Amateur / Ham Radio License in a Day

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The Holland Amateur Radio Club in Michigan USA is offering a 'Ham License in a Day' class on 12 December 2015 for anyone wishing to earn their ham radio license 

The group are promoting to the general public an alternative means of communication because of the assumption that in time of emergencies and natural disasters, cell phones will be the way people will communicate, but when the power goes out, most cell phone towers also lose power. 

Ham radio clubs across the world have been the chosen form of communication for disasters across the world for years and are just as important now as ever, said officials with the local club.  

Those interested in earning their ham radio license need not have any previous technical or radio experience to sign up for the class. 

More information -  
http://www.mlive.com/sparta/index.ssf/2015/11/holland_amateur_radio_club_to.html

The US Technician licence is the entry level licence in the US in Australia and the UK the entry licence is the Foundation licence, however the US Technician's licence allows holders to build their own transmitters, operate Maritime Mobile and have their own repeaters. They can run 200 watts output in four HF bands and 1,500 watts output and all amateur VHF, UHF and Microwave bands.

December is YOTA Month

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Youth on the Air (YOTA) month is this December 2015, and over 40 YOTA callsigns in total will be active from schools, scoutings or just used by young radio amateurs under the age of 26 years.  

All Worldwide amateur radio operators are asked to make a QSO with the youngsters, be aware that some of them are new to the radio hobby, while others are more experienced. Goal is to show this amazing radio amateur hobby to youth and to have more “youngsters on the air”. 

Among the calls to be active are: 
3V8YOTA, 9A0YOTA, 9A15YOTA, A2YOTA, A43YOTA, DQ0YOTA, EA1RCG/YOA, EG9YOTA, EI0YOTA, ES9YOTA, G15YOTA, GI15YOTA, GM15YOTA, GW15YOTA, HA8YOTA, HB9YOTA, HG0YOTA, II2YOTA, II5YOTA, J62YOTA, LX4YOTA, LY5YOTA, LZ2015YOTA, OD5RI/YOTA, OE0YOTA, OE15YOTA, OH2YOTA, OL15YOTA, OM15YOTA, OM9YOTA, ON4YOTA, PA6YOTA, PD6YOTA, SH9YOTA, SP3YOTA, YT15YOTA, and ZS9YOTA.

There are four special awards available for working YOTA Stations

  • Bronze: worked 5 YOTA stations
  • Silver: worked 10 YOTA stations
  • Gold: worked 15 YOTA stations
  • Platinum: worked 25 YOTA stations

The YOTA stations will be active throughout the entire month of December. Information about the stations is available at http://www.ham-yota.com/december-yota-month/

Awards -
http://www.ham-yota.com/december-yota-month/award-request/

60m Access for Dutch Amateur / Radio Hams

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Amateur / Ham radio operators in the Netherlands have gained access to 5350 to 5450 kHz at 2300 UT from Tuesday 2nd December 2015 

The 5350 to 5450 kHz band (60 meters) was incorporated into the Netherlands National Frequency Plan published in the Official Gazette on Monday 2nd November 2015, however official permission to use the band was not received until early December 2015.

Holders of the Dutch Full amateur licence are permitted to run up to 100 watts PEP. VERON is recommending that Upper Sideband (USB) is be used in the new band.

VERON News - http://tinyurl.com/VERON-news
VERON Twitter - https://twitter.com/VERON_Nederland

Dutch regulator Agentschap Telecom announcement - http://tinyurl.com/Netherlands-AT-5MHz