Alexandria Radio Club (ARC)

Club Repeaters: 147.315+ (PL 107.2), 444.600+ (PL107.2), 224.820- (PL107.2), 53.130- (PL107.2) 927.600 (-25Mhz, PL107.2), and 1282.600- (PL 107.2), DSTAR 145.380- Mhz, 442.060+, and 1284.600- DMR 442.4125 +5Mhz Color Code 1.)

PLEASE USE OUR REPEATERS.

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ALEXANDRIA RADIO CLUB
FCC LICENSE SCHOOL
(Spring 2025 Class Schedule)
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

First Class Date:  Each Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
The required FCC Exam will be given on the last session on May 6, 2025.
Class Start Time: 1900 hours until 2100 hours (7:00 PM to 9:00 PM)
Teaching Site: via Zoom Meetings.
Cost: There is no charge for the class itself. You will need to get an ARRL Technician License Manual (or General Class Manual if you already have a Technician License) for around $33 plus shipping. We highly recommend you purchase from the ARRL, see HRLM or GCLM, or a ham radio vendor like Ham Radio Outlet or DX Engineering so that you get the current edition of the manual. Amazon vendors do not always send the current edition. There is an ARRL exam fee of $15.00 payable by check or cash on the night of the exam.

FCC License School Coordinator: Rich Adamy, KA4GFY – contact Rich at (703) 969-6615 or training@w4hfh.org for additional information or to register for the class. Rich is assisted by a cadre of instructors who are FCC Extra Class licensees and former industry and military communications specialists. The FCC License Class Syllabus covers 400 question topics from which 35 pool questions make up the license exam. Classes incorporate ARRL PowerPoint Topics and Film Clips portraying the historical evolution of radio communications. License practice exam questions are available on the Internet. Learning International Morse Code is no longer an FCC license requirement, but is encouraged.

FCC Title 47 Telecommunications, Part 97 Amateur Radio Service
 
Your FCC Registration Number (FRN) You must have an FRN assigned prior to the exam.
 

ARC-SHORTS Newsletter

• History as told by Gene Jenkins, N4JEE, Alexandria Radio Club Member

  “The idea for the trailer came during the support for the Salvation Army at the Pentagon after 9-11. They had us set up net control at their headquarters. It was like field day stringing wire in the trees and all. There was a clear need for a mobile command center for Ham Radio. One that could be towed to a location and be on the air in minutes. A while later, a lady donated her silent key husband’s ham shack to the club. We sold off the equipment and dedicated the proceeds to the project. That money with a number of us digging into our own pockets gave us enough cash to buy a trailer. We parked it in my driveway in Fairfax and had work parties most every weekend…

  One of the members had a friend in the Manassas club that had a vinyl cutting machine that volunteered to cut our graphics for us for the cost of the material. When the time came, his equipment was down. I got some estimates from sign companies and none were in our budget. I bought a machine and some vinyl and we learned how to make signs. The machine and vinyl cost much less then the estimates from the sign companies. The original intent was to allow other clubs to use the trailer for emergencies and events. That’s why the graphics are generic and there are points for any club to attach their own banner. Again, the original plan was that an operator could bring their own equipment and be on the air in no time. Over the years the club has populated the trailer with their own equipment so loaning it out wasn’t a good idea.

  Everyone contributed ideas as well as labor to build the trailer. Some of the ideas worked and some didn’t. Those that didn’t have been retrofitted over the years and I’m sure that there are plans for future enhancements in the queue. I’m proud to have been a part of the project and glad that it is still in use on a regular basis and that should a disaster occur in the DC area that the Alexandria Radio Club will be there, with the trailer, to provide support.”

  Prepared by Don Lewis, KI4D
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   EVENTS PLANNED FOR AMATEUR RADIO ENTHUSIAST
  
  You are invited to Amateur Radio Roundtable, a new series of W5KUB.com live weekly webcasts.  The webcast is every Tuesday night at 9:00 PM EDST (0200 UTC Wednesdays) at W5KUB.COM. To watch click on Live Events and sign in with your existing User Name and Password.

  Amateur Radio Roundtable is an informal discussion of all aspects of ham radio with the intent of allowing viewers to watch this live webcast or be a guest via Skype or Google Hangout.  A question and answer session with viewers will follow each topic.

  The show covers all aspects of ham radio; such as, balloon launches, Satellite, go-kits, emergency communications, SDR, digital modes, DXing, home brewing, and much more. This week’s guests include Arnie Shatz, N6HC, a team member of many great DExpeditions; Eric William discussing SRD; and Franc Dunatov, ZL1SLO, discussing Special Event operations from New Zealand.

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