Amateur radio classes offered

AUSTINTOWN — Mahoning Valley Amateur Radio Association will conduct amateur radio classes for the general class license on two consecutive Saturdays, Oct. 20 and 27.

The classes will start at 10 a.m. at the Salvation Army Building at 6431 Mahoning Ave.

The Salvation Army Building is west of the Austintown Plaza on the left side of Mahoning across from the Seven Seventeen Credit Union. Each class should be done by 3 p.m. each day.

Participants will be able to take the general class license exam at the conclusion of the Oct. 27 class.

Students successfully passing this exam will earn a general class license from the Federal Communications Commission. Students will be required to do some home study, which the classes will reinforce.

Previous knowledge of Morse Code is no longer a requirement in obtaining an amateur radio license.

The classes are free, but students will be required to purchase a study guide for $17.95. Candidates also will need to pay the FCC required fee of $14 at the time of the test.

This is not an entry-level course; students must have a current FCC technician license. Deadline for enrolling in the class is Saturday. For more information, call Jerry or Bonnie Viele at (330) 534-1394. Please do not call the Salvation Army for information.

The Mahoning Valley Amateur Radio Association has been training and assisting local ham radio operators for 87 years.