E.A.R.S. maintains a Training & Development Committee to provide education in principles of electronics and good amateur radio practices, prepare students to pass licensing examinations, and help new operators get on the air and explore various amateur radio activities.
The teaching plan for 2004 – 2005 is under development. We would like to hear from radio amateurs who would like to complete a course already begun and from EARS Members interested in group study for a license upgrade. Teaching contact person will be John Hawkinson, K3OLE. Telephone is 410-822-0589 and e-mail is hawkjm@goeaston.net
About Licensing:
To transmit on the amateur radio frequencies you must obtain a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC designates amateur frequency bands and issues three classes of amateur radio licenses. There is no charge for any class of amateur radio license.
Most hams begin by obtaining the Technician license. After gaining some experience as a Technician, many hams "upgrade" to the General license and finally to the Amateur Extra license. Each upgrade carries privileges to transmit on additional frequencies.
A Technician license allows you to use six VHF and UHF bands, including the popular 2-meter and 6-meter bands. The 2-meter band is commonly used for local and regional communication. Worldwide communication is possible on 2-meters using satellites or computer interface. Long-distance contacts are possible on 6-meters using only your radio.
To obtain a Technician license you must pass a written test consisting of 35 multiple-choice questions. The exam covers FCC regulations, basic electronics theory, and operating practices. A passing grade is 74%, or 26 correct answers out of 35. There is no Morse Code requirement for obtaining a Technician license.
Obtaining a General class license involves passing an additional 35-question test and demonstrating the ability to copy a Morse Code transmission at a rate of five words per minute. The General license carries privileges to transmit on portions of nine additional HF bands. Contacts over thousands of miles are common on these bands.
The Amateur Extra license is obtained by passing an additional 50-question written test. The Extra licensee is entitled to use all the FCC-designated amateur radio frequencies.