(Apologies if this is the incorrect place to bring this up.)
With the recent events happening around the world, I have two neighbors
who are studying for their technician license. However, my assumption is
that doing in-person testing for amateur radio licenses is not a good
idea at this point due to social distancing requirements.
I'm a recent Extra and I remember a question on the exam about doing a
remote examination (so long as the test taker is monitored via live
audio and video). Although I am not a volunteer examiner (yet?), I know
the technical side of video conferencing and I am happy to lend a hand
to make that work.
Does anyone have previous examples of remote testing or any idea on how
we might be able to make this work in the coming weeks?
I discussed the idea of using a 3rd party testing service with ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher (I think that’s right) at the ARRL 100th conference. I know of at least 2 companies that can do this work and have locations all over the US and the world.
Not too sure anyone was interested in pursuing it because it would cost a lot more than our current fees.
Let's let things settle for a few weeks or months. Society will figure out a way to do this kind of thing in person safely.
Worrying about how to do exams in the next month or two is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Right now, America is figuring out how to get toilet paper, medications, and groceries. And worrying about what happens to our jobs when our companies are shut down for a few weeks or months. Oh, and how not to die or spread the disease to our loved ones. And how to help our loved ones and neighbors.
73 Dallas, KD4HNX
Whatever you do, don’t fall victim to “paralysis by
analysis.” Go ahead and buy/build one and start
tinkering with it. This is a learn by doing hobby.
No politician or scholar assured your freedoms.
A Soldier, Sailor, Marine, or Airman did!
Let’s let things settle for a few weeks or months. Society will figure
out a way to do this kind of thing in person safely.
Worrying about how to do exams in the next month or two is like
rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Right now, America is figuring out how to get toilet paper, medications,
and groceries. And worrying about what happens to our jobs when our
companies are shut down for a few weeks or months. Oh, and how not to
die or spread the disease to our loved ones. And how to help our loved
ones and neighbors.
Amateur Radio should be leading the way to help limit the spread of this VERY REAL disease. NOT, trying to find ways for another impetuous test to be had.
Your next climb up the ham-ladder can surely wait a few months.
All of us should help limit the spread of this devastating pandemic.
Obviously having remote ham exams isn’t at the top of the national priority list right now.
My wife’s hurricane preparedness kicked in early, so we’re stocked up on quarantine supplies for a couple of weeks — without being hoarders.
I’m not needed for ARCHES/CATRAC or the Red Cross at this time. As a high-risk individual, the best thing I can do is to continue to self-isolate. And to encourage others to self-distance.
From the current numbers, I don’t expect this to just blow over in a couple of weeks. To keep people’s mental health up, we’re going to need to keep ourselves mentally active. As Jeff mentioned on Sunday — we’re lucky that ham radio’s a great way to do that.
Meanwhile, mother nature doesn’t care about COVID-19. Case in point, the tornado around Odessa on Friday night. So, one way for me to prepare for future events and to keep myself sane is to study for the General and/or Extra exams.
My question on Sunday wasn’t a call to action, just a request for information. Those of us that try to stay sane by ignoring the news for a bit with our noses in online courses can do that. We’ll figure out the exams as things progress.
Not too sure anyone was interested in pursuing it because it would cost a lot more than our current fees.
It can cost more, but certainly not a lot more. Many universities accomplish this now in their distance education courses. Fundamentally, I think there’s a question of just how much SHOULD be done. If one were to ask me (and nobody has, so this is just my humble opinion):
I would suggest that a simple webcam setup be done that shows the test taker and the test in plain view (the test taker pays the test fee online). Once the test is complete, the student can hold the form up for the VECs to check. If the student passes, they are issued a REMOTE CONDITIONAL license that is good for 365 days, with the suffix of /VG for “Virtual General” and /VE for “Virtual Extra”. Before the 365 days ends, you must take the test AGAIN in-person, paying the test fee again (yes, this means you pay 2x the price you would pay if you took once in-person). This way if people really want / need the license, it’s a small detail to do it. All of this addresses the impact on volunteers, the impact of testing cost, and the impact of ensuring that long-term license integrity is upheld.
I’m not sure I would extend this to Technician class, just because of the possibility of widespread abuse, but existing license holders have much more to lose if they cheat, right?
All this chatter about remote testing is premature.
It won’t hurt anyone to wait a bit to take a test.
Also before anything can be done The FCC would have to approve any changes in the testing procedures such as the use of remote testing.
Most likely they would want to go out for public comment as it would require a change of the FCC rules much as it did when they set up the VEC testing originally.
I think people are getting their cart before the horse on any remote testing or need of changes in the testing program at this time as I fully believe this issue of the virus will rectify it self here in the next 6 to 8 weeks to a point that we can go back to near normal to normal living and testing conditions.
I ask we sit back, take a deep breath and wait and watch and see where we go on social distancing needs as related to ham radio testing, much less the daily interaction of people.
Paul KE5ZW
STX SECTION MANAGER
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts” Sir Winston Churchill, 1940 during the Battle For Britain…
With unlimited data it costs me nothing to use my cell phone as a hot spot. I have two indoor Nest security cameras.
A covered pavilion could be monitored on a laptop 50 ft away using two views of the test takers.
Each test taker places a rock on their answer sheet when they are done taking the test. VE collects sheets after test subjects are clear of pavilion.
No need to exclude anyone. Those wanting to join us on local 2m nets need their Tech license more than those upgrading!
The social distancing and telework and closing restaurants, bars, and gyms serves to flatten the curve to lessen the number of those infected and experiencing severe breathing difficulty who wouldn’t be getting ventilators and the best care possible. But it is unlikely to stop the spread. This means rather than 4 weeks or 6, I expect to see this play out over 4 to 6 months. Just one man’s thoughts.
David suggested:
a simple webcam setup be done that shows the test taker and the test in plain view (the test taker pays the test fee online). Once the test is complete, the student can hold the form up for the VECs to check. If the student passes, they are issued a REMOTE CONDITIONAL license that is good for 365 days, with the suffix of /VG for “Virtual General” and /VE for “Virtual Extra”. Before the 365 days ends, you must take the test AGAIN in-person, paying the test fee again (yes, this means you pay 2x the price you would pay if you took once in-person). .,.,_
This is disconcerting to say the least. The way everyone is acting you’d think that the zombie apocalypse had been unleashed. Settle down folks. Someone will come up with a drug that cures it and make a fortune.
We’ve all seen the panic on toilet paper in the stores, water, etc. I have never seen so much panic in all my years on this earth.
I agree we all need to step back and take a deep breath or two and let’s see how this plays out. We as amateur radio operators should be there to help our country, state, and community with our skills. We should not create panic on “testing”!
