Licensing Education & Training

Licensing, education, and training

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

Weekend General License Course Offered, Natick, July 13-15, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New England Sci Tech logoFor high school 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 Friday, July 13, 6:00-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 14, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by theFCC General examat 3:00 p.m., at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick. The $85 course fee covers exam fee, cold cuts and salad lunch, coffee and snacks, and printed materials. Advance registration and payment required.

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

Emergency Communications / Licensing Education & Training / Public Service

ARRL to Sponsor the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season Webinar, June 11, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Rob Macedo, KD1CY writes on SKYWARN_Announce:
 
The ARRL will be sponsoring the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season Webinar on Monday 6/11/18 at 800 PM EDT. Details on how to register for this very interesting webinar can be seen at the following link:
 
 

The webinar will go through an overview of the historic 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season, lessons learned from the season, key Amateur Radio group’s preparedness for the new season and how Amateur Radio operators and SKYWARN spotters can become involved. These Amateur Radio Groups include, WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, which is now in its 37th year of service, the Hurricane Watch Net, the VoIP Hurricane Net, SATERN (the Salvation Army Team Emergency Response Network) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Also, an Amateur Radio operator who is the Warning Preparedness Meteorologist at the Canadian Hurricane Centre will be giving the meteorological overview of the 2018 season.

We hope many folks can join the 2018 ARRL Hurricane Webinar!

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

Amateur Radio Technician License in a Weekend Course, Natick, June 29-30, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NE1AR logo“For high school students and adults, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the 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 approximately a week before the course. The TECHNICIAN level course runs Friday, June 29, 6:00-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 30, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.”

[More information]
Licensing Education & Training / Youth

Week-long Beginner Level Amateur Radio Course for Youth and Families, Natick, June 25-29, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

NE1AR logo“The Clay Center Amateur Radio Club (CC-ARC) is a Youth Club, and as such strives to provide educational opportunities for students as well as parents.  We have teamed up with New England Amateur Radio Inc to offer a radio Technician Class course for adults, children, and child-parent pairs to facilitate their successful completion of the FCC radio license test.  Children who pass the test receive a free membership in the Clay Center Amateur Radio Club, the largest youth-oriented radio club in New England.  Yes, this course is geared toward children!”  (Ages 11 and up.) ” 

[More information]
Licensing Education & Training

Breakfast and SKYWARN Training, Littleton, June 2, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Alan Martin, W1AHM writes on the PART of Westford list:

June’s PART Breakfast will be at 8:00 AM on Saturday, June 2 at Paul’s Diner, 6 Carlisle Place, Westford, MA.

Conveniently later that morning, the National Weather Service Boston/Norton will be holding a 2½ hour SKYWARN training class at the Littleton Fire Department, 20 Foster Street, from 10:00 AM–12:30 PM.

Why not have breakfast with the club, and then get your SKYWARN card?

Here’s the class registration page:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-training-class-littleton-ma-tickets-45378324791

Licensing Education & Training

New Technician Class Pool to Take Effect July 1, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL VEC logo/bannerOn July 1, 2018 a new Element 2 Technician class question pool will take effect for examinations. VECs and VEs will have new test designs available for use at exam sessions effective that date. 

The newly revised pool released in January 2018 (updated and re-released February 12, 2018) by the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) must be in use starting July 1. There are three graphics required for this pool and 423 questions in this pool, down slightly from 426 in the previous pool.

ARRL VEC will be supplying all its (near 1,000) Field Stocked VE teams with new test booklets about the 3rd week in June.  Do not destroy the 2014 versions of the Technician exams until June 30!

With the Technician class exam questions changing July 1, new test designs must be used effective that day. Previous ARRL VEC supplied Technician class exam booklet versions (2014 series) and computer-generated Technician class exams created from the 2014 question pool are only valid until midnight June 30, 2018. At that time VE Team leaders should destroy or throw away the old versions of the Technician exams (do not return them to VEC). To avoid a mix-up at the session, do not save old exam versions!

Field Stocked teams that no longer meet the field stock requirements or who have not conducted a session in the past year and non-field stocked teams that have been keeping supplies without qualifying through the VEC will not receive an updated package. Non-stocked VE Teams should be returning their exam packages and supplies to ARRL VEC after each session is completed. The officially stocked VE Teams receive their exam supplies in a large box which is a 6-month-to-1-year supply depending on the team’s activity levels. To see if your team qualifies to be field stocked with a bulk quantity of our test materials visit http://www.arrl.org/field-stocked-ve-teams. 

The question pools review is part of a regular process and each question pool is reviewed and updated on a four year rotation. The General pool is scheduled for an update in 2019. All current question pools and useful information pertaining to the pools can be viewed on the ARRL Web atwww.arrl.org/question-pools. To view all three questions pools, visit the NCVEC web site at www.ncvec.org/. 

–ARRL VE Newsletter, May 2018

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

Technician License in a Weekend Course, Natick, June 1-2, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

For high school students and adults, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the 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 approximately a week before the course.

The Technician level course runs Friday, June 1, 6:00-9:00 PM and Saturday, June 2, 8 AM to 3 PM, followed by the FCC Technician exam at 3:00 PM, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick. The $85 course fee covers exam fee, cold cuts and salad lunch, coffee and snacks, and printed materials. Advance registration and payment required. 

NOTE: Another Technician course will be offered June 29-30, if you can’t make this one.

For questions, see http://www.ne1ar.org/event/amateur-radio-license-in-a-weekend-course-technician-level/ or e-mail bphinney at nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

SKYWARN Training at Waltham ARA Meeting, May 30, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
The May 30 [Waltham Amateur Radio Association] meeting will be a severe weather spotter training session.  The training is presented by Rob Macedo, KD1CY, in association with the National Weather Service SKYWARN program.  Everyone age 16 and older who stays to complete the training will be able to become trained NWS weather spotters.
 
Waltham ARA logoSKYWARN logoThe training 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 tornadoes. 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.


The number of seats is limited, so pre-registration is strongly advised.  Use the following link:

For any questions or further info, contact Rob at rmacedo@rcn.com.

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

CAARA “Tech In A Day” Graduates New Techs

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Attendees at CAARA Tech in a Day who passed their Technician license exam
Stephanie Frontiera, Alison Miniter & Lillian Reilly, members of Ipswich CERT who passed their Technician license exam.

Stephanie Frontiera is one determined young woman. At this spring’s Tech in a Day held at the Lanesville Community Center, she was one of seven students—and one of three from the Ipswich CERT. These CERT members were given radios and encouraged to get their Amateur Radio Technician license. She was determined to do it.

Tech in a Day is a program modeled after the Ham Cram program. It is a study session of the FCC question pool of 426 questions for the exam. There are 35 sections in the question pool, corresponding to the 35 questions on the exam. Every question a student sees on the test will be in the pool.

The good thing? The answers have always been part of the pool. Do the students learn all they have to know about Amateur Radio this way? No, the aim is to pass the test. The students are unlikely to learn everything from a book either—it takes practice and more often the help of a friendly Elmer, or a club to teach the practical matters of operating. After six 45-minute study sessions, the students are ready for the test.

This session was relatively easy—seven exams, plus two walk-ins for testing. CAARA’s crack team of volunteer examiners: Bill Poulin, WZ1L; Dave Robertson, KD1NA; Tony Sarracino, AB1KX; Larry Beaulieu, AJ1Z; Hank McCarl, W4RIG; Stan Stone, W4HIX and VE team liaison Rick Maybury, WZ1B conducted the exam session.

So why did I say that Stephanie was so determined? She told me that she was going to pass this test—and get her General soon after that. But Stephanie was distracted during the session and it took her three tries to finally pass the exam. We all cheered when she made it. So, this session gave us seven out of seven for students and another two walk-ins who passed. All in all, it was a good day. 

[CAARA News May, 2018]
Emergency Communications / Licensing Education & Training

SKYWARN Training at Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC, May 15, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

SKYWARN logoSKYWARN training will be offered at the Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC on May 15 from 7-9 PM.

According to SMHARC’s Ray Cord, K2TGX, “This is both training for new SKYWARN spotters as well as re-certification training for existing spotters.

The training is in lieu of the regular ARES and general club meetings. It will be conducted by the Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinator in the Sturdy Memorial Hospital Rice-Webb Auditorium, 211 Park Street, Attleboro. 

Emergency Communications / Licensing Education & Training

2018 NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Training Class Schedule

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

picture of tornado on radar screenRob Macedo, KD1CY writes on the SKYWARN_Announce list:

The following is the 2018 NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Training Class Schedule for the spring season. Additional SKYWARN Training classes are in planning. This includes a class in Waltham which will be posted by the end of next week. a class in Windham County CT and a class in the Swanesa, Mass area. There will also be a slate of SKYWARN classes in the Fall of this year. Links to the classes schedules are listed below:

NWS Boston/Norton Web Site SKYWARN Class Schedule:
http://www.weather.gov/box/skywarn#fragment-2

WX1BOX SKYWARN Training Class Schedule:
http://wx1box.org/2018/04/20/special-announcement-2018-nws-boston-norton-skywarn-training-class-schedule/

The complete listing is also provided below for convenience:

Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 – 7:00-9:00 PM:
Braintree Police Department
282 Union St
Braintree, MA
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nws-spotter-training-session-braintree-ma-tickets-43555653131

Wednesday April 25th, 2018 – 7:00-9:30 PM:
Foster Center Volunteer Fire Company
86 Foster Center Rd
Foster RI
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-training-class-foster-ri-tickets-44382961633

Saturday April 28th, 2018 – 10:00 AM-12:30 PM:
Manchester RCC
321 Olcott Street
Manchester, CT
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-training-class-tickets-43915232643

Saturday April 28th, 2018 – 2:00 PM-4:30 PM (Afternoon Session as morning session is full):
Manchester RCC
321 Olcott Street
Manchester, CT
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-traning-class-manchester-ct-afternoon-class-tickets-45194505984

Tuesday May 8th, 2018 – 7:00-9:00 PM:
Worthington Town Hall
160 Huntington Road
Worthington, MA
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nws-spotter-training-session-worthington-ma-tickets-43858400657

Thursday May 10th, 2018 – 7:00-9:30 PM:
Ipswich Town Hall – Lower Level
25 Green Street
Ipswich, MA
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-training-class-tickets-43915331940

Saturday May 12th, 2018 – 1000 AM-1230 PM:
Middletown Fire Department – Community Room
239 Wyatt Road
Middletown RI
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration Required via Eventbrite the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-training-class-middletown-ri-tickets-44373833330

Tuesday May 15th, 2018 – 7:00-9:30 PM:
Montague Public Safety Complex Community Room
180 Turnpike Road
Turners Falls, MA
Taught by: NWS  Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nws-spotter-training-session-turners-falls-ma-tickets-43564640011

Tuesday May 15th, 2018 – 700-930 PM:
Sturdy Memorial Hospital – Rice-Webb Auditorium
211 Park Street
Attleboro, MA
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-training-class-attleboro-ma-tickets-44562542765

Wednesday May 16th, 2018 – 7:00-9:30 PM:
Great Hall on 2nd floor at the Halifax Town Hall
499 Plymouth Street
Halifax, MA
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nws-spotter-training-session-halifax-ma-tickets-43563686158

Tuesday May 22nd, 2018 – 7:00-9:30 PM:
Theater Room North Brookfield Jr/Sr High School
10 New School Street
North Brookfield, MA
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nws-spotter-training-session-north-brookfield-ma-tickets-43555173697

Saturday June 2nd, 2018 – 10:00 AM-1230 PM:
Littleton Fire Department
20 Foster Street
Littleton, MA
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-training-class-littleton-ma-tickets-45378324791

Will provide updates when new SKYWARN training classes are added to the schedule. Thanks to all for their support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

Licensing Education & Training

Amateur Extra License Class, Whitman, April 10-May 29, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Recent licensing class held by the Whitman ARCThe Whitman Amateur Radio Club is offering an Amateur Extra License Class beginning Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at the Whitman Police Station, 20 Essex Street, Whitman from 7-9 PM.  The class will meet each Tuesday and Thursday and culminate in an exam session on May 29.  The training coordinator is Ross Hochstrasser, W1EKG. He can be reached at: (781) 447-9104 or email at: bavarianradio@comcast.net.

Ross follows the ARRL published license manual. He reviews the exam questions, discusses the answers, and takes any questions from the students. He also uses an online flashcard system projected at the front of the class for question review, presented with multiple choice answers as with the actual exam.

The class is free of charge.

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

 

 

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Fox Hunting Training, Westford, April 21, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

PART of Westford logoAndy Stewart, KB1OIQ writes on PART-L:

Mark your calendars for Saturday morning, April 21st, at 11 AM.  We will  hold a fox hunting training exercise at the Westford Town Common, which is across the street from the JV Fletcher Library, 50 Main Street.  The rain date will be Sunday morning, April 22nd, at 11 AM.

What is a “fox hunting”?  Otherwise known as “Amateur Radio Direction Finding”, fox hunting involves locating a hidden transmitter.  We’ll hide the transmitter, and you’ll find it.  No license is needed to find the transmitter, so ANYBODY can do it!

John (KB1MGI), Andy (KB1OIQ), and anybody else who wants to help will teach you the techniques used to find 2m, 70cm, and 80m low power transmitters.  We will supply the transmitters and some gear that you can borrow as you learn.

PART did this a few years ago.  It was well attended and quite fun.

Licensing Education & Training / Youth

Clay Center ARC Technician Class Begins March 28, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Clay Center ARC logoThe Clay Center Amateur Radio Club, in conjunction with Brookline Adult and Community Education (BA&CE) and Newton Community Education (NCE)  will offer a six-week Technician Class course beginning Wednesday, March 28, 2018 for adults and child-parent pairs to facilitate their successful completion of the FCC radio license test. Children who pass the test receive a free membership in the Clay Center ARC, the largest youth-oriented radio club in New England. Yes, this course is geared toward children! (Ages 11 and up.) Adults without children are also welcome. To register, go to <http://www.brooklineadulted.org/> or  <https://registration.xenegrade.com/nce/coursedisplay.cfm?schID=11469>.

The Clay Center Amateur Radio Club is a youth club, and as such strives to provide educational opportunities for students as well as parents.

Licensing Education & Training

ARRL Seeks EC-001 Mentors

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL has an immediate need for new mentors for the EC-001 Emergency Communications training program.

“Our mentors represent the best in Amateur Radio public service communications training and make a substantial difference in how students approach service to their communities and Amateur Radio. The mentors take the written text of a course and bring it life for these amateurs, many of whom they will never meet face to face.”

[full story]
Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Cape Ann ARA Tech Class, April 21, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

CAARA logoBill Poulin, WZ1L writes on the Cape Ann ARA list:

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association will hold a one-day study course for those interested in earning the FCC Technician class Amateur Radio license. The course will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2018 from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM at the Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan Street in Gloucester.  An exam will be held at the conclusion of  the class.

There is a $20.00 fee for course materials, snacks and the FCC test fee.

You must register in advance by e-mailing techinaday@caara.net.

Licensing Education & Training / Public Service

SKYWARN Training Session in Braintree, April 24, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

SKYWARN logoThe National Weather Service office in Taunton is offering a SKYWARN training session on Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 from 7:00-9:00 PM at the Braintree Police Department, 282 Union Street in Braintree. Registration is required.

For additional training sessions, see http://wx1box.org/2018/04/20/special-announcement-2018-nws-boston-norton-skywarn-training-class-schedule/.

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Genesis ARS Tech Course Begins April 7, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Genesis ARS logoChris Johnson, N1IR writes on the Genesis ARS list:

The Tech course for April 7, 21 and May 5th is a go! We are located at the Plymouth Airport Community Room have 6 students so far and the list is growing, again of you know anyone who is interested in taking the tech course please pass this on. Thanks to all that volunteer without your effort the hobby and this class would not be a success.

Call out to volunteer instructors, anyone wish to teach a section please email me.

Saturday April 7, 2018
09:00 – 9:15 Setup, Introduction, Books Materials
09:15 – 10:00    T1 (FCC Rules Part A)
10:00 – 10:45    T1(FCC Rules Part B)
10:45 – 11:30    T2 (Operating Procedures)
11:30 – 12:15    Lunch
12:15 – 13:00    T3 (Radio Waves and Propagation)
13:00 – 13:45    T4 (Station Setup and Operation)
13:45 – 14:00     Breakdown

Saturday April 21, 2018

09:00 – 09:15     Setup
09:15 – 10:00     T5 (Electrical and Electronic Principal)
10:00 – 10:45     T6 (Electrical Components and Functions)
10:45 – 11:30     T7 (Operating Procedures)
11:30 – 12:15     Lunch
12:15 – 13:00     T8 (Operating Modes and Special Operation)
13:00 – 13:45     T9 (Antenna and Feed Lines)
13:45 – 14:00     Breakdown

Saturday May 5, 2018
09:00 – 09:15     Setup
09:15 – 10:00     T10 (Electrical and RF Safety)
10:00 – 10:30     Q + A / VEC Setup
10:30 – 12:30     VE TESTING

Clubs / Licensing Education & Training

Framingham Flea Market and VE Session, April 8, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Framingham ARA logoThe Framingham ARA Spring Flea Market will take place on April 8, 2018 at the Keefe Technical School, 750 Winter Street in Framingham. Admission for buyers is $5, and under 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 http://www.w1fy.org/flea.aspx.