SB QST @ ARL $ARLB024 ARLB024 Amateur Morse Testing Changes Effective July 1 ZCZC AG24 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 24 ARLB024 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT June 19, 2001 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB024 ARLB024 Amateur Morse Testing Changes Effective July 1 New Morse code exam standards go into effect July 1 for all Volunteer Examiner Coordinators. The new standards call for Farnsworth character speed in the 13-to-15 WPM range and the end of multiple-choice questions for routine Morse code exams. In the wake of restructuring and the establishment of 5 WPM as the sole amateur Morse requirement, the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators voted last July to set up the revised standards for the administration of Morse code examinations in the US. ARRL VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, points out the required change to the Farnsworth protocol replaces the 18-WPM character speed ARRL VEC has used since 1989. ''Standard 5 WPM messages with 5 WPM characters are available as an accommodation,'' he said. ''Standard (non-Farnsworth) speed messages are available upon special request from the ARRL VEC for ARRL VE teams.'' In addition, the Morse exam audio frequency range should be between 700 and 1000 Hz for routine exams. Consistent with the revised standards, Jahnke said, ARRL VEC has set 15-WPM characters as its Farnsworth setting and 750 Hz as its audio-frequency standard. Code practice transmissions from Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will reflect the new Farnsworth standard. W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, says transmissions using the new protocol will begin Monday, July 2. Code transmissions at speeds below 18 WPM will drop from 18 WPM to 15 WPM character speed. W1AW Web code practice files, at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/morse.html, will mirror the new standards too. The new Morse examination standards also affect test administration. After July 1, Morse examinees will have to supply fill-in-the-blank answers for the 10-question Element 1 quiz. Multiple-choice type examinations no longer will be acceptable. Under the new testing regime, Morse code examinees must either correctly answer seven of the ten fill-in-the-blanks questions or correctly copy 25 consecutive characters. Changes are on the horizon for the written examinations as well. Revised Amateur Extra question pool will go into effect July 1, 2002. Reworked Technician and General question pools will become effective on July 1 2003 and 2004 respectively. NNNN /EX