Yes, I agree that some guidelines and procedures would need to be in place
to make sure everything was done propperly. I not only think it is doable
but I believe that with a bit of luck and maybe some careful planning we
could see it in the near-future. The procedure that was used in my case I
felt was overkill. We had the three required VEs plus a reader and a person
to write down my answers. That was the configuration that was preferred
here I guess. There may have been a plus to that though since one of the
people called into help was our section coordinator from ARRL. He is the
one that read the exam for me and incidently for Scott last Spring too.
Another thing that I have learned from the discussions here today is that
the usage of Braille exams isn't as low as the VE manual makes it sound.
This may be knitpicking but in reading the section of the manual for special
exams you get the idea that they would refer not to do Braille. I know they
would have needed to do it if I had insisted but it would have also slowed
down the process and I had already been waiting for a test date since late
October.
All of that is a long way of saying that I am going to take into account
many of the comments I have seen today and start asking questions and trying
to educate.
Thanks to all of you for your remarks, already made or made later.
73,
Bob
WA0KZB/AE
----- Original Message -----
From: "Barbara Lombardi" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 3:38 PM
Subject: Re: fcc exams
Oh wow. That's tough when you have to change pages hi hi.
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Tom Behler
Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 4:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: fcc exams
I too took the 20 WPM code test for the older Extra class license with
the good old Perkins Braille writer. Like Howard, I read everything back to
the examiners as copied for the one minute of solid copy, and got all 10
exam questions right as well. I just wanted to know if I could do it both
ways, which I did.
Ran out of my first Braille page in the middle of the exam, though, which
resulted in an interesting scramble. The examiners stopped the tape while I
put the second sheet in my Brailler, after which time the exam immediately
resumed.
Quite an experience for sure!
73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard Kaufman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 11:03 AM
Subject: Re: fcc exams
> When I took my extra, I had it in Braille. I brailed out the CW, and read
> it back to the examiners. One of the guys said "you forgot to read the
> punctuation" so I had to read it again. Made one mistake in 5 minutes of
> code, listening and writing at 20 WPM.
> It was the last 20 WPM code test ever given in Milwaukee. I hear the
> theory
> is harder now than it was then.
> I was proud to have my only real radio skill validated and appreciated.
> I did the General in the same way, going down from Green Bay to Chicago,
> in
> 1967. I think that was the only over night trip in my life that was just
> me
> and my Dad. We stayed at his only Brother's house.
> My Dad never understood radio, but he was sure proud of me that day. He
> saw
> I did something that many of the adults in the room had failed to do.
>
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