A new ham's view of the ARRL Introduction to Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course.

The ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program has created a medium for amateurs to learn more about their hobby. It's a great complement to local club activities.

The first topic created was Emergency Communications. Because the topic is so diverse, the courses are broken into three levels: Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced (Levels I, II and III, respectively). Courses are available on-line, thanks to ARRL's partnership with the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC).

This is my review of the Introductory Emergency Communications Level 1 course.

Why did I Take the Course?

As a new Amateur Radio operator, I wanted to build my communication skills, gain confidence in operating and be available to my community to assist in times of emergencies. An ARRL course is just the ticket for building skills and obtaining certification.

First Impressions?

This is a well-written, well-organized course. Student activities are very manageable.

How Long Does it Take to Finish?

I enrolled in early November and had until mid January to finish. The course took 40 hours over 8 weeks. I finished early, during the Christmas holiday week. [Since then, the 42-lesson course has been revised into a consolidated course of 20 lessons, better balanced with Levels II and III.--Ed.]

How is the Course Structured?

Each course has been developed in segments--learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive and include direct communication with a mentor and other students. Each mentor assists up to 10 students by guiding them through the course. Students in the Level I course take a 25-question multiple-choice assessment (exam) at the completion of the course.

Where is the Course Held?

The entire course can be completed on a computer with Internet access in the privacy of your own home. The ARRL has made arrangements to use the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium Web site complete with coursework, on-line testing, progress reports and grading.

How Much does it Cost?

ARRL members register for the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses at $45 for each level. Non-members pay $75 per level. Recently, the ARRL implemented nationwide emergency communications training funded by the $181,900 Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) grant. Training is first being offered to new mentors/instructors followed by Field Appointees and finally the general public. Students in these classes pay the $45 up front and are reimbursed upon graduation.

How is a Student Graded?

Students must complete all student activities, send them to their mentors and pass the 25-question assessment with a score of 80% or better. Your grade is instantaneously displayed when you complete the assessment.

What Does a Student Get after Completing the Course?

Each successful graduate is issued a handsome ARRL certificate and ID card. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for all ARRL Certification and Continuing Education courses. On a side note, I personally documented all my coursework activities with answers, then created final the document in MS Word as a reference guide. It is 85 pages long and is a great resource!

Who is the Instructor?

A mentor (fellow ham volunteer) is assigned to help answer questions and obtain feedback on your progress. My mentor was Mary, AA7RT, in Spokane, Washington. Getting answers to your queries is simple. Communication is done via e-mail. Answers to activities are e-mailed to your mentor and verified.

What I Learned

Three important things: Positive attitude and behavior during public service events, operating protocol and readiness. Positive attitude and proper behavior is highly important when interacting with public officials and other volunteers. Safety is also vitally important.

What are the Course "Activities"?

You'll be required to understand how Amateur Radio can be a valuable resource during emergencies. Your tasks will include general research, identifying important contacts and critical Web sites, understanding Radiograms, participating regularly in the NTS (WDN), understanding the Incident Command System, organizing a basic "jump kit," studying the ARES and RACES organizations, and creating emergency plans.

What Portion of the Course was Theory vs Operating?

Ninety percent theory and 10% operating.

What Equipment is Needed?

You'll need a 2-meter FM rig or multimode transceiver, a packet radio TNC (terminal node controller) and a computer with Internet access. If you don't have all of these items, try your local club, or visit an Elmer or a fellow ham's station to complete the work. [Note: There is no longer an equipment requirement for the course.--Ed.]

What License Class is Needed?

Technician or higher.

What Existing Knowledge do you Need?

No prior public service or NTS knowledge is required. All you need is a willingness to learn new operating skills.

What Research is Needed to Complete the Course?

Both written and electronic resources can be used. I used The ARRL Handbook, ARRL Emergency Communications Level 1, Public Service Manual, the ARRLWeb (NTS, Repeaters, Radiograms), Monroe County Office of Emergency Preparedness Web site, Brighton Town, Fire and Police Web sites, the FEMA Web site, the Western District Net (NTS) Web site and the local Rochester (New York) Amateur Radio Association Web site.

Who Can you Contact to Help?

Just about anyone! I sought help from Mary Moore, AA7RT (course mentor); Scott Bauer, W2LC; Karl Weir, N2NJH; Irv Goodman, AF2K; Todd Ricker, Battalion Chief, Brighton Fire Department; Mary Louise Meisenzahl, Administrator, Monroe County Office of Emergency Preparedness. I also extend a special thanks to AF2K for loaning me equipment, and also to the participants of the Western District Net (NTS) 146.64 MHz WA2CAM repeater.

How Cooperative were the People Involved?

Very. I was very amazed at the quick response. It was a team effort!

What was my Score?

My final score was 98.9. I ranked 5th out of 58 in my class.

Why Should a Ham Take the Course?

You benefit from improved operating skills and become a resource to your community as well as your local club. It always pays to train well before any emergency so that you can be a productive, knowledgeable asset in time of need.

Allen Scalise, KC2IMK, is a new amateur operator, licensed on September 21, 2001 as KC2IMK. He lives in Rochester, NewYork. Allen also holds a Restricted Radiotelephone Permit for commercial broadcasting. You can contact Allen at 116 Wilshire Rd, Rochester, NY 14618.

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