ARRL East Bay Section

The Livermore Amateur Radio “Klub” (LARK) is providing a free class for those interested in obtaining an amateur radio Technician Class license. Immediately following the class, an examination will be available. There is no cost for the class and classroom materials, but the ARRL VEC test fee is $15.

The class will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2010, from 8 AM to approximately 4 PM. The testing will follow immediately afterward. The instructor will be Rich Harrington, KN6FW. It will be held at the Livermore City Council Chambers, 3575 Pacific Ave, Livermore, California. (GPS Location: N37° 40.565′ W121° 45.254′)

Rich teaches a fast paced, informative class and averages about a 90% success rate. Rich has taught students from all walks of life. He starts with the basics, and quickly expands into the complexities of ham radio knowledge students need. While the information is fresh, the LARK Volunteer Examiners show up to administer the Technician class 35-question multiple choice exam. No Morse code test is required. The exam covers basic regulations, operating practices, and electronics theory, with a focus on VHF and UHF applications.

If you would like to register for the class, or have questions, please send an email to Mike Haas at AD6TA@ARRL.net. Or call the instructor, Rich, at 925.462.1467.

What do you need to bring to the exam session? You should bring a picture ID (drivers license, passport) OR, when no photo ID is available, two forms of identification must be presented (birth certificate, report card, library card, Social Security card, utility bill, bank statement, etc.). Students may bring a school ID, and/or a written note from a legal guardian. To be prepared you should also bring two number two pencils with erasers and a pen. A calculator with the memory erased is allowed. You may not bring any written notes or calculations into the exam session.

Psst! Do you want a head start in the class?
Be able to answer these questions:
What is Ohm’s Law?
What is a picoFarad?
What is a microAmp?
What is a milliHenry?
What is a kiloWatt?
What is a megaOhm?
What is gigaHertz?

Please let your members know that we welcome candidates to our location near highways 680 and 880 at Hurricane Electric, 48233 Warm Springs Boulevard, Fremont.

            Here are the scheduled 2010 test dates:

March 13          Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

April 15            Thursday 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

May 8               Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

July 10              Saturday 9:00 a.m.– 11:30 a.m.                       

August 19         Thursday 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.           

September 9     Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.           

November 13   Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

December 16    Thursday 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

            We’re excited to provide more options for new hams and upgrades. For further information, contact Bernhard AE6YN@arrl.net (510) 364-0611 or myself, Rita, KI6SSQ@arrl.net (510) 703-7090, or check the ARRL website.

            We look forward to seeing you soon!

73, 

Rita Derbas

Each year the ARRL Board of Directors has the opportunity to select recipients for a number of awards in various categories that honor Amateur Radio operators.

The nomination period is now open for the ARRL awards that are designed to recognize educational and technological pursuits in Amateur Radio. There is also an award to honor a young Amateur Radio operator. Please log onto www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/edunom.html for specific award details and information on how to nominate or submit supporting endorsements.

The ARRL Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award will be awarded to an ARRL volunteer Amateur Radio instructor or to an ARRL professional classroom teacher who uses creative institutional approaches and models the highest values of the Amateur Radio community. Please note that this award’s criteria and nomination submission requirements have undergone some changes from previous years. The award has been focused to reflect quality of instruction and commitment to licensing instruction. Nominations must be received by March 15, 2010, to be considered this year.

The Hiram Percy Maxim Award is for a licensed radio amateur under age 21 (and an ARRL member) whose accomplishments and contributions are of the most exemplary nature within the framework of Amateur Radio activities. Nominations for this particular award need to be made through your Section Manager (see page 16) who will then forward the nomination to ARRL Headquarters by March 31, 2010.

The ARRL Microwave Development Award is presented to a licensed radio amateur or to individuals who are licensed radio amateurs contribute to the development of the Amateur Radio microwave bands. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2010.

The ARRL Technical Service Award recognizes a licensed radio amateur or to individuals who are licensed radio amateurs that provide Amateur Radio technical assistance or training to others. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2010.

The ARRL Technical Innovation Award is granted to the licensed radio amateur or to individuals who are licensed radio amateurs that develop and apply new technical ideas or techniques in Amateur Radio. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2010.

For some more information about these awards, visit www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/award and www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/instructor/instructor/awards.html. You may also contact Steve Ewald, WV1X, at wv1x@arrl.org or 860-594-0265 at ARRL Headquarters.

After more than two years of planning, designing and writing, we here at the ARRL are eagerly anticipating the launch of the new ARRL Web site. We’ve been able to make the online experience easier for our members — from the online store, to registering for a class, to finding a club — plus we’ve created a new, enhanced member profile with many more options available. We’ve made improvements with you in mind, making sure that we’ve created the easiest, most enjoyable online experience possible. The new Web site will be available at the end of February.
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In preparation for two Alameda Emergency Preparedness Exercises (April 24, 2010, Fall 2010), I’d like to announce an upcoming ARES Emergency Communications class.

This class will be a review of lessons learned from our January exercise and a discussion of operations and procedures to be used by Alameda
ARES.

While it is not a beginners EmComm class, all interested radio operators are welcome to attend. You don’t have to be an ARES or ARCA member.

The date for the first ARES EmComm class is Saturday February 27th at 8:00 AM. While I have reserved the classroom for three hours, the class itself will last two hours including Q&A.

Attendees should have basic emergency communications knowledge; I plan to conduct the class in a review/Q&A/Discussion format.

The basis of the review portion is to cover lessons learned from the January drill followed by proposals for correcting problems encountered.

During the review session I will specifically review the following:

1. Initial Resource net procedures

2. Procedures upon arriving at the assigned site (EOC, OPS center, Shelter, etc.) and ICS structure (light review)

3. Conducting and participating in Tactical Nets

4. Message handling and tracking

The Q/A portion will be specific to the review, but also an opportunity for attendees to ask questions about other EmComm topics.

The discussion portion would be specific to the April 24th exercise and to discuss ideas on other types of exercises.

For those who cannot attend the Saturday morning class, I plan to conduct an identical session on the evening of Monday, March 15th at
7:30 PM.

If necessary; we may have planning session for the April 24th exercise on Saturday April 10th.

Please let me know if you are planning to attend, and if you prefer a Monday evening class or a Saturday morning class

73,

Sandy Lavine, KO6JF
ARES Emergency Coordinator, City of Alameda