(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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