Lake County Amateur Radio Association

Graduates New Ham Operators

The Lake County Amateur Radio Association ( LARA ) offered a one day course for the Federal Communications Commission Technician license ,which is the beginning ham radio license and graduated 32 new ham operators. The course was held at the Lake Tech, Institute of Public Safety in Tavares, Florida on Saturday May 22, 2010.

These new Technician Class radio operators will be able to operate an amateur radio station using voice or digital communications on VHF and UHF amateur frequencies.

This was the largest ham radio license class that LARA has ever run and they were happy with the outcome which produced a 90% pass rate. The course was presented in a class room setting using a PowerPoint presentation produced by the Plano Amateur Radio Klub of Plano , Texas. Students were presented ham radio study information on screen by the computer projector and had to complete various quizzes as they went along to determine if they were learning the necessary information. The instructor, Doug Rehmen , K4AC was available to answer questions and explain the new material. Doug was assisted by Rick Butz , N7WE.

After the course material had been presented a volunteer examination team headed up by Paul Branch , K3NON was brought in to administer and proctor the Technician exam.

The time involved was approximately seven hours to deliver the course material and another hour to administer the exam. Students had an hour off for lunch and a few short breaks. It was a busy day of concentration and learning but it paid off for most of them when 32 out of 35 students who took the exam became new ham operators. 

Helena Osborne-Ponsi, Director, Volunteer Lake , becomes a new Technician Class radio operator. She is congratulated by Rick Butz , N7WE assistant instructor from LARA.		Chris De Libro, Training Director-Lake County Sheriff's Office, Institute of Public Safety receives congratulations from Rick Butz , N7WE assistant instructor from LARA.   In background is Daniel Unsworth , Deputy - Lake County Sheriff's Office who also received his Technician license.

Click HERE for more photos of the event.