Education


Link	Register for Ham Radio License Classes
Link	Programming your Beofeng
Link	How to Solder PL-259 with W9EHQ
Link	Antenna Planning for small HF Stations
Link	Antennas & Propagation Course for Everyone
Link	My Favorite Websites (PDF Download)

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SIGN UP!
As you scroll, check out
the syllabus for the class you
may be interested in.

AMATEUR EXTRA TEST CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK 1	DATE	BOOK CHAPTER	SUBJECT

1	1/10/26	1	Introduction and Rules
2		2	Operating Practices
3		3	Rules and Regulations
4	1/17/26	4	Electrical Principles
5	1/24/26	5	Components and Building Blocks
6	1/31/26	6	Electronic Circuits
7	2/7/26	7	Radio Signals and Measurements
8	2/14/26	8	Radio Modes and Equipment
9	2/21/26	9	Antennas and Feed Lines
10	2/28/26	10	Topics in Radio Propagation
11	3/7/26	11	Safety
GENERAL TEST CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK 1	DATE	BOOK CHAPTER	SUBJECT

1	1/17/26	1	Introduction
2		2	Procedures & Practices
3	1/24/26	3	Rules & Regulations
4	1/31/26	4	Components & Circuits
5	2/7/26	5	Radio Signals & Equipment
6	2/14/26	8	Propagation
7	2/21/26	6	Digital Modes
8	2/28/26	7	Antennas & Transmission Lines
9	3/7/26	9	Safety
TECHNICIAN (Tech) TEST CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK 1	DATE	BOOK CHAPTER	SUBJECT

1	1/17/26	1	Welcome to Amateur Radio
		2	Radio Signals & Fundamentals
2	1/24/26	3	Electricty, Components & Circuits Part 1
3	1/31/26	3	Electricty, Components & Circuits Part 2
4	2/7/26	4	Propogation, Antennas & Feed Lines
5	2/14/26	5	Amateur Radio Equipment
6	2/21/26	6	Communication with Other Hams
7	2/28/26	7	Licensing Regulations
		8	Operating Regulations
8	3/7/26	9	Safety

Registering
for Classes
Age 17 and under

ARRL will cover the one-time $35 application fee for new license candidates younger than 18-years old, for tests administered under the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) program. The $35 FCC application fee will be reimbursed after the ARRL VEC receives the completed reimbursement form and the new license has been issued by the FCC. The reimbursement check will be mailed to the fee payer. Also, candidates younger than 18-years old would pay a reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC VE team at the time of the exam. The $5 fee is for all candidates under the age of 18 regardless of the exam level taken. Proof of under 18 status is required at the session.

Source and further info:

http://www.arrl.org/youth-licensing-grant-program

Note! ARRL has the manuals on "BLACK FRIDAY sale for about $25.00. That's about 7 bucks less than
Amazon. (Be sure to check shipping though) And we
don't know how long the sale will run!

Technician Class License
This is the entry level license for Amateur Radio where
you will learn the fundamentals of this hobby.
It’s the place to get started!
Free classes will start January 17, 2026 and run until
March 7, 2026 (last class + exam).
You will need a book "The ARRL Radio License Manual,
5th Edition," which is available at ARRL or Amazon.
The photo of the book (up and left) and the
Title Text (below) are both links to ARRL and they take you
to the page where you can order the manual.
Or you can get it elsewhere. Just make sure its the 5th Edition!
“The ARRL Radio License Manual, 5th Edition”
Click if you want to go to Amazon.

YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THIS FREE CLASS
These classes run from 9:00 am until noon on Saturdays.
All tests are $15.00 payable at exam time.
Classes will be held at the Westmont Fire Department
500 N Cass Ave.
Westmont, IL

To register contact Mark by clicking his call sign (below).
KR9K
Click on the Call Sign to Send Mark an email and include:
your name, phone number, email address,
and CALLSIGN (if you have one) and let Mark know
which class you want.

The General License
The General License gives you more operating privileges and frequencies
to operate on , and covers some basic electronics theory which you will encounter as you grow into the hobby. You will be able to make contacts
using Morse Code, Voice, and Digital modes.
Classes will begin January 17, 2026 and meet every Saturday
through March 1st (last class + Exam).
You will need the book,
"The ARRL General Class License Manual, 10th Edition,"
which is available on ARRL and Amazon for about $33.00
The photo of the book and the Title Text
(above) are both links that will take you directly to
the page on ARRL where you can purchase the Manual.
Or you can get your class textbook anywhere you like,
just make sure its the 10th Edition.

YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THIS FREE CLASS
These classes meet from 9:00 am until noon.
All tests are $15.00 payable at exam time.

Classes will be held at the
Westmont Fire Department
500 N Cass Ave.
Westmont, IL

To register contact Mark
KR9K
Click on the Call Sign to Send Mark an email and include:
your name, phone number, email address,
and CALLSIGN (if you have one) and let Mark know
which class you want.

Extra Class License

The Extra Class License gives you all the Amateur Radio
operating privileges allowed by The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC). It is the highest level license in Amateur Radio, with an emphasis on electronics and radio communications theory. You will need this book: (click on the b00k, or the text below...they are both links to
where you can buy the book.)
The ARRL Extra Class License Manual, 13th Edition:

To register contact Mark
KR9K
Click on the Call Sign to Send Mark an email. Please include:
your name, phone number, email address,
and CALLSIGN (if you have one) and let Mark know
which class you want

YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THIS FREE CLASS
These classes meet from 9:00 am until noon.
All tests are $15.00 payable at exam time.
Classes will be held at the
Westmont Fire Department
500 N Cass Ave.
Westmont, IL

Below: Test Day! No Sweat!

Beofeng

OK, how many of you have been telling others that the
reason you're losing your hair is because of a rare
tropical disease that has stymied your doctor...

...when in reality, you've been pulling your hair out trying
to program your BAOFENG H-T?
Well, just in time to help save your tonsorial assets,

we have MURRAY
W9EHQ's
BAOFENG UV-5R

PROGRAMMING SEQUENCE

-----------------------------------------------

Using the radio’s keypad, the example here will be to program the DARC 2mtr rptr into memory chan. 50. Buttons pressed will be in RED. I am sure there more ways to skin a cat, but this works for me.

Turn on radio

With VFO/MR select “freq. mode”

With A/B, move cursor to upper display

With BAND select VHF or UHF (in this case…VHF)

With NUMERIC KEYPAD enter desired RECEIVE freq. (in this case 145.430 )

Press MENU + 2 + MENU

With UP/DOWN ARROWS select HIGH or LOW POWER