CW Test Question

[KG6AZK]

I live in the USA, so this is an ARRL question:

When I take the 5 WPM morse code test, I must get 1 minute of solid copy to pass (or the fill in the blank...) Do the VVV VVV at the beginning of the test count as part of the 1 minute of solid copy? If they do, then all I need to do is get the CALLSIGN DE CALLSIGN correct...

-Jon

[KG6AZK]

Ok, found out that 1 minute of solid copy actually means 25 characters (numbers, punctionation, prosigns equal 2)....

[AG4PV]

Hi,
The CW test scoring is as follows:
You copy 5 minutes of code (vvv vvv DOESN'T count...)
Then you answer a 10 question fill-in the blank question (not multiple choice).

Questions might include:
What type of rig?
What type of ant?
Names/QTH on each end, etc., so just "whatever de whatever" won't get it.

Tip: If you copy "california" DON'T put down "CA". Write down on the exam paper what you heard.

If you don't pass the 10 questions, then the examiner(s) may look at your copy to see if they can find 1 solid minute (25 chars) of correct copy. I know this one personally, as I passed my CW element with 26 chars

Good luck es 73 de
AG4PV
Bob Spaulding
ARRL VE

[N1ZZZ]

Both times I passed my Ham CW tests, the instructors looked for 1 minute of solid copy. For 5 wpm, I got 4 wrong on the exam, but they were able to find the 1 minute of copy.

For my 13 wpm test, the VE told me that his personal philosophy was to look for 1 minute of copy first, then to correct the test.  He found solid copy and didn't even bother to correct my test.  I don't know if that is the way the VEC wants it done, but my VE thought that the examinees would take more pride in knowing that they passed with the solid copy and not a multiple choice test.  He was right.

73 DE N1ZZZ/4

[N8UZE]

These days the VECs do not use a mutltiple choice test for the CW.  It is a fill in the blank or answer the questions. So you can't really "guess" at the answer. If you don't get 7 out of 10 questions correct, then they look for the 1 minute of solid copy.

[AC3P]

The series of Vs do not start the test. The instructions given at ARRL VEC sessions state as much.

The test by FCC definition must contain all 26 letters, all 10 numbers, plus punctuation. Six V's followed by the callsigns will not meet the FCC requirements.


73

Frank AC3P
ARRL VE