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question specific learning

Transforming Knowledge Into Understanding

Coming Fall 2025: The Updated Basic Amateur Radio Course at Hamshack.ca

Aligned with the New ISED Standards – In Development Now

Hamshack.ca is currently updating its Basic Amateur Radio Course to reflect the new syllabus and question bank introduced by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). These updates are in progress now, and the new course materials will be available in Fall 2025.

The updated course will continue to feature our proprietary QSL (Question Specific Learning) method and a fully mobile-friendly design, providing the ideal preparation for those pursuing their Basic Qualification.

✅ What’s Changing?

  • The Basic Course is being revised to match the new ISED syllabus now in effect
  • Expect updated lessons, refreshed quizzes, and exam-focused content
  • Launching Fall 2025

✅ What’s Staying the Same?

  • The Advanced Course remains unchanged and is available now
  • Ideal for certified amateurs upgrading from Basic or Basic with Honours
  • Uses the same mobile-first design and QSL learning method for deeper understanding and retention

Perfect for Individuals and Clubs

Both courses are:

  • Optimized for on-the-go learning
  • Packed with visual aids, practice exams, and interactive modules
  • Available for club licensing at a low per-user rate

Contact VE7DXE to Book or Reserve

📡 Want to reserve access to the updated Basic Course or get started with the Advanced Course today?
Contact VE7DXE to book, plan a club rollout, or get more information.

Log into your hamshack.ca account to access the QSL Advanced Course. Don’t have an account? No problem, request an account here. Good luck with your studies!

How it Works

Enjoying the Free Courses? Support Hamshack.ca! Created and maintained by VE7DXE, Hamshack.ca offers FREE Basic and Advanced Amateur Radio Courses to help the ham radio community learn and grow. Donations help cover hosting, maintenance, and the development of new courses, ensuring these resources remain free for everyone. If you find these courses valuable, consider buying VE7DXE a coffee to support the site.

Every contribution makes a difference—thank you for your support!

001 - Regulations and Policies

001 – Regulations and Policies

Learn the Rules That Govern Amateur Radio in Canada
Regulations and Policies – 001 covers everything new operators need to know about licensing, station identification, international agreements, and operating responsibilities. By mastering the regulations and policies that shape the amateur service, you’ll build a solid foundation for safe, legal, and effective radio operation — preparing you for both the Basic exam and real-world on-air confidence.

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1.1. time constant – capacitive and inductive

1.1. time constant – capacitive and inductive

Hamshack.ca’s “Time Constant – Capacitive and Inductive” course, within the Advanced Theory section, targets individuals aiming for an Advanced Licence. Using the Question Specific Learning (QSL) method, this course delves into radio technology for those with Basic licences, readying them for the Advanced Written exam. It combines detailed explanations and practical examples to enhance understanding and application skills in radio setup, focusing on theory integration with real-world use. It prepares amateur radio operators with crucial skills in signal processing and frequency tuning, enriching their hobby.

Diving into the world of amateur radio, the concept of time constants in capacitive and inductive circuits emerges as a ...
1.2. electrostatic and electromagnetic fields, skin effect

1.2. electrostatic and electromagnetic fields, skin effect

Hamshack.ca’s “Electrostatic and Electromagnetic Fields, Skin Effect” course, part of the Advanced Theory section, readies learners for the Advanced Written exam. It delves into essential electronics principles crucial for ham radio mastery, focusing on electrostatic and electromagnetic fields and the skin effect’s impact on RF currents. Utilizing the Question Specific Learning (QSL) method, the course not only prepares students for the exam but also equips them with practical skills by linking theory to real-world applications, enhancing operator skills and equipment performance.

 

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1.3. series-resonance

1.3. series-resonance

Hamshack.ca’s “Series-Resonance” course, within the Advanced Theory section, delves into RLC circuit resonance, essential for amateur radio and RF engineering mastery. It covers resonant frequency principles, tuning, and component variations, offering insights for radio frequency optimization. The course focuses on balancing reactances to reduce impedance, precise circuit tuning, and component value calculations for specific resonances. Aimed at preparing for the Advanced Written exam, it combines theory with practical applications in amateur radio through the Question Specific Learning (QSL) method, enhancing both understanding and operational skills.

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1.4 parallel resonance

1.4 parallel resonance

The “Parallel Resonance in RLC Circuits” chapter from Hamshack.ca’s Advanced Theory section focuses on calculating resonant frequencies in parallel RLC circuits, key for RF engineering and amateur radio. It explores how inductance and capacitance changes influence resonant frequencies, emphasizing the balance between inductive and capacitive reactances that leads to parallel resonance. This phenomenon, crucial for tuning circuits, frequency amplification, and signal filtering, demonstrates the importance of precise component values. Through the Question Specific Learning (QSL) approach, learners gain practical insights into circuit tuning and design for achieving specific operational frequencies.

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1.5 quality factor (Q)

1.5 quality factor (Q)

Hamshack.ca is changing Amateur Radio education with its cutting-edge Question Specific Learning (QSL) methodology, showcased in courses like the ‘Quality Factor (Q)‘. This course, the last of the five in the Advanced Theory section, is tailored for those seeking an Advanced Licence, providing a thorough exploration of the Quality Factor and its significance in circuit performance. It delves into resonance, bandwidth, and selectivity, illustrating these concepts through practical examples. The QSL method, exclusive to Hamshack.ca, encourages a shift from rote memorization to a profound comprehension, leveraging detailed explanations and real-life scenarios from the Spectrum Management Question bank. This innovative approach not only aids in exam preparation but also furnishes learners with the necessary capabilities to design, optimize, and troubleshoot efficient radio communication systems, thereby redefining the standards of Amateur Radio education.

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2.1. germanium, silicon, gallium arsenide, doping, P-type, N-type

2.1. germanium, silicon, gallium arsenide, doping, P-type, N-type

Hamshack.ca extends its innovative Question Specific Learning (QSL) methodology to the ‘Germanium, Silicon, Gallium Arsenide, Doping, P-type, N-type‘ course, the first in the Advanced Components and Circuits section. This chapter offers a deep dive into the properties and applications of key semiconductors: germanium, silicon, and gallium arsenide, along with an exploration of the doping process and the differentiation into P-type and N-type materials. These semiconductors are crucial for their distinctive ability to conduct electricity under specific conditions while acting as insulators under others, a feature essential for manufacturing diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits. Through the QSL approach, Hamshack.ca fosters a transition from mere memorization to a profound understanding, using detailed explanations and real-life examples. This course not only prepares learners for advanced examinations but also equips them with the knowledge to innovate and optimize in the field of electronics, significantly impacting the development and functionality of modern electronic devices.

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2.10. digital logic elements

2.10. digital logic elements

The ‘2.10 Digital Logic Elements‘ course, a crucial component of the Advanced Components and Circuits section at Hamshack.ca, employs the Question Specific Learning (QSL) methodology to cover the essential aspects of digital electronics — logic gates and circuits. This chapter is vital for anyone involved in ham radio and electronics, as it lays the groundwork for understanding digital communication and processing systems. It comprehensively explores the functionalities and characteristics of various logic gates including NAND, OR, NOR, NOT, EXCLUSIVE OR, EXCLUSIVE NOR, and AND gates, as well as flip-flops, bistable multivibrators, latches, and the role of transistors in multivibrator circuits. Each component is discussed for its specific utility and features that are indispensable for designing complex digital systems. By concluding this chapter, learners will achieve a solid foundation in digital logic, enabling them to apply this knowledge in the development and optimization of electronic devices and systems across a range of applications.

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Hamshack.ca is transforming Amateur Radio education through its proprietary Question Specific Learning (QSL) method, used to deliver the Advanced and Basic Amateur Radio courses, with new courses to follow. The QSL approach emphasizes understanding the reasoning behind correct answers with detailed explanations, real-life examples, and quizzes developed from the Spectrum Management Question bank. QSL aims to shift learning from simple memorization to thorough comprehension, preparing learners for practical application and the Spectrum Management formal written exams.

© The Question Specific Learning (QSL) method is a proprietary and copyrighted educational framework, exclusively developed by Hamshack.ca. For detailed information on usage rights and restrictions, please refer to the Hamshack.ca Terms of Use.

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