How to get a license

The Lakeshore Radio Association (LRA) has proudly served the Racine and Kenosha Wisconsin communities with origins going back 77 years, promoting technical education, community service, and emergency preparedness through amateur (“ham”) radio. We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and our continued operations rely on volunteer effort and community support.

The LRA maintains and operates a network of wide-area repeater communications systems that provide coverage across most of southeastern Wisconsin. These systems are available to support emergency and public safety communications, including health and welfare traffic during disasters or infrastructure outages. Our volunteers also work closely with the National Weather Service, forming part of a regional network of trained SKYWARN weather spotters who provide on-the-ground observations during severe weather events.

Beyond these ongoing activities, our members support public safety and civic operations through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). In times of crisis—such as the severe flooding in Asheville, North Carolina, last year—licensed amateur radio operators played a crucial role by handling non-life-threatening communications, reducing traffic on essential emergency channels and ensuring that critical messages could get through. The LRA trains and certifies operators locally to provide that same kind of vital communications support here in southeastern Wisconsin when needed.

We also engage with local youth groups and schools, introducing students to the science, technology, and public-service aspects of amateur radio. Through classroom presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and mentoring programs, we help inspire the next generation of engineers, technicians, and community volunteers.

In addition, our members provide communications assistance for local public events—such as charity runs, parades, and community safety exercises—where reliable coordination is essential and where cellular or Internet-based systems may be unavailable or overloaded.

It all begins with training and maintaining a continual pool of volunteers, in cooperation with the Federal Communications Commission and the American Radio Relay League, to ensure a steady stream of qualified, licensed amateur radio operators.  The amateur radio licensing exams we administer are a key part of this mission—completely volunteer-run, non-commercial, and open to the public.

1. Understand the License Levels

  • Technician: Entry-level, grants access to VHF and UHF bands.
  • General: Allows access to more HF bands.
  • Extra: Grants access to all 29 allocated amateur radio bands.

2. Study for the Exam

  • Technician License: Study materials typically cover basic electronics, radio theory, and operating procedures. Books, online courses, and practice exams are available.
  • General and Extra Licenses: More advanced study is required, including deeper technical knowledge and operating rules. Resources like the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) provide study guides and practice tests.

3. Find a Testing Location

  • Exams are administered by Volunteer Exam Coordinators (VECs). You can find test sessions by contacting us or on the VEC websites. The ARRL VEC, W5YI VEC, and other organizations can help you locate a testing session near you.

4. Register for the Exam

  • Check the testing schedule and register for a test session. Some VECs allow you to register online.

5. Prepare Required Documents

  • Photo ID: A government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport).
  • FCC Registration Number (FRN): If you don’t already have an FRN, you can get one by registering on the FCC’s website. You’ll need this for your application.

6. Take the Exam

  • Arrive at the testing location on time. The exams are typically multiple-choice and administered in a proctored setting. You’ll need to pay a small fee, usually around $15.

7. Receive Your Results

  • Results are usually provided on the same day. If you pass, your exam paperwork will be sent to the FCC for processing.

8. Wait for Your License

  • The FCC will process your application and issue your license. This can take a few weeks. You’ll receive your call sign and license details via email or postal mail.

9. Start Operating

  • Once you receive your license, you can start operating on amateur radio frequencies. Make sure to follow all regulations and operating practices.

Additional Tips:

  • Join a Club: Local amateur radio clubs can offer support, resources, and community.
  • Use Online Resources: Websites like QRZ.com and the ARRL offer valuable information and tools.
  • Stay Updated: Regulations and procedures may change, so keep an eye on updates from the FCC and amateur radio organizations.

Good luck with your journey into amateur radio!

Heartfelt Thanks for an Unforgettable Christmas Party!

Relive the enchantment of our Christmas party, expertly organized by Danni, Heather, Pete, and Dave, as we invite you to browse through the delightful moments captured in our photo gallery – a heartfelt thank you to all who made it a night to remember!

Dear LRA Members and Guests,

We hope this message finds you still basking in the warmth and joy of the holiday season! As we bid farewell to another year, we wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who made our Christmas party a resounding success.

Continue reading “Heartfelt Thanks for an Unforgettable Christmas Party!”

Christmas Party 2023

What is a Repeater?

A repeater is an electronic device that receives a portables or mobile signal on one frequency and re-transmits the received voice audio at a higher output level on another frequency, so that the signal can cover longer distances without degradation. The term “repeater” originated with Morse code telegraphy and referred to an electro-mechanical device used to regenerate telegraph signals. Today the Lakeshore Repeater Association operate the Three KR9RK repeaters in the VHF and UHF spectrum including both analog and DMR UHF systems. These repeaters cover a large area of South Eastern Wisconsin and parts of North Eastern Illinois. These repeaters help the Ham Radio community keep in contact over long distances that would otherwise not be possible in the Very-High and Ultra-High Frequency spectrum.

Helpful repeater practices on Lakeshore Repeaters

  1. Emergency use of a repeater always takes precedence over all other use.
  2. Organized activities such as nets or training drills have priority over routine conversations.
  3. Before keying your transmitter, listen for any activity on the repeater.
  4. Keep individual transmissions short. The timer on most repeaters is set to three minutes to follow FCC regulations. However, someone who talks for that long in one transmission may be using valuable time if someone else has an emergency.
  5. Please limit your continuous use of a repeater to a reasonable length.
  6. It is considered bad etiquette to interrupt an ongoing conversation unless you have an emergency or something meaningful to contribute to the conversation.
  7. Remember that in many areas, the proword BREAK is used for routine break-ins. When visitors or new users use it as such, very gently explain that the standard usage on this repeater is to reserve the proword “break” for things that are of more than routine urgency, but not true emergencies. An automobile accident with no injuries is a good example of a situation where the proword BREAK may be appropriate.
  8. While we want our repeaters to be active, it is discourteous to use a repeater to talk to someone who is within easy simplex range. If you can hear each other on the repeater input frequency, switch to a simplex frequency for that long-winded conversation.
  9. Our repeaters have a courtesy tone to indicate that the other party has released the key to end their transmission. Always wait for the courtesy tone so that someone with an emergency or someone wishing to join the conversation has ample opportunity to break in.
  10. You must identify your station with your callsign every ten minutes and at the end of a conversation. While the FCC rules no longer require that you identify at the beginning of a conversation, it is still good amateur practice and common courtesy to do so.
  11. Whenever you transmit, always identify your station, even if you just key up the repeater for a test purposes. “Kerchunking” (a short, unidentified transmission to “bring up the repeater”) is illegal and considered poor amateur practice.
  12. Keep your activities on our repeaters responsible and courteous. off-color remarks or comments have no place in amateur radio.
  13. The FCC rules permit the use of amateur radio for transmissions of a technical or personal nature. Unfortunately, some amateurs use the repeaters to discuss what they don’t like about the actions of another amateur or a particular group. Such comments have no place on a repeater. Keep them to yourself or take them off the air directly to the individual(s) involved.
  14. As in all of amateur radio, transmissions for business purposes is illegal. Please be especially mindful of this whenever using the repeater.
  15. If you frequent a repeater, you should support it. Repeaters require a considerable effort and money to maintain. Please support the Lakeshore Repeater Association. By joining the Lakeshore Repeater Association you will ensure this valuable resource will remain a part of our community