Local Radio Club Receives Grant To Provide Classes

Cleveland County Hamsters (CCH), an amateur radio club, has received a grant from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to offset the costs of presenting classes about the uses of all types of radio. ARRL is a national organization that has been the leading authority in amateur radio communication since 1914 assisting the FCC in licensing, examinations, and planning band usage. CCH plans to hold free classes for the public, starting in Cleveland County then progressing outward across the state. CCH is a newly organized club open to anyone interested in Amateur Radio, General Mobile Radio Service, and eventually planning to become a licensed radio operator. The club is sponsored by SEAR Em Com (501C3) and has been the moving force preparing an amateur radio repeater in operation within the county. Rick Beckner with CCH said antennas are in place on the New Edinburg water tower 100 feet above the average terrain, but the group still has work to do on the radio repeater ground box. Once in operation, club members will be monitoring the repeater transmit frequency of 146.91mhz and using club call sign W5CCH. Beckner said a radio transmitting at 50 watts and good antenna should be able to have its signal repeated within 90 percent of Cleveland County and the northern half of Bradley County as well as parts pf Dallas and Calhoun Counties. He said handheld radios (3-8 watts output) should be able to access the repeater anywhere inside a 4mile radius and probably farther. "Keep in mind, radio signals in the 140-170 MHz ranges are subject to line-of-sight transmission and are susceptible to barriers like heavy foliage, buildings, hills, and even being beyond the horizon," Beckner said. "Sometimes moving only a few feet can allow the signal to bypass an obstacle." Beckner said the next Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Hall Morgan Veterans Building, 404 Sycamore in Rison across for the courthouse. Beckner said it is…