The Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club offers an amateur radio course each year for those wishing to acquire a government qualification to operate an amateur radio station.

Objectives:
The course will enable students to pass the theory examinations for radio amateurs as prescribed by Industry Canada. Some students may also be able to pass the Advanced level qualification. The objective of the course is to teach a basic understanding of the principles of radio communication as a basis for further individual study of the science. The course will include also practical sessions on hardware construction and equipment operation.

Course length:
The course length is about 20 weeks, Tuesdays 19:00h – 22:00h for formal lectures on theory and several Thursday evenings for on-air practice. The course includes the Industry Canada examination.

Course content:
The course provides instruction on electrical and radio theory, radio regulations, and practical sessions. The course covers the complete syllabus prescribed by Industry Canada for the Basic Qualification. No technical background is required to take this course, but those having a technical or engineering background will enjoy the course. The course begins with an understanding of the fundamentals of electrical charge and magnetism. It develops and builds on these concepts to ultimately bring about an appreciation of the nature and properties of high frequency electrical currents and how to use them for radio communication. Amateur radio use of the internet will be discussed. As stated, the objective of the course is to develop a basic understanding of the science of radio rather than to memorize the necessary answers to pass the Industry Canada examination. The course also develops a knowledge of the practical aspects of assembling and operating an amateur radio station. There should be opportunity for practical operating experience at an amateur radio station during the course. The final area of study is the regulations governing the operation of amateur radio stations. A thorough knowledge of these regulations, which are published in Radio Information Circulars (RIC) by the Department of Industry, is mandatory.

Instruction:
The course is team taught by people who are active radio amateurs and experienced teachers. The course uses an instruction manual written specifically for this course by Doug Carswell,VE3ATY. It is supplemented by special notes pertaining to specific subjects.

Course Fees:
The instructors give their time without remuneration. The course fee is $250, which covers the cost of printed material handed out and basic project components needed for the practical session.

Successful course candidates will receive a year's membership to Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), and to the OVMRC to the end of the following June.

Who Should Attend:

• Students may be of any age. We have had students from 14 to 70 years in age.
• Five of 13 graduates in 1997 were women.
• Students can have virtually any background.
• Ocean sailors find this course very useful. Once beyond sight of land HF radio is about the only means of communication from a small vessel.
• Retired people find Amateur Radio an interesting hobby. Hunters and hikers operating beyond the range of cell phones find amateur radio a useful facility in case of emergencies or for communication among themselves in the field.
  

The course is demanding of time, one evening each week plus an evening of manual reading as well as the occasional second evening for on-air practice. Anyone following full time studies should consider carefully whether taking this course will impinge adversely on success in their other studies.

2011 Graduates: From left to right: Ernie VE3EJJ (Instructor), Jean VE3JNE, Guylene VA3GLN, Darin VE3OIJ (Instructor, behind Bill), Bill VE3LJG, Kirk VA3DRG, Ken VA3NEK and James VE3BUX (absent from the photo: Adrian VA3ZWB and Ean VE3AVQ)

2012 Graduates: From left to right: Ernie Jury, VE3EJJ (Instructor); Doug Carswell, VE3ATY (President of OVMRC); James Hall, VE3MYZ, Basic with honours; Travis Crawford, VE3TVS, Basic, Advanced; Gordon Hastie, VE3GBH, Basic, Advanced. Absent: Georges Ankenmann, VA3LYZ, Basic.

The club has one official Accredited Examiner for the Amateur Radio Course:

Ernie Jury, VE3EJJ

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please get in touch with the following club executive about the next course schedule or any other questions regarding this course:

Ernie Jury, VE3EJJ (Amateur Radio Training Chairman)
Telephone: 613-728-3666
E-Mail: es282@freenet.carleton.ca