When is the next class? When I took the class ten years ago, it was only technical info - more information about antennas than I cared to know! I basically memorized the info for the test and promptly forgot it. When I actually got my radio, I didn't even know how to turn it on. My ex was involved in it, so we used ham radios rather than cell phones (which were in their infancy back then and cost almost $1 a minute to talk on the cell phone). Both my kids got their licenses - my daughter was about 11 or 12 years old and passed the test! She would go out on -- are they T-hunts? with her dad. My ex belonged to RACES in Orange County, and he participated in the contests to see who could make the furthest contact. I kind of just went along with it, but I certainly understand how important they are in an emergency situation when there will be no cell phone signal. I think we still have two radios around here - not unpacked yet.
