Amateur Radio license examinations will be given on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Hamilton County Emergency Operations Center.
Starting at 10:30 a.m., applicants for any or all of the three levels of Federal Communication licenses – the entry level Technician class, the intermediate General class, and the most technically oriented Amateur Extra class – may take the multiple-choice test instruments.
The tests for both the technician and general exam consist of 35 multiple-choice questions; the Amateur Extra exam has 50 questions. All exams will be graded by ARRL Volunteer Examiners on site. There is a $15 administrative fee for the exam and license processing by the ARRL, the National Association of Amateur Radio. Two forms of identification (one with photo) will be required.
The session will be conducted by ARRL VEC examiners from the Hamilton County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and the Central Indiana Amateur Radio Association (CIARA). Participants are requested to review the ARRL Technician License Manual and take free online practice exams at these websites prior to the Sept. 12 session: arrlexamreview.appspot.com; eham.net/exams; or qrz.com/hamtest.
Topics covered will include: FCC Rules, descriptions, and definitions for the Amateur Radio Service, operator and station license responsibilities; operating procedures; radio wave characteristics: properties of radio waves; propagation modes; amateur radio practices and station set-up; electrical principles: math for electronics; electronic principles; Ohm’s law; station equipment: common transmitter and receiver problems; antenna measurements; troubleshooting; basic repair and testing; modulation modes: amateur satellite operation; operating activities; non-voice and digital communications; antennas and feed lines; electrical safety: AC and DC power circuits; antenna installation; and radio frequency hazards.
When bad weather is forecast to roll across Hamilton County, the meteorologists of the National Weather Service, local television stations, and the Hamilton County Emergency Operations Center rely on a trained cadre of severe storm spotters to provide the “ground truth” of dangerous, damaging weather phenomena. Many of them are first responders and licensed radio amateurs transmitting real time observations directly to the command center using their base, mobile or hand-held VHF and UHF radios.
Seating will be in accordance with social distancing guidelines and participants may use their own masks. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.
The Emergency Operations Center is located on the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Campus at the Emergency Management Agency, 18100 Cumberland Road in Noblesville.
Information will also be available about volunteer opportunities with RACES, Emergency Management and joining the Central Indiana Amateur Radio Club.
For more information or to register, contact Joe March, RACES Coordinator for the Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency, at Joe.March@hamiltoncounty.in.gov or by cell phone at (317) 224-9433.