Amateur radio license class begins today through Nov. 16

Sierra Intermountain Emergency Radio Association will sponsor a beginning class for those interested in studying for an amateur radio license.

The classes will meet Thursday evenings from 6:30 -9 p.m. Sept. 21 through Nov. 16 at the Minden Medical Center, Highway 395 and Ironwood in Minden.

The official Federal Communications Commission examination will be given at 9 a.m. Nov. 18 at the Carson Valley Inn in Minden.

Cost for the class will be $19 for the required text book. Classroom instruction and other required materials will be provided at no cost.

Duncan Insley, the lead teacher, has a degree in electrical engineering and has been active in radio communications for many years.

Before retiring, teacher Lynn Brown had his own company manufacturing radios for aircraft.

The FCC no longer requires code for a beginning technician class license. The class will include the required theory for the technician class license. SIERA can offer assistance to those interested in learning Morse code.

An open club, the radio association, holds monthly meetings with planned programs and a monthly social breakfast. Anyone interested in the hobby or being prepared to assist in emergency communications is invited to take the classes or to attend any of the association's general meetings or breakfasts.

Call Brown at (775) 782-8950 or Insley at (775) 267-4223.