Amateur Extra “Continuous” License Classes Online, March-November, 2022 at New England Sci-Tech in Natick, MA

From ema.arrl.org:

    From nescitech.org:New England Sci Tech logo

ONLINE COURSE – ADVANCED LEVEL – AE LICENSE

This ONLINE ham radio license course will get you ready to take the Ham Radio AMATEUR EXTRA license exam, the THIRD of three certification levels. Geared toward adults, as well as junior high, high school, and home-school students. Yes, we give online ham radio exams, too! (See below)

This is a FULL course taught by a 40-yr veteran teacher, not a discussion group or video service. You will learn much more than just watching a video or buying a book. You get a full 24 hours of instruction over eight 3-hour classes. Take the course from anywhere – it’s ONLINE!

Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Recommended text: ARRL Extra Class License Manual, 12th edition, for exams through June 30, 2024, (purchase on ARRL website). Regular practice and study is necessary to get the best results from this course.

[Full story]

ARISS is Accepting Proposals for ISS Amateur Radio Contacts with Astronauts on the ISS

The next proposal window for US schools and educational organizations to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS opened on February 21, 2022, for contacts to be scheduled for January 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023. Proposals are due to ARISS by March 31, 2022, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Kathy Lamont, KM4TAY and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, held an orientation session to help groups who want to apply for a contact to learn about the ISS contact process and to help them to prepare their applications. You can view the orientation session by clicking on the video below.

Working with a school or youth group to host an Amateur Radio Contact with the ISS is a great way for Amateur Radio Club to build a relationship with a school around STEM learning through Amateur Radio.

You can learn more about how to prepare a contact proposal and download the contact proposal template. You can also contact Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, at ab1oc@arrl.org if you have questions about applying for or hosting an Amateur Radio contact with astronauts on the ISS.

 

 

W2NAF: “Ham Radio-Citizen Science Workshop,” RATPAC Zoom Presentation, March 2, 2022

RATPAC logoWednesday, March 2, RATPAC Zoom Presentation 

Starts 10:00 PM AST / 9:00 PM EST / 8:00 PM CST / 7:00 PM MST / 6:00 PM PST / 5:00 PM AKST / 4:00 PM HST

TOPIC: Ham Radio-Citizen Science Workshop  https://hamsci.org/hamsci2022

Speaker/Presenter: Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF
                                 Assistant professor at the University of Scranton Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering

Be sure to check our future RATPAC scheduled presentation below.

  • This meeting will be recorded. By participating you consent to being recorded. 
  • Please change your display name to Your First Name, Call Sign (or organization) and Location, e.g. Dan K7REX Idaho. 
  • Please stay muted until ready to speak. Your space bar works like a PTT for unmuting
  • You may ask questions in chat; Please precede any questions with a Q:

Please Join Wednesday’s Zoom Meeting
Join Wednesday Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 212 888 4758
Passcode: WEDNESDAY

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Passcode: 595910091

Greater Bridgeport ARC’s New “CARES” Program to Provide Continuous Training to its Members

Greater Bridgeport ARC loogoThe Greater Bridgeport (CT) Amateur Radio Club has established a new program to provide continuous training to its members–both in the classroom and with on-air activities. 

“The program is called “CARES – Continuing Amateur Radio Education & Skills,” says GBARC Public Information Officer and Past President Emily Starbrook, N1DID. “It’s our commitment to our members to help them achieve their goals. CARES believes that no ham should be left behind. Once someone has made the commitment to become a ham, we will make sure they have the skills and technical access to make the most of ham radio.”

CARES will consist of two “tracks.” Track A will target new hams, while Track B will be for ham who are on the air:

 

Typical Track – Classroom Topics

Track A – Basic Skills

● Buying a handheld radio
● Programming your radio
● Power Supplies
● VHF/UHF Antennas
● How to make a tape measure
Yagi Antenna
● Introduction to Foxhunts
● DMR/D-Star/Fusion
● Q-Codes
● Moving on to your General
Class License

Track B – Skill Building

● HF Privileges for Technicians
● Intro to Soldering
● Make a Cable with PL-259s
● Baluns and Chokes
● How to make a J-Pole Antenna
● Building an arduino based
foxhunt transmitter
● CW keyers and decoders
● Operating digital modes
● Building a multi-band antenna
● APRS and Packet

 

Typical On-Air Track Activities

Track A – Basic Skills 

● Your first simplex contact
● Your first repeater contact
● New Ham Nets
● New Ham Ragchews
● Rookie Roundup Contests
● POTA/SOTA

Track B – Skill Building

● Simplex Nets
● Simulated Emergency Tests
● On-Air Group activities
● New England QSO Party
● Group POTA/LOTA
● Winter Field Day/Field Day
● Antenna Ranging

“The CARES program is for continuing education which doesn’t leave out the possibility of VE sessions,” says Starbrook. “But so much of what VEs do has moved online, so it is unlikely to become an in-person testing service anytime soon. Much self-paced training is available online that is highly effective for people who are motivated.” N1DID feels that GBARC will be much more effective in “offering help to people to navigate questions they have after they take advantage of those online resources.”

Blue Hill Observatory Radio Club Forming

Blue Hill Observatory logoFrom ema.arrl.org:

New England Sci-Tech writes on its website:

New England Sci-Tech and New England Amateur Radio [Natick, MA] are working with Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center to establish an educational amateur radio club. You can be a charter member!

The Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory has a long history of amateur radio going back to the turn of the last century. We are working to help BHO establish a new club that can meet occasionally on top of Blue Hill and more regularly in locations around greater Boston.

If you are interested in finding out more, please fill out the form below. Be patient as we  send out updates occasionally. The main building and weather tower are closed for renovations, so it will be a while before the radio club will have a permanent home. [Full story]

RASON General Class Licensing Course Begins March 16, 2022

Mark Noe, KE1IU, writes on the RASON mailing list:

RASON [Radio Amateur Society of Norwich, CT] will be offering a General Class Amateur Radio License Course beginning Wednesday, March 16, 2022 and continuing through the end of May.  Class times will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday evenings via Zoom.  The course is free to the public, but you must register to take the course.  Registration will get access to the Zoom link as well as a link to my server, which will host all of the course materials.  Each lecture will be recorded and will be accessible after the class on that server.

You will need to purchase the ARRL General Class License Manual. which can be purchased directly from ARRL at http://www.arrl.org/shop/Licensing-and-Education/ or from Amazon.  Make sure that you get the 9th Edition, which is valid through June, 2023.
 
Your instructors will be: Mark Noe KE1IU, Chip Griffin N1MIE, Tony Girasoli W1TTL and Payton Noe KC1IVR.  We will take you through all the material that is part of the General class license syllabus, and you will be well prepared for the exam at the end of the course.  It is recommended that you have a Technician class license or that you have studied materials for the Technician exam prior to taking this course.  You must take and pass the Technician License Exam before you can take the General License Exam.  All messages regarding the course will be sent out at the RASON@groups.io website.  Please check out the RASON website https://rason.org for more information about our club.  

Send an e-mail to KE1IUmark@gmail.com if you have any questions about the course or if you would like to register.

QSO Today Ham Expo 2022 to Feature Two Build-a-thons

Joe Reynolds, KA1GDQ, writes on the Algonquin (MA) ARC mailing list:

Two prominent Maine amateurs–Rex Harper, W1REX,  and Stephen Houser, N1SH, will join the QSO Today Ham Expo 2022 for a fourth time with two new Build-a-thons, allowing Expo ticket holders to build kits with them, in real time, with demonstrations and mentoring.  Since the interaction is two-way video webinar format, builders can ask questions and get help. Once the Build-a-thon session ends, the recordings will be put up in the Expo library for future reference.

There are two Expo Build-a-thons:

Beginners Build-a-thon
Level: Beginner
Kit: WBB Transmitter
Click here to go to QRPme to purchase this kit

Another slightly more difficult LIVE Build-a-thon
Level: Intermediate
Kit: Tuna Can Switch Inductor Tuner
Click here to go to QRPme to purchase this kit

For more information:

https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/#buildathon

Ham Expo information:  https://qsotodayhamexpo.com

Expo Tickets: https://qsotoday.vfairs.com/en/register-form 

The ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio® in the United States, is a QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Partner.  FlexRadio is the Expo’s Platinum Sponsor, and Elecraft is the Gold Sponsor. 

Build-A-Thon kits are provided by QRPme directly and not purchased through the Expo. You must have an Expo ticket to participate in the Build-a-Thons.

photos of two qrp kits