VE News, Announcements, Newsletters

VEC News

News Items Relevant to VEC Activities

The ARRL VE Newsletter and other VEC related information and news items will be posted to this page periodically.
June 2011 - VE Newsletter: New General Exams in Effect

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ARRL VEC, VE E-Newsletter, June 2011
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New General Class Element 3 Exams are to be used at exam sessions
beginning Friday July 1, 2011.

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For ARRL VE teams who are Formally Field Stocked by the ARRL VEC, five new General class exam design booklets were shipped out on Tuesday June 21, 2011. Field Stocked VE Team leaders that have yet not received the package containing the new general exam versions should contact the ARRL VEC. Current exam booklets are listed on our web site at http://www.arrl.org/vec-exam-booklets. Field Stocked VEs should check this page periodically to make sure they have the current exam designs.

   ** Please discard any existing General class exam booklets (2007 series)
      on or after Midnight, June 30, 2011, as they will no longer be valid. **

Field Stocked teams should be especially vigilant about keeping us informed of who has possession of the exam supplies. Notify us immediately when your address changes or the teams Field Stock changes hands to ensure that any exam updates will be mailed to and received by the proper person. Periodically check your supplies to make sure they are current and that the quantities are sufficient.
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For ARRL VE teams who are using our VE Exam Maker - exam generating software, the updated version 1.4 was released Wednesday June 29, 2011 and is available on the ARRL VEC software web page. Exam Maker 1.4 contains the NEW General class pool that must be in use for exam sessions starting Friday July 1st, 2011. Exam Maker version 1.3 will not be valid after midnight of June 30th.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS: Automatic updates will not work when going from version 1.3 (released 2010) to version 1.4 (released 2011) of Exam Maker. Current users will have to uninstall (remove) version 1.3 manually and then download and install version 1.4 in order to have the latest version of the software. Check the ARRL VEC software web page http://www.arrl.org/ve-exam-maker-software periodically for up to date information.

     ** Exam Maker Software Instructions **

1. Current users must uninstall the previous version of ARRL VE Exam Maker. (For most users this is via the Control Panel and the “Add/Remove Programs” feature)

2. Then go to http://www.arrl.org/install-arrl-ve-exam-maker to download Exam Maker 1.4.

3. Click "Install Now". Choose “open” and then “install” to install the program on your computer or “save” to install the program at a later date. Some operating systems will not offer a choice and will immediately install the program on your computer.

4. Once installed, the new version of ARRL VE Exam Maker should open automatically. When it opens, you will need to “Initialize the Exam Database” to download the current Amateur Radio question pools and specifications. Type your callsign in the “ARRL/VEC Username” box AND in the “Password” box. Then click the “Execute” button. It will take several minutes for all the question pools to download. When completed, the screen will read “Exam Database Initialized“. (If not prompted automatically by the program, select "Update,” and then "Initialize Database" on the menu bar. You must download the question pools database to initialize the exam database.)

5. VE teams who plan to use our blue overlay grading templates must also “download” the template files. The template database must be downloaded to utilize the template designs with the exam database. From the menu bar, select “Update” and then “Initialize Templates”. Then click the “ok” button. Again, type your callsign in the “ARRL/VEC Username” box AND in the “Password” box. Then click the “Execute” button. It will only take several seconds for all the template files to download. When completed, the screen will read “Loaded 36 ARRL/VEC templates“.

6. Exam software is ready to use! For additional information or instructions, visit the Exam Maker software web page at http://www.arrl.org/ve-exam-maker-software or click the “Help” button within the program.

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Do not toss out Overlay Grading Templates, ever!

The BLUE plastic overlay grading templates used to grade the exams at test sessions, should never be thrown away or destroyed when new exam versions are introduced. We specifically designed the plastic templates so that they will always be useful, no matter what exams are created. They will never become obsolete. The "Key for Templates" is what will be replaced (paper instructions - explaining how to line up the template and which template corresponds with which exam version for proper grading). This KEY will be changed or updated to let you know how to match up the templates with any new exams that are issued. Shred or destroy previous versions of the paper “Key for Templates” and only use the version that displays “valid on or after July 1, 2011” in the upper right corner of page.

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Questions can be directed to --
Address: ARRL VEC, 225 Main St, Newington CT 06111
Phone: 1-800-927-7583
Email:   vec@arrl.org

To unsubscribe from these messages, forward this message to support@arrl.net.

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VEC NEWS

NEW   - VEC Challenge Coin

ARRL VEs, show off your support with a commemorative challenge coin!
This special keepsake honors the service of ARRL Volunteer Examiners, who give so generously of their time, energy and skill. Go to http://www.arrl.org/shop/VEC-Challenge-Coin/ to view the coin.

2011 ARRL National Exam Day Weekend

ARRL sponsored national exam day weekends are held annually on the last full weekends of April and September.
Fall national exam day weekend is September 24-25, 2011.
We thank you for your support of these events.

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VE Express Newsletter is published by the
American Radio Relay League, Inc. - the national association for Amateur Radio®.

Material from the ARRL VE Express Newsletter may be republished or reproduced
in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
The American Radio Relay League VEC.

ARRL VEC
225 Main Street
Newington CT 06111 USA

Email: vec@arrl.org
ARRL VEC telephone: 860-594-0300
ARRL VEC Fax: 860-594-0339
ARRL telephone: 860-594-0200

Information about the VE-List server may be found on the VE Newsletter page.

Please do NOT respond to these automated emails. A “reply” to this bulk email address will not reach us as only the list administrator may post to the list.

Sincerely,
Maria Somma, AB1FM - VEC Manager / Editor
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio ®
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111 USA
msomma@arrl.org
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March 2011 - VE Newsletter: QPC Withdraws One Question

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ARRL VEC, VE E-Newsletter, March 2011

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FCC Report and Order RM-11325

The Question Pool Committee of the National Council of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators has detected one question impacted by the FCC RM-11325 Report and Order (R&O). As a result, Extra class question E1F13 must be removed from the Extra Class Question Pool and Extra class (Element 4) Exams by April 29 the day the R&O goes into effect. RM-11325 was posted in the Federal Register on March 30. The effective date is 30 days AFTER posting in the Federal Register. Therefore, question E1F13 must be removed from all exams administered on or after April 29, 2011. For further information on the Report and Order go to the ARRL web news item Revised Spread Spectrum Rules to go into Effect April 29, 2011.

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ARRL VEC Exam Booklets Unchanged

None of the ARRL VEC printed Extra class exam booklets are impacted by the R&O. ARRL VEC will NOT need to replace any of our field stocked supplied exam booklets because question E1F13 does not appear in any of our current exams.

You may continue to use your Extra class (Element 4) test design booklets 4-1-2008, 4-2-2008, 4-4-2008 and 4-5-2008. (4-3-2008 was removed from use in July 2010 due to a previous FCC rule change).

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ARRL VEC Exam Maker Software Brought Up to Date

Extra class question E1F13 has been moved to the locked out file within the program.

ARRL volunteer examiner teams using Exam Maker software just have to update the exam file.

To lock out or block the deleted question from being used on future Exam Maker generated exams, please use the following instructions:

Users will run the Update -> Update Exam Data command to import the updated data.

Previous versions of Exam Maker Extra class exams that contain this question may not be used at any exam sessions administered on or after April 29.

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General Class Pool Reminder

A new General class question pool will take effect for all Element 3 General class license exams on July 1, 2011. Current ARRL VEC supplied General class test booklets versions (2007 series) are valid until midnight June 30, 2011. ARRL VEC will be supplying its Field Stocked VE teams with new exam booklets about the 3rd week in June. The ARRL VEC Exam Maker Software will also be updated mid June.

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If you have any questions, please contact the VEC department directly at vec@arrl.org.

Information about the VE-List server may be found on the VE Newsletter page.

Please do NOT respond to these automated emails. A “reply” to this bulk email address will not reach us as only the list administrator may post to the list.

Sincerely,
Maria Somma, AB1FM
ARRL/VEC Manager
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio ®
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111
msomma@arrl.org
May 24, 2010 - Question Pool Committee Withdraws Four Questions

The Question Pool Committee of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators announced the withdrawal of two questions from the Technician class pool and two questions from the Extra class pool. VECs and VEs must take action to remove these questions from use by July 1, 2010.

Due to a rules change and pending action by the FCC, questions T2C02 and T2C03 from the July 2010 Technician Pool, and questions E1C04 and E1C05 from the July 2008 Extra Pool are not to be used in examinations after June 30.

For more information concerning the withdrawn questions, please refer to the ARRL News item: NCVEC Question Pool Committee Withdraws Four Questions.

ARRL VEC Exams Update - Booklets Removed from Use

Extra class exam booklet design version 4–3–2008 contains withdrawn question E1C04 (exam question 22). As a result, this booklet should be removed from exam session use on July 1, 2010.

General class exam booklet design version 3–2–2007 contains withdrawn question G0B14 (exam question 26). This booklet should have already been removed from use at exam sessions by Nov. 30, 2009.

ARRL VEC Exam Maker Software

For ARRL VE teams who are using our exam generating VE Exam Maker Software, the updated version will be released mid-June. When released, the new version will contain the NEW Technician class pool which takes effect on July 1st. The two withdrawn questions (T2C02 and T2C03) in the new Technician class pool will be included in the "Locked Out" questions list in the software and will not be available for use on exams.

The two withdrawn Extra class questions (E1C04 and E1C05) will also be moved into the “Locked Out” questions list. VEs have the option of manually moving the questions into the "Locked Out" list (see "Locked Out" questions list instructions) before the new software is released.

Please make sure your previously randomly generated exams do not contain the two withdrawn Extra class questions. If any printed Extra exams contain these withdrawn questions, they must be discarded by July 1, 2010.
March 25, 2010 - Disaster Drills and Amateur Radio

ARRL News Item FCC Issues Notice of Proposed Rule Making on Government Disaster Drills and Amateur Radio
February 2, 2010 - Technician Pool Second Release, Updated by QPC

ARRL News item NCVEC Question Pool Committee Releases Second Version of New Technician Question Pool
ARRL Press Release - Amateur Radio Grows in 2009

30,000 New Licensees
____________________________________________________
January 6, 2010 - Amateur Radio License Numbers Up

ARRL News Item 2009 Sees Surge of New Amateur Radio Licensees
January 4, 2010 - New Technician Question Pool Released

ARRL News Item NCVEC Question Pool Committee Releases New Technician Class Question Pool
November 25, 2009 - FCC Looks at Vanity Call Sign Rules

ARRL News item FCC Looks to Revise, Clarify Vanity Call Sign Rules
October 30, 2009 - VE Newsletter

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          ARRL VEC
VE Express Newsletter
      October 30, 2009
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IN THIS EDITION:

   * NCVEC Question Pool Committee Withdraws Two Questions

   * General Class Exam Booklet Removed from Use

   * VE Exam Generating Software Exam Maker updated

   * Current ARRL VEC Written Exam Booklets

   * Extra Class Exam Booklet Minor Fix

   * ARRL VEC 2009/2010 Test Fee

   * Submitting Test Results to VEC

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As always, we are here to answer any questions you may have.
Please feel free to contact us via your ARRL VE Hotline at
1-800-927-7583 or by email at vec@arrl.org

73,
Maria Somma, AB1FM
ARRL/VEC Manager
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio™
225 Main Street
Newington, CT06111

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NCVEC Question Pool Committee Withdraws Two Questions

The Question Pool Committee of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators announced the withdrawal of questions G1E10 and G0B14 from the General Class Question Pool. These questions will not be used in examinations after November 30, 2009.

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One ARRL VEC General Class Exam Booklet Removed from Use

General class exam booklet design version 3–2–2007 contains withdrawn question G0B14 (exam question 26). As a result, this booklet must be REMOVED from use by Nov. 30, 2009.

VE team liaisons officially field stocked by ARRL VEC must please discard your existing General class exam booklet version 3–2–2007 by Midnight, November 30^th as it will no longer be valid.

We will not be supplying this exam booklet to VE Teams and ARRL VEC will not be replacing this booklet at this time.

Version 3–2–2007 is the only printed exam that contains a withdrawn question. No other ARRL VEC printed exam booklets are affected.

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ARRL VE Exam Maker Software Update

For ARRL VE teams who are using our exam generating VE Exam Maker Software, the updated version has been released and is available on the ARRL web. The newer version has the two withdrawn questions (G1E10 and G0B14) moved into the “Locked Out” list.

Please make sure your previously randomly generated exams do not contain these two questions. If any printed exams contain these withdrawn questions, they must be discarded.

ARRL volunteer examiner teams using Exam Maker Software just have to update the "Locked Out" list to include the 2 withdrawn questions.

To lock out or block the two questions from being used on your Exam Maker
generated exams, please use the following instructions:

   1. Open the Exam Maker program.
   2. From the menu bar select "Update" and then select "Update Exam Data"
        on the pull-down menu.
   3. Log in using your username (usually your current call sign) and password
        and by clicking on the “execute” button to execute the update exam database
        command. A message will read: “Updating exam database. Please wait.”
   4. After the update is completed, a message will read ” Exam Database Initialized”.
        The program will now be ready to generate exams with the new locked-out list
        for the General Pool.

Pool questions may also be moved manually to the "Locked Out" list.

Open the Exam Maker program. From the menu bar select "File" and then select "Preferences" on the pull-down menu. An “Options” box will appear. Click on the “Pools” tab and choose “General” pool from the drop down box. In the “Questions” list scroll down to locate question G1E10. Highlight the question number then click on the “arrow” button to move the question over to the “Locked Out” list. You must click on the “Save” button to complete the update. Follow the same instructions for question G0B14. After the update is completed, click “Ok”. The program is now ready to generate exams with the new locked-out list for the General Pool.

Information on the current ARRL VE Exam Maker Software version V 1.1 can be viewed on the ARRL Web at http://www.arrl.org/ve-exam-maker-software . VEs using software version 1.2.1beta must re-install the Exam Maker software on their computer before the locked-out file can be updated.

If your team is using our exam generating software and will need any VEC forms please contact us at the ARRL VEC.

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Current ARRL VEC Written Exam Booklets

Technician Exams

    2-1-2006

    2-2-2006

    2-3-2006

    2-4-2006

    2-5-2006

General Exams

    3-1-2007

    3-2-2007    (must be REMOVED from use by November 30, 2009.)

    3-3-2007

    3-4-2007    (contains ONE graphic)

    3-5-2007

Extra Exams

    4-1-2008    (contains THREE graphics)

    4-2-2008    (contains THREE graphics)

    4-3-2008    (contains THREE graphics) (Question number 15 minor fix,
                   see info below.)

    4-4-2008    (contains THREE graphics)

    4-5-2008    (contains NO graphics)

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Extra Class Exam Booklet Minor Fix

This message is for VE Teams that have been officially field stocked with the 2008 Extra class exam booklets.

In Extra class exam booklet version 4-3-2008, there is a minor error with Question 15.

The candidate is given 5 possible answers to choose from instead of 4.

Simply put a line through the last answer line, which is the second (D) answer, with a pen or marker.

Do not use a permanent marker as it will bleed through the paper.

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ARRL VEC 2009/2010 Examination Fee

The ARRL VEC exam fee for 2009 is $15.00. Remember that a $15 fee is charged to every person seeking a new license or upgrade as listed on your ARRL VEC Candidate Roster. That one fee pays for one attempt at each of the three exam elements. If an applicant retests an exam element that was failed moments earlier, another $15 fee is charged (and another Roster entry is created). For necessary and prudent expenses incurred at an exam session, a team can retain up to $7.00 per exam fee collected for reimbursement.

The ARRL VEC exam fee for 2010 will remain at $15.00.

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Submitting Test Results to VEC

Please ensure that the candidate’s write legibly on their 605 forms at the exam session. This will help cut down on the number of license name and address corrections we must submit to FCC.

The US Postal Service stipulates that a return address must be included on all envelopes. Any post office can refuse a package that does not have a return name and address label attached. Be sure to place a return address on all your post test session envelopes to VEC department. That way your package will not be unnecessarily delayed.

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VE Express Newsletter is published by the
American Radio Relay League, Inc. - the national association for Amateur Radio

Material from the ARRL VE Express Newsletter may be republished or reproduced
in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
The American Radio Relay League VEC.

ARRL VEC
225 Main Street
Newington CT 06111 USA
Email: vec@arrl.org
ARRL VEC telephone: 860-594-0300
ARRL VEC Fax: 860-594-0339
ARRL telephone: 860-594-0200

Joel Harrison, W5ZN - President
David Sumner, K1ZZ - Chief Executive Officer
Harold Kramer, WJ1B - Chief Operating Officer
Maria Somma, AB1FM - VEC Manager / Editor

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Copyright 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

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To unsubscribe:

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THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING THE ARRL VEC !
January 16, 2009 - License Activity up in 2008

The ARRL Letter Vol.28, No.2 FCC License Activity on the Rise
November 6, 2008 - ARRL VEC Exam Fee is $15

ARRL News item ARRL VEC Announces Exam Fee Increase

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