Locals Take HAM Radio Operator’s Exam

By VERNON ROBISON

Moapa Valley Progress

What band is best suited for communicating via meter scatter?
What is the term that describes a transistor’s ability to amplify a signal?
What formula is used to calculate voltage in a circuit?

A group of local residents faced questions just like these when they showed up at the Old Logandale School on Saturday morning to take their Ham Radio Operator’s exam.

The Moapa Valley Amateur Radio Club administered the tests beginning at 10:00 am. Club members scored each test when they were completed, and gave the recipient the results within just a few minutes. Those who passed were presented a certificate. A special call sign will be issued to them allowing each person to operate a HAM radio on the open airwaves.

Local resident Chris Morley took the exam for his general operators license. He has been operating for some time now on a lower class Technician level and was looking forward to being able to operate on a greater number of frequencies with a broader reach.
“A HAM radio license has been useful because I have been able to be involved in communications efforts during emergency situations,” Morley said.

Taking his Technician Class exam for the first time, Austin Hortt said that the preparation for the exam had not been too difficult. As a volunteer firefighter for Logandale Statio #73, he had been studying at the same time to take his EMT exam, which he had attempted and passed just the day before.
“That one was a lot tougher than this one,” Hortt said. “This one just took some time going through the sample questions online.”

MV Amateur Radio Club members were hoping to draw younger adults and kids in the community to become licensed HAM operators. Club member Craig Fabbi remarked that the technical side of the exams can seem somewhat daunting to kids.
“The questions aren’t really that hard,” Fabbi said. “They just require some study and preparation. It also helps to have good test taking skills.”

Fabbi said that the FCC is considering a lower class level test that is less technical, to be aimed more for kids. “I think if they did that, you would see a lot more kids get involved,” Fabbi said.

The Club will be offering another test day later in the year on June 3. Those interested can begin preparing for the test now by going to hamstudy.org to complete practice tests and questions.