Due to the following factors, there is a HIGH likelihood
that the UALR Ham Radio Club License Exam Sessions, that
were set for Sept. 19 and Nov. 21, 2020, at the Amy
Sanders Library in Sherwood, will be CANCELED...and exams
for 2021 may NOT be able to be scheduled, due to lack of
a test site, and payment of required fees.

! COVID-19 restrictions. Until further notice, the Central
Arkansas Library System is NOT allowing meetings, exam
sessions, etc. to be held. It doesn't matter at this point,
if the dates are kept on the calendar, or removed. Even at
the UALR Campus, MASKS ARE REQUIRED, like it or not. The
campus considers us as "visitors", so that makes testing on
the UALR Campus less likely.

! My continuing recovery from hernia surgery 2 months ago,
and being told to "not lift anything heavy" (the 3 test
cases, with the handouts and printed exam books, are well
over 10 pounds each).

! The conduct of some examinees...either refusing to comply
with the COVID-19 regulations (not wanting to wear a mask,
etc.), or trying to bribe the VE Team to certify the exams
fraudulently -- which means all examinees there to re-test
in front of another VE Team, or the FCC...and all of the
VE's involved would be stripped of their accreditation and
ham radio licenses for life. Part 97.511 of the FCC Rules
(which one has to agree to follow, in order to obtain a
ham radio license), notes "Examinees must comply with the
instructions given by the administering VE's". If you
don't have the intent on following these, you need not
even worry or consider becoming a ham radio licensee.

! Most of the VE's are in "the vulnerable age group" for
getting COVID-19.

So for all intents and purposes, until further notice,
the UALR Ham Radio Club will NOT be doing ham radio license
exam sessions. I had even seriously considered disbanding
the VE Team, and sending back all the supplies, except for
my VE badge, in case another area team needed me. Neither
myself, my fellow VE's, or fellow examinees, need to put
up with insubordination.

In short, all those who were hoping to give the exams as
VE's, and to take the exams as examinees...should prepare
for the possibility (if not likelihood), that the Sept. 19,
and Nov. 21, 2020 sessions are going to end up being
canceled. If nothing changes by Labor Day, I likely will
cancel one, if not both, sessions.

As of now, I'm NOT optimistic of scheduling testing for
2021. Those wanting to take amateur radio license exams
should seriously consider contacting another VE Team.

Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison

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Re: UALR Ham Club Exams
By: Daryl Stout to All on Wed Aug 05 2020 07:59 pm

So for all intents and purposes, until further notice,
the UALR Ham Radio Club will NOT be doing ham radio license
exam sessions. I had even seriously considered disbanding
the VE Team, and sending back all the supplies, except for
my VE badge, in case another area team needed me. Neither
myself, my fellow VE's, or fellow examinees, need to put
up with insubordination.

In short, all those who were hoping to give the exams as
VE's, and to take the exams as examinees...should prepare
for the possibility (if not likelihood), that the Sept. 19,
and Nov. 21, 2020 sessions are going to end up being
canceled. If nothing changes by Labor Day, I likely will
cancel one, if not both, sessions.

There's a few clubs that are doing remote exams now over Zoom. Not sure if you're in a position to do something like that. I'm planning on taking my exam remotely (as soon as I'm sure I can pass my General exam).

DaiTengu

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There's a few clubs that are doing remote exams now over Zoom. Not
sure if you're in a position to do something like that. I'm planning
on taking my exam remotely (as soon as I'm sure I can pass my General exam).

Unfortunately, my team does not have the logistics to do something
like that, and we're concerned for the potential of cheating. At one
local session awhile back, one examinee had the audacity to try and
bribe us, to certify his exam fraudulently. I wasn't the liaison, but
I sent a note to the Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) on that.

I tell folks "If it takes you a dozen tries or more to pass the exam,
even if just barely...you have as much right to be on the air, as
someone who made a perfect score the first time". Then, I added "The
man or woman who graduates dead last in medical school, is STILL,
"a doctor". However, I might not want them doing a prostate check or
a pelvic exam. :P

As a side note, when I took the Novice written in 1991, and the
General written in 2007, I thought both were "a piece of cake". If
you study 2 hours a day for 2 weeks, you can pass the exam. I did
good on the rules, regulations, frequency, propagation, and RF
Safety. But, when it got to math and electronic theory, DS stood
for Dumb @$$. :P However, if you get a FIRM GRASP on everything
else, you don't have to be overly concerned about the math.

Daryl, WX4QZ

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Re: Re: UALR Ham Club Exams
By: Daryl Stout to DaiTengu on Sat Aug 08 2020 05:09 pm

Unfortunately, my team does not have the logistics to do something
like that, and we're concerned for the potential of cheating. At one
local session awhile back, one examinee had the audacity to try and
bribe us, to certify his exam fraudulently. I wasn't the liaison, but
I sent a note to the Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) on that.

That's crazy. with the amount of material available for free on the internet now days, I can't see why anyone wouldn't be able to pass their Tech and General exams with only minor amounts of work.

I tell folks "If it takes you a dozen tries or more to pass the exam,
even if just barely...you have as much right to be on the air, as
someone who made a perfect score the first time". Then, I added "The
man or woman who graduates dead last in medical school, is STILL,
"a doctor". However, I might not want them doing a prostate check or
a pelvic exam. :P

Ha, how true! I never thought of it that way, but it makes perfect sense.

As a side note, when I took the Novice written in 1991, and the
General written in 2007, I thought both were "a piece of cake". If
you study 2 hours a day for 2 weeks, you can pass the exam. I did
good on the rules, regulations, frequency, propagation, and RF
Safety. But, when it got to math and electronic theory, DS stood
for Dumb @$$. :P However, if you get a FIRM GRASP on everything
else, you don't have to be overly concerned about the math.

The question pools are freely available. I spent $3 on the HamStudy app on my phone, in which all you do is answer questions from the pool for your chosen exam. It will tell you what areas of the exam you're weakest on and you can run through questions from those areas. It will keep track of your past practice exam scores, and you can even share your results with your Elmer.

I'm horrible at studying, and this is just making it easy for me.

The Technician's exam I feel like anyone with a rudimentary grasp of radio/electronics could pass with common sense.

Did you get a lot of people failing? or trying to cheat?

DaiTengu

... Average is as close to the bottom as it is to the top.

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That's crazy. with the amount of material available for free on the internet now days, I can't see why anyone wouldn't be able to pass
their Tech and General exams with only minor amounts of work.

I think he was just lazy, because of his being irresponsible. The
police likely would not have treated his expired drivers license with
much kindness. :P

man or woman who graduates dead last in medical school, is STILL,
"a doctor". However, I might not want them doing a prostate check or
a pelvic exam. :P

Ha, how true! I never thought of it that way, but it makes perfect
sense.

When that woman crossed her legs and grimaced at our comments, we all
busted out laughing. <G>

The question pools are freely available. I spent $3 on the HamStudy
app on my phone, in which all you do is answer questions from the pool
for your chosen exam. It will tell you what areas of the exam you're weakest on and you can run through questions from those areas. It will keep track of your past practice exam scores, and you can even share
your results with your Elmer.

There are numerous apps out there to help you study. When I told Tom
Medlin, W5KUB, he couldn't believe it. He had John Cunningham, W1AI, on
his show, and when Tom told him about me, John quipped "Yeah, we know
Daryl!!" It's like I have a reputation!! <BG>

I'm horrible at studying, and this is just making it easy for me.

Electronics was never my forte' -- although I can tell you the colors
on the resistor...thanks to Violet <BG>...that not even an amp of current
can kill you...and what a battery is on a schematic diagram, but that's
it.

For those who don't know, there is an acronym BBROYGBVGW -- the first
letter of each is the color on the resistor. The B is either blue, brown,
or black...but R is red, O is orange, Y is yellow, G is green, V is
Violet (naturally <G>), and W is white. In this college course, the male professor wouldn't tell the female electronics students what it stood
for (Bad Boys Ravish Our Young Girls, But Violet Gives Willingly).

So, after class, the women asked some of their male classmates, who
told them. They laughed and said "We're not offended...that's a great
way to remember it!!". One of the women was grinning like the Cheshire
cat who had just swallowed the canary. They asked her what her problem
was, and she replied "I'm Violet!!". <BG>

Hey, if it works, and helps pass the test, more power to you!!

The Technician's exam I feel like anyone with a rudimentary grasp of radio/electronics could pass with common sense.

As noted in another message, if you get a firm grasp on everything
else, you won't have to worry too much about the math or electronics.

Did you get a lot of people failing? or trying to cheat?

I've had one try to bribe us into certify it fraudulently, but we
made him take the exam, which he failed miserably. I use the ARRL/VEC
Exam Maker Software, which means every exam (36 per element) is
DIFFERENT...in questions, and answer order. So, there's no point in
cheating.

Daryl, WX4QZ

... Ham Radio QRP: When you care enough to give the least.
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Re: Re: UALR Ham Club Exams
By: Daryl Stout to DaiTengu on Mon Aug 10 2020 01:36 pm

There are numerous apps out there to help you study. When I told Tom Medlin, W5KUB, he couldn't believe it. He had John Cunningham, W1AI, on his show, and when Tom told him about me, John quipped "Yeah, we know Daryl!!" It's like I have a reputation!! <BG>

Heh, Reputations are fun. I'm finally getting into amateur radio through a guy I work with (we both work remote, he's in Maine, I'm in Wisconsin). He just passed his Extra exam. (N1BJX)

Electronics was never my forte' -- although I can tell you the colors
on the resistor...thanks to Violet <BG>...that not even an amp of current can kill you...and what a battery is on a schematic diagram, but that's it.

For those who don't know, there is an acronym BBROYGBVGW -- the first letter of each is the color on the resistor. The B is either blue, brown, or black...but R is red, O is orange, Y is yellow, G is green, V is
Violet (naturally <G>), and W is white. In this college course, the male professor wouldn't tell the female electronics students what it stood
for (Bad Boys Ravish Our Young Girls, But Violet Gives Willingly).

I also learned it that way. I think it was in a high school electronics course, but I'm pretty sure I read it out of a book years before that. It was slightly different, and a whole lot more offensive. (a different word for "R")


I'm probably going to schedule my exam for next week sometime. I'm spending about an hour a day doing a practice exam, then studying up on whatever I missed. I'm only missing 1 or 2 on any Technician's exam, so I'm not worried about that. It's the General exam that I'm juuust squeaking by on. I need to put more work into that. :)

I picked up a RTL-SDR V3 and one of those cheap chinese HT VHF/UHF radios to start with. Been spending a lot of time listening to local repeaters, and scanning frequencies with the SDR. I'm looking forward to when I'll be allowed to push the button and say something :)

DaiTengu

... It works better if you plug it in.

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Re: Re: UALR Ham Club Exams
By: DaiTengu to Daryl Stout on Fri Aug 14 2020 02:27 pm

I'm probably going to schedule my exam for next week sometime. I'm spending about an hour a day doing a practice exam, then studying up on whatever I missed. I'm only missing 1 or 2 on any Technician's exam, so I'm not worried about that. It's the General exam that I'm juuust squeaking by on. I need to put more work into that. :)

I picked up a RTL-SDR V3 and one of those cheap chinese HT VHF/UHF radios to start with. Been spending a lot of time listening to local repeaters, and scanning frequencies with the SDR. I'm looking forward to when I'll be allowed to push the button and say something :)

Aren't those RTL-SDRs amazing? This is the one I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011HVUEME

And I usually attach it to one of these antennas with great results: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RCOEL0C

digital man

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Re: Re: UALR Ham Club Exams
By: Digital Man to DaiTengu on Fri Aug 14 2020 06:26 pm

Aren't those RTL-SDRs amazing? This is the one I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011HVUEME

Yep, that's the exact same one that I purchased, along with a Baofeng BF-F9V2+

I'm definately looking for an antenna or three for the RTL-SDR (and possibly for TX as well, at some point). I'm just not entirely sure what frequencies I'm going to settle on, yet.

DaiTengu

... Hope is a good breakfast, but a bad supper.

---
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Heh, Reputations are fun. I'm finally getting into amateur radio
through a guy I work with (we both work remote, he's in Maine, I'm in Wisconsin). He just passed his Extra exam. (N1BJX)

I need to set up a remote base deal with a fellow member of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA). I do their CQ100 Net on Friday, and
their Digital Net on Sunday, on D-Star, DMR, WIRES, Fusion, and D-Rats;
plus checkins via their Facebook Group, and the IM Utility in Netlogger.

To be a member, you have to have been FIRST LICENSED as an amateur radio operator anytime in 1995 or earlier (as of 2020), and are currently
licensed (the license term doesn't have to be continuous. There is the
national organization (www.qcwa.org) and several regional chapters. I was
first licensed in 1991 -- I'm a Life Member of the National Organization,
and a member of Chapter 85 in the Shreveport area. The last time I worked
HF was on the Arkansas And Missouri Railroad Memorial Day Troop Train in 2011...a YouTube video of that is on my profile on QRZ (look for WX4QZ).

for (Bad Boys Ravish Our Young Girls, But Violet Gives Willingly).

I also learned it that way. I think it was in a high school
electronics course, but I'm pretty sure I read it out of a book years before that. It was slightly different, and a whole lot more
offensive. (a different word for "R")

And, I know what it is (hi hi (in ham radio, that's known as "the telegraphers laugh)).

I'm probably going to schedule my exam for next week sometime. I'm spending about an hour a day doing a practice exam, then studying up on whatever I missed. I'm only missing 1 or 2 on any Technician's exam,
so I'm not worried about that. It's the General exam that I'm juuust squeaking by on. I need to put more work into that. :)

To really get on HF, you need the General class license. Much of what
is on the Technician exam is also on the General exam, but in more detail.
When I took the General exam, it was just after the Question Pool for it
had changed in 2007, and I thought it was a piece of cake. But, to do things like D-Star, DMR, Wires, Fusion, D-Rats, Packet, APRS, etc., a Technician license will do the job.

I picked up a RTL-SDR V3 and one of those cheap chinese HT VHF/UHF
radios to start with. Been spending a lot of time listening to local repeaters, and scanning frequencies with the SDR. I'm looking forward
to when I'll be allowed to push the button and say something :)

You can still get on as "third party traffic" right now, as long as
there's a licensed ham radio operator there to "monitor and supervise
what you do". Years ago, it could take 2 to 6 months to get your callsign
after you passed the exam...now, you can get it in as little as 1 to 2
weeks. However, they had damage in the northeast US, from a Tropical Cyclone...that cut power to the FCC, and closed a post office in the
Newington area, which kept ARRL/VEC from getting exam results. I'm not
sure if that problem has been fixed or not. ARRL had power, as they have
a full capacity generator on site.

... It works better if you plug it in.

Except if you plug the power strip into itself. :P

Daryl

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On 08-14-20 18:26, Digital Man wrote to DaiTengu <=-

Aren't those RTL-SDRs amazing? This is the one I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011HVUEME

For what you pay and what they are, they're pretty good. Sadly, they only use an 8 bit ADC, which limits their dynamic range, meaning they're easily overloaded, but definitely handy to have a couple around.


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