Delta Amateur Radio Club
2010 Training Class Information


This page last modified on 11/15/10

All Delta Club sponsored training classes are FREE to anyone interested in obtaining an amateur radio license.  The only expense incurred by the students is for whatever books, tapes or other training materials that will be used for the respective class and any fees required for the testing session.  None of these moneys go to the Delta Club.

Licenses Earned in 2010 from Delta Classes
   61 Technician
      5 General
      3 Extra

Scheduled Classes

Caution: The Technician question pool changed July 1, 2010.  Be sure to purchase the correct license manual for the Technician classes - "The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 2nd Edition"-item #0830.

Extra Class 1-11

An Extra Class is in the planning stage for 4 or 5 Saturdays from 9am to 1pm starting in mid-January. We will need 10 students to give the class. If you are interested in attending this class to help you upgrade, clink this link to email Joe Lowenthal at wa4ovo@yahoo.com with your name, email address, and contact phone number, preferably cell, to let him know. Registration is required.


Current Classes


None


Future Classes

Technician License Class

No Morse Code Requirement for any Amateur Radio License.  Get your name on the list for the next class NOW by sending an email to Joe Lowenthal, WA4OVO.  Most of the technician classes are held one night a week on Monday nights for 5 or 6 weeks.  We have also had several 2-day (16 hours total) weekday classes, usually held on a Tuesday and Wednesday, or a weekend.  Click this link to email Joe to get your name on the list for the next class.

To help prepare for the Technician License classes, you can obtain a copy of "The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, Second Edition", an ARRL publication (item #0830/ISBN 0-87259-083-0). You can buy the manual directly from the ARRL  at http://www.arrl.org/shop/Licensing-Education-and-Training/, or possibly at Amazon.com.  You can purchase the manual locally at Barnes & Noble Booksellers.  The retail price is $24.95.  The manual is a good reference guide for future use.  As stated at the top of the page, the Delta Club does not charge any fee for the class, but we highly recommend that you purchase the manual and there will be a $15 fee for the ARRL FCC examination at the end of the class. 

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national Amateur Radio organization, is head quartered in Newington, CT.  The ARRL web site is www.arrl.org.

Sample test can be taken online at several websites:


General License Class

For those Novice and Technician licensees that are interested in upgrading to a General Class license, Delta Club is planning a General training class in the near future.  If you have let "the code" keep you from advancing to General, now's the time for you to upgrade.  If you have an interest in attending a class to help you upgrade, click this link to email Joe Lowenthal, WA4OVO, and let him know.  Check back on this page frequently as class information will be posted here as soon as a class is scheduled.

Basic Electronics Class

The Delta Club started a Basic Electronics class in the Fall of 2008.  Are you unsure of your electronics and the mathematics that go along with calculating the answers for the Extra Class electronics?  If so, you want to get into this class.  If you are interested in attending such a class, click this link and let Joe Lowenthal, WA4OVO know of your interest.  The text is The ARRL Understanding Basic Electronics, Second Edition (ARRL order # 0823).  Check back on this page frequently as class information will be posted when a class is scheduled.

Amateur Extra License Class

Have you always wanted to get that Extra Class license but just couldn't make yourself hit the books and prepare for it?  The Delta Club is ready to help.  Another Amateur Extra training class is scheduled for January-February 2011 if there is enough interest.  If you are interested in attending such a class to gain access to the entire amateur frequency allocation, click this link and let Joe Lowenthal, WA4OVO know of your interest.  Check back on this page frequently as class information will be posted here when a class is scheduled.


Completed Classes


Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge Class


On December 27, 2010 the Delta Club provided instructors the Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge class for 14 scouts from Troop 452 at Arlington Methodist Church.  Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO was the lead instructor.


JT Schlichter KI4AJG, Alan Anderson KJ4BIX and Clyde Getman AF4ZS were the control operators on-site for each Scout's 10 minute QSO.  JT observed the Scouts in a simplex QSO via a VHF handheld radio with Joe in his car.  Alan observed the Scouts operating 40  & 80 meters from Alan's truck.  Clyde observed the Scouts from a portable VHF radio thru the Tri-State 146.94 repeater with Aaron Alexander KI4OTH at his home QTH.  Aaron was an excellent ham peer for the Scouts to keep the conversations going.



Troop 452 Radio Merit Badge Class                                                           Photo by: JT Schlichter, KI4AJG

Basic Electronics Class 6-10 – September 25 – November 6, 2010

The Basic Electronics class, which is a bridge between the General Class license and the Extra Class license, was held on 6 Saturdays from 9am to 1pm from September 25th and ended November 6th at the Memphis-Shelby County Health Department East Complex across from the Penal Farm.  The text used was  The ARRL Understanding Basic Electronics, Second Edition

Nine students attended. The class included building circuits to illustrate the theory and to prove an error in the textbook. Dean Honadle N2LAZ was the instructor and Dennis Foster facilitated.

Photo: Basic Electronics Class 6-10                             Photo by Dean Honadle N2LAZ 
Left to right: 1st row-Dennis Foster KJ4BDU; 2nd row-Tom McLemore KJ4ETZ, John Loeffler KC8JGT; 3rd row-Alan Proffitt AE5RX, Jonathan Smith KJ4UZG, Kathryn Smith KJ4UZL, Richard Smith KJ4UZK; 4th row-Richard Heismann AJ4VZ, Joe Loucka AG4QC, Sue Loucka KI4LFT



Technician Class 5-10  – July 17 & July 24, 2010

Technician Class 5-10 was held on two Saturdays, July 17th and 24th from 8am-5pm at the Red Cross Building, 1400 Central Ave. Nineteen students began with 14 completing the two days.  Congratulations to Ted Parrish KJ4WOQ, Larry Reid KJ4WOR, Winston Cross KJ4WOS, Terry Donald KJ4WOT, Larry Hawkins KJ4WOU, Neha Tewari KJ4WOV, Ronald Warf KJ4WOW, Pam Ross KJ4WOX, Dean Eicher KJ4WOY, David Brumley KJ4WOZ, Earnestine Walk KJ4WPA, and Tod Underhill KF5IAI for earning their Technician license.


Photo Tech Class 5-10                                                  Photo by Bill Stevens KI4TQA

1st row-Dean Eicher(legs showing), Lisa Henriksen, Instructor Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO, La Juana Gentry, Debra Harris; 2nd row- Larry Hawkins, Pam Ross, Larry Reid, Ted Parrish; 3rd row-Neha Tewari, Joseph Elia, Bonnie Warf, Ronald Warf, David Brumley; 4th row-Winston Cross, Mike Bole, Gary Buck, Terry Donald, Jerry Fritts; Not pictured-Earnestine Walk

Thanks to WCARS VE Team of Win Guin W2GLJ, Bill Stevens KI4TQA, Rick Tillman WA4NVM and Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO for providing the FCC testing team.


Technician Class 1-07 Revisited

Congratulations to Linda Wardlaw KJ4UZW who earned her Technician license on May 14th at the Dayton Hamvention.


Technician Class 4-10 March 20-21, 2010

A Technician Class was held on Saturday and Sunday, March 20-21 at the Shelby County Sheriff's Department Training Center near the Penal Farm.   This class was in cooperation with the Tennessee State Guard's Delta Company, 51st Forward Support Battalion.  The results of this class improves their communications capabilities.  Eight students in addition to the State Guard students attended the class.


Photo: Tech Class 4-10 with Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO leading the instruction.

Congratulations go to all of the 21 students: Larry Anthony KJ4THH, Doris Banks KJ4THA, James Coop KJ4THS, Jim Covington KJ4THV, Lane Edmondson KJ4THT, Jane Gaschen KJ4THE, Larry Gaschen KJ4THD, Phil Hagood KJ4THG, Sam Huggins KJ4THQ, Paul Kossik KJ4THU, Kimberlee Norwood KJ4THC, Robert Pepper KJ4THM, Drew Perkins KJ4THF, Tommy Porter KJ4THI, Joseph Ruff KJ4THL, Charlie Smith KJ4THK, Neil Solomon KJ4THP, Mike Tarkington KJ4THN, Richard Threlkeld KJ4THJ, and Jim Wilson KJ4THB. An additional congratulations goes to Paul Kossik who also upgraded to General.

Thanks to WCARS VE Team of Win Guin W2GLJ, Bill Stevens KI4TQA, David Gilbert AJ4LV, Jeff Krause AJ4GY, and Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO for providing the FCC testing team.


Technician Class 3-10 February 15 - March 15, 2010

Tech Class 3-10 started with 21 eager students for 5 Monday nights from February 15th to March 15th from 6:15-9:30 pm at the Memphis-Shelby County Health Department East Complex.  The instructors were Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO and Pat Lane W4OQG.  Class Elmers are Bill Stevens KI4TQA, Rick Tillman WA4NVM, Andrew Dandridge KC0BDX, Ray Wilson N4ARH and Ken Lasiter KI4AOH.


Photo: Tech Class 3-10 receiving testing instructions from Win Guin W2GLJ

Congratulations to the 16 students who earned their Technician licenses during the class period. On the final night, March 15th,  Howard Nelson KJ4TCC, Justin Bryan JK4TCD, James Sterling KJ4TCE, Karen Wilson KJ4TCF, Jack Moriarty KJ4TCG, Danny Bishop KJ4TCH, Brian Jenkins KJ4TCI, Joe Ibarra KJ4TCJ, Bruce Oliasani KJ4TCK, Scott Agent KJ4TCL, and Zach Pennington KJ4TCM earned their Technician licenses, Danny Bishop also earned an upgrade to General.

Congratulations to Lisa Alex KJ4TCX and Ray Turner KJ4CTY who earned their Technician licenses at the Delta Club’s March 9th testing. Ray Turner upgraded to General on March 21st.

Congratulations to Scott Chapman KJ4SJR and Calvin Oliphant KJ4SJS, who got inspired at the first class, earned their Technician license on Saturday, February 20th.  Calvin continued and upgraded to General at the Extra Class test session on February 27th while Scott upgraded to General at the class testing on March 15th.

Thanks to WCARS’ VE team of Win Guin W2GLJ, Bill Stevens KI4TQA, Rick Tillman WA4NVM and Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO for administering the FCC exams.


Extra Class 1-10 January 16 - February 27, 2010

An Extra Class license class of five students completed a six Saturday schedule from January 16th to February 27th.    Dean Honadle N2LAZ, Tom Fox KA4LQW, Pat Lane W4OQG and Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO were the instructors.


Photo: Dean Honadle N2LAZ explaining circuits to Extra Class 1-10

Congratulations to Sonny Mounicou KF5CLC and Jim Walton K4ZFQ for upgrading to Extra.  Jay Tomasello KJ4RCR upgraded to Extra on March 9th. The other students say they will test in the future.  Thanks to Tom Fox KA4LWQ, Bill Stevens KI4LWQ, Jeff Krause AJ4GY and Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO who where the ARRL FCC VEs.


Technician Class 2-10  February 3-4, 2009

A Technician Class was held at the Memphis International Airport for the Transportation Security Agency.  This class was designed to provide Technician training for 11 TSA personnel so that they could earn their Technician license to operate the MARS agency station.  Congratulations to all 11 students that earned their Technician license.  An additional congratulations to Ray Phetteplace who also earned his General Class license.  Tom Fox WA4LQW, Bill Stevens KI4TQA\, Rick Tillman WA4NVM and Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO provided the ARRL FCC test session.


Tech Class 2-10 Photo (left to right) 1st Row: Tracy Farrah, Mac McKee, Ray Phetteplace,
DARC Director of Training/Instructor Joe Lowenthal WA4OVO; 2nd Row: Carl Gentry,
Amy Leroux; 3rd Row: Mark Cole, Debra Laudermilk; 4th Row: David Boston, Gerald Adcock,
Cleo Peete, Not Shown - George Czech.


Delta Amateur Radio Club had a wonderful year in 2009 with 83 students receiving licenses or upgrades in the five license classes held.  Eight of the 46 Technicians were young hams who can keep our great hobby going for many years to come.  One of those young hams also earned his General license.  Thanks go to all of the volunteers that helped to make 2009 a great year. 

Click this link if you would like to review the training classes that occurred in 2009

Please check back here often for immediate updates on class dates and locations.

This page last modified on 11/15/10

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