I PASSED MY TEST: NOW WHAT? (AND IF YOU DIDN'T PASS HERE'S HOW TO GET YOU THERE!!)

 

If You Didn’t Pass the Ham Test — Don’t Lose Hope! 📻 

Keep your momentum going — you’re closer than you think! Sometimes a test session doesn't work, and that’s okay. Most people who don’t pass at the class do pass on the second attempt! So chin up — you can do this!  You may be able to do this within 1-3 weeks! 

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1) Start Studying Again Right Away!

HamStudy.org (Highly Recommended!)
Cost: Free basic use (optional paid study mode about $4–$5)

Steps:
• Go to www.hamstudy.org
• Create a free account
• Select Technician License
• Use Study Mode for flashcards
• Take Practice Tests often
• Study until you're consistently scoring 70% or higher!

ALSO AVAILABLE FOR YOUR PHONE (most recommended)

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Free Ham Study App (Great for Your Phone!)
Cost: Free

Steps:
• Open the App Store or Google Play
• Search for “Free Ham Radio Exam Study” or “Ham Radio Technician Exam”
• Install the app
• Practice flashcards and tests regularly
• Study until you're consistently scoring 70% or higher!

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2) Schedule Your Next Exam (You can do in person or online at home - for in person!)

Steps:

• Go to the ARRL exam search page:
https://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session

• Enter your ZIP code
• Pick a nearby session
• Contact the exam coordinator if needed
• Bring photo ID
• Bring about $15 for the exam fee (see instructions for payment)

You can usually retest quickly — don’t wait too long! Keep the momentum going!

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3) Take the Test Online (Easy Option!)

Anchorage Alaska Remote Testing Team:

https://kl7aa.org/vec/remote-testing/

Steps:

• Go to the website
• Click Register for an Exam Session
• Choose a date that works for you
• Pay the exam fee if instructed.
• Follow the instructions for Zoom setup

You'll need:

• Photo ID
• Computer with webcam, and a phone with a webcam/camera.
• Good internet connection
• Quiet room with a clear desk

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4) You’re Almost There!

Tips for success:

• Study a little every day!
• Take practice tests often!
• Review missed questions!
• Schedule your retest soon!

Most people pass on the second try — and you probably will too!

Stay positive and keep going — your call sign is waiting for you! 📡You can still listen on the air with us - we're waiting for you!   YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT SECTION BELOW AS SOON AS YOU PASS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU ON THE AIR!!!

GroupMe# For ERC

ERC requires a lot* of communication that goes on about it, and to make it easier now that we've switched from texting/SMS to GroupMe#.

The Twin Falls Bishop's Storehouse has been using GroupMe# or HF notifications on frequency shifts as well as band conditions, and has recommended we use GroupMe#.  The Lord has inspired us to swtich to GroupMe#

Here's a few reasons why we're shifting: 

 1)  Text messages don't always go through and we have no way of seeing who gets them or who doesn't. 

3) There wasn't a way to remove people from a text group easily.  There wasn't a way for people to remove themselves from it. 

4) As admins we can remove people from a list easily or people can remove themselves, they can limit their notifications, and the ERC notifications aren't going in their main texting areas. 

5) GroupMe# can be used with a web browser, or a cell-phone app.  So it can be used on your desktop computer, with the internet, or over a cell-phone with cell-service.  If cell service goes down, it can still be used over internet, and visa versa - it's a redundant system for communications. 

6) We can send files way easier to a group using web-browsers than we ever could just using SMS/Text Messaging. 

7) There's more versatility with what we can do and information we can exchange - larger files, larger pictures, storage libraries of media sent, searchable conversations, easier to identify everyone - it works! 

8) It's easy to use, no cost.  

9) We can add people who aren't members of the church who wish to work with us. 

So!  To be added, contact your ward or stake specialist to get the chats/conversations and they will get you in and we can get you approved!  

But we're adding this to our lists of tools as we build!  

This is how we're going to be doing this going forward!  

73 - N7MDM  

1-2-3-3-3 ERC Activation Plan (Updated December 2025)

When do we activate or become involved with ERC as a stake? 

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Stake and ward activation of ERC follow a 1-2-3-3-3 plan:

1) - Within one hour of a loss of communications:

• Ward and stake leaders get in contact with each other (Stake Presidency, Bishoprics, EQ presidencies, RS).  Leaders should have an established means to contact each other and fulfill their callings.
• Members ensure their families are taken care of. 
• ERC Specialists make sure their families are okay, contact each other on 144.990MHZ (145.585MHz backup).

2) - Within two hours:

• Stake and ward leaders begin assessing needs of the most vulnerable members of the wards (part of the Elders Quorums' call trees). 
• ERC Specialists report issues to each other across all wards - regarding power/geography/bridges/chapels etc.
• ERC Specialists decide whether they will need to relocate to different areas for comms

3) - Within three hours:

• Stake and ward leaders decide whether or not to utilize ERC communications.
• Notify ERC stake and ward erc specialists.
• Stake and ward erc leaders move and/or setup and active command posts as necessary.

3) - Members tune in at the top of every 3rd hour (6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm) - to 144.990MHz(145.585MHz backup).

3)...For three minutes - If there are stake information and notifications, they will be given on the third hour within three minutes of the top of the third hour on the stake frequency 144.990MHz (145.585MHz backup).

• This saves battery life, creates a bit of predictability in chaos, keeps people from sending messages or trying to listen for message traffic when it isn't going to be there. 
• Additional message traffic will be sent and coordinated as needed. 

Information to be given may include the status of the church buildings, shelter, medical, food, disaster response efforts, public safety and any other needs. In the event that there is no information to be passed, as appropriate, leaders should state that there is no (additional) traffic to be passed along. 

It is expected that families shelter in place where possible, avoid unnecessary travel or expenditure of resources, but the chapels may be used in an emergency for shelter.  The Stake Presidency in coordination with the Area Seventy will make determinations as to how to use church buildings in a disaster - see the Church Handbook for “Use of Church Buildings in a Disaster”. 

This plan will be added to and refined as needed and as our capabilities increase.

This is our stake's band-plan as of 12/01/2025 - check periodically for revisions:

Nets!

Key

• (+/-): shift frequency up or down as needed 
  
• QRM: man-made interference  
• MHz: Megahertz
• (+/-) QRM: shift up or down on frequency if there is man-made interference 
• Simplex: radio-to-radio 
• Repeater: using a repeater to re-transmit signals
• +0.6: offset to access the repeater
• PL: tone to unlock the repeater given in hertz

 Local Ham Radio & HF Nets in Idaho - If you have info to add to this, please do so by adding a comment.

South West Idaho ARC Kids net

2nd Tuesday of the month, 6:30pm MT.

Frequency:

147.04MHz (+0.6MHz,  PL =123.0Hz) War Eagle Repeater

 Open for all kids and people that are kids at heart. Kids can check in using the callsign/license of the station operator.  Any kids that would like to be Net Control please contact SWIDAHOARC@gmail.com

 Treasure Valley 220 Net. 

Wednesdays 8pm MT

Frequency:

223.940MHz (-0.6MHz, PL=100.0Hz).  

This net is to support the use of the 1.25m band.  Open to everybody that wants to use their 220 equipment. 

 Over The Hill Commute Group Net

Weekdays 7:10am MT

Frequency:

147.240MHz (+0.6MHz PL= 100.0Hz )-W7VOI War Eagle mountain repeater

Website: http://www.othcg.net 

All licensed Amateur Ham radio operators are welcome to participate. You don’t have to be a member of VOI ARC to join this net. 

 CW Net (Continuous Wave - Morse Code)

Daily 7:00pm MT

Slow Speed Training Net (10wpm)

Frequency: 3.450MHz

Oregon CW Net

Daily 7:30pmMT and 11:00pm MT

Frequency: 3.569MHz

Washington CW Net

Daily 7:45pm MT 

Frequency: 3.563MHz

 

Boise County Amateur Radio Club

Mondays 7:00pm MT

Frequency:

145.250 MHz (-0.6MHz, PL=100.0) - K3ZFF Blacks Creek Repeater

Website: http://www.wa9wsj.com/TOC.htm 

All licensed Amateur Ham radio operators are welcome to participate. You don’t have to be a member of  BCARC to join us on this net. Typical Format: Roll Call, Late, and Visitor Check-ins followed by Newsline and ARRL audio news. 

 

Snake River Amateur Radio club

Tuesdays 8:00pm MT

Frequencies:

147.360MHz (+0.6MHz, PL=100.0Hz) K7TRH Marsing repeater

146.700MHz (-0.6MHz, PL=100.0Hz) W7VOI Squaw Butte repeater (alternate)

 Website: http://www.k7si.org 

 

Treasure Valley Radio Association

Tuesday’s 7:30 pm MT

Sheep Creek Repeater 145.390MHz (-0.6MHz, PL=100.0Hz)

 Website: http://k7oji.us/

 

Idaho Society of Radio Amateurs

Sundays 7:00pm MT

Frequencies:

146.940 MHz(-0.6MHz PL= 100.0Hz )-K7BSE Shafer Butte repeater

You can tune in to the Squaw Butte Repeater which is tied to Schaffer Butte, W7VOI – 146.700MHz (-0.6MHz, PL=100.0Hz)

Website: https://israboise.org/ 

All licensed Amateur Ham radio operators are welcome to participate.

 American Legion Post 113 ARC

Wednesdays 7:00pm MT

Frequencies:

146.940MHz (-0.6MHz PL= 100.0Hz ) - K7BSE Shafer Butte Repeater

Website: https://americanlegionpost113.com/ham-club/

All licensed Amateur Ham radio operators are welcome to participate. You don’t have to be a member of American Legion Post 113 ARC to join us on this net. 

 “Fight Club” net

Saturday nights at 7:00pm MT

Frequencies:

146.840 MHz (-0.6MHz PL= 100.0Hz) W7VOI Shafer Butte repeater

The following repeaters are occasionally linked for the net:

444.900 MHz(+5.0 MHz 100Hz )-W7VOI Shafer Butte repeater

146.620 MHz(-0.6MHz 100Hz )-W7VOI Snowbank repeater

Any operators wishing to act as net control should contact Will, W7WTS at: sevywill@yahoo.com

 

ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) communication net

Mondays 8:30pm MT

Frequencies:

146.940 MHz (-0.6 MHz PL= 100.0Hz )-K7BSE Shafer Butte repeater

443.300 MHz (+5.0 MHz PL= 110.9Hz )-K7ZZL 70cm Snowbank repeater

145.310MHz (-0.6 MHz PL= 100Hz )-KA7ERV Pilot Peak repeater

146.900MHz (-0.6MHz PL= 123.0Hz )-KC7MCC Brundage Mountain repeater

147.020 MHz (+0.6MHz PL= 100Hz )-KC7MCC No Business Mountain repeater

Website: http://idahoares.info/ 

 All licensed Amateur Ham radio operators are welcome to participate.

 

Boise County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service)

Wednesdays at 8:00pm MT

Frequency:

145.310 MHz(-0.6 MHz PL= 100Hz )-KA7ERV Pilot peak repeater

All licensed Amateur Ham radio operators are welcome to participate.

 

Voice of Idaho Club Net

Thursdays 8:00pm MT

Frequencies: 

146.840 MHz(-0.6MHz PL= 100.0Hz )-W7VOI Shafer Butte repeater

444.900 MHz(+5.0MHz PL= 100.0Hz )-W7VOI Shafer Butte repeater

146.620 MHz(-0.6 MHz PL= 100.0Hz )-W7VOI Snowbank repeater

Website: http://voiceofidaho.org/

All licensed Amateur Ham radio operators are welcome to participate.

 

Valley Wide REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams)

Friday 7:00pm MT

Frequencies:

146.780MHz(-0.6 PL=100.0Hz)

444.725MHz(+5.0 PL=100.0Hz)

 

AMMRON (American Redoubt Radio Operators Network)

Simplex net information:

Wednesdays at 8:00pm MT

Frequency: 146.420 MHz

Repeater net information:

Wednesdays at 8:30 PM

146.880 MHz(-0.6MHz PL= 100Hz )-K7ZZL 2M Marsing repeater

443.300 MHz(+5.0MHz PL= 110.9Hz )-K7ZZL 70cm Snowbank mountain repeater

443.550 MHz(+5.0MHz PL= 100Hz )-K7ZZL 70cm Marsing repeater

Website: https://amrron.com/

 

Elmore County ARC (Amateur Radio Club)

Wednesdays 8:00 pm MT

Frequency: 147.190MHz (-0.6Mhz, PL=100.9Hz)

1st & 3rd Saturday at 9:00 AM

Meeting Place: ECARC Clubhouse, 315 W. Jackson St., Mountain Home, ID 83647

Contact Email: dpm73@aol.com

http://www.elmorearc.com/

 

Emmett Amateur Radio Society

Sundays 7:30 pm MT

Frequency: 146.490MHz Simplex

 

Treasure Valley 2 meter net

Sundays at 9:00pm MT

Frequencies in use:

145.440MHz Simplex

443.250MHz(+5.0MHz PL= 110.9Hz )-K7ZZL Blacks creek repeater

 

Oath Keepers 

Thursdays 8:30 pm MT

Frequency: 146.550MHz Simplex

Thursday’s at 9pm MT

Frequency: 145.25MHz (-0.6MHz, PL=100.0Hz)

 

Zone 5 ARC (Amateur Radio Club)

Mondays 8:30pm MT

Frequency: 146.420MHz Simplex

 

ERC Canyon County Region

First and 2^nd Tuesdays of the month 8:30pm MT

Frequency: 146.920Mhz (-0.6MHz PL=100.0Hz)

 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th Tuesdays of the month 8:30pm MT

 Frequency: 146.480MHz Simplex

Magic Valley Amateur Radio Club

Tuesdays 7pm MT

Frequency: 146.760MHz (-0.6MHz, PL=100.0Hz)

Thursdays 6:30pm MT

Frequency 146.760MHz (-0.6MHz, PL=100.0Hz) 

www.K7MVA.org 

 

Southern Idaho Digital Fusion Net

Thursdays, 6:45pm MT

Local linked Fusion repeaters: 449.200, 443.750, 444.600, 443.950, MVARC Room 43210.

Topic: Help with your Fusion Digital Radios and other topics.

Anyone else with a repeater node or personal node who would like to join us during the net or any time is welcome. You can park your node in our room 43210 as much and as long as you want.

 

HF Nets

Friendly Amateur Radio Mission (FARM) net

Daily at 8pm MT

Frequency: 3.937MHz

Website: http://farmnet3937kc.net/

Noon Time Net

Daily 1130am MT

Frequency: 7.284MHz

Daily 1230am MT

Frequency: 3.970MHz

Formal portion of the net starts at 1300 MST/MDT on both frequencies.

Website: https://thenoontimenet.org/thenoontimenet/Home.html

 

Idaho ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) HF Statewide Voice Nets

Thursday mornings 08:30 to 09:00am MT

Frequency: 3.920MHz

Thursdays evenings at 6-6:30pm MT

Frequency: 3.920MHz 

Website: https://www.idahoares.info/

 

Idaho ARES HF Statewide Digital net

Tuesdays 7:30pm MT

Frequencies:

Please see the ICS-205 form on the Idaho ARES website by following this path:

1. Idaho ARES main page - https://idahoares.info/
2. Click on the “Activities” tab at the top of the page
3. Click on the “NETS” Button
4. Scroll down a little bit and click on the “Idaho (Statewide) [5]” button
5. Scroll down until you find the ICS-205 form which says “IDAHO ARES WEEKLY DIGITAL STATION READINESS” under the incident name

 

Western Country Cousins Net 

Daily 8pm MT

Frequency: 3.970Mhz

http://www.wccnet.us/

 

Northwestern Country Cousins Net

Daily 8pm MT

Frequency: 3.968Mhz

http://www.nw7cc.net/

 

Oregon Emergency Net

Daily 7pm MT

Frequency: 3.980Mhz

http://w7oen.net/

 

Columbia Basin Net

Daily 7pm MT

Frequency 3.960Mhz

Website: https://cbn.homestead.com/

 

California Amateur Radio Service Net

Monday-Friday, 12:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. MT

Frequency: 7.248 MHz

 Website: http://www.californiaamateurradioservice.com/