KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

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Lets organize a nationwide new ham "boot camp"

Posted: 16 Nov 2020 11:42 AM PST
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kb6nu...m_medium=email


Ive helped hundreds of students get their licenses or upgrade their
licenses over the past 15 years. Im proud of that, but I realize that
getting them licensed is only part of the process. To become successful
hams, and to have as much fun as possible with ham radio, they have to
learn a lot more. I always offer to help my students with selecting a new
radio or setting up a shack, and some of them actually take me up on the
offer, but Im only one guy. There are only so many that I can help in this
way.

Over the years, there have been several proposals to help newly-licensed
hams. For example, the Spring 2017 issue of Radio Waves, the ARRL
newsletter for amateur radio license instructors, included the article,
Making a good hobby better through post-licensing enrichment. In this
article, Tim Busch, N0CKR, proposed a series of short classes, each
teaching specific skills relating to amateur radio, including how to
program a radio, how to solder, how to use a multimeter, and more. I
blogged about this article back then.

More recently, QST published the article, Ham Bootcamp by Fred Kemmerer,
AB1OC, in the October 2020 issue. It describes a program developed by the
Nashua (NH) Amateur Radio Society that aims to provide the mentoring that
many hams need to get active. It includes many of the same topics that
N0KCR listed in his program, but is a little more geared towards operating.

I think both of these are great programs, but the number of teachers needed
to run these programs is the limiting factor. Back in 2017, I sent an email
to local clubs, inquiring as to whether there would be any interest in
organizing a region-wide new ham program. My thinking was that if I could
get each of the clubs in Southeast Michigan to take responsibility for one
or two of the new ham classes, we could provide the necessary training and
get more of our new Techs and Generals on the air. Unfortunately, I didnt
get a big response to my first email and then just failed to follow up.
Taking the bootcamp online

Id like to try this again, but this time, take the bootcamp online. Since
June, Ive been teaching license classes online. Ive taught four Tech
classes and one General class, and while I still prefer teaching in person,
teaching online license classes works. I dont see any reason why an online
bootcamp wouldnt work.

The key will be getting enough instructors to teach. If were all teaching
online, though, it doesnt matter where we are. If I could recruit a dozen
instructors, we could get this program rolling, I think. Im planning on
sending out a mailing to ARRL registered instructors to see if I can gin up
some interest in this. If YOURE interested, please get in touch with me. My
email address is .

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