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-
- The Multi-Task "A" licence test
- ===============================
-
- PART ONE OF TWO
- ---------------
-
- There have in recent weeks, been discussions at headquarters of forwarding a
- suggestion for a "Multi-Task 'A' Licence examination" run in conjunction with
- the RSGB, Governing body (DTI or whoever at the time) and the City & Guilds
- of London Institute. It has been suggested that the plain CW test is now
- outmoded and that the new examination should be more orientated towards the
- actual activities of the individual. Not wanting to be left behind in this
- technological era we realise that everyone has different interests and we
- can't stand in anybodies way that wants to advance themselves by making them
- sit a CW test.
-
- At the moment the plans are only draft(?) and is therefore open to
- constructive, helpful and critical suggestion.
-
- The idea is:
-
- There should be (up to yet) 10 catagories available to the person seeking an
- 'A' licence in his chosen field. Upon attaining his desired 'A' mode he is
- allowed to work that mode on HF but it does not affect his allocation under
- 30Mhz.
-
- The 10 catagories are:
-
- 1) Phone (including SSB)
- 2) RTTY
- 3) Satellite
- 4) Moonbounce
- 5) TV
- 6) AMTOR
- 7) FAX
- 8) Packet (operator)
- 9) Packet (SysOp)
- 10) Morse
-
- The course and examination details are as follows:
-
- 1) Phone (including SSB)
-
- The student must have attended a three month course, run by the C&G, in
- speach, enunciation and operating practices in accordance with phone
- operation. The examination would then take place after the three month
- period. Course costs are †35 for the course and †15 for the examination.
-
- 2) RTTY
-
- Although this is pretty much an outmoded mode, there is still a demand so
- therefore we will have a one month operating course with a further three
- months course run by the Jill Somerfield school of typing under the guidance
- of the C&G. The examination would take place directly after the typing
- course and both operating and typing skills will be taken into account as
- well as course work. Cost would be †150 for the typing and †25 for the
- operation, the exam fee is †15.
-
- 3) Satellite
-
- This is a most difficult category to assess, but the student must have full
- knowledge of apogees and things and the way satellites function. Patrick
- Moore has offered to train the lecturers and in the first instance, sit in on
- the courses provided. The courses will be held in and around Jodrell Bank,
- and the student must find his own accomodation expenses. Due to the
- technicality of this subject final details have not been finalised but it is
- expected that costs will be around †250 plus a further †75 for the
- examination. If there is anyone interested in taking xylaphone lessons to
- fill in the night times you can contact Patrick directly at the course.
-
- 4) Moonbounce
-
- The main aspect of this catagory is the ability to work with aluminium, form
- it into aerial type shapes, get it into the air and keep it there. The
- course will be run by a yet unnanounced sheet metal worker, formerly employed
- by the Alcan company. We will also have guidance from Patrick Moore on this
- subject as he knows where the Moon is. Course costs will be similar to those
- in the Satellite section.
-
- 5) TV
-
- There are going to be courses run in five different regions of the country,
- we have already to contacted local TV stations and at the moment the response
- has been favourable. They will have their professionals coach our students
- in the why's and wherefores of TV transmission and then carry out the
- examination "in house". The stations contacted are:
-
- Thames (for the South East)
- TSW (for the South West)
- Central (for the Midlands)
- Granada (for the North West)
- Tyne Tees (for the North East)
-
- We have already contacted the BBC but they declined due to the costs of
- Eldorado, they have already spent the TV licence money and can't afford to
- release anybody on "such a flippant mission"
-
- We have not, as yet, formulated any costs. You will be informed.
-
- 6) AMTOR
-
- Nobody seems to know anything about this so we haven't done anything
- yet. Can anybody enlighten us please?
-
- 7) FAX
-
- This seems a waste of time so we will give this catagory to anybody who
- passes any of the other subjects, subject to a payment of †5.
-
- 8) Packet
-
- Once again, typing skills are the most important item so Jill will take the
- courses under the guidance of the C&G. Also included will be the use of
- punctuation (ie:commas [,], full stops [.], exclamation marks [!] and capital
- letters) and the proper use of upper and lower case and the fourty column
- screen. It is paramount also, that the art of serial communications is
- understood so Kellogs have kindly offered to assist wherever possible. The
- course and examination fee is †150
-
- 9) Packet (SysOp)
-
- The prospective SysOp must have passed the examination as in (8) above and
- have had at least three years experience as an operator before he is allowed
- to become SysOp status. He may take the examination whenever he wants ie:
- at the same time as (8) above but the three years must have elapsed before
- the licence takes effect. The examination involves advanced typing skills,
- DOS knowledge, database management, data corruption (the fixing thereof) and
- working knowledge of the following software for BBSs:
-
- 1) MBL
- 2) W0RLI
- 3) NNA
- 4) FBB
- 5) The Box
- 6) YFB
-
- Plus the BPQ switch code.
-
- He will be required to set up a mult-connect system in one hour from scratch
- on any two of the above. There is no course involved but all the software
- packages have "adequate" documentation. The examination cost wil be †50. A
- course in DesqView is planned to help if required, price as yet not
- negotiated.
-
- 10) Morse
-
- We feel that the existing courses for this mode are quite adequate and
- nothing is to change.
-
- There is another problem involved this new system, and that is the callsign.
- What we are suggesting is this:
-
- If you have an "A" licence in phone your call could be:
-
- G01ABC
-
- Signifying that you have "A" licence status in phone. Obviously if you have
- more than one skill it could look like this:
-
- G0158ABC
-
- Signifying that you have "A" licence status in phone, TV and packet
- (operator)
-
- It could end up that you have all 10 skills and the call would look like:
-
- G012345678910ABC
-
- We realise that this makes things somewhat complicated, especially for CW
- operators, we have thought of that (clever us) If you do indeed pass the
- morse test as in (10) above then you can have all the others for nothing,
- that would simplify the call to:
-
- G0ABC
-
- We think this is the best solution.
-
- We look forward to your helpful suggestions, and we will answer all your mail
- with the usual terseness.
-
- ------------------------------ Cut Here -------------------------------------
-
- This is a copy of a letter photocopied and passed around in a pub some weeks
- ago, and I thought, due to the present situation, that this was the right
- time to distribute it. If you know of anyone who doesn't use packet and would
- be interested, feel free to print and re-distribute it, there is no copyright
- involved.
-
- With apologise to G0ABC.
-
- Best regards from Mick G4XMH @ GB7XAN.
-
- *** EOF
-