(Continued from previous message)


AH>I'm a VE for ARRL sessions, and WCARS, and it's the same for both teams. It
AH>seems like there has to be a way to streamline the process. On larger testin
AH>sessions, I don't like offering the candidate the upgrade opportunity unless
AH>they have at least looked over the material. There's no need to let someone
AH>take the Extra exam if they've barely passed General.

  I've had some come in, who hadn't even looked at the material, and
passed it. The "normal" though, is that they get only half the questions
right on the attempt...unless they have a strong background in
electrical engineering. But, it didn't cost them any extra to try it.

  Even though there's no more Morse Code exam, it's still quite an
achievement for one to come in with nothing, and pass their Technician,
General, and Amateur Extra exam, in one sitting. After one of these, the
liaison asked the candidate what he did for a living. When he said "I'm
currently unemployed", the liaison said "You have too much time on your
hands"...it brought the house down in laughter. :)

AH>Some guys think "it's giving them a look at the Extra." No.
That's what
AH>sample tests online are for.

  True, it gives them an idea of what to expect. Thankfully, I've never
had an instance of "cheating" at my sessions, and hope I never do. I
have heard of some sessions where the exam was "given away". An
"honest
examinee" reported it, and the VE's involved were stripped of their
licdenses and accreditations for life...not to mention the examinees had
to go before another VE Team, or the FCC, and test again. If I remember
right, not a single one passed on the second try. Plus, things like this
paint an ugly picture of ham radio, and leaves a bad taste in the mouths
of the examinees.

AH>The whole testing system (the way we conduct it) seems antiquated and needs
AH>an overhaul. Of course it's a lot better than years ago when the FCC was
AH>administering it. Or so I'm told.

  The atmosphere is a bit more relaxed, and is offered more often. When
the FCC came to town, it was usually to a state capitol at its Federal
Building, maybe at 3 to 4 times a year, max. You only got one shot at
the exam, and didn't dare say "boo"...plus, you had to pass the Morse
Code exam FIRST...or you weren't allowed to take the written exam.

  The Morse Code requirement was eliminated in 2007, but people are
learning CW because they WANT to, and NOT because they HAVE to. Two
funny experiences with CW I heard over the years are:

1) When I asked one local ham (long since a Silent Key) what his secret
was to learning CW, he said "I learned all the dirty words first". I
laughed, and admitted "Well, you can't say them on the air, but if it
helps, more power to you". The next week, I heard a club teaching a CW
class over the year, via Echolink. The first 4 letters they taught
formed the "S expletive", and I thought "I'll be
damned!!". But, when
you looked at the dot and dash pattern, it made PERFECT SENSE.

2) Four male hams were sitting at a table in a restaurant, telling each
other dirty jokes in CW. This drop dead gorgeous female walked by, and
said "You boys better watch your language. I teach CW at the Naval
Academy across the street"!! Their faces were as red as tomatoes!! :)

  In fact, I'm getting ready to leave to do a license exam session in
central Arkansas this afternoon, but am joining some other VE's at a
local Subway Restaurant for lunch beforehand. They say "never take an
exam while hungry, sleepy, or thirsty". I say "the same applies to the
examiners". Plus, we invite the examinees to join us (everyone pays for
their own meal), and it's like a get acquainted deal beforehand.

Daryl Stout, WX1DER
UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison

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