The Northern California DX Club (NCDXC) is starting an Elmering program designed to get newly-licensed amateur radio operators on the HF bands in September. According to the club’s website”
The goal of the NCDXC Elmering Project is to get you on the HF bands doing something that you enjoy. We know that all of you may not be primarily interested in working DX so there is material on all phases of HF operation, station building, equipment selection and antennas woven into three tracks.
After a couple of introductory classes the tracks include Track I General License Exam Preparation, Track II HF Operating and Station Building and Track III Advanced Topics. Because the material is presented in tracks you can take only the classes that interest you. Our plan is to expose you to everything HF at your own skill level. There will even be a little material on how to chase DX thrown in for good measure.
Classes are free and we will do our best to make them fun. Some classes will be taught using Webex so you don’t even have to leave your home to take them. Others will be taught at your Elmer’s shack where you can try out what you are learning on the air. We look forward to helping you to enjoy HF ham [sic].”
More information is available on the NCDXC website, including:
- A flyer that briefly describes the program.
- A PowerPoint presentation that goes into a little more detail.
The ARRL also has a news story on this program.
I like this idea a lot, and I think that the topics they plan to cover really will help get those who are interested on HF. Unfortunately, the information on this program isn’t quite as complete as it could be. For example, none of the materials give details on how to sign up for the classes.
While the web pages says that some classes will be taught online, while others will take place “at your Elmer’s shack,” it doesn’t really say that only students in Northern California (where, presumably, all of the NCDXC Elmers reside) can take the classes. I am a member of NCDXC, and have volunteered to Elmer one or two students here in SE Michigan, should anyone sign up here.
I’ll update this post when I get the answers.
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