ham radio license test - St. Norbert College - De Pere, WI 2011-05-21
Most people get their Technician class ham radio license first and then progress on to the other two license classes – general and then extra. Each class gives more privledges and more responsibility. More frequencies and more power allowed. The license tests are designed to ensure that the person that wants to operate on those frequencies understands what they need to know to be legal, efficient and safe. I believe that the three people that took the test on this day all had their technician licenses for some time. Some longer than others. While some take multiple levels of exams all on the same day – and that’s OK if you REALLY know the material – most don’t. The reality is that there is a lot of new information in each exam and the old method of one step at a time is both very satisfying and very effective. I recommend it for most people unless you already are an industry expert or have other training that has given you the bulk of the knowledge in the past.
In reality, passing the technician class exam is relatively easy. The FCC did not design the process to keep people out or to collect a lot of fees from people having to re-take exams. Quite the contrary. The FCC knows that having a lot of trained hams is good for the country. They just want to make sure we know what we are doing and are relatively safe. I say relatively because, still, we hear of ham radio related accidents every year that results in the death of people.
The people that took this particular ham radio exam were obviously well prepared. When they came into the testing room there was a minimal amount of chit chat. Some to be friendly but I could tell they were quite focused on what they came to do.
As a Volunteer Examiner it is always nice to see people pass their exam. I have seen people take exams that clearly were not prepared for the test and failed. That is just no fun to watch. When people pass their ham radio license test quickly it is a good thing. The people that pass the test are happy as are the people that graded the tests. When people pass their tests quickly it takes less time on a nice weekend for those giving and grading the tests and for those taking the tests. NOW – with that said – I certainly have no problem taking extra time if someone needs it. I also actually would encourage someone that JUST missed passing to take it again. I also like to see people ask if they would like to take the NEXT level of license exam after they have just passed their current test. I’d rather take a little extra time THIS weekend instead of taking ANOTHER weekend to do the same thing over again. BUT – it is really nice when the entire process is short and sweet. Everyone is prepared. Everyone passes quickly. Everyone get back to their weekend inside of an hour two hours. That is a bonus!
That’s what happened this time around. A good day was had by all… Congratulations to the new general class license holders!
Jon Kreski, AB9NN – Appleton / Green Bay, Wisconsin Area
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