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Amateur Ham Radio Classes
Well here we go into the exciting world of Amateur Radio!
Started classes Sept 8th to study for the Amateur Radio License, i will be testing for my Technician License.
Meetings: Sept. 8,15, 22, 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27 November 3rd TEST TIME!! Cost:$14.00.
The Silver Springs Amateur Radio Club will be teaching the classes and 3 vecs will be giving the test.
September 8, 2007
Class 1
Discussion:
Book purchase
What is Ham Radio
What do Hams Do
Ham Licenses
Radio Club
How to use the text
Importance of class preparation
Instructor:CharlesKC4Q
Toni brought in his equipment to the first class for the new students to see, he had a huge anntena on his car with three on top, i will learn the names of these antennas.
We bought our Lab book, $25.00 "The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual".
Assignment:Read from Page 2-1 through page 2-22
September, 15, 2007
Class 2
Discussion:
Equipment
Electricity
Electrical Components & Units
Signals and Waves
Modes
Instructor:RonN4US
Great class and to think this is FREE!!
Took a few notes, i am in Region #2 and i can transmit using 1500 Watts, but you want to use the minimum frequency.
Wave lengths & frequencies are the same, lectrons give off energy,
electric is moving lectrons, electric current is the flow of electrons, current is measured in unit of amperes.
To remember the Ohm's Law E-I-R, Eagles fly over Indians & Rabbits.
We got to broadcast using the hand held radio, which was exciting.
Thanks Silver Springs Amateur Radio Club/ Friendship Amateur Radio Club for the great instructors and all of the "Elmers" that are ready to help us, sitting in the back row!!.
Now a lot of this information bounced off of my gray cells into the ionosphere, but i will keep listening and hoping some of this will attach it's self.
Now on to the third assignment!!
Assignment: Read Pages 2-23 to 3-11
September 22, 2007
Class 3
Discussion:
Antennas & Feed Lines, N4US
Propagation, N4US
Transmitters and Receivers, N4Us
Instructor:CharlesKC4Q BillN6WGM
This was one on my favorite classes, i love antennaes, they brought in 3 antennas, home made and they can be attached to a hand held radio or used in the attic.
We got to talk on a hand held using the repeater, can't wait to answer roll call on the Net.
We watched a cd of Silver Springs Hamfest in the field, setting up their equipment, testing and brodcasting.
They practice for emergencys.
These are dedicated "Ham Radio Operators". I couldn't live long enough to aquire 1/4 of the information they have, but i am hoping i will pass my test, get my hand held and maybe i will be able to help in a time of emergency.
On to the next class.
Assignment: Read Pages 3-12 to 3-34
September 29, 2007
Class 4
Discussion:
Antenna Systems
Power Supplies and Batteries
Handheld Transceivers
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
Instructor:Bill N6WGM
Bill N6WGM, had a great class, we studied the basic fundamentals of transmitters & receivers.
Simplex, transmitting and receiving on a single frequency.
Repeater stations are located in high spots, on towers, hills or buildings.
To use the repeater, you will have to know three things; transmitters output frequency, input frequency, and the frequency of any access control tones.
Antennas, Dipole, ground-plane antenna, whip antennas, Yagi, Quad, beam, Loops, the dish, are just a few.
Assignment:Read Pages 4-1 to 4-23
Take practice test at QRZ
October 06, 2007
Class 5
Discussion:
Radio Contact Basic, K4LSB
Band Plans, K4LSB
Making a contact, K4LSB
Nets, K4LSB
Instructor:CharlesKC4Q
Charles had a great class we got to talk to WB4GAA on the Net.
We gave our call sign (loaned to us)and the Net WB4GAA, gave my location, Top of The World, SW, then we gave our call sign and turned it back over to Net Control.
CharlesK4CQ thanked Net Control for letting his class practice.
QRU means I have nothing more for you.
73 means "Best Regards".
When signing off say Clear or Off.
Hams exchange cards after contact, they are called QSLing.
Great Class.
Assignment:Read Pages 4-24 to 5-9
Take practice test at QRZ
October 13, 2007
Class 6
Discussion:
Emergency Operating
Special Modes and Techniques
Licensing Terms
Working with FCC
Instructor:CharlesKC4Q EarlK4LSB
This class was Great!! They gave us a pop quiz, getting the class ready for our test november 3rd.
CharlesKC4Q and EarlK4LSB set up WinLink connecting a laptop to a tnc, hand held radio and the jpole.
We were able to send an email, i sent one to myself.
We learned how to identify our name using the ITU Phonetic Alphabet, mine is sierra-uniform-sierra-india-echo-Susie.
The alphabet is reconized world wide, this helps when you are talking to a ham in a forign country. ITU Alpha
I bought my first hand held vhf fm mini power transceiver, frequency range /144.000-145.995MHz (E), 144.000-147.995MHz(T).
Assignment: Read pages 5-10 to 6-9
Take practice test at QRZ
October 20, 2007
Class 7
Discussion:
Bands & Privileges
International Rules
Call Signs
Control Operator
Identification
Interfence
Instructor: RonN4US
Another great class, RonN4US passed out handout's.... Technician Band Allocations, Region maps, US call districts.
I would say this was a very complicated class, a lot to learn as far as frequiencies and bands.
We studied the questions in the back of our book, getting prepared for our test Nov.3rd, I do not like test, never have, but to get my Tech license I will have to take the test and pass it!!
FCC is located in Gettysburg, PA.
WARC; "World Amateur Radio Conference".
Contact: N4MC for Vanity call letters $12.00.
Assignment: Read pages 6-10 to 7-15
Review for test
Take practice test at QRZ
October 27, 2007
Class 8
Discussion:
Third-Party Communications
Remote & Automatic Operations
Prohibited Transmissions
Electrical Safety
RF Exposure
Mechanical Safety
Take Practice Test in class, KC4Q
Assignment:Review for Test
Instructor: RonN4US
This was a very important class, SAFTEY!! Remove your watches & rings when working with electric, this is something i will not be doing.
Charles KC4Q setup a $10.00 radio, hooked up to an antenna he put out back of the Sheriffs office and he was reaching a few locations.
Woody W3hii sent a cw message, RonN4US wrote it down.
We had a review test.
You do not have to spend a lot of money to join the Hams!!
Take practice test at QRZ
Class 9 November 3, 2007 Saturday Morning 9:00am
Event: FCC Test in the class room
WHAT AN AWESOME CLASS....Bob, Paul, Lyal, Johnny, JoAnn, David, Dan, Carol, Bernard, Susie, WE ALL PASSED OUR Technician examination!!!!
Everything was so well organized, they checked our id's collected our $14.00, passed out some forms to be filled out and then we were given our examination booklet.
After we finished the test they graded it and told us if we passed!!
We have to wait for our name to get on the FCC Data Base and we will receive our call letters and on the air we will go!!!
I took some pictures of our last day, the long table is where they graded the test.
The next step is upgrading to General license, but i am going to take a break and learn how to operate my radio!! 73's /Clear
*NOTE: I have upgraded to General.
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