Welcome to the Sun Mountain Amateur Radio Alliance (SMARA) page on RomeoZuluRomeo.com. This is the current home for the alliance as we continue to set up the formal organization. (Go ahead and bookmark this page, as we’ll always link or redirect to any future site from here.)

SMARA is a specialty club with a stated purpose of helping amateur radio operators prepare to be and operate as competent emergency communicators. The amateur radio community in Colorado Springs is healthy and varied. We are excited to provide a focused set of resources for those particularly interested in emergency communications. As most if not all SMARA members are also involved in other clubs and organizations locally, we will continue to encourage others in being involved broadly in other community clubs and efforts.

Local Testing now available via the SMARA VE Team

The COVID-19 crisis has stopped a number of activities in their tracks, including amateur radio license testing. Fortunately, we have been able to work with the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club VEC starting in May 2020. The AARC VEC has been actively doing remote testing since 2014. During the COVID-19 Crisis the AARC has been a consistent resource for those wanting to get licensed for the first time or upgrading a license.

Beginning in June 2020, we will be able to offer in-person testing in accordance state, county, and city guidelines and orders. Testing will be offered by the Anchorage ARC VEC. We are excited to work with and under the AARC VEC as the testing system they use is allows for remote, local and hybrid testing models. Results are submitted immediately after testing and new licenses and privileges are typically available with an hour of testing.

Until the full SMARA website is ready, please email your name, phone number to Tom Oliphant, the SMARA lead VE or Tom Obenchain to enquire about testing opportunities. If you are ready to test and live in the Pikes Peak region, we’ll work with you to make that happen as soon as possible.