Amateur Radio, News, Rules and Laws

Volunteer Examination Coordinator program

UPDATED: 12/12/15 11:34 a.m.

by Glen Davis KG7YDJ

Too much life story. Had to re-edit this part. This article explains a  little about the Volunteer Examination Coordinator program. Why am I interested in writing an article on this topic? Since I obtained my Amateur Extra license, I found that I could actually get accredited as a volunteer examiner.

This is not a mentor program. There are other volunteer programs for that purpose. Perhaps when I get some real world experience, I can help in that area. This is a good old Navy-type paperwork drill that anyone can learn to do. That is not to say that you cannot console and comfort a candidate who fails the exam. You can encourage them to try again. Even suggest sites with practice exams or exams apps for the cell phones. Your job as a volunteer examiner, however, is simply to administer the examination with integrity.

There are questions about the VEC program in the General Exam and the Amateur Extra exam. The most recent—as of this writing— are included at the end of this article. Yet they do not give you an understanding of the VEC program, as I learned. This article is an overall view of that program. It will not accredit you as an examiner; you will have to study more if you are interested.

At most you will see two in either examination. Maybe three on the Amateur Extra. If you have an overall understanding of the program, it will help you better understand the questions and you can breeze through those and concentrate on the tougher questions. Actually many are common sense. For example an examiner must be eighteen-years of age or older even though anyone who can pass the test can get up to an Amateur Extra license. The reason is pretty clear. You are signing what amounts to government documents so you must be of age to do so.

I am no expert and am even studying this area while I write the article. I am reasonably sure the information is accurate and include links to certain documents and web sites for further study. If I encourage you to become an accredited VE, great. But this article won’t do it for you.
Continue reading Volunteer Examination Coordinator program →

Amateur Radio, Rules and Laws

Are you ready to get an amateur radio license?

RadioCourse-1You might have been thinking about getting an amateur radio license. If you are like me, the dread of Morse code might have been holding you back. Good news. That requirement has been gone since 1987.

When you are ready for the test, you might want to consider a few things. First is to know the answers to the answer pool you want to be testing for. You can download the pool with the answers at the National Volunteer Examiner Coordinator web site. Some are in PDF format and others are in Word. This will give you the pool from which the questions for the examination are drawn and the answers. It will not explain what the answers mean, however. I clue you in on how to do that in another article.

After your study, you will be ready to find an examination site. There are 14 Volunteer Examination Coordinator organizations which give the exam. They coordinate with local Ham clubs, usually, or other groups who have created a number of volunteers to administer the exam.

The FCC maintains a list of the Volunteer Exam Coordinators and the regions they cover here. You can contact one of them for an examination cycle in your area .

On examination day you must remember to bring a few things. This information is for the person seeking the Technician class license. If you have already taken the test, you know this already.

1. Two forms of identification; at least one must be a picture identification
2. Your Social Security number. If you are like me, you probably do not like to hand out your SSN to just anyone; particularly one you do not know. I have not heard of any incident of identity theft or the like. In lieu of a SSN you can get an FCC Registration Number (FRN). You are going to be issued one anyway, so you might as well get one before you go. You have to have an FRN to do business on the FCC web site. For this you will have to go to the FCC Universal licensing system here. I previously applied for a GMRS license so I had an FRN. Your SSN will not appear on your license. Only the FRN. This is convenient when you go to upgrade from the Technician class.
3. A calculator. The testing volunteer examiners can refuse certain types of calculators. The mathematics for the Technician examination is fairly simple, so you will not need anything really fancy. As long as it is not the programmable computer type, it will probably get through. I used one of those cheap, three dollar solar powered types that you get at the dollar stores. In fact I used the same one to pass the General and Amateur Extra examinations.
4. Two (I would recommend four) sharpened pencils. Make sure that you completely fill in the answer circle on the answer sheet. No dimpled chads please.

Of course there is the customary advise to get a good night sleep the night before the test—like that’s going to happen. I managed a couple of hours sleep before each test cycle I took. I did, however, steer away from cramming.

Later on I will try to give you some study techniques that I learned along the way that helped me actually learn some of the stuff along the way.

Amateur Radio, Rules and Laws

Radio operators exempt from Communication Devices ordinance

In April of last year, Coconino County Supervisors passed Ordinance No 2014-03 regulating the use of communications equipment while driving.

The ordinance was aimed mainly at drivers being distracted by texting on a cellphone while driving. Mainly teens. Some of the cities and towns in Coconino County have decided to write their own ordinances or skip enforcement of the ordinance altogether in their jurisdiction.

There was some question about how this applied to amateur radio operators. The ordinance, however, specifically exempts:

A person who holds a valid amateur radio operator license issued by or any license issued by the Federal Communications Commission or the driver uses a two-way radio, such as a CB radio.

Of course some confusion could arise from this. I use Echolink on my cellphone and can contact people throughout the world. The answer is, of course, no. You cannot use a cellphone because it is technically not a radio. You still must manipulate the device in order to make contact and each time you want to talk. It still diverts your eyes from the road.

With a microphone, such as with a citizen’s band or amateur radio, you can still keep your eyes on the road.

Amateur Radio, Amateur Radio Organizations, Amateur Radio Relay League, Contest

ARRL sponsors December CW Rookie Roundup

ARRL-Flag-waving-Large_54The American Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) is sponsoring a six-hour CW (Morse code) contest on December 20 for specifically aimed at those who have had a license less than three years. (So you were proud of yourself for getting your Amateur Extra only to learn you are a rookie for three years.)

ARRL sponsors Rookie contests three times a year in April, August and December. In these contests rookies can contact anyone, but old-timers can only contact rookies. Various contests are held by ARRL and other organizations throughout the year. These for rookies are particularly useful to learn how to use the frequencies for the new licence levels they attain. It is a great opportunity to test new equipment. Additionally they can obtain awards and certificates for all of these contests.

ARRL also sponsors specific events in addition to contesting where amateur operators can collect special cards, called QSL cards. QSL cards confirm a contact between specific stations or stations to events. ARRL, for example, is sponsoring a year-long event called National Parks on the Air where Ham operators can contact operators stationed at various national parks throughout the country.

For the upcoming CW rookie contest, the ARRL web site states:

Mission: To encourage newly-licensed operators (“Rookies”) in North America (including territories and possessions) to operate on the HF bands and experience competitive Amateur Radio operating. Experienced operators (“Non-Rookies”) are strongly encouraged to participate and help new operators – either on the air or in person.

Objective: Rookies exchange information with as many other stations as possible on the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter HF bands. Rookie entrants are encouraged to read “HF Contesting – Good Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions.” (Also available as PDF)

Electronic certificates will be emailed to the top five scoring Rookies in each US call area, Canadian province, Mexican call area and DX. No national winners will be recognized. A commemorative participation certificate will be available for download to every Rookie operator submitting a score.

For more information and to sign up , visit the ARRL web site .

News, Personal

I am now /AE

It was a snowy day today when Ted, KF7QPG, and I went to Flagstaff for the December examination. As you may know, I received my Technician class license in October. I passed both examinations for the General and Amateur Extra license.

The examination was administered by the Coconino County Radio Club of Flagstaff. I thank them for their service to the community.

Unfortunately I don’t have the budget to get the equipment to try what I want. Which is just about everything to do with Amateur radio.

The one thing I can do is to get some kits that I have seen on the Internet for SSB transceivers and CW equipment. Over the next few articles I will try to get more into the technical aspects of the amateur world. I hope I can help get more people interested in getting a license.

Amateur Radio, News, Review

Baofeng BF-F9+ V2 Review

Baofeng BF-F9+ V2
Source: FOSCAM
1-piggieI admit that I find Baofeng models very confusing. I recently ordered the BF-F9+ V2 through Amazon. I thought I was ordering through BAOFENGTECH, but found I was ordering from FOSCAM—a camera company. Such is Amazon. When I look up the images, however, the model I received looked more like the Baofeng UV-5R+.

This is a picture of the BF-F9+ V2 from one company.
This is a picture of the BF-F9+ V2 from one company.

Still it had 1, 4 and 8-watt advertised capability. The UV-5R+ has only 1 and 4-watt power. I was familiar with how to program it already, so I was ready to go.

When I received the unit, I eagerly opened it up and set it up to charge. While it charged, I dug into the manual which was much better than the manual for the UV-82. It could be that I understand more of the terms and specifications than I did when I ordered the UV-82. The 3800mAh battery took longer to charge than I am used to, but that was expected.

Once charged I picked up the radio to try it out. The battery remained in the charger. I tried a number of ways, but I could not get the battery mechanism to latch.

The model I received looked more like this.
The model I received looked more like this.

DISLIKES

The color. I ordered the camouflage model, but the camouflage was a bright green instead of the dull color of my UV-82.

When I removed the screws for the belt clip, they felt wrong. I realized that I was working with a cheap aluminum casing. After installing the belt clip, one of the screws ripped out.

LIKES

I must say that FOSCAM has a good customer service program and immediately took care of the problem. That, unfortunately, meant sending it back. I was disappointed that I had to send this one back.

The radio had a good feel in my hands. I had the CHIRP program ready so I programmed it quickly. The radio seemed to work as advertised although it did not give me much better performance in my apartment than my UV-82. This could be because of the antenna.

This unit had the VFO button on the front to switch between Frequency and Channel mode. This is a desirable feature over the UV-82.

OVERVIEW

The radio seems to work as advertised. The disappointment was the manufacturing defects. I probably could have—I was strongly thinking of—modifying the battery to lock into place. This, of course, would have voided any warranty. I don’t know if a different battery would have worked.

To try to re-secure the belt clip would have been an different matter altogether.

I recommend new Ham operators avoid this Baofeng model. It appears that quality control is lacking at the manufacturer.

Amateur Radio, Amateur Radio Organizations, Amateur Radio Relay League, ARRL, Event, News

ARRL 10 Meter Contest is in the Wings

ARRL-Flag-waving-Large_54The  American Radio Relay League is hosting a 10-meter Amateur Radio contest December 12-13. If they had bothered to check they would have found that I will be busy on December 12 getting my Amateur Extra license. I will not be able to afford any 10-meter equipment until well beyond that. I’ll be ready for the next one.

From the ARRL web site:

The 2015 ARRL 10 Meter Contest is just ahead, December 12-13. This popular event is lots of fun, and you never know what sort of propagation you might encounter on 10 meters.

The ARRL encourages computer loggers to check out the new web-based log uploading facility. It offers quick response and instant feedback, and if your log has a problem, you’ll be able to fix it on the fly and upload the log again on the spot.

For paper loggers or for those using software that does not generate a Cabrillo file, there is a convenient data entry service that converts your log data into Cabrillo format and forwards it on to the ARRL’s log handling service. You also can still submit your log via e-mail.

Whichever method is more convenient, be sure to submit a log, even if you only made a few contacts. It improves the quality of the log checking, and you might even find yourself in line for a certificate! Post any soapbox comments and photos to the ARRL’s Soapbox page.

Amateur Radio, News, Review

Baofeng UV-82 review

Baofeng UV-82
Source: BAOFENGTECH through Amazon.
4-hams

Before I even obtained an FCC amateur radio license, I had heard of this tremendous Baofeng radio. Indeed they have become all the rage because of their low cost. The people I know were buying the Baofeng UV-5R mostly because it came per-programmed from their source with what they needed.

I began to work on obtaining a license and ordered the Baofeng UV-82 which was advertised as the upgrade to the UV-5.

When it arrived I immediately studied the features of the radio. It is pretty solid. It is a VHF/UHF radio with an FM radio to boot. It seems to be of solid construction. I have dropped it a couple of times and it still works. Like many other brands, including Baofeng, it can monitor two frequencies.

UV-82C(1)LGDISLIKES

The UV-5 has one feature over the UV-82 that I immediately liked. It has a button on the front to switch between VFO and Channel modes. With the UV-82, you have to hold the MENU key and turn the radio on to switch between these modes. This is inconvenient when you are trying to manually program the unit. Once I programmed it with CHIRP, however, I usually stay in Channel mode so it is not a problem.

Another thing that I noticed is that while I can monitor two frequencies, I can only transmit on the B channel. This could be that while I was playing with the manual programming, I set something that might be causing it. I tried making several changes in the CHIRP program, but nothing seems to work.

This unit, like all others from Baofeng, came with an ear piece microphone which allows me to transmit on either channel with dual push-to-talk (PTT) buttons. This was convenient until it started to give me a buzz in the ear. I mean actually shocking me. The unit itself is supplied with a dual PTT button to transmit on either frequency and there are dual PTT microphones available.

The belt clip does not hold well. I usually wind up carrying the unit in a pocket rather than trying to keep the belt clip attached to my belt.

LIKES

I may be a new ham operator, but I know what I like.

The price of Baofeng cannot be ignored and has led to the popularity of the radio. The price is in the budget of any new Ham radio operator. It has dual-power 1 or 4 watt capability—though I have not tested this. I have not tested the range of simplex operation, but it works well with repeaters.

Initially I tried manually programming and through YouTube videos on the UV-5 and other sources, I learned to manually program. When I worked with the CHIRP program, it seemed that I could not get through no matter what I did. I contacted my source, BAOFENGTECH, via email and was surprised at the quick response. Their Tech Support worked with me on several solutions. Ultimately I found that the repeater was not working. Once I got the unit programmed, everything opened up. I learned a lot from my first experience with this radio.

I purchased a microphone/speaker separate from the radio and, eventually, a mobile antenna for the VHF/UHF range. Even with the rubber duckie, I was able to make the repeater and communicate from inside my apartment. It currently serves, mostly, as my base unit until I can upgrade.

I purchased the camouflage version and the pattern is good and the radio seems durable. I take it in the woods when I walk my dog. I get good radio operation, but I am only two-to-five miles from the repeater. In my car with mag-mount antenna, I seem to reach about 13-miles when traveling to Flagstaff. Of course, there are obstructions in-between. Traveling toward Ash Fork I would probably do better. I have reached a repeater in Seligman about 35-miles away when I position just right in Williams, but with a weak but readable signal.

The FM radio is useful, at times. While listening to the radio, a call on VHF/UHF will interrupt the radio function. After a short duration, it will return to FM mode.

The radio also has a flashlight function with a strobe for emergencies.

Many people buy these to use as low-cost scanners. You can program in local first responder frequencies. You do not need a license for this and you can set it up so that it does not accidentally transmit on those frequencies. If a local emergency arises, this could be a good source of information for you.

PROGRAMMING

I was able to learn how to program it and load frequencies into memory in the VFO mode. I practiced this while waiting for my license. Once you get the hang of it, it is easy to do.

I recommend, however, if you plan to use this or any other radio that you get a cable and download the CHIRP program. There are several complaints about the manufacturers program that you can download for your particular unit from Baofeng. I have never tried it, but you can see the reviews online.

One thing to check with the CHIRP program is whether or not your radio is on the list. The information on the CHIRP program can be found HERE. This, of course, means buying a cable.

OVERVIEW

Interestingly my source no longer offers the UV-82, but the UV-5 still sells strong. I have seen two UV-82s offered for the price that I paid for one on Amazon—but in black, not in camouflage. I am so impressed with this radio I am considering purchasing the two as back-ups.

The battery seems to last. I run it all day a couple of days in a row before requiring a re-charge. I turn it off at night for obvious reasons.

The reception on the FM radio is better than other radios I have experienced. There is some static in some of the stations. Of course I did not purchase it to listen to FM radio. In the CHIRP program you can disable it. I have accidentally activated it and the alarm, as well.

Baofeng is popular because of its price with UV-5s running around $30 on average. This unit cost me around $68. I later had to purchase the programming cable for about $15. I added a plug-in microphone/speaker. I obtained two for around $6. Shipping, of course, is additional. I would recommend checking into a belt holster rather than depending on the provided belt clip. I bought a Naoya UT-72 mag-mount auto antenna to be used with another radio that I purchased for around $16.

For about $100, a new ham can get on-the-air with this model. This model rates 4 hams.

Amateur Radio Operator