With the practicals being dropped recently just wanted to clarify the position on allowing foundation candidates to use an Advanced license call sign and equipment. This statement has been released by the RSGB to clarify Supervised operation of Foundation candidatesCommunications Manager | October 29, 2021We wish to retain the possibility for Foundation candidates to receive practical on-air training, under supervision, to illustrate the operating and licensing parts of the syllabus, although there is now no necessity to formally assess this.Before any Foundation student is allowed to operate a station under supervision, in accordance with Licence clause 3(3)(a), they must be registered on a recognised Foundation Licence Training Course, with a planned exam date.Licence clause 17 (dd) defines what a recognised Foundation course is i.e.“Recognised Foundation Training Course” means a training course which, if successfully completed, will lead to the person attending the course being issued with a Radio Amateurs’ Examination Pass Certificate which confirms that that person has achieved the level of competence required by Ofcom to be issued with a Foundation Licence;”Ofcom’s “Amateur Radio Licence – guidance” document in clause 2.50 further states:“If the Licence is an Amateur Radio (Full) or a Full (Club) Licence, a person on a Recognised Foundation Training Course as defined in clause 17(dd) of the licence, may use the station. This relates to the period of formal instruction. It is not intended to cover a licensee who decides to allow an unqualified person to use the station at any other time that they may choose.”It will be the responsibility each licensee (club or individual) to satisfy themselves that the supervised operation complies with the terms and conditions of the licence. Examples of how they might do this are to see evidence of a confirmed exam booking or evidence (e.g. an email from the course organiser) that the candidate is registered on a recognised training course as defined above.Tony Kent, G8PBHChair, Examination Standards CommitteeBasically nothing has changed and if a candidate is on a registered course with an exam date set then he/she can operate a radio under supervision.
RSGB Announcements on changes to Exams
The RSGB has announced the abolishment of the requirement of Practical Exams for the Foundation Exam this will now be a exam based license only. For further information please follow the link below.
https://rsgb.services/public/publications/exams/211001_foundation_practical_assessments_esc_announcement.pdf
In the same press release they also announced that the resumption of Face to Face exams . The Society also stated that it expected to phase out paper based exams in favour of Online based exams either at home or at clubs. For more information on this please follow the link below
https://rsgb.services/public/publications/exams/211001_resumption_of_face_to_face_exams_esc_announcement_v2.pdf
RTTY on Isle Of Man?
All the committee have the following request from Heather
“Hi, Please excuse my “cold calling” you, I got your email address from the IOMARS website. I have recently become keen on RTTY and have been trying to get the EU-RTTY award for contacting 50 EU entities. I have currently got 48 QSLed so I am sooooo close but am finding it very hard to work the smaller “countries” including, of course, Isle Of Man. Do you know of anyone on the Island who would be able to have a quick QSO with me on RTTY? Any leads would be greatly appreciated! Once again sorry for “cold calling”Kind Regards and 73Heather M0HMO “
I wonder if anyone is in a position to help Heather if so drop us an email and I will forward her contact details .
Thanks
Nigel
New APRS node for Isle of Man
Thanks to Dave GD4HOZ we now have another APRS node covering Ramsey and the North of the Island.
Message From Dave GD4HOZ reference GB3IM repeaters and linking
More on linking.If you wish to set up a link, P-L-E-A-S-E state your callsign when you do so. I ask for this simple courtesy so that it is clear who set up the link. It helps, when deciding to close down a link that is clearly not being used by local stations, if it is known who the link “belongs” to.Thank you for your co-operation[GD4HOZ]
Announcement from Dave GD4HOZ the repeater keeper
We have been regularly linking with the FreeStar network for almost a month and it’s been a Marmite experience from what I can gather; some like it, some don’t.Personally, I approached it with caution and, in my conversations with the FreeStar admin who reached out to us, I made that known. However, I felt that we at least should give it a fair shot.After a number of conversations in various quarters, and seeing my fears of users de-camping to simplex frequencies being realised, I have come to the conclusion that we are better served with an “Opt-In” link to off-island networks.I have asked the FreeStar admin to change the connection schedule such that we are linked to the network overnight, between 10pm and 7am.Hopefully that will give the “night owls” someone to talk to and it will keep the local network clear during the day.Again, I draw your attention to the linking guidelines on the main website.[GD4HOZ]
APRS Update
As an update there are now 3 APRS receiving station based on the Island. Thanks to Matty Cunningham we now have one at Carnane MD0MAN-10, One at Glen Vine kindly hosted By Gavin Wilby 2D0PEY-10 and one in Ballasalla GD6AFB-10 hosted by Nigel Bazley. If you would like to host one or get involved please get in touch and we will be happy to help.
Shack Night 30th January 2019
Gents Just a reminder its Shack night tonight with Richard GD8EXI running a testing and calibration night .I would like to remind prospective candidates that all application forms for the Advanced Exam have to be in by midnight 31/01/2019 and that tonight is the last club night before the deadline. So far we have 6 Candidates registered.
73’s
Nigel (GD6AFB)
Full licenses Exam to be held
IOMARS is pleased to be able to announce we will be conducting an Advanced License Exam on Sunday 17th February 2019 at the shack in Ballasalla at 14:00 hours . There is obviously a course running at present by Richard GD8EXI with a refresh on the Saturday and Sunday . The exam is open to all who have passed the intermediate and the costs are as follows. Members who have paid their subscritptions on or after the AGM in December 2018 £37.50 non members £47.50 to cover the cost of the hall. Application forms and payments must be received no later than the 30th January 2019 cheques should be made payable to IOMARS. Any issue get in touch with any member of the committee or drop down to the shack on Wednesday nights. Look forward to hearing a whole new bunch of A class licensees.
Exam papers have arrived
Just to advise candidates that the exam papers for this weekend have arrived. Please make sure your at the shack for the exam by no later than 13:30 to ensure we get everyone settled. The foundation candidates I expect will already be there finishing the course. Please remember all practicals must be completed so if there are any outstanding please make sure your at the shack this Wednesday to get them completed. Good Luck and i am looking forward to working you on the air by end of the following week.