Amateur radio license course starts Feb 27 in Kenmore

The Northshore Emergency Management Coalition (NEMCo) is offering an amateur radio license course starting Monday, February 27, 2017 to prepare individuals for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Technician Class License examination. The course convenes Monday evenings, 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Northshore Utility District for eight consecutive weeks. The FCC exam is scheduled for April 17.

The Technician Class License is the beginner-level amateur band radio license required for entry into the fascinating hobby of “ham” radio. Something of a misnomer, the Technician license has nothing to do with repairing radios. It’s all about getting on the air and communicating with a region-wide network of ham radio operators for fun or helping governments transmit vital disaster response information when telephones and other communication systems fail.

Successful students are also eligible to move on and earn the General Class License, which provides access to world-wide, high frequency (“shortwave”) communications.

The course itself is free. There is a $15 fee for the FCC exam. The course textbook is the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 3rd Edition. It is published by the American Radio Relay League for $30 plus shipping, but may be obtainable from Amazon.com or other booksellers for a bit less. Alternatively, NEMCo can obtain it for you from the ARRL at the discounted price of $25 as part of a group order, but that will require advance notice, to allow for shipping time and arrange for pick-up. There are no additional costs.

Students may register anytime up to the start of the course on February 27, but anyone wishing to obtain the textbook through NEMCo should place your order by Tuesday, February 14.

The Northshore Emergency Management Coalition (NEMCo) is a partnership between the cities of Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Northshore Utility District and Northshore Fire District, to provide emergency management services. A group of NEMCo volunteer radio operators provide emergency communications among the member entities when disasters or severe weather disables telephones, as part of the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).

Students who successfully pass the Technician exam, as well as other members of the community who already hold an amateur radio license, are encouraged to apply for membership in the NEMCo RACES group.

Contact the Course Manager, Carl Lunak, at 425-354-1744 or  to register or ask questions about getting started in amateur band radio.

The Northshore Utility District address is: 6830 NE 185th St, Kenmore 98028.