Tag Archives: License

amateur radio, License, Radio, Study Sessions, Test Sessions

ARRL New Licensees Privileges Request!

ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees

02/28/2018ARRL has asked the FCC to expand HF privileges for Technician licensees to include limited phone privileges on 75, 40, and 15 meters, plus RTTY and digital mode privileges on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters. The FCC has not yet invited public comment on the proposals, which stem from recommendations put forth by the ARRL Board of Directors’ Entry-Level License Committee, which explored various initiatives and gauged member opinions in 2016 and 2017.

“This action will enhance the available license operating privileges in what has become the principal entry-level license class in the Amateur Service,” ARRL said in its Petition. “It will attract more newcomers to Amateur Radio, it will result in increased retention of licensees who hold Technician Class licenses, and it will provide an improved incentive for entry-level licensees to increase technical self-training and pursue higher license class achievement and development of communications skills.”

Specifically, ARRL proposes to provide Technician licensees, present and future, with phone privileges at 3.900 to 4.000 MHz, 7.225 to 7.300 MHz, and 21.350 to 21.450 MHz, plus RTTY and digital privileges in current Technician allocations on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters. The ARRL petition points out the explosion in popularity of various digital modes over the past 2 decades. Under the ARRL plan, the maximum HF power level for Technician operators would remain at 200 W PEP. The few remaining Novice licensees would gain no new privileges under the League’s proposal.

ARRL’s petition points to the need for compelling incentives not only to become a radio amateur in the first place, but then to upgrade and further develop skills. Demographic and technological changes call for a “periodic rebalancing” between those two objectives, the League maintains.

“There has not been such a rebalancing in many years,” ARRL said in its petition. “It is time to do that now.” The FCC has not assessed entry-level operating privileges since 2005.

The Entry-Level License Committee offered very specific, data- and survey-supported findings about growth in Amateur Radio and its place in the advanced technological demographic that includes individuals younger than 30. It received significant input from ARRL members via more than 8,000 survey responses.

“The Committee’s analysis noted that today, Amateur Radio exists among many more modes of communication than it did half a century ago, or even 20 years ago,” ARRL said in its petition.

Now numbering some 378,000, Technician licensees comprise more than half of the US Amateur Radio population. ARRL said that after 17 years of experience with the current Technician license as the gateway to Amateur Radio, it’s urgent to make it more attractive to newcomers, in part to improve upon science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education “that inescapably accompanies a healthy, growing Amateur Radio Service,” ARRL asserted.

ARRL said its proposal is critical to developing improved operating skills, increasing emergency communication participation, improving technical self-training, and boosting overall growth in the Amateur Service, which has remained nearly inert at about 1% per year.

The Entry-Level License Committee determined that the current Technician class question pool already covers far more material than necessary for an entry-level exam to validate expanded privileges. ARRL told the FCC that it would continue to refine examination preparation and training materials aimed at STEM topics, increase outreach and recruitment, work with Amateur Radio clubs, and encourage educational institutions to utilize Amateur Radio in STEM and other experiential learning programs.

“ARRL requests that the Commission become a partner in this effort to promote Amateur Radio as a public benefit by making the very nominal changes proposed herein in the Technician class license operating privileges,” the petition concluded.

Check it out here

http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-requests-expanded-hf-privileges-for-technician-licensees

 

amateur radio, Builders Group, License, Study Sessions, Test Sessions

Next Club Meeting

amateur radio, Antennas, Builders Group, License, Radio, Study Sessions

September Meeting Program

Come join us for an interesting program at our September’s meeting at the Jefferson City Library. September 28th, 2017.

WSPRNET 

we’ll be covering details of equipment used, software, antennas, computers, why it’s helpful, ways to use it! Get ready for another tools to use with Amateur Radio

WSPR (pronounced “whisper”) stands for “Weak Signal Propagation Reporter”. It is a computer program used for weak-signal radio communication between amateur radio operators. The program was initially written by Joe Taylor, K1JT, but is now open source and is developed by a small team. The program is designed for sending and receiving low-power transmissions to test propagation paths on the MF and HF bands.

WSPR implements a protocol designed for probing potential propagation paths with low-power transmissions. Transmissions carry a station’s callsign, Maidenhead grid locator, and transmitter power in dBm. The program can decode signals with S/N as low as -28 dB in a 2500 Hz bandwidth. Stations with internet access can automatically upload their reception reports to a central database called WSPRnet, which includes a mapping facility.

amateur radio, Antennas, Builders Group, Feed Line, License, Radio, Test Sessions

EclipseMob Radio – Builders Group

This Saturday August 19, see you there!

amateur radio, License, Study Sessions, Test Sessions

VE Testing

VE Testing LARC Meetings

 

Thursday, August 24th. 2017
(4th Thursday of every month)
@ 5:00 P.M.
VE Testing in Room 1
If you are interested in attending a testing session
to obtain your FCC License
Please email to let us know for confirmation.
lakewayarcboard@gmail.com
Walk ins are welcome:

When coming to a test session, be sure to bring:
Your current License,
A copy of your License,
Any orginal CSCE you have,
A copy of any CSCE Plus the Original,
Your SSN and FCC Licensee Number (Cores or FRN)
Photo ID,
If you are unlicensed bring:
2 ID’s( one with Photo)
Your SSN

Builders Group in Room 2
(note: always show and tell, along with builders group program)

@ 6:00 P.M.
Board Meeting in Room 1: After Testing
Social Gathering in Room 2
(note: this could also be extended builders group on some nights, show and tell, etc)

@ 7:00 P.M.
Meeting / Program in Room 2
Refreshments in Room 1

Where:
First Baptist Church Youth Center,
504 W Main St
Morristown, TN 37814.
Email for details or questions:
lakewayarcboard@gmail.com

amateur radio, Antennas, Builders Group, License, Radio, Test Sessions

What did Field Day 2017 mean to KM4YEC?

What did Field Day 2017 mean to me?

I posted that question on Facebook to trigger some responses, and as I thought about it, if I were to answer that question…I could write a book, as to relay what it has meant to me.

Recognizing that just like the whole concept of Amateur Radio, it is an individual thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, then like in some other things, what is the fun in being alone, when there are others doing the same thing or nearly the same thing.

 

 

I feel I must point out something. I never excelled in team sports where there is quarterback, or point guard, that drives the whole team, and expects absolute obedience, for while I consider myself a team player, I tend to ‘experiment’ with the boundaries, I crave to be ‘creative’, so, while understanding the need for those other kinds of Teams, I stay away from Teams that don’t allow questioning the next move. And I absolutely Run away from any Team with a Pistol Pete, as I prefer a Team that moves forward as Team, not one that puts anyone on a pedestal.

I love the story of the SS Robert E. Peary, a Liberty Ship built during WWII that was launched 4 days and 15 1/2 hours after the keel was laid. There was a Team that I could have been on. No one quarterback nor point guard could pull that off, that took a Team of Quarterbacks working with each other, not against each other, nor competing with each other, as each piece of that ship had to be ready to slide into place at exactly the right moment, or a really fast recovery had better be ready to put into place. My kind of competition….me against myself. Where failure isn’t failing, its a learning experience.

So, the question was Field Day? I penned a phrase, of which I am sure it ain’t original, some time back, actually it was on the obligatory trip to Disney World after someone wins the Superbowl, or gets a diagnosis that is about as rare. It went like this’ No Regrets, Bucket List Tour’ and it was stenciled on a sheet of coroplast stuck in the ground in front of my RV at Fort Wilderness. So, yes, Field Day, with No Regrets, and a few Check Offs on the List.

Only being licensed as an Amateur Radio Operator for the first time last October, I have been working hard on my List.

This was my first Field Day. I didn’t personally make one radio contact. But, I consider it a success for me. Working within my limitations, I made a few contributions to the team, but I gained so much more. I observed most of the radio operators and loggers doing their thing.

I was allowed to share some of my creative ideas in a side room, where the club has started a Builders Group ( also called WeCanHams.com ) and I saw more new ideas come back at me than I can work in year. I saw the twinkle in someone else’s eye….who after 5 hours of trying various ways to solder a thru hole component in a PCB, finally was satisfied with the result….

and I am sure that many projects will follow that soldering adventure….I figure that at least 120 years of soldering experience was shared in that effort…THAT IS MY KIND OF TEAM. At one point, it resulted in a run to the kitchen to cut a corner off a pot scrubber….not a Pistol Pete move….but a Team move.

I had been told to make the move from 2 meter HT’s to HF required many hundreds of dollars, and a thousand dollars was tossed out there very often as what I should expect to spend. So, before Field Day, I tested this theory, by building a BitX40 kit for $59, and putting it on the air with a jump start battery for power and some galvanized fence wire for an antenna.

On the second Day of Field Day I took my Tour on the Road, down one the spokes on the HUB, to an affiliated Field Day site at HHART, and I had the extreme pleasure of lighting up someone else’s eyes. When I overheard that someone was thinking about getting that kit….I asked, ‘wanna play with one?’ It was exciting to watch and be a part of the ‘Team’ making that QSO, even though I was sitting in a chair just watching. He was heard saying after that he was ordering two BitX40’s.

 

 

And we should never forget a two transistor Pixie…just for fun…and plenty of learning.

 

 

 

So, what did Field Day mean to me? Making a lot of up close and personal connections in a sport that is usually done at long range. And quite a few more Check Off’s on the List.

SaveSave

amateur radio, Antennas, Builders Group, License, Radio, Test Sessions

Field Day 2017 has came to an end

So as Field Day 2017 has came to an end I have to post how proud I am of my LARC family. This year we were sort of thin due to members having family and other obligations,but I can not put into words how proud I am of our club. This year we added a few new twists to our FD activities which I believe was a hit! Our builders group had a session which was only slotted to be about 2 hours ended up lasting nearly 8! We had Testing which resulted in a new ticket and club member! We had over 50 visitors some of who literally saw our FB posts and came by, others heard our members talking on various repeaters swung by to join the fun!!!! Field Day is always special but this year it just felt more special than most. On top of that we operated one less station than last year and made over 100 more contacts. I just want everyone to know how proud an honored I am to be a part of this club. We are far from perfect, have different opinions, disagree about things but we work them out for the better of our hobby and group. We do not ban people, we don’t point out each other’s flaws publicly, we work them out like adults. This shows when we do events like last weekend! In closing, just a big thank you to those who helped, stopped in, brought food and especially smiles and laughter! Hyde WX4HYD

amateur radio, Antennas, Builders Group, Feed Line, Radio, Test Sessions

First Field Day Event for LARC Member

LACERA writes:

This last weekend was my first ever ARRL Field Day. A wonderful experience I recommend any ham to take part in. I worked about 18 contacts on 80 and 40 meters solo then 60 more or so teamed with Jim Sipprell on 40 and 15 meters. You can really fly thru the contacts if teamed up with someone. I also learned I like the Icom 706MK a lot and plan to add one to my station as soon as I can. Great little radio. Working with the wonderful members of the LARC, I realized how important the companionship of others who share your joy of amateur radios is to this hobby and your immersion into it is. I have pledged to myself to become more active in the club and on the airways. Thank you everyone for a great day!

amateur radio, Antennas, Feed Line, Radio

Field Day Primer

LARC Field Day is our premier annual operating event. Field Day 2017 is open to the general public.  This live training session prepares amateur radio operators to be able to set up and operate a station during less than ideal conditions in an emergency. It is also a contest with points and awards for contacting other participants. The contest encourages all to participate, while the experience gained pays off when a real emergency occurs.

With the  new and prospective amateur radio operators, an introduction to general operating procedures and the N3FJP software that we use to log contacts is in order. Training in operating procedures and just plain old FUN is the plan for LARC Field Day this year 2017.

LARC Field Day site will have several operating positions, each with a radio, antenna, power source and a logging computer. Our Field Day Captain will coordinate each position to operate on a specific band and mode to avoid interference with each other.

LARC leadership wants to encourage the general public and all licensed amateurs to come and get on the air.
Technician class licensees can also operate HF as General & Extra Class control operators will be at our Field Day site.

Each position is manned by a team of two, one does the operating and the other logs contacts on the computer. The team members can exchange roles and will appreciate occasional relief by other operators. To learn good communicating skills, observe a smooth operating team, then offer to help logging and/or operating.

Field Day Rules:  Read the full Field Day rules.  We may contact other stations once on phone, once on CW (Morse code) and once on one digital mode on each band. We must log the other station’s correct exchange information for the contact to be valid.  This includes the station call sign, the number of transmitters at the site and class of operation, and the ARRL section.

Our exchange information will be our number of transmitters (to be determined when we start), our class is Alpha (A for portable station with 100% emergency power), and our ARRL section is Tango November (Tennessee). For example, if we have 4 transmitters, our exchange would be “Four Alpha Tango November” on voice or “4A TN” on CW and digital modes.

 

Here is an example of a typical Field Day phone exchange:

  • W2IQ: “CQ Field Day, Whiskey two India Quebec, Field Day”
  • W1AW: “Whiskey One Alpha Whiskey”
  • W2IQ: “W1AW, Copy my Four Alpha Tango November”
  • W1AW: “QSL. Copy my Five Alpha, Connecticut”
  • W2IQ: “QSL, Thanks. This is W2IQ. Field Day.”

 

Here is a typical Field Day CW or digital exchange:

  • W2IQ: “CQ FD DE W2IQ W2IQ”
  • W1AW: “W1AW”
  • W2IQ: “W1AW DE W2IQ 4A 4A TN TN”
  • W1AW: “QSL 5A 5A CT CT”
  • W2IQ: “QSL TU W2IQ FD”

 

Learn and use the ITU phonetic alphabet when needed for clarity, and only ask for repeats of (or provide) information that was not copied correctly the first time. We would log the above contact exchange as “W1AW 5A CT”

Our software, the N3FJP ARRL Field Day Contest Log, networks the computers at all our positions, lists all the Field Day section multipliers (color coding those that have been worked), flags duplicate entries (contacts with stations on the same band and mode) and summarizes the activity for log submission. The Genesis ARC has posted this video tutorial of this software’s features. You will see how easy logging is when you see it at our Field Day.

Joining a Field Day event is a great way to get into operating a HF station with no stress and there are plenty of experienced people willing to help the beginner. It is fun, you get lots of fresh air and good food—with priority given to the operators.

73 and see you at LARC Field Day!

June the 24th and 25th 2017 @ The Boys and Girls Club on Hwy 92, Jefferson City, TN.

Email LARC thru the contact for for more info!