EDVantage Class "Amateur Radio 101"
2025-10-25 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Hillsborough County PSOC, 9450 E Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL, 33619, United States
TITLE:
Amateur Radio 101
Hands-On Training for the Newly Licensed Ham – VHF/UHF
PREREQUISITES:
None – Bring your hand-held radio if you have one
ACHIEVEMENT:
At the conclusion of this training, you can confidently begin making contacts, building your
operator experience using the VHF/UHF bands – meeting and productively participating
with other like-minded Amateur Radio enthusiasts.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This instructor led training provides you a brief overview of Amateur Radio as a rewarding
multi-faceted hobby and its world-wide fraternal organization, with emphasis placed on
the newly licensed “Ham” who desires to begin 2-way radio operations. Important
knowledge and needed skill points include popular FM operations on the VHF/UHF bands,
utilizing hand-held radios as a beginning experience. Base and mobile, radio-to-radio
simplex, as well as repeater operation, is covered. Beginner’s operating scenarios and
simulation examples not only set proper expectations, but give you opportunity to actually
practice typical dialog exchanges and acceptable procedures – building your confidence,
experience and skill. The practical nature of this course introduces you to the concept of
mutual support from willing mentors (Elmers), and helps you become familiar with
important on-air, internet, and affiliation resources. Lastly, you receive an introduction to
public service opportunities, and encouragement to prepare for critical incidents.
COURSE LENGTH:
3 hours typical, +/- questions
COURSE OUTLINE:
• Amateur Radio – beginner’s overview
• Call signs and radio etiquette fundamentals
• Radio communications – getting ready
• Communications jargon and usage of common short-hand codes
• Common 2-way exchanges and practical use of repeaters
• Practice – hands-on role playing
• Technical support networking
• Resources – be aware
• Preparing for a critical incident
COST:
Free
We can also help you program your radio after class.

ARES/RACES Weekly Net
2025-10-30 19:30 - 20:00, 2025-11-06 19:30 - 20:00, 2025-11-13 19:30 - 20:00, 2025-11-20 19:30 - 20:00, 2025-12-04 19:30 - 20:00, 2025-12-11 19:30 - 20:00, 2025-12-18 19:30 - 20:00, 2026-01-08 19:30 - 20:00 and 5 more dates | FL

Bi Monthly Meeting & Cross Band Repeater Training
2025-11-08 09:00 - 12:00 | Hillsborough County PSOC, 9450 E Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL, 33619, United States
Cross Band Repeater for Shelters Training will be held after the meeting. The training will last about 90 Minutes so you will be out by Noon.

CANCELED EDVantage Class "Antenna Tuning & Build a 440 Tape Measure Antenna" CANCELED
2025-11-15 09:00 - 12:30 | Hillsborough County PSOC, 9450 E Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL, 33619, United States
CANCELED
Come join us to build a tape measure antenna for 440 MHz. Bring your old tape measure and and go home with a working antenna. The cost for the other materials is $10. Please register so we can be sure to have enough supplies for everyone. After the build we will have a training on mobile antenna tuning.

Monthly Planning Meeting
2025-11-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Hillsborough County PSOC, 9450 E Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL, 33619, United States
AEC’s Only

Thanksgiving Day 2025
2025-11-27 | FL

Tampa Bay Hamfest at the Strawberry Festival
2025-12-12, 2025-12-13 | Strawerry Festival Grounds, 303 Berryfest PL, Plant City FL, United States

Monthly Planning Meeting
2025-12-17 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-01-21 18:00 - 19:00 | FL

TARC FEST
2026-01-10 08:00 - 13:00 | FL

ARES/RACES Bi Monthly Meeting
2026-01-17 09:00 - 11:00 | Hillsborough County PSOC, 9450 E Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL, 33619, United States

Children's Gasparilla Parade
2026-01-24 | FL

Winter Field Day at the PSOC
2026-01-24 11:00 - 2026-01-25 17:00 | FL
Winter Field Day
Saturday, 1/24/26 11AM – Sunday 1/25/26 459PM
Location: PSOC RACES room
We need volunteers to help get all hours covered.
Please contact Myesha Johnson, AEC-PIO
mjohnson@hcaresraces.net

Gasparilla Parade
2026-01-31 | FL

Amateur Radio "Technician License Class"
2026-02-07 08:30 - 17:00 | Hillsborough County PSOC, 9450 E Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL, 33619, United States
Hillsborough County ARES/RACES is proud to sponsor the Amateur Radio “Technician” License Course in a traditional classroom setting. Please invite your friends to come join the several hundred people who have taken this courses and earned an Amateur Radio license during the last few years.
This is 2 day class. You must attend both days of the class. The class is from 8:30am to 5pm on Saturday, February 7th and Saturday, February 21st . Testing will take place on February 21st at 2 pm.
The cost is $45 – this includes both classes, your book, testing fee and any additional materials.
There will be several breaks and 1 hour for lunch. There are fridges at the PSOC for brought lunches, Uber Eats delivers there and many restaurants close by to choose from.
You Must obtain a FCC issued FRN number Before taking the Test.
We will explain how to apply during the first class session.
The FCC will collect a $35 fee when your License Application is approved.

The new $35 application fee applies to new, renewal, rule waiver, and modification applications that request a new vanity call sign. The fee will be per application.
Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, and modification applications to upgrade an amateur radio licensee’s operator class or to request a sequentially issued call sign, are exempt from fees.
You can review the details of the Fee on the ARRL Website at
https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee

Amateur Radio "General License Class"
2026-02-07 08:30 - 17:00 | Hillsborough County PSOC, 9450 E Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL, 33619, United States
You must have a Amateur Radio Technician License before taking this Class
Hillsborough County ARES/RACES is proud to sponsor the Amateur Radio “General” License Course in a traditional classroom setting. Please invite your friends to come join the several hundred people who have taken this courses and earned an Amateur Radio license during the last few years.
This is 2 day class. You must attend both days of the class. The class is from 8:30am to 5pm on Saturday, February 7th and Saturday, February 21st. Testing will take place on February 21st at 2 pm.
The cost is $45 – this includes both classes, your book, testing fee and any additional m9thaterials.
There will be several breaks and 1 hour for lunch. There are fridges at the PSOC for brought lunches, Uber Eats delivers there and many restaurants close by to choose from.
You Must obtain a FCC issued FRN number Before taking the Test.
We will explain how to apply during the first class session.
The FCC will collect a $35 fee when your License Application is approved.

The new $35 application fee applies to new, renewal, rule waiver, and modification applications that request a new vanity call sign. The fee will be per application.
Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, and modification applications to upgrade an amateur radio licensee’s operator class or to request a sequentially issued call sign, are exempt from fees.
You can review the details of the Fee on the ARRL Website at
https://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee

Command Staff Meeting CANCELED
2026-02-08 14:00 - 16:00 | FL
