Oklahoma City Area Technician Class

Beginning March 15th, the Oklahoma City Autopatch Association (OCAPA) will be conducting a training course for the Technician Class amateur radio license, an entry level license for the hobby of amateur radio.

Classes will be held on Thursday evenings, 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Salvation Army ‘Citadel’, 2808 SE 44^th, Oklahoma City (one block west of SE 44^th and Bryant).  The course will meet for nine weeks ending on Thursday, May 10th. 

A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Technician Class license exam will be administered at the final class meeting.

There are no prerequisites to take the amateur radio license course save the interest in communicating with other amateur radio operators around the city, state, nation, and world along with providing public service communications support for large events and in emergencies.

A technical background is not needed for the Technician Class License, but it is helpful.  The hobby of amateur radio is enjoyed by people from a variety of professions and interests.

Over the pass several years, the FCC has initiated numerous changes to the amateur radio license structure and administration of license examinations to make it easier to enter the hobby of amateur radio. 

Applicants are no longer required to demonstrate proficiency in Morse Code and the written examinations are held frequently at various locations in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area.

The written license exam, which is 35 questions, will be scored by local volunteer examiners.  The examination paperwork for successful applicants is then to the FCC who will issue an amateur radio license and call sign.

The fee for the course is $40; $25 to cover the cost of the ‘American Radio Relay League Technician License Manual’, which will be available at the first class meeting, along with other course materials; and a $15 exam fee to cover handling of the license exam paperwork at the end of the course.  Registration will be limited to 15 students.

For further information, got to the American Radio Relay League website (http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class) or contact David Duskin, 386-6739 or ddgold@cox.net.