Winter 2024 Course Accepting Registration

NORAC is pleased to offer the Basic Qualification course in-person at the People Place in Vernon running Tuesday and Sunday nights from 6pm - 9:15pm starting on February 13th ending with the exam on March 26th.  Please note that there will be no class on February 18th for Family Day weekend.

 

This course will prepare you to successfully complete the Basic Qualification exam with a focus on earning 80% or better mark for the Basic with Honours designation along with an ISED issued Amateur Radio Operator Certificate.  The exam pass mark is 70% for the Basic qualification which affords less radio privileges.

 

The course will cover:

  • regulations and policies
  • operating and procedures
  • station assembly, practice, and safety
  • circuit components
  • basic electronics and theory
  • feedlines and antenna systems
  • radio wave propagation
  • interference and suppression

 

To break up the exam material, we will have a presentation on some of the most common questions new hams radio operators ask.

 

The course is structured to present only the material that is required to pass the exam, explain it, answer questions, then go through as many of the actual exam questions as time allows.  Students are expected to self study, and take the actual exam practice questions on the ISED website.

 

The material used is the brand new NORAC course which is a visually accessible essentially mostly re-written Ylab class with many changes, improvements, through feedback and review from previous years students and instructors.  We will be also providing an e-book for more in-depth study, along with suggestions for other quality reference materials.

 

While some parts of the course and exam do require a bit of math, we will be doing a basic math review.  The math is not hard - last year we had a 9 year old boy pass the exam with Basic qualifications, while his 10 year old brother and another 13 year old both earned Basic with Honours qualifications.

 

The exam will be offered on the last day of class and will be marked before you leave.  Successful completion of the exam also gives you a free one year membership with NORAC!

 

Course cost: $100

 

To sign up, please e-transfer $100 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Once we get your payment confirmation, you will receive links to course material and e-book, a more detailed schedule, and other important information.

 

If there are any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

We look forward to seeing you in class!

 

Michal (VE7MHX/VE7TMZ)

NORAC Education Coordinator

 

 

 

 

  


 

Introduction

Public interest and time permitting NORAC tries to hold basic license courses in Amateur Radio.

Classes typically run 2-2.5 hours and run two nights per week, for 6-8 weeks. This splits the content into absorbable chunks and makes it easier for us to schedule our team of volunteer instructors.

On exam night participants will take the 100 questions multiple-choice Industry Canada exam and have the opportunity to earn a Federal license for amateur radio. A score of 70% is a pass, and a score above 80% is considered passing with 'honors' which unlocks additional frequencies for the new operator.

What is Amateur Radio?

Amateur radio (ham radio) is the licensed and private amateur use of designated radio bands, for purposes of recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, global wireless communication, experimentation, self-training, and emergency communications.

Why attend?

Amateur Radio frequencies and mountain top repeaters can be utilized by licensed operators in times of emergency, or for general communications. If you’re an avid outdoors person, snowmobiler, hiker, hunter etc., basic equipment can be used to contact other radio operators, and even to make a phone call when deep in the bush well outside of cellular range.

To learn about the hobby, and learn how to build and operate equipment that can be used to contact others around the world.

Course Details

The cost is $100, this includes an e-book & course materials, pays for part of the room rental and the remainder of the current year's NORAC membership.

How to Sign Up

Please email our Education Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

Local Industry Canada Amateur Radio Examiners

VE7TRZ - Terry Rudersdorfer - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.