Note: For any person to use the amateur “ham” radio frequencies, the Federal Communication Commission requires that that person must be a licensed amateur radio operator.  In amateur radio, there are three levels of licenses with increasing levels of privileges…and responsibilities.  The levels are Technician, General and Amateur Extra.

Technician Class

The Technician license allows you to transmit on radio frequencies that reach line-of-sight in the local area.  You are also allowed to transmit to radio repeaters located on mountain tops which greatly increase how far you can communicate.  Additionally, it gives you a taste of HF frequencies in the 10-meter band that can reach much farther.

The Frank Warren Instructor Group, under the sponsorship of the Caravan Club, offered a Technician Licensing Class in May of 2025. That class attracted a dozen students with 11 of them completing the class and 9 passing the examination. At this time there are no plans to offer another Technician class during 2025, but that may change. If you are interested in obtaining your Technician license please send an email to head instructor Larry Goga (lgoga@swcp.com) asking to be put on the list for their next Technician class.

General Class

The intention of the Frank Warren Instructor Group is to continue to offer Frank’s model of 32 hours of instruction toward upgrading to the General license class. A FREE General class is currently being organized for November of 2025. The class will be 8-hours per day for 4-days spread out over two consecutive weekends.  The dates being considered are Nov. 15 and 16 and then Nov. 22 and 23.  This is all before Thanksgiving. At the conclusion of the class on Sunday the 23rd there will be an opportunity to take the FCC General examination.

If you are interested in upgrading from Technician to the General license class please send an email to Larry Goga (lgoga@swcp.com) asking to be put on the list for the upcoming General class.

 

Amateur Extra Class

It is the intention of the Frank Warren Instructor Group to continue to offer Frank’s model of “personalized seminars” as an aid toward obtaining your Extra class license.  It was Frank’s belief that by this time in your Amateur Radio career you should be able to study and learn the material on your own.  However, knowing that some of the subject material may present certain problems, Frank thought that a one-on-one approach to the specific subject matter was the best solution.  It is our intention to continue following this model.  These seminars will be held for 8 hours or less and usually on a weekend.  There is no charge for attending these seminars.

The Amateur Extra Class Level (aka “Extra”) allows you to use all the amateur radio assigned frequencies. This greatly increases your options to successfully complete contacts.

At this time, it is our intention to offer the Extra class seminars on an “as needed” basis.  If you need assistance in studying Extra class material and are interested in attending one of these seminars please contact Larry Goga, AE5CZ either by phone or email.  His phone number is 1-505-293-5866 (leave a message) and his email address is lgoga@swcp.com. 

 

If other local groups teaching licensing classes are out there, we’d like to list them here. Please contact Pete Stine, webmaster, at nmstine@gmail.com .