Subj : Local License Exam Update To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Mon Aug 23 2021 19:01:08 I've had one individual cancel out on the session at UALR this Saturday due to scheduling issues (he's going to try again in early 2022), but still have one person going for their Amateur Extra, and two going for their Technician license...making a total of 3 examinees. I've had at least 4 Extra Class and 1 General Class VE's commit to serve, so we should have enough to do all 3 exams (Technician, General, and Amateur Extra). One of my regular VE's will not be there, due to health issues unrelated to COVID-19...but I am copying them to keep them in the loop. I did get the materials from ARRL/VEC, so we should be good to go for Saturday. I still have room if you want to take the license exam, but with the COVID-19 restrictions back in place at UALR (masks and social distancing required), we are LIMITED to 5 VE's and 10 examinees. Please reply OFF LIST to either wx4qz at arrl dot net or wx1der at gmail dot com -- if you would like to take the exam. You can also call or text me at 501-690-8325. I will return your call or text as soon as possible...and would prefer to talk with you, to answer any questions that you might have before the exam (I have unlimited long distance to the contiguous 48 states). Even if we didn't have the COVID-19 social distancing, etc. -- the room is limited in size to how many we could have test. There is an information file at http://callsign.ualr.edu/ve-exams.php -- along with directions to the campus. You basically will park in Lot 9, on the north side of the library...Fribrough Hall is the former Natural Sciences building, with the "concrete exterior". Walk to the north side of the building, and take the elevator to the 5th floor. Turn right, go to the end of the hall, and turn right again. Room 517 will be on your immediate left. I plan to be there around 9:30am to set things up, but we want to try to be out of there by 11am or shortly thereafter, if at all possible. Obviously, if you're not feeling well on Saturday, have a fever, have COVID-19 symptoms, or in the last 2 weeks, been in contact with someone with COVID-19, or had a COVID-19 test, and it hasn't come back negative, please stay home. We are planning to do at least a couple more exam sessions before the holidays...but those dates have not yet been set... I will advise when we have those dates set. Masks are required on campus, but can removed once you exit the building, and head back to your vehicle. Be advised that this weekend from Friday evening, August 27 at 9pm to 6am Monday morning, August 28, Rodney Parham Road will be CLOSED from Misssissippi Avenue to Markham Street, due to a water main replacement. If you follow the directions at the URL above, and are traveling via Interstate 630, that should not affect your travels...since you'd be getting off at Exit 5 (University Avenue) from Interstate 630...but be aware of the possibility of heavy traffic around Exit 6 (Mississippi Avenue And Rodney Parham Road). Traffic from Interstate 30 in southwest Little Rock to University Avenue (Exit 132) is well southeast of that area...but there might still be traffic...as University Avenue is adjacent to the busy Union Pacific Railroad from 65th Street to Chicot Road. So, if a lot of trains are moving through, or if one is stopped, traffic will be congested. As a side note, for those not aware, sometime in early 2022, the FCC will be charging a $35 fee, that examinees will pay directly to the FCC... for a new, renewed, or upgraded ham radio license, or a callsign change. They will have 10 days after the exam to pay said fee, or their license grant will be dismissed. For more information on that, go to: https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-application-fees-unlikely-to-go-into-effect- until-2022 (above URL all on one line) The test fee at the session is $15, cash/check/money order, payable to ARRL/VEC. Please bring exact change, if possible. I do not yet know what ARRL/VEC will charge in 2022...but right now, the only fee is the $15 to get a seat at the session...and an additional $15 if you fail an exam, and want to re-test with a different set of questions. That option is open to you, if you miss passing by 4 or less. Otherwise, we recommended you study some more before trying again. Also, if you miss passing the same exam twice, we recommend that you study some more before trying again. There is NO DISGRACE IN FAILING. 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. Besides, the guy or girl who graduates DEAD LAST in medical school, is still...A DOCTOR (prostate and pelvic exams not withstanding (hi hi)). Lastly, be sure that you've studied the 2018 Technician, the 2019 General, or 2020 Amateur Extra Question Pools or study guides. Anything with a different year than those noted above is worthless, and should be discarded. The Technician Class Pool will change again come July 1, 2022; but material likely won't be finalized until late May or early June, 2022. -- Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison --- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7) .