The association of radio amateurs will organize a license class

Fort Herkimer Amateur Radio Association, Inc. Education Committee Chairman Chris Bouck, amateur radio call sign KB4CMF, announces that the association will be teaching an entry-level technician class license course from September 21 to December 15 2021. Classes are scheduled to be taught in the German Flatts Town Building on Route 5S next to the Old Fort Herkimer Church between Herkimer and Little Falls. Classes will take place every Tuesday evening for 13 weeks. Classes will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Classes will not meet if a Tuesday is a public holiday or if the weather is bad on that day.

The cost of the course is $ 40.00 and includes the book. Instructors can order the book from the ARRL at cost – which is usually lower than the commercial price. The class is open to all ages. Each student will receive the book “The Amateur Radio License Handbook – Everything You Need to Become an Amateur Radio Operator!” published by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) 4th Edition. If the students already have the book, the price of the book will be deducted from the fees.

Topics include; welcome to amateur radio, radio and electronics fundamentals, operation of station equipment, communication with other radio amateurs, Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations, the operation of an amateur radio station, the propagation of radio waves, antennas and transmission lines, repeaters, radio security and many other useful information. tips and tricks. The book is easy to understand and has “bite size” sections. It includes the last question pool with an answer key. It is designed for self-study or for use in the classroom and now includes a guide to choosing the right radio.

Lots of hands-on tips and demonstrations will be included to give students a hands-on experience. The courses will follow the chapters and format of the book and are a valuable resource for later reference after the course. The book contains all of the questions and answers that candidates will see on the FCC exam.

The FCC recently restructured the licensing requirements for all amateur radio licenses and there are now only three classes of license. They no longer need Morse code for any license class. Each student will be given an “Elmer” list at the end of the course. An Elmer is an experienced ham who volunteered to help the new hams, so they can put their station into service after getting their license. All students who complete the course and receive their license will receive a free one-year membership in the Fort Herkimer Amateur Radio Association, Inc.

The Technician Class license now grants privileges for voice communications almost immediately. Higher class licenses come with more frequencies and modes of operation, such as voice (telephone), radio teletype (RTTY), high frequency (HF) extended privileges, digital modes, packet radio and APRS. Tests are being carried out at various locations in the region. Students can take the exam at any time if they feel ready to try their license. A special test session will be scheduled after the course is completed. Test results are now processed electronically, so the successful candidate can get their FCC callsign and be on the air in a very short time.

For more information or to register, please contact Chris Bouck (KB4CMF), chair of the educational committee of the Ft. Herkimer Amateur Radio Association, Inc. at (315) 429-3927 or by email at cbouck01@twcny.rr. com or Don Peterson (KD2ILO) President of the Fort Herkimer Amateur Radio Association, Inc. at (315) 868-3283.