[InHam] INARRL BULLETIN 02-2007

[Brian Murrey]

INARRL BULLETIN 02-2007
7:42AM EST FEBRUARY 15, 2007

W1AW Special Event, Midnight Exam Sessions to Mark New Amateur Rules

NEWINGTON, CT, Feb 9, 2007 -- As new Amateur Radio Service rules phase in
Friday, February 23, eliminating the Morse code requirement, Hiram Percy
Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will mark the milestone with a weekend-long
special event. In addition, a number of Central Connecticut volunteer
examiners will be on hand at ARRL Headquarters -- both before and after the
new rules become effective at 12:01 AM EST -- to offer Amateur Radio
examinations under both the current and new rules. ARRL Regulatory
Information Specialist Dan Henderson, N1ND, is helping to coordinate the
celebration. He says Headquarters staff and other volunteers will keep W1AW
active for the "Welcome Weekend" event.

"W1AW will be on the air all weekend for this special event to celebrate the
fact that so many amateurs have gained or will earn new privileges as a
result of the rule changes," he said. "The station will operate starting at
12:01 AM Eastern Time on Friday, February 23, continuing into the wee hours
and resuming operation during the day. Then W1AW will be on the air on both
days of the weekend, from 10 AM until 5 PM -- perhaps longer as conditions
and enthusiasm dictate."

Operation will be on both SSB and CW. W1AW operators will concentrate their
activities on the Technician and General class HF subbands. On SSB, the
station will use its normal phone frequencies -- 1.855, 3.990, 7.290,
14.290, 18.160 and 21.390 MHz. On 10 meters, W1AW will operate SSB on or
about 28.480 MHz.

Henderson says operating will be casual unless pileups develop. "The purpose
is to welcome newcomers to new privileges," he said.

"First Contact" certificates will be available as part of this event. ARRL
invites anyone making a first contact or first HF contact to enter the
contact information on the ARRL "Welcome Weekend" Web site and receive a
certificate in return. "If the first contact is with W1AW we will also be
including a W1AW QSL card for the contact," Henderson added.

The ARRL anticipates a huge influx of upgrade applications once the Morse
code requirement disappears. In addition, all Technician licensees will have
limited HF privileges starting February 23, whether or not they've passed a
Morse code test.

Amateur Radio exam sessions both before and after the zero hour will offer
an opportunity for applicants either to upgrade under the outgoing licensing
rules at the last possible opportunity or under the new licensing rules at
the first possible opportunity.

"Dual exam sessions are scheduled at ARRL Headquarters around the effective
time of the new licensing rules," says Brennan Price, N4QX, a former ARRL
staff member and an ARRL VEC volunteer examiner. "At 11 PM on February 22, a
session will be held for candidates wishing to upgrade under the existing
rules. A few folks have expressed interest in such a session." Price says
all Amateur Radio written and telegraphy elements will be offered until
midnight.

"At 12:01 AM February 23, a second session will begin under the new
licensing rules," he said. "Examiners will not only be evaluating previously
earned Certificates of Successful Completion of Exam (CSCEs) for upgrades,
but will be offering all written elements." Two teams of volunteer examiners
will be on site until all applicants have been served.

On or after February 23, applicants upgrading on the basis of a valid CSCE
must present the certificate for element credit, fill out an application and
pay any applicable exam session fee, which most VECs charge. Only after the
VE team has issued a CSCE for upgrade credit may applicants actually use
their new operating privileges on the air.

Additional Welcome Weekend information will be available on the ARRL Web
site in the days leading up to February 23.

========================================
Brian Murrey - KB9BVN
KB9BVN at arrl.net
Indiana Section Bulletin Manager
(317)535-9887