ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has become the new publisher of the Amateur Radio License Preparation books and related resources authored by Gordon West, WB6NOA. Gordon West’s popular books, classes, and audio courses have been a mainstay of amateur radio licensing for over 40 years. Generations of hams have learned from ‘Gordo’, and now the impact of his knowledge and experience will continue with the reach and resources of ARRL. [full story]
Licensing Education & Training
Amateur Extra Course Offered by Massabesic (ME) Adult and Community Education Beginning February 8, 2024
The Massabesic Adult and Community Education Center is offering an Amateur Extra course at its facilities in Waterboro, Maine, beginning February 8, 2024. A “Beginner and Intermediate Electronic Soldering and Kit building course will also be offered later in April.
For more information, see the Wireless Society of Southern Maine (WS1SM) blog page at: <https://blogws1sm.wordpress.com/2024/01/08/ham-radio-level-3-extra-and-beginning-and-intermediate-electronic-soldering-and-kit-building-courses-offered-by-massabesic-adult-ed/>.
Hampden County (MA) RA Technician License Class Begins January 13, 2024
From the Hampden County (MA) Radio Association ZERO BEAT, January 2024:
Most likely, if you’re reading this, you already have your license and know all the fun and excitement that your very first amateur radio technician class license has brought you.
If you know of anyone who is interested in achieving this goal in life, have them register using the link be- low and fill out the form to get their name on the list for this FREE technician license class next January.
The list of applicants is filling up quickly, so don’t wait too long to get your name or the name of the person who wants to get their license on the form by following the link below and filling out the required information. Choose between in person classes or online Zoom classes!
This class is free; you are only required to buy the license manual. Register using the form found by clicking on the link below.
Register today by visiting: <https://hcra.org/licensing-classes/>.
[The class starts the second Saturday in January and will continue for four weeks and one week of review. The sessions will be from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.]
New Morse Code Game “Less is Morse” Now Online
Alan Dove, AB1XW, has released a new game for learning or practicing Morse code. The free game combines several different training options into a single, minimalist control panel. An HTML version that runs in most modern browsers is available, or users can download native versions for Windows, Mac, or Linux to play offline.
The default starting mode uses the popular Koch method for learning the code from scratch, sending characters at 22 words per minute but introducing them one at a time. Once a player is comfortable receiving the current character set, they can adjust the game level to add another character. The game will also level up automatically when the player is receiving the current characters consistently with at least 90% accuracy.
For intermediate and advanced users who already know the code, there are three modes that send random words from different lists. Players can also turn the speed up or down, adjust the audio tone, or randomize the tone so each new character or group gets sent at a different pitch.
All versions, and a full description of the game’s controls and options, can be found at https://radiovoice.itch.io/less-is-morse.
Alan, AB1XW is a member of the Hampden County Radio Association and lives in Longmeadow, MA with his family. He’s been a ham for over 30 years.
Nashua Area Radio Society Ham Bootcamp Online, November 11, 2023
The Nashua Area Radio Society (NARS) will host their Ham Bootcamp program on November 11, 2023, from 10 AM to 6 PM ET. This program includes a series of online demonstrations and tutorials designed to help newly licensed Technician, General, and Amateur Extra class license holders get on the air. It’s available to all licensed and prospective amateur radio operators.
Visit NARS’s Ham Bootcamp program web page to register and for additional information.
New England Sci-Tech Code Course, October 16, 2023
New England Sci-Tech writes on its Facebook page:Our next Code Course begins October 16th!
This is a condensed Morse code course with only 6 lessons and is appropriate for children in 5th grade and up. Adults without children and children without adults are welcome too, and up to 3 members of the same household can take the course for a single fee!
For full details and to register, visit: https://nescitech.org/content.aspx?page_id=22…
Meriden ARC Technician Class Kicks Off
James Surprenant, AB1DQ, writes on the Meriden ARC Facebook page:
Thanks to Al, N1API, for taking these great photos of night one of the MARC Tech License class that kicked off this week.
We have 21 students enrolled – WOOT!
Thanks to all members who took time this week to share their personal ham story and what they love about the hobby!
Port City Amateur Extra Study Group Meets
The Port City (NH) Amateur Radio Club is conducting a series of Amateur Extra study group meetings at the Piscataque Fish & Game Club in Greenland, NH. This past week, they met for approximately 1 1/2 hours. Students were asked to read several chapters from the ARRL Extra Class License Manual and come to class with one to two prepared questions for the group, “preferably a concept or idea with which you struggled during your reading.”
“The group is fortunate to have Dr. Mike Carter, K8CN, with us this week as their instructor,” writes Kirby Francis, KC1RWR. “Mike holds advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Information systems, and is an Emeritus Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UNH.
“For those who already hold the Extra License, if you have ever wanted to really understand the principles covered in this chapter, you’ll never get a better chance. Along the way, your attendance will encourage the students in the class to keep their resolve in face of some daunting concepts.
“We will then progress to students’ questions, and end each evening with a group trivia challenge taken directly from the exam questions on that week’s subelements! Bring your cell phone to participate in the Trivia game.”
According to KC1RWR, one of the goals of the study group is to “remove the apprehension and fear that may be preventing you from moving forward with your ham radio licensing, replacing it with a sense of community, fun, and self-confidence.”
