I personally think we should have 24 hours of Radio Silence to denote the end
of Amateur Radio as we knew it.
Dan/W4NTI
>From ARRL Web Site.
W1AW Special Event, Midnight Exam Sessions to Mark New Amateur Rules
NEWINGTON, CT, Feb 9, 2007 -- As new Amateur Radio Service rules phase in
Friday, February 23, eliminating the Morse code requirement, Hiram Percy Maxim
Memorial Station W1AW will mark the milestone with a weekend-long special
event. In addition, a number of Central Connecticut volunteer examiners will be
on hand at ARRL Headquarters -- both before and after the new rules become
effective at 12:01 AM EST -- to offer Amateur Radio examinations under both the
current and new rules. ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist Dan Henderson,
N1ND, is helping to coordinate the celebration. He says Headquarters staff and
other volunteers will keep W1AW active for the "Welcome Weekend" event.
"W1AW will be on the air all weekend for this special event to celebrate the
fact that so many amateurs have gained or will earn new privileges as a result
of the rule changes," he said. "The station will operate starting at 12:01 AM
Eastern Time on Friday, February 23, continuing into the wee hours and resuming
operation during the day. Then W1AW will be on the air on both days of the
weekend, from 10 AM until 5 PM -- perhaps longer as conditions and enthusiasm
dictate."
Operation will be on both SSB and CW. W1AW operators will concentrate their
activities on the Technician and General class HF subbands. On SSB, the station
will use its normal phone frequencies -- 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160
and 21.390 MHz. On 10 meters, W1AW will operate SSB on or about 28.480 MHz.
Henderson says operating will be casual unless pileups develop. "The purpose is
to welcome newcomers to new privileges," he said.
"First Contact" certificates will be available as part of this event. ARRL
invites anyone making a first contact or first HF contact to enter the contact
information on the ARRL "Welcome Weekend" Web site and receive a certificate in
return. "If the first contact is with W1AW we will also be including a W1AW QSL
card for the contact," Henderson added.
The ARRL anticipates a huge influx of upgrade applications once the Morse code
requirement disappears. In addition, all Technician licensees will have limited
HF privileges starting February 23, whether or not they've passed a Morse code
test.
Amateur Radio exam sessions both before and after the zero hour will offer an
opportunity for applicants either to upgrade under the outgoing licensing rules
at the last possible opportunity or under the new licensing rules at the first
possible opportunity.
"Dual exam sessions are scheduled at ARRL Headquarters around the effective
time of the new licensing rules," says Brennan Price, N4QX, a former ARRL staff
member and an ARRL VEC volunteer examiner. "At 11 PM on February 22, a session
will be held for candidates wishing to upgrade under the existing rules. A few
folks have expressed interest in such a session." Price says all Amateur Radio
written and telegraphy elements will be offered until midnight.
"At 12:01 AM February 23, a second session will begin under the new licensing
rules," he said. "Examiners will not only be evaluating previously earned
Certificates of Successful Completion of Exam (CSCEs) for upgrades, but will be
offering all written elements." Two teams of volunteer examiners will be on
site until all applicants have been served.
On or after February 23, applicants upgrading on the basis of a valid CSCE must
present the certificate for element credit, fill out an application and pay any
applicable exam session fee, which most VECs charge. Only after the VE team has
issued a CSCE for upgrade credit may applicants actually use their new
operating privileges on the air.
Additional Welcome Weekend information will be available on the ARRL Web site
in the days leading up to February 23.
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