[Elecraft] get to your local library.

[Kevin Rock]

It is interesting how each VEC works just a little differently from the  
others.  I have worked for four of them over the years.  Even within a VEC  
various teams have their own styles.  However, I am sure we all want the  
very same thing.  That being said I know a number of teams still have  
their code tapes from years back and can give the code tests informally.   
Not that one earns anything but it is nice to know what you could have  
done when the 20, 13, and 5 wpm code tests were being run.  I find the  
W1AW code runs very, very different from a test environment.  But we each  
have our own opinions.
    73,
       Kevin.  KD5ONS


On Sat, 22 Jan 2011 05:53:51 -0800, Jim Wiley <jwiley at alaska.net> wrote:

>
>
> Sorry, but the VEC (Anchorage) , of which I am chairman, no longer  
> offers code testing for any reason.  All of the exam tapes and texts  
> were destroyed a few years ago.  We don't even have the 5 WPM stuff any  
> more.    If someone is looking for a code test, I would suggest  
> listening to W1AW, or going to one of the on-line practice exam sites.   
> Google search for "code practice" - there will be lots of "hits" to  
> select from.
>
>
> Many of the other VEC's I have spoken to have a similar policy - that is  
> to say no code exams. at least not officially.  This was discussed at  
> the NCVEC annual meeting a few years ago.  If I remember correctly, the  
> decision of the assembly was that code testing would no longer be  
> supported as an "official" policy, but that individual VECs and VEs were  
> free to offer "unofficial" tests if they so desired.  Note the  
> unintended side benefit of this action - VECs cannot charge for giving a  
> code test, as it is no longer a FCC requirement for any class of amateur  
> radio license.   
> It may be possible to find a VE that still has the capability, but I  
> kind of doubt it.  Enthusiasm for code testing (as opposed to  actually  
> operating on the air) seems to be on the decline.  I am speaking only  
> from my own memory here, and do not pretend to speak for the NCVEC as a  
> whole.  
> This does not mean that learning and using Morse code is being  
> discouraged - just the opposite is true.  Both the ARRL  and the W5YI /  
> Gordon West groups reported a while back that sales of code practice  
> tapes and other code learning materials are more popular than ever.   
> Some observers have reported that on the air code traffic is booming,  
> and that it is becoming hard to find a "hole" in which to start a QSO on  
> some days.     From my point of view, working DX has always been easier  
> on CW then on phone.    For confirmation, try listening during one of  
> the more popular CW DX contests.  It is still true that the modestly  
> equipped stations of some of the rarer DX hams are basically CW only.
>
>
> I am not sure if there is a code requirement for the commercial exams  
> (2nd class radiotelegraph, for example) or not.   There is some software  
> available from various vendors that still does code practice, and one of  
> them could probably do a timed exam.   The W1AW code runs are at several  
> speeds, starting at 5 WPM and increasing by steps until  maxing out at  
> about 35 WPM, I think  The runs go from slow to fast some days and fast  
> to slow other days.  The accuracy of copy can be verified by checking  
> articles and contest results in QST.   
> - Jim, KL7CC
> Anchorage ARC VEC, Inc.
>
>
>
> Kevin Rock wrote:
>> If you ask your local VE very nicely they will give you the code  
>> exams.   All of them :)  It is fun to see how you do on each for a  
>> little practice.
>>     73,
>>        Kevin.  KD5ONS
>>


-- 
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/