Subj : Other Ham Radio News To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Wed Dec 19 2018 02:48 pm I have scheduled my 2019 license exams in Sherwood, Arkansas, at the Amy Sanders Library. At this time, I do NOT know what dates I will set up for Benton, Arkansas. But, since I have another VE Team for Benton, those dates might be on the dates when I don't test in Sherwood...yet those dates aren't guaranteed as yet. For what to bring to the exam session, go to: http://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session The changes this year for Sherwood are as follows: 1) For those unaware, the Amy Sanders Library is now at 10200 Johnson Drive. Do NOT go the former location on Shelby Drive off of Kiehl Avenue...as the Sherwood Police Department now uses that building. Johnson Drive is the 3rd traffic light north of the intersection of JFK Boulevard (Highway 107) and Kiehl Avenue (Highway 176). At the 3rd traffic light, there is a MAPCO gas station and convenience store on your right. Turn RIGHT at the light at the gas station, but drive past the gas station entrance. The first left ahead is the entrance to the library. Handicapped Parking is in the front, just to the right of the entrance. Note that a DISABLED PERMIT (license plate or hangtag) is required. 2) If we are not in the front meeting room, we will be in the "playground room" toward the back right (the room behind the glass with a green wall). While it's smaller, they're not doing anything in that room at that hour...and we didn't have many examinees at past sessions anyway. Four tables will still be available for our use. Just ask the staff at the desk which room the testing will be located in. I will be there at least 30 minutes prior to the session (if it's not cancelled, as noted below) to set up. 3) The exam time will be at 10am, on the first Saturday of the months noted. This allows the VE's and examinees to have their afternoons free. There will be six (6) opportunities to test at Sherwood in 2019. If these dates and times are not convenient for you to test, you can go to: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session Enter ARKANSAS in the State Criteria (if looking in Arkansas) and click SEARCH. Then call, write, or email the contact person noted. I figured I had better book the dates now, or I might not have aad opportunities to test!! 4) Pre-Registration will be REQUIRED no later than 48 hours prior to the session. Walk-ins will NOT be accepted, UNLESS the test session goes on (at least 2 people have signed up to test). This Contact will be via voice mail to 501-476-2545, or email to wx1der at gmail dot com -- if either is received PRIOR to the 48 hour deadline noted below, you will be called or emailed that afternoon. This ensures that the VE's don't make the trip for nothing (no examinees show up). 5) If no one signs up by the deadline (10am Thursday before the 1st Saturday of the month), the test session that day will be CANCELLED. Also, if there is a threat of winter weather for the January 5 or February 2 sessions, those will be cancelled in the interest of safety. Should cancellation be necessary, I will notify the VE Team, ARRL/VEC, and the Amy Sanders Library...as well as any examinees who may have pre-registered. If you MISS THE DEADLINE, you will have to register for the next session, or go test with another VE Team. Here are the dates and the deadlines, as well as for reasons of cancellation for the months when I don't test in Sherwood. Those are either for hamfests in the state, holidays, or public service events, where a lot of ham radio operators take part. These dates will be on the ARRL/VEC Exam Calendar as soon as possible. Jan. 5 at 10am - Register By: Jan. 3 at 10am Feb. 2 at 10am - Register By: Jan. 31 at 10am ** NO TESTING IN MARCH DUE TO RUSSELLVILLE HAMFEST ON MARCH 2 ** ** NO TESTING IN APRIL DUE TO POSSIBLE FORT SMITH HAMFEST ON APRIL 6 ** ** THE FORT SMITH HAMFEST IS NOT YET SCHEDULED ON THE CALENDAR ** May 4 at 10am - Register By: May 2 at 10am June 1 at 10am - Register By: May 30 at 10am ** NO TESTING IN JULY DUE TO THE INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND ** Aug. 3 at 10am - Register By: Aug. 1 at 10am ** NO TESTING IN SEPTEMBER DUE TO THE MENA HAMFEST ** ** NO TESTING IN OCTOBER DUE TO THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER 100 ** Nov. 2 at 10am - Register By: Oct. 31 at 10am ** NO TESTING IN DECEMBER DUE TO THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS ** Testing will likely be done at the Hoxie Hamfest on Feb. 16...at the Russellville Hamfest on March 2...and the Mena Hamfest on Sept. 7. If there is a Hamfest in Fort Smith on April 6, they likely will do testing there as well. For details on those hamfests, go to: http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/search Enter ARKANSAS for the state, click on SEARCH, and look for the available links. I have decided NOT to test on July 6, due to the July 4 holiday being on a Thursday, and some folks may want to take an extended weekend. I also am NOT testing during the weekend of the Arkansas Traveler 100 in October...a 36 hour event, and many hams take part providing the emergency communications for that event. And, I've decided NOT to test on December 7 due to the holidays, and for Skywarn Recognition Day. Currently accredited ARRL/VEC Volunteer Examiners who would like to serve can contact me via email to wx1der at gmail dot com -- or contact my voice mail at 501-476-2545. Email is the preferred method of contact. You can also reach me on the Amateur Radio Volunteers Examiners Group on Facebook. Those who would like to take the exam(s) on the dates noted, should contact me at the entries noted above, and by the deadlines noted above. One last item of note...Element 3, the General Class License Exam Question Pool, will CHANGE on July 1, 2019. Final versions of it from the National Council Of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) will probably not be out until sometime next spring. Those wishing to upgrade to General Class before the Question Pool changes, should get their studies in high gear. I understand that the new pool will have only one graphic/schematic diagram (as is the case now), and 1 less question in the pool than there is now. As of Dec. 18, 2018, the new General Class Question Pool has not yet been released...but I'd wait until the NCVEC website (www.ncvec.org) notes "FINAL VERSION", before downloading such. If you plan to take the General Class Exam prior to July 1, 2019, you will study the pool dated July 1, 2015. Otherwise, you will study the pool dated July 1, 2019. You can also contact me if you have any questions. Daryl Stout, WX1DER, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison --- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32 * Origin: RadioWxNet: The Thunderbolt BBS tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2) þ Synchronet þ Temple of Doom BBS - tod.eothnet.com .