Learn to be a ‘ham’ on Marco Island

The Marco Island Civil Air Patrol, in cooperation with the K5MI Marco Island Ham Club, offers a five-session course leading to FCC amateur radio technician licensing. Class meets from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Jan. 23-26, and Monday, Jan. 30, at the Marco Island CAP hangar at the Marco Island Airport. The FCC test for all classes of HAM licenses will begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 30.

Applicants can be of any age but must have a federally acceptable ID and Social Security number to qualify for the testing session and licensing. FCC regulations no longer require Morse Code proficiency. Training includes hands-on operation of VHF amateur radio equipment and radio contact with seasoned “hams” (licensed amateur radio operators).

There is no registration fee. A study guide for $32 can be purchased at check-in on the first day of class. Government FCC testing fee is $15 per exam.

Sign up by e-mailing Lt. Col. Ray Rosenberg at rrosenberg@flwg.us. Include your name, mailing address and phone number.

The official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, CAP has more than 60,000 members nationwide who perform more than 90 percent of continental U.S. inland searchand rescue missions. Volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. For more information on CAP, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com ¦