Tag Archives: License Exam

Activities, Digital, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter, Youth Activities

Congratulations New Techs!

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We held a technician license class for students, teachers, and parents from our HAB-3 schools and other youth outreach programs on July 16th through 19th at Hudson Memorial School.  The new Hams from the class have just received their call signs and are ready to get on the air!  Congratulations to the new Techs!

New Ham with her CSCE - Amateur Radio Youth Outreach
New Ham with her CSCE
  • Mackenzie Pooler, KC1KBU
  • Victoria Trost, KB1KBV
  • Karen Crivac, KC1KBW
  • Bridget Lalmond, KC1KBX
  • Christopher Levasseur, KC1KBY
  • Adam Goldstein, KC1KBZ
  • Daiel Bartus, KC1KCA
  • Maximillian Piech, KM6UVJ
  • Tatiana Piech, KM6UVK

Here are some of the upcoming activities that the new Techs can get involved in:

  • Join our Weekly Repeater Net – Sundays at 7:30pm – see our Amateur Radio Nets page for more info
  • Get on Echolink
  • August Tech Night on FT8, a very popular digital mode on 6 meters – August 14th, 7:00pm at the First Church Nashua
  • Family Picnic – August 18th at Greeley Park in Nashua
  • ARRL Rookie Roundup RTTY – August 19th at AB1OC/AB1QB’s QTH – we will be control operators so Techs can participate
  • Fox Hunts – Stay tuned to our forums for announcements when the Foxes are out
  • Open House – Get your HT programmed, make your first contact, train for your first contest (ARRL Rookie Roundup RTTY) – August 12th at AB1OC/AB1QB’s QTH
  • Customize your QRZ page 
  • Sign up for our General License Class in November and start studying!

If you haven’t yet joined the Nashua Area Radio Society, you can do so at https://www.n1fd.org/join-us/

Tech Students Tuning an Antenna - Amateur Radio Youth Outreach
Tech Students Tuning an Antenna

Thanks to the following members who helped out with the license class as instructors, giving demos, updating tech class materials, donating equipment, and as VEs:

Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter, Youth Activities

Spring 2018 Technician License Class

We held our first license class of 2018 this past weekend.  It was a Technician License Class and it was a huge success.  We had a total of 16 students in the class, including 3 high school students from Bishop Guertin High School and Merrimack High School – the two schools who participated in our High Altitude Balloon projects.  There was also a teacher in the class from Hudson Memorial School, who will be participating in HAB-3.

We had a great set of students – they all were well prepared and did great on their exams.  All 16 students earned their Tech Licenses and one of the students also earned his General!

AB1BY teaching the Tech Class

Thanks to all of our instructors and VEs who made this possible.  The Tech Class instructors were Abby, AB1BY,  Jamey, AC1DC, Fred, AB1OC, Brian AB1ZO, Wayne, AG1A, and Burns, WB1FJ.

Satellite Station 3.0 Antennas
Satellite Station 3.0 Antennas

Satellite Station 3.0

This class also marked the debut of Satellite Station 3.0, which meets the specs to support ISS Crew Contacts.

Satellite Station 3.0
Satellite Station 3.0

In addition to classroom study, we provided many demos and gave the students an opportunity to get on the air and make Satellite contacts using the station above.   Students also had the opportunity to make HF Contacts using a Flex Maestro, which connected over the internet to the station at the AB1OC/AB1QB QTH.

HF Station with Flex Maestro
HF Station with Flex Maestro

Our next license class will be the General Class, which will be held on March 24th and 25th. We will hold the Extra Class on April 27 – 29.  To register, visit our Class Information Page.

Many of our students also joined the Nashua Area Radio Society after they passed their exams.  Please say hello to the new members and congratulate them at our next meeting.

Anita (AB1QB)

Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter, Youth Activities

ARRL Board Explores Entry-Level License Options…

Looks like the ARRL Board is headed in the right direction on Amateur Radio License changes to make Amateur Radio more accessible to new people and you folks.

Reposted by: Fred, AB1OC

Source: ARRL Board Explores Entry-Level License Options, Ways to Face Future Challenges

Meeting July 21-22 in Farmington, Connecticut, the ARRL Board of Directors took steps to chart a firmer future for Amateur Radio by enhancing the value of the entry-level license and by providing ongoing support for new licensees. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, chaired the second regular meeting of 2017.

“The general goal here is to have an entry-level license that offers a way for a newcomer to experience multiple facets of Amateur Radio,” the committee’s report said, “encouraging them to get on the air, meet other licensees, and engage in a lifetime of learning while using Amateur Radio.”ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, presented the report of the Ad Hoc Entry-Level License Committee. He said the committee’s initial, informal survey attracted nearly 7,900 responses. A second random survey drew another 375 responses. “A clear majority favored a revision to the Technician rather than a new entry-level license,” the committee’s report said, noting that this would require no change to the Technician examination, which already covers more material than necessary for an entry-level examination.

“This choice requires the simplest revision to FCC rules,” the committee report said. The committee suggested expanded digital access on 80, 40, and 15 meters, where Technicians already have CW access, as well as the addition of Technician phone privileges on those bands. Frenaye pointed out that while the Amateur Radio population is growing, the annual rate of growth has stagnated at about 1%. “There is a general consensus…that something needs to happen,'” the committee’s report said, noting a generally favorable attitude toward attracting newcomers.

Later in the meeting, the Board charged the ARRL Executive Committee with developing a plan to implement the ad hoc committee’s recommendation to make the current Technician class license more attractive and useful by expanding its operating privileges on HF to include phone and digital modes. The Board asked the Ad Hoc Entry-Level License Committee to further research and develop the details of a second recommendation to improve successful outreach to prospective radio amateurs and help them through the licensing process.

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