Bloomfield Legion post offering free ham radio license class April 8-9

Community news

Friday, March 17, 2017 — American Legion Post 288 of Bloomfield is offering a free licensing class for those who wish to become licensed Amateur Radio operators.

The class is free; students will be required to purchase a study guide at a cost of $29.95 unless the student has the most current edition of the license manual. Post 288 members and any Boy Scout will receive their study guide at no charge, courtesy of Post 288.

The class will be held 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9 at the American Legion hut in Bloomfield. The examination session will be held Saturday, April 29, 2017, at the same location. Those who pass the exam will be fully licensed.

We welcome all who may wish to become a licensed ham operator; Legion membership is not required.

Knowledge of the Morse code is no longer a requirement to get an Amateur Radio license. We encourage emergency services personnel and Boy Scouts to attend. The class should provide the Boy Scouts all the requirements for their Radio merit badge.

Ham operators are a mainstay in emergency communications and are primary providers of communications for state and local emergency agencies and serve a part of Homeland Security’s back-up communications efforts. Hams also enjoy the science and technology to talk around the world us different communications methods, including digital, voice and email via radio. In the event an emergency leaves normal communications overloaded or inoperable, the Amateur Radio infrastructure and quickly help provide needed communications. Want to be involved?

Contact Gene Ferguson to sign up or for additional information. Call (502) 252-8654 day or evenings.

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