Classes for folks
Contents |
CARC to Host Amateur Radio Licensing Classes
The CARC Education Committee is in the process of organizing another licensing class for anyone interested in testing for a Technician-class Amateur Operator license.
Please note: Classes are being planned for Spring 2012 (likely first week of May). Keep checking this page for updates.
How Much
Classes are being offered without charge by CARC. Yup! No charge to take the class! But we do want each student to get their own course book. Family members may share a book.
Order it direct from the ARRL for $29.95 + shipping.
Who
Though there are no age limits to getting a Ham License (if you can understand the material and pass the test - you pass!) Students should be able to read the material on their own and have sufficient attention span and self discipline that will carry them through each of the classes. Many younger people have successfully passed their technician exams - youngest we know of was about 5 years old - but they had wonderfully supportive parents that already had their own licenses and were able to teach their children themselves. These classes are likely best for students 13 and older - but we won't turn anyone away who gives it a serious try!
What's Required
You! Anyone interested in Amateur Radio is welcome! Bring your friends and family along!
Students are highly encouraged (strongly suggested even) to get their own copy of the License manual. Order it direct from the ARRL for $29.95 + shipping. This is the book that will be used in the course, contains all the study materials we'll use as well as information to help ensure a successful VE exam. Though it is possible to be successful without this book - you will greatly increase your chances for success with it.
How much time
The length of each class session will ultimately depend on the curriculum to be covered. Students are encouraged to ask questions, since the whole point of this is to teach YOU how to operate legally, effectively, and have fun while doing it!
Each successive class will continue from where the previous one left off. You will not want to miss any of them.
What To Bring
- Notebook and Writing Instrument for keeping notes
- Student Manual
Registration
Please send an email to "Casper ARC" if you're interested in signing up for our next class session. We'd like a count of how many folks plan to attend, and we might even offer a class session earlier in the future if we have enough demand!
Testing
A Volunteer Examiner (VE) Test session will be held at the end of each licensing course. A VE test is where you take your License Exam. This test session will be open to anyone (not just students from this course!), but we expect those that complete this course will be ready to successfully earn their own FCC Technician Class Amateur Radio License. Normal testing requirements will apply. There will be a testing fee and individual ID requirements, but all these details will be covered in the course. You will be ready!
Support
CARC offers it's discussion board (registration required) and other online resources to help any student with questions or challenges. See the 'CARC Online' box on the left side of this page. You can also email us at "Casper ARC"
Individuals may also make arrangements with any CARC member who's willing to help out. There should be plenty of opportunity for everyone to get the answers they need.
Classes of License
For those of us in the US, there are three levels of Amateur Radio license issued by the FCC.
- Technician
- General
- Amateur Extra.
Technician license holders are allowed to use all legal modes on any allowed frequency above 50Mhz (VHF and above).
General license holders are allowed some access to frequencies below 50Mhz - the 'HF' bands. HF bands are the ones that can be used to communicate around the world.
Amateur Extra, or 'Extra' as it's more commonly called, are allowed access to all frequencies and modes allowed the Amateur service. You can see a chart that clearly shows the privileges and bands for each license class on the ARRL site.
In order to earn a higher level license, you must either already hold or have passed the previous level of exam. ie. You can't just take the Extra exam and then receive an Extra license. You have to take all three exams, and pass them, in order to progress to an Extra class license.
The CARC VE team does it's best to offer all three levels of examination at their test sessions. But, depending on availability of VEs, General and Amateur Extra are not guaranteed to be available at every session. It's only happened once that we weren't able to test Genera or Extra. So, it bears mentioning.
Good luck!!
