RSGB Examination Standards 1st Report

The RSGB have released their first report in relation to the standards of the UK Amateur / Ham Radio Exam process

The report details numbers sitting / passing, details of improvement discussions along with lessons learnt.

Some of the detailed irregularities were dealt with by the EG during the first 5 months of 2015 include:  

• One, continuing from 2014, involved a local mismarking and a subsequent exchange of solicitors’ letters. No further activity has occurred and the matter is assumed closed.  
• An unauthorised reader incident was resolved with advice to those concerned. Unfortunately the candidate had failed.  
• An inspection noted that an Advanced exam had started 2 hours early, there were posters on view allegedly of potential help to candidates and the start and finish times were not displayed. The timing does potentially compromise all other Advanced exams although there is no evidence it actually did. Strong words of advice were issued.  
• A returned examination envelope contained only the OMS, Exam Booklet and Register. The Exam Papers, Answer Key, Invigilator Checklist and Reference Data Booklets were missing (the reference data booklets can be destroyed locally). The assistant invigilator, who had not previously undertaken this role, had taken the exam papers and answer key home in the claimed belief they should be destroyed. They were nonetheless returned to the RSGB several days later. The Examination Standards Manager visited the club, who were apologetic and formally resolved to ensure the assistant invigilator was appropriately trained before being allowed to invigilate again. The club received a written warning and words of advice.
• The final case dealt with by the EG involved a fire alarm, fortunately a false alarm, which nonetheless involved evacuation of the building. One young candidate who was expected to pass showed a pattern of wrong answers for a few questions on resuming the exam. The RSGB does not have the authority to take any ‘Special Consideration’ into account, and re-sits are readily available. A re-sit paper was recommended, free of charge. In this instance it was anticipated that the hall owners, who caused the false alarm, would not charge for the hall.

The report, including many reports from the committee, can be downloaded from https://thersgb.org/publications/committees/esc/2016/20160506-annual-report-of-the-rsgb-examination-standards-committee.pdf

Hara Arena in Consideration for New Fairgrounds

Representatives of the Montgomery County Agricultural Society have visited at least three sites in Trotwood as possible new locations for the Montgomery County Fair, the city’s mayor said Wednesday.

Among those sites has been the Hara Arena property, Mayor Mary McDonald said. She declined to identify the other two sites. “I can tell you the fair is looking at several locations within the city of Trotwood,” McDonald said.

Full Story - http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/trotwood-mayor-fair-officials-are-visiting-city-si/nrChh/

UK Air Cadets 5MHz Radio Exercise

Over the weekend of 18 and 19 June 2016, the ACO (Air Cadet Organisation) will be organising and running a military style national radio exercise named ‘Exercise Blue Ham’, this will be one of the many events the organisation is holding to mark its 75th Anniversary of Formation during 2016-17.

To make this successful, the ACO have requested as many Amateur Radio Operators to take part to make the exercise the biggest radio exercise that the organisation has been involved in.

The exercise will take place on the MOD 5MHz (60 Meters) Band and a significant part of the exercise will be on the section of the band that amateurs are authorised to use.

The Cadet stations will operate from noon 17 June until noon 18 June on specific frequencies within the band. These frequencies will be published live on the internet as the exercise is in progress and amateurs are welcome to check the exercise web site and call in on the advertised frequencies. The website will be continually updated with test software data along with frequency changes etc. Contact information will also be displayed.

Anniversary Certificates will be issued for amateur stations that contact 50 or 75 Cadet stations during the exercise.

This exercise does not give amateur stations permission to operate outside of their normal licensing conditions.

The ACO looks forward to operating as many of you that we can during the period of the Exercise and it will give our young operators an ideal opportunity for them to utilise their radio operating training on HF equipment to a different audience.

Exercise Blue Ham - http://www.alphacharlie.org.uk/blueham