Subj : Re: HAM
To   : Thom LaCosta
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Sat Mar 11 2023 03:33:00

Thom,

 TL> Way over my pay grade.  Baaring a vulcan mind-meld from the All
 TL> Knowing, how do I delete if from my BBS, in order not to incure the
 TL> wrath of the HAM(ham) radio operators who wish to upgrade their
 TL> license?

  You can go into SCFG under the Synchronet doors, and delete it.

  On my BBS, I have the latest Question Pools, then recommend folks to
various sites to study for their Technician License, or to upgrade to
General or Amateur Extra. I do not have "study deals" on the BBS.

  As a side note, the FCC quit issuing the Novice and Advanced Licenses
on April 15, 2000...the same day the 13 WPM and 20 WPM CW tests were
dropped from the license exams. They dropped the 5 WPM CW requirement
on Feb. 23, 2007.

  My choice for study or upgrading, is HamTestOnline, located at
https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com -- it's all web browser based,
with nothing to download or install...so it works on dial-up, DSL,
broadband, etc. -- but it's only available via web browser...no
smartphone apps, and none are planned.

  The subscriptions are in 6 month increments...and they cover not
only the questions you'll see on the exam, but the concepts. So, you
are actually LEARNING something, and NOT just memorizing answers. When
you get to 80% studying, start taking practice tests...and when you
start scoring 85% or better consistently, you're ready for the exam,
and likely will pass. 

  But, after adequate study time (I recommend no more than 2 hours a
day, or you'll burn out), and practice tests...if you still fail the
test on exam day, send them proof of the failure (a Certificate Of
Successful Completion Of Examination (CSCE)) with "NONE" for the
license earned on it)...and they will cancel your subscription and
refund your money (their refund rate is about 1%). Normally, once
you buy a study guide, it's yours...no refunds.

  Also, the pools change once every 4 years, and in the 15 years I've
been a Volunteer Examiner and Team Leader, more than once, I've had
examinees show up who were using a study guide that was 1, 2, or more
cycles out of date...and that's why they failed the exam. I've also
noted some of these "study guide websites" where the Question Pools
aren't updated in a timely manner...not so with HamTestOnline. I even
recommend that to all examinees at my license exam sessions, which I
do 4 times a year.

  For me, I studied 2 hours a day for 2 weeks from mid-July to mid-August
2007...going from Technician to General in 14 days, and from General to
Amateur Extra 13 days later. It was the BEST MONEY that I ever spent in
amateur radio.

Daryl, WX4QZ, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock VE Team Liaison

.... I CQ. Therefore, I HAM. -- DE WX4QZ
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