YES, once again on June 12, 2010, Ham-Com the biggest Amateur Radio gathering in Texas will be hosting the Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge at the Plano Center in Plano, Texas. This innovative Boy Scout one-day Radio Merit Badge this year will be like NO other Merit Badge. The class is limited to the first 200 Boy Scouts enrolled. This Radio Merit Badge will be done in a fun and constructive way. All the instructors are Amateur Radio operators and Boy Scout leaders. This is the same Radio Merit Badge that has been offered at the Circle Ten Council, Winter Camp with a twist. It has also been used in 2007, 2008 2009 at 6 other Hamfest out side of Texas and 2 in 2009 in Texas.

This year once again as part of the one-day Radio Merit Badge program, we will have as guests from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), West Gulf Division of ARRL, National Weather Service (NOAA), and Yes the one and only Gordon West. Gordon West will have a program for all ages from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Each scout will be able to see Amateur Radio at its best. Registration check in will start at 7:15 a.m. in the lobby of the Plano Center in front of the Windhaven room. The Merit Badge session will start promptly at 8:00 AM and will conclude at 5:00 PM.

The Scouts will be able to see and use Amateur Radio equipment and we will be doing a Radio Fox hunt. What !!! You do not know what an Amateur Radio Fox hunt is all about. You will have to come to HamCom to find out.

The cost is FREE to all Scouts in uniform. Scout leaders in uniform will be able to get in FREE. Lunch will be provided for all Scouts under 18 years of age.

All Boy Scouts in uniform who have completed the one-day Radio Merit Badge will have the chance to take the FCC Technician Exam at NO COST (under 18 years of age ONLY). Scouts taking advantage of this offer must bring three (3) different printed copies of the completed test result from http://www.qrz.com showing a passing score of 80 or higher. Specific forms of identification with Photos ( one has to have a Photo) are required [Two (2) copies] to take the test. Please visit the section entitled “VE TEST” on the right for details. The Merit Badge Session Master is a final arbiter regarding qualification for free tests. If you have any questions about the one-day Radio Merit Badge session, send an e-mail to Richard M. Phillips, Sr.; (KB5YBQ) at kb5ybq@arrl.net or call 972.423.1632.

73’s Richard KB5YBQ

Please fill out the form below to sign up for the Hamcom Radio Merit badge class. You will be contacted to confirm you registration.