New General Question Pool Released, Effective July 1, 2023

by | Feb 16, 2023 | Amateur Radio hobby, FCC, VE Sessions

From ARRL-VEC

 

The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC<http://www.ncvec.org/>) Question Pool Committee (QPC<http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=333>) has released the 2023 – 2027 General Class FCC Element 3 Question Pool & Syllabus<http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=369> into the public domain. It’s available as a Word document or PDF. The graphic required for the new General question pool is available within the documents, or separately as PDF or JPG files.

The new pool incorporates some significant changes compared to the 2019 – 2023 pool. Its 432 questions were modified slightly to improve wording or to replace distractors; 51 new questions were generated, and 73 questions were eliminated. This resulted in a reduction of 22 questions, bringing the total number of questions in the pool from 454 to 432. The difficulty level of the questions is now more balanced, and the techniques and practices addressed have been updated.

The new 2023 – 2027 question pool is effective July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2027, and must be used for General-class license exams administered on or after July 1, 2023. – Information provided by the NCVEC Question Pool Committee. Committee members: Chairman, Roland Anders, K3RA, of Anchorage VEC and members Maria Somma, AB1FM of ARRL VEC and Larry Pollock, NB5X, of W5YI-VEC.

New General Examinations will take effect for exam sessions on July 1, 2023

The newly revised general pool must be used starting July 1, 2023. VECs and VEs will have new test designs available starting on that date. Previously supplied versions of ARRL VEC General-class exam booklets (2019 series) and computer-generated General-class exams from the 2019 question pool are valid until midnight on June 30, 2023. The ARRL VEC will supply its officially appointed, field-stocked VE teams with new General exam booklet designs around mid-June.

FCC DEBUTS MAP, DATABASE OF PIRACY ENFORCEMENT
ACTIONS

by | Feb 5, 2023 | FCC

From Amateur Radio Newsline:

 In the United States, the Federal
Communications Commission has finally put a piracy
enforcement resource online that the agency says
is late because of delays in funding. 

A database and map displaying pirate radio
enforcement actions taken by the FCC has gone live
as part of an overall response to the Pirate Act
passed by Congress.

The database shows the agency’s actions over the
past three years following the act’s passage and
includes consent decrees, landlord notice letters
and the $10,000 forfeiture associated with pirate
operations. The FCC said that it was delayed until
now in implementing the Pirate Act because of
funding delays and challeges posed by the
pandemic. The funding covers the cost of other
actions, including enforcement sweeps and
in-person investigations. To comply with that
mandate, the agency needs to hire additional field
agents and buy a half-dozen mobile
direction-finding vehicles . Although the FCC has
already posted openings for five agents and a
field counsel, its purchase of six
mobile-direction-finding vehicles has been
delayed, because much of the funding remains
delayed.

Implementation of the Pirate Act was expected to
cost $11-million, according to the Congressional
Budget Office. Funds were not provided until last
March and only $5-million was available to the FCC
at the time. The Pirate Act mandates enforcement
sweeps in the top five markets. The act also
strengthened the agency’s enforcement abillity,
permitting it to take action against those
landlords and managers who permit pirate
operations on their properties.

FCC Map Database: https://opendata.fcc.gov/stories/s/wgq8-eb5c

CW [Morse Code] in the modern world – alive and growing!

by | Jan 14, 2023 | Amateur Radio hobby, CW, Morse Code

A January 2023 Article from Smithsonian Magazine highlights CW [Morse Code] and the SOTA [Summits on the Air] focus of Steve WG0AT in Monument Colorado. With surprise, is that ARRL [American Radio Relay League ] reported a 10% increase in the participating of the January 2021 CW event over prior years. Manufacturers of equipment, including the oldest production company of CW Keys, Vibroplex [http://www.vibroplex.com/], reporting 2021 was the best year ever in over 100 years of production.

Read the Smithsonian Magazine article here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/morse-code-back-looking-ditch-twitter-180981309/

 

You can apply to Join the Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club here: https://svarc.us/how-to-join-svarc/

Learn more about Amateur Radio with the American Amateur Radio Relay League here: http://arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio

 

Come say “hello” with our club! We meet every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 2925 Grace St, Winchester, Virginia 22601. Gathering begins at about 6:30 PM, meeting begins promptly at 7:30 PM. 

 

Ready to begin learning Morse Code [CW] consider these resources to help!

 

ARRL – Learning Morse Code: https://www.arrl.org/learning-morse-code

CW Academy [remote learning with up to 6 students with 1 master trainer] https://cwops.org/cw-academy/

Morse Trainer – Google – for Android or iOS: https://morse.withgoogle.com/learn/

 

Sterling Park VA – Technician License Examination Preparation Class

by | Jan 7, 2023 | Amateur Radio hobby, License Exam Prep Class, Operating, VE Sessions

The Sterling Park, Virginia Amateur Radio Club [SPARC] will be hosting an on-site Technician Class Test Preparation Class and Exam.

Dates: January 21-22, 2023

Time: 

January 21 Class: 0800 – 1730 hrs.

Sunday 22 January 2023: 1300 hrs. (for class members) and 1400 hrs. (for exam-only candidates)

Fees: There is no fee for participation in the Technician License Preparation Class.

Location: 

Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Eastern Loudoun Station, 46620 E. Frederick Drive, Sterling, VA 2016

Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/fAE2GqtDUsn4Ykgx5

For more information visit: 

https://www.qsl.net/sterling/Licensing/202301_Tech_Class_&_Exam/Instructions_for_Participants_SPARC_Tech_Class_21-22_Jan_2023.pdf

Mini “Ice” HamFest – Page Valley ARC Feb 18 7AM-2PM

Mini “Ice” HamFest – Page Valley ARC Feb 18 7AM-2PM

by | Jan 2, 2023 | Amateur Radio hobby, HamFest

Get Ready for a Mini “Ice” HamFest – IceFest 2023

February 18 7AM-2PM

Gear * Eyeball QSO’s * Food Truck Cuisine!

Free Parking * HandiHam Accessible * Refreshments

Hosted by the Page Valley Amateur Radio Club

 

Saturday, February 18, 2023: 7AM – 2PM

Location: VFW Post 9292 13958 Spotswood Trail, Elkton, VA 22827

 

Directions:

38.400401, -78.664079

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/ikwLr785jkT9QnMq9

Apple Maps: https://maps.apple.com/?address=13958%20Spotswood%20Trail,%20Elkton,%20VA%20%2022827,%20United%20States&ll=38.400401,-78.664079&q=13958%20Spotswood%20Trail

email questions to: pvarccarrie@gmail.com

Updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PVARC/

 

Come for a Visit!

Club Meetings held every Second Wednesday, 7PM

PVARC Clubhouse, 611 Williams Avenue Shenandoah VA 22849