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Author Topic: Ham Test Online  (Read 335 times)

SWMAN

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Ham Test Online
« on: April 08, 2020, 02:51:05 AM »

Hello All,
 Now that we have restrictions on group gatherings here in the USA, has anyone else heard that we can now take our ham exams online. If so can I upgrade to Extra online or is this just hearsay and bull. That would be nice if I could upgrade but I really don't think so.  Thanks,  Jim W5JJG
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K7MEM

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Re: Ham Test Online
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2020, 04:55:45 AM »

The only thing that I have seen so far is this, from the ANCHORAGE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB. But by the time you get through the setup and accreditation process, the local clubs may be back in action.

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Martin - K7MEM
http://www.k7mem.com

K6CPO

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Re: Ham Test Online
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2020, 10:30:54 AM »

Another group is working on a solution, but it hasn't been rolled out for general use yet.
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KA4GFY

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Re: Ham Test Online
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2020, 04:48:34 PM »

Not sure you would validate the person taking the exam is who they say they are and how to keep somebody from cheating by using another device to search for the answers while taking the exam.

If I understand this correctly, Anchorage ARC still says one person needs to be present to take care of the verification and to keep people from cheating.

It makes sense for Alaska, but for the rest of the country, not so much.  I agree with K6CPO, it will take longer to get set up to do it than the stay home orders expire. 

Don't hold your breath.  I don't see it happening anytime soon.
 
73,
Rich, KA4GFY

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N9AOP

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Re: Ham Test Online
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2020, 09:40:18 AM »

FEMA has online courses and tests.  If it is good enough for the GOVT it should be good enough for the hams.  If someone cheats, so what.  They are already cheating by memorizing the questions rather than understanding the theory.
Art
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KE0UFB

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Re: Ham Test Online
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2020, 07:26:02 AM »

For what it's worth, I did look into the Alaska opportunity, but they are now booking slots two months or more out. The hardest part is getting your proctor to be approved by the group. The standards are faily easy to meet, mostly about getting someone "trustworthy" to proctor the exam. It doesn't have to be a VE and they don't even have to have a ham license themselves (though a licensed operator is the better choice in my opinion). But whoever you use, they will have to meet standards setup by the folks in Alaska.

So far, there is no word -- that I've seen -- on whether the Extra exam will be swapped out at the end of June, 2020. I know the study site I've been using has announced that both the current exam and the upcoming new exam are available for study. It occurs to me that someone studying at this point is going to be torn between studying for the current exam or just moving on to the next version. I figure the same amount of time in studying anyway. But if you start now on the current exam, there's so far no guarantee that the FCC will delay rollout or if there will even be a chance to test before June 30.

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K6CPO

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Re: Ham Test Online
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2020, 10:14:31 AM »

For what it's worth, I did look into the Alaska opportunity, but they are now booking slots two months or more out. The hardest part is getting your proctor to be approved by the group. The standards are faily easy to meet, mostly about getting someone "trustworthy" to proctor the exam. It doesn't have to be a VE and they don't even have to have a ham license themselves (though a licensed operator is the better choice in my opinion). But whoever you use, they will have to meet standards setup by the folks in Alaska.

So far, there is no word -- that I've seen -- on whether the Extra exam will be swapped out at the end of June, 2020. I know the study site I've been using has announced that both the current exam and the upcoming new exam are available for study. It occurs to me that someone studying at this point is going to be torn between studying for the current exam or just moving on to the next version. I figure the same amount of time in studying anyway. But if you start now on the current exam, there's so far no guarantee that the FCC will delay rollout or if there will even be a chance to test before June 30.

It will be up to the NCVEC, not the FCC, to decide whether to delay implementation of the new Extra question poll. I don't anticipate they will do that because the new pool was released back in February and there isn't an overwhelming reason to do so.  Although I can't speak to specifics, there is a substantial difference in the two pools as the total number of questions has been reduced from 713 to 622.
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N5YM

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Re: Ham Test Online
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2020, 06:37:46 PM »

The ARRL VEC has released a verbose description on their current views and efforts directed toward online virtual license examinations. 
Their website link is: http://www.arrl.org/news/remotely-administered-amateur-exam-systems-showing-promise
Short answer is not to expect much to happen anytime soon.
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W6BP

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Re: Ham Test Online
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2020, 07:49:09 PM »

Here's a good summary of the remote amateur radio testing effort to date:

https://qrznow.com/fully-remote-amateur-radio-license-exam-administration/

I still don't have a good feel for how scalable all of this is.
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W6MK

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Re: Ham Test Online
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2020, 08:10:36 PM »

From what I've read about the developing examination protocols, with the ARRL and some ham clubs
working on them, they won't make taking an exam any easier.

In fact the on-line protocols will make the whole process quite complex because the examinee and his surroundings will be monitored visually and auditorialy during the exam period. The examinee will
be required to prequalify by demonstrating that he has the proper setup for monitoring via computer.

It seems that some prospective exam-takers think that taking an exam on-line will somehow be
less demanding than going to the usual test sessions offered almost everywhere and every week or at least every month.

The new system will be designed to make it possible for people to be tested remotely due to the need for social distancing. It will not be designed to make testing easier.
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