Licensing Education & Training

On-line Technician Course, New England Sci-Tech, Beginning October 5, 2025

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New England Sci-Tech logoFrom New England Sci-Tech website:

This ONLINE ham radio class will get you ready to take the Ham Radio TECHNICIAN license exam, the FIRST of three certification levels. Geared toward adults, but suitable for junior high, high school, and home-school students. Yes, we give ham radio exams, too! You can take this course from anywhere by Zoom.* 

Future workshops: (links to sign up)

Four Sundays OCT 5, 12, 19, 26, 2025, 6:00-9:00 pm Eastern (Zoom only)
Four Sundays NOV 2, 9, 16, 23, 2025, 6:00-9:00 pm Eastern (Zoom only)
(skipping 4 weeks in December for a General course – check it out!)

This is a FULL course taught live via Zoom by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a video or discussion group. You will learn much more than with other methods.

*If you are local and prefer an in-person course, check out our in-person Wireless Electronics Course.

Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Optional text: ARRL Technician Class License Manual, 5th edition, for exams through June 30, 2026, (purchase on ARRL website). Regular practice and study is necessary to get the best results from this course.

You should NOT purchase any radio equipment before you get your license. What to buy? Even before you are licensed, join a local radio club and ask your new hobby friends what they recommend.

Amateur radio (or “ham radio”) is used by people all over the world to communicate over radio waves. Some people use ham radio for emergency preparedness, to provide communications support for community events, to report on severe weather and natural disasters, as a social activity, and even occasionally to contact crew members on the International Space Station!

[Full announcement]

The Consortium Resumes, Manville RI, September 8, 2025

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photo of Consortium MeetingBob Beaudet, W1YRC, writes:
 
The Consortium is planning to start its program Monday, September 8. As it has been, the meeting will be held in the Manville Sportsmen’s Club, 250 High St, Manville, RI. Doors should be open at about 5:30 and the program starts at 7:00. 
 
Jim K1GND shall present an interesting program and as always, we shall enjoy one another’s company.  
 
 

York County Slow Speed CW Practice Net

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Ed Ridolfi, K1RID, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:

All are invited to join or listen in on the York County (ME) QRS Net tonite (Thursday) at 7 PM on 7.118. This is a slow speed, beginner-focused practice net.

Check in at any speed or experience level and copy the weekly message – 1st at around 15 WPM and then again at about 8 WPM.

Hope to see you on the air!

York County QRS Net (YCQRS)

When: Thursdays, 7:00 PM local
Where: ~7.118 MHz (± QRM)
Pace: ~5–10 WPM to start; up to ~18-20 WPM welcome
Comfort level: Beginner and 1st time cw ops are welcomed. Check in or just listen in. If listening, please email me any sig reports

SCRIPT to follow along:

V  V  V  THE YORK COUNTY QRS NET STARTS AT 1900 ET V V V

V V V NET CONTROL IS K1RID ES ALL WELCOME TO CHECK IN V V V

CQ CQ CQ DE K1RID FER YCQRS NET =

NET IS OPEN TO ALL FER MORSE CODE PRACTICE =

PSE CHECK IN WID CALL SIGN ES  NAME ONLY =

CHECK INS NW PSE FER YCQRS NET DE K1RID K

STATION CALLS: KC1CMF GIANNI K

NET CONTROL REPLIES: R R KC1CMF UR RST 599 NXT STATION PSE

THIS CONTINUES UNTIL ALL CHECK INS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED. THEN I WILL CALL EACH STATION IN ORDER FOR ANY COMMENTS OR SIMPLE GOODBYE LIKE: TNX 73 DE KC1CMF K

Next I will send: THIS WEEKS PRACTICE MSG FOLLOWS = <>

To close the net I will send:

GN ALL ES TNX QNI BST 73 DE KITTERY ES K1RID QRT  SK dit dit

dit dit

73 de Ed, K1RID

“Message From A Freshly Licensed Ham”

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Franklin Land Trust News & Views banner

 

From Franklin (County, MA) Land Trust E-News & Views, May 15, 2025:

“For many years, we have relied on the generous support of volunteer amateur radio operators (Hams) during D2R2. These Hams, mostly members of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club (FCARC), provide communication support between D2R2’s home base in Deerfield and checkpoints scattered across the Hilltowns where there is little to no cell service. Last year, when I began planning a new event that would also require support from FCARC (Edge Hill Trail Race), the club’s membership gently hinted that it would be helpful if a few of FLT’s staff and volunteer community became Hams themselves. Flash forward to spring of this year and two of our staff members, including Alex Wahlstrom (callsign KC1WTM) and me (callsign KC1WTW), and five other community members have received FCC-license to operate amateur radio equipment.

“For four Mondays in April, we transformed our conference room into a classroom. A group of interested community members came to learn the material required to get on the air from FCARC members Bob, Chris, and Lad, including understanding the physics of radio waves, electrical components, the pros and cons of different radio frequencies, basic safety, and government regulations. This culminated in a Technician exam which took place earlier this week.

“Now that I’ve passed the test, I am looking forward to learning how to use a radio to communicate with people nearby and thousands of miles away, talk to astronauts on the International Space Station, and even bounce radio signals off the moon. Most of all, though, I’m excited to be able to serve the needs of my community. In the rural Hilltowns where cell service is limited, Ham radio is an important skill in emergencies and can serve as a communication tool in most situations where cell phones are not an option for those who wish to learn the skill.

“Thank you to the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club, the Shelburne Cultural Council, and the Laurel Volunteer Examination Team for help making this event possible.

“I’ll see you on the radio!”

Liam Cregan,
Land Conservation Specialist

[Note: congrats to Liam and six other new hams thanks to Franklin County ARC’s efforts!]

Scenes from the Meriden (CT) ARC General Class

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From Meriden ARC Facebook page:
 
LEFT: MARC VP & current reining Elmer of the Year, NZ1J, Dave Tipping, lectures our General Class on inductance, capacitance and resonant circuits last night.
What an absolute treat for all of us Radio/Electronics nerds in attendance – Thanks Dave!
RIGHT: A sneak peak into KC1QWH, Stephen‘s notebook…. Steve reported he was feeling smart in his post about last night’s class – we’re glad to hear it. We’re just about half way there!
 

HamSCI Workshop, March 14-15, 2025

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HamSCI 2025 workshop logoDavid McGaw, N1HAC, writes on the New England Sci-Tech mailing list:

The following is the information for attending the HamSCI Workshop virtually on Zoom.  It is this Friday and Saturday.

This is the main information page:  https://hamsci.org/hamsci2025

73,

David N1HAC

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Hello HamSCI Community – Here is the Zoom registration link for both days of the HamSCI Workshop, 14 and 15 March, 2025.  There is no charge for virtual attendees.

 
 
Or, at Zoom.com, find Join A Meeting and use  Webinar ID: 971 6132 4956
 
Either way, you will have to register first  – with your name and e-mail – then you will be sent the actual link to join the Zoom session.
 
You can register now and receive the link for March 14 and 15.  We hope to see many of you there!
 
73 de Gary, AF8A
For the Local Organizing Committee

Nashua Area Radio Society Winter/Spring License Classes are Open for Registration

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NARS Ham BootcampAnita Kemmerer, AB1QB, writes:

The Nashua Area Radio Society will be giving license classes for all levels this spring and winter.  The classes will be online via Zoom web conferencing and will include an online exam session at the end of the class.  Here is the schedule:

  • Technician Class:  Saturday and Sunday, February 15th and 16th
  • General Class: Saturday and Sunday, March 8th and 9th
  • Extra Class: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 11th, 12th, and 13th

Our classes are based on the Gordon West License Manuals and include many demos to reinforce the materials.

You can find more information, including a link to the registration form at https://www.n1fd.org/amateur-radio-license-class/