YARA Radio Courses
The YARA course programs
Basic Radio Course: YARA is currently not offering the Basic Radio Course Those interested in getting their licence are encourage to pursue "self study" and on-line courses. This approach enables people to work at their own pace any time of the day or night. Some people get their licence in record time! Two members of YARA are accredited examiners. When you are ready to write your exam, contact us to set up a convenient time.
On-line courses and self-study materials
You can purchase manuals and download Industry Canada materials (regulations and question bank), as well as use excellent the on-line study materials of CLARS (Cold Lake Amateur Radio Society). Industry Canada also has an practice exam questions generator. If you need help or coaching contact us, and/orjoin us for coffee/breakfast 8:45 am Saturdays at A & W on 2nd Ave
Note: Morse Code is not required to obtain a licence, but many amateur radio operators learn Code for fun and for communications in poor propagation conditions. There are probably more more code operators now than when it was a requirement. ARRL information on Morse Code
CW workshop: Commencencing January 2019, YARA is continuing with the popular CW workshop on Tuesday evenings at 6:45 pm in the EMO Building, 60 Norseman Road, Whitehorse Airport. In October 2018 YARA started running a CW workshop and practrice sessions.
ARES workshops: YARA is looking into offering custom emergency communications workshops in spring 2019, based on ARES manuals and other resources.
Other Information
In previous years YARA has offered several class options: in evenings twice a week over 6 weeks, intensive weekend courses, and group study sessions. There have also been short courses and hands-on workshops.
- 2009 class
- 2007 class
- IRLP workshop
- Technical workshop
Due to the uncertain nature of having enough students at any given time we tend to be very flexible when we offer a class. If we have enough interest we try to set up classes as needed.
We need at least 5 students and not more than 15. So if you want to take a "ham class" check with your friends and see how many others are interested and let us know. Add your name to the list of people interested. We will try to get more people involved. Please Contact us.
In the interim, or if there are not enough students available for a formal class, you still have other options to study and get your licence:
- Check out the online training program offered by CLARSCold Lake Amateur Radio Society Basic and Advanced Training,
- You can order a study guide through Coax Publications, and
- You can do an online course by Alpha Victor Enterprises Ltd. Hamstudy.com
- You can do "self-study". YARA has its own CD study guide/tutor based on previous courses. Download this to your computer and "unzip" it. Make a shortcut on you desktop to the README.htm file for quick access. Just follow the instructions on the disk. Click here to download
- Download Industry Canada publications, and
- Download the practice exam question bank, RIC-7, from Industry Canada, and/or
- Download the exam generator software from Industry Canada, and
- ExHAMiner, a self-test program for candidates to the Canadian Amateur Radio certification
- If you need help or coaching contact us, and or
- Join us for coffee/breakfast 9:30 am Saturdays and A & W in Whitehorse
- YARA's Education Coordinator, Yuuri Daiku VY1YU, may be able to match you up with an "Elmer", an amateur radio operator who can assist you and show you the ropes. YARA Contacts
- Writing your exam: Two members of YARA are accredited examiners. When you are ready to write your exam, contact us to set up a convenient time:
Bob Melanson - bob-dot-melanson-at-northwestel.net
Allen Wootton - awootton-at-uniserve.com
Other resources: