Level 1/ Basic -- Introduction to Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
EC-001 |
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| Description: | A basic course to raise awareness and provide additional knowledge and tools for any emergency communications volunteer. This course has 23 lesson units, is expected to take approximately 25 hours to complete over an 8-week period. Senior hams are encouraged to participate! |
| Prerequisites: | Amateur Radio License. Basic computer, Internet, and email navigational skills are required. |
| Availability: | Classes for this course begin once per month. |
| Additional Info: | Each lesson consists of text, quiz questions, and Student Activities, which are required for successful completion. Every student is assigned a mentor/instructor to review their student activities and guide them through the course. Basic computer, Internet, and email navigational skills are required. |
| Suggested Reference Materials: The ARRL Emergency Communication Handbook (ARRL Item 9388) ORDER |
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| Optional Reference Materials: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course Level 1 (ARRL Item 8462) ORDER |
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| Fees: | Member: $50.00 Non-member: $85.00 |
Antenna Modeling
EC-004 |
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| Description: | Computerized Antenna Modeling Techniques. This course is designed to assist students in mastering the art and science of antenna modeling. This course has 31 lesson units, is expected to take approximately 50 hours to complete over a 16-week period. |
| Prerequisites: | This course presumes that you have one of the software packages -- EZNEC 3.0 by Roy Lewallen, W7EL, NEC-Win Plus by Nittany-Scientific -- or that you are willing to adapt the ideas that we shall explore to the package available to you. |
| Availability: | Classes for this course begin once per month. |
| Additional Info: | Basic computer, Internet, and email navigational skills are required.
Course Preview (PDF) |
| Fees: | Member: $90.00 Non-member: $125.00 |
Antenna Design and Construction
EC-009 |
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| Description: | Students will become familiar with antenna design and construction techniques. This course has 15 learning units, and takes 20 to 25 hours to complete over an 8-week period. Cost does not include the reference ARRL publication "Simple and Fun Antennas for Hams". |
| Prerequisites: | Amateur Radio License |
| Availability: | Classes for this course begin once per month. |
| Additional Info: | Basic computer, Internet, and email navigational skills are required. This course uses the Simple and Fun Antennas for Hams book, written by Chuck Hutchinson, K8CH and Dean Straw, N6BV, for additional reading and construction activities. If you do not already have this book, it should be purchased before you start this course. Various materials (e.g., PL-259 connectors) will be needed depending upon which construction projects you choose to take on.
Course Preview (PDF) Article pertaining to this course: Registration for Antenna Course Closes May 2 Equipment Needed:
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| Suggested Reference Materials: Simple and Fun Antennas for Hams (ARRL Item 8624) ORDER |
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| Optional Reference Materials: The ARRL Antenna Book (ARRL Item 9876) ORDER ON4UN’s Low Band DXing (ARRL Item 9140) ORDER |
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| Fees: | Member: $70.00 Non-member: $105.00 |
The ARRL Ham Radio License Course
EC-010 |
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| Description: | The goal of this course is to prepare students to take, and pass, a Federal Communications Commission examination for a Technician Class Amateur Radio license. This is an 8-week course. The topics are covered to the level of detail that is needed to correctly answer those exam questions. The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual is a companion to this course and is included in the course fee, along with a one year membership with ARRL. In addition, a supporting web page at www.arrl.org/hrlm provides links to many additional resources and supplemental information. |
| Prerequisites: | Desire to obtain an Amateur Radio License |
| Availability: | This course is offered monthly. |
| Additional Info: | Basic computer, Internet, and email navigational skills are required. This course includes the ARRL publication Ham Radio License Manual. This book and one year ARRL membership are provided with course registration. |
| Optional Reference Materials: ARRL's Tech Q&A--4th edition (ARRL Item 9647) ORDER Ham University (ARRL Item 8735) ORDER The ARRL FCC Rule Book (ARRL Item 9000) ORDER Understanding Basic Electronics (ARRL Item 3983) ORDER |
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| Fees: | Member: $74.95 Non-member: $74.95 |
Radio Frequency Propagation
EC-011 |
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| Description: | It doesn’t matter what frequency band you’re using, if you’re operating a radio, you need to understand propagation. The knowledge required on your FCC qualification examination is enough that you know it’s important, but knowing it’s important and being able to apply that knowledge are two different things. The ARRL’s on-line propagation course explores the science of RF propagation on a practical, hands-on level so that you’ll not only understand that propagation is important, but you’ll know how to use it every day whether you’re trying for DXCC on HF or trying to reach Hawaii on the Magic Band. You’ll learn about the properties of Electromagnetic waves, the atmosphere and the ionosphere, the sun and sunspots, ground waves and sky waves, and propagation modes including aurora and meteor scatter that provide special challenges for VHF operators. A new update to the course has added NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) propagation with a whole lesson introducing you to the practical problems involved in using this mode. The course now has 18 lessons filled with practical suggestions and activities you can use to make propagation a practical tool. This is an intensive course requiring approximately 40 hours of study spread out over 12 weeks. t knowing it’s important and being able to apply that knowledge are two different things. The ARRL’s on-line propagation course explores the science of RF propagation on a practical, hands-on level so that you’ll not only understand that propagation is important, but you’ll know how to use it every day whether you’re trying for DXCC on HF or trying to reach Hawaii on the Magic Band. You’ll learn about the properties of Electromagnetic waves, the atmosphere and the ionosphere, the sun and sunspots, ground waves and sky waves, and propagation modes including aurora and meteor scatter that provide special challenges for VHF operators. A new update to the course has added NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) propagation with a whole lesson introducing you to the practical problems involved in using this mode. The course now has 18 lessons filled with practical suggestions and activities you can use to make propagation a practical tool. This is an intensive course requiring approximately 40 hours of study spread out over 12 weeks. |
| Prerequisites: | None |
| Availability: | This course is offered monthly. |
| Additional Info: | Basic computer, Internet, and email navigational skills are required.
Course Preview (PDF) Equipment Needed: HF receiver is necessary for some activities. |
| Optional Reference Materials: Radio Propagation -- Principles & Practice (ARRL Item 9328) ORDER |
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| Fees: | Member: $70.00 Non-member: $105.00 |
Analog Electronics
EC-012 |
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| Description: | This course is designed for the electronics beginner that has an interest in electronics and has been introduced to the fundamental concepts of electricity and electronic components, such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, and so forth. You'll be reading some simple schematics, as well. In 16 learning units and about 25 hours the student will learn about the use of instrumentation, Kirchhoff’s Laws, Diodes, Rectifier circuits, Bipolar and Field Effect Transistors, various amplifier configurations, filters, timers, Op-Amps, and voltage regulators. Most lessons have design problems and optional construction projects. This course will run for a 12-week period. |
| Prerequisites: | Basic computer, Internet, and email navigational skills are required. |
| Availability: | This course is offered monthly. |
| Additional Info: | This course is designed for the student that is comfortable with the fundamental concepts of electricity and electronic components, such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, and so forth. You'll be reading some simple schematics, as well. You will need to know Ohm's Law and the relationship between power, voltage, current, and resistance. You'll need to be able to handle basic math equations--no more than simple algebra. It is assumed that you're comfortable with the notions of frequency and phase, as well as impedance and reactance--the resistance to the flow of ac current. (If you're a little shaky on these last few ideas, you might want to spend some time browsing the first few sections of the chapter covering "AC Theory and Reactive Components" in the ARRL Handbook or pick up a copy of WR1B's "Understanding Basic Electronics.")
Course Preview (PDF) Equipment Needed:
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| Fees: | Member: $70.00 Non-member: $105.00 |
Digital Electronics
EC-013 |
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| Description: | This course is designed with topics typical of college electronics courses for the student that has an interest in electronics and is familiar with the fundamental concepts of electricity and electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, and so forth. You'll be reading some simple schematics. In 16 learning units and about 25 hours the student will learn about Basic Boolean, Basic Gates, Flip-Flops, Counters and Shift Registers, Latches, Buffers and Drivers, Encoders and Decoders, Parallel Interfaces, Serial Interfaces, Input Devices, Displays, Logic Families, Microprocessor Basics, Connecting to Analog Electronics, Understanding Data Sheets and Design Resources. Most lessons include a design problem and optional construction project. This course will run for a 12-week period. |
| Prerequisites: | You will need to know Ohm's Law and the relationship between power, voltage, current, and resistance. You'll need to be able to handle basic math equations - no more than simple algebra. |
| Availability: | Classes for this course begin once per month. |
| Additional Info: | Basic computer, Internet, and email navigational skills are required.
Course Preview (PDF) Equipment Needed:
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| Fees: | Member: $70.00 Non-member: $105.00 |