About our GOTA workshops...

Open to any new or inexperienced ham

- with priority to our course grads

Congratulations if you have completed the Amateur Radio Certification Course. But as you may have discovered by now; your learning has only begun. Amateur Radio is a prized skillset, but it’s not intuitive for novices. To help you 'Get On The Air', SARC is offering free workshops intended to kick-start your ham journey. 

These half-day workshops will review simplex and repeater operations, on-air jargon, and etiquette, and how to make your first contacts. As well, there will be an informal net to get you over any mic reluctance you may be experiencing. Several of our SARC members will also be in attendance displaying their VHF/UHF mobile installations, grab ‘n go kits and transceivers.

As an added perk, and provided your radio is compatible with our software and cables, we will program your handheld radio with our local repeater and simplex database so that you are ready to go. We can accommodate all Baofengs (and their clones), Wouxon, Jianpai, and some iCom, Kenwood and Yaesu models. 

You can confirm your interest in attending one of these free half-day workshops by contacting GOTA@ve7sar.net. If you would like our radio programming assistance, please provide the make and model of your radio when you pre-register. An outline of the workshop follows.

Workshop Format

• Mingle, Coffee and Donuts
• Radios Are Programmed
• A Typical New Ham Experience
• Handheld Basics
• Knobs, Buttons, and Parts of the Radio
• VFO vs Memory Channels
• VHF Antenna Options
• HF, VHF, UHF
• Repeaters vs Simplex
• How to Make Your First Contact(s)
• On-Air Jargon and Etiquette - Do's and Don'ts
• Radio Buying Options
• Contesting, Survival Communications
• Mock Net
• Draw Prize

GOTA Net

As well, we invite you to join our GOTA Net for new hams. This Net takes place every Thursday evening at 8pm on our North Repeater at 147.360MHz + tone 110.9Hz. Can’t reach our repeater locally? No problem, you can access the Net via Echolink on our VE7RSC-VHF repeater, Node: 496228 or via your free computer, Android or iOS app.

Finally, SARC members meet informally for breakfast at the Denny’s Restaurant 6850 King George Blvd in Surrey, between 7:30 and 9:00am each Saturday morning. We’d love to have you join us. Or drop into the OTC between 9:30 until noon with your questions or just to say hello. The OTC is located at 5756  142 St. Surrey.

~ Larry Bloom VE7LXB
   Surrey Amateur Radio Communications