NCVEC Question Pool Committee Seeks Input for an Updated Technician Question Pool

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The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC - http://www.ncvec.org/ ) Question Pool Committee (QPC - http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=333 ) is requesting input from the amateur radio community on new or modified questions for the 2022 - 2026 FCC Element 2 Technician Pool, which goes into effect on 1st July 2022. This may include suggestions for new questions, changes to current examination topic areas, or changes to existing questions in the current Technician Question Pool.

The QPC offered guidelines that said it's seeking input that focuses on topics that enhance public interest, understanding, and use of amateur radio, or focus on STEM hands-on learning and education, as well as questions on new technology, digital modes, station setup and operation, antennas, and emergency and non-emergency operation.

To submit suggested questions for QPC review, the committee asks that questions have no more than two 70-character lines, including spaces. Distractors should be no more than 70-character lines long, and shorter if possible. Each multiple-choice question must be accompanied by four possible distractors and only one correct answer. The answer choices may be in any order, but the correct answer must be indicated by the letters A, B, C, or D at the beginning of the question. Those submitting suggestions should provide the resource information that supports the correct answer or the FCC Part 97 rule.

The QPC will accept question comments, revisions, and submissions from the amateur radio community via email through 30th June 2021. This email address is a bulk forwarding mailbox, so no acknowledgement will be sent by return email. The NCVEC QPC will take all comments into consideration as it updates the Technician Question Pool for 2022 - 2026.

The email address is QPCinput@ncvec.org

Cooperative Effort to Resolve Potential 70-Centimetre Interference Issue

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Cooperative Effort to Resolve Potential 70-Centimetre Interference Issue

The FCC, and the US Department of Defense are cooperating in an effort to eliminate the possibility of amateur radio interference on 70 centimetres to critical systems at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico. The Defense Department’s Regional Spectrum Coordinator contacted the FCC in March, seeking information on whom to contact regarding detected amateur transmissions it believed could pose a threat to a critical WSMR system operating on 70 centimetres. The FCC, in turn, asked ARRL to be involved in the discussion and any necessary remedial efforts. It is to be noted that the Amateur Radio Service is a secondary service on the band.

Investigation revealed that the potential problem was not with individual operators or repeaters, but with RF control links at 420 – 430 MHz used to establish a linked repeater system within New Mexico.

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New RSGB EMF Calculator Available

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New RSGB EMF Calculator Available

A new version of the RSGB/Ofcom EMF Calculator v0.1.2-rsgb9c is available for free download on the RSGB EMF page

Ofcom has produced a guidance document explaining what radio amateurs need to know about the new EMF licence condition. It includes a handy compliance flowchart that shows you step by step what you need to do to carry out your Assessment.

The first step is to determine your station's EIRP, the RSGB's Calculator will help you work this out and give the required Average EIRP value. If this value is 10 watts or less then all you need to do for the Assessment is record the calculated value, nothing else.

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