help them with a First QSO — with you. If you are interested, send me an email and tell me of your interest. I’ll get you hooked up with some of these folks.  You set the date, time with them.