I discovered an error in the files listing for the ham radio exam files
area on The Thunderbolt BBS. The FILES.BBS was still showing the 2018 Technician Class Question Pool file, even though it noted "file not valid
after June 30, 2022"...but the file had been removed from the database.
I have made the correction to the FILES.BBS listing...my apologies for the oversight. The file area lists question pools for the US Ham Radio Exams
only.

The General Class Question Pool will change on July 1, 2023, with the
Amateur Extra Class Question Pool changing on July 1, 2024...and the
Technician Class Question Pool won't change again until July 1, 2026.

The pools change every 4 years, with changes in rules and technologies.
While the Question Pools are in the public domain, maintained by the
National Council Of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC), ham radio operators provide the questions as follows:

General Class Licensee: Technician Class Question Pool
Advanced Class Licensee: Technician and General Class Question Pool
Extra Class Licensee: Technician, General, and Extra Class Question Pool

FCC Rules require at least 10 times the number of questions in a pool
as there are on the exam. So, with currently 35 questions for both the Technician and General exam (separate tests), and 50 questions for the
Amateur Extra exam, there are at least 350 questions in the Technician
and General Pool, and at least 500 questions in the Amateur Extra
Question Pool. Many questions are similar...and unless they have been
removed by the NCVEC, there is a chance that ANY of them will appear on
the exam.

The Question Pools expire on June 30 of a particular year, with the
new pool taking effect on July 1 of that same year. In the 4 year
cycle, Technician changes in year 1, General changes in year 2, Amateur
Extra changes in year 3, with no changes in year 4...then, the cycle
starts all over again.

Examinees need to be sure they're studying the correct question pool
for the exam they're taking, or they could be in for a rude awakening
on exam day.

Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (432:1/112)

I discovered an error in the domain for the ham radio websites message.

The CORRECT domain should be wx4qz.net INSTEAD of theweatherwonder.com
as I got rid of that domain over a year ago, due to cost. A fellow ham
radio operator is helping with the hosting fee, and I just pick up the
domain cost. My apologies for the error.

Daryl, WX4QZ
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (432:1/112)

Due to a low turnout of late...and the fact that the summer travel
season is upon us, I've decided to place The Food Net on summer hiatus.

The hiatus will run from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day
Weekend. I should've canceled the net today (June 24) for Field Day,
but that didn't cross my mind, because of other things outside of my
hobbies.

I will still post stuff to the Digital D-Star Food Net group on
Facebook, as well as The RF Digital Diner group on Facebook, from foodnetwork.com

The Food Net will resume on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, on the QuadNet
Array (openquad.net) at 4pm Eastern, 3pm Central, 2pm Mountain, and
1pm Pacific Time.

I have also updated the Excel Net List Spreadsheet listings at http://www.wx4qz.net/elk.htm for this change...as well as for the
addition of a few new nets.

Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, Maitre'd, The RF Digital Diner/NCO, The Food Net
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (432:1/112)

Note: There are already several videos on YouTube concurring with this. DS

***

Please take a few moments to read the following notification from the
ARRL WebSite.

The Direct URL to the article is:

http://www.arrl.org/news/commercial-interests-petition-fcc-for-high-power- allocation-on-shortwave-spectrum

(above URL all on one line)

The context of this article is copied below.

After reading this please reach out to the ARRL, and your congressional representative to let them know that you are OPPOSED to this possible
action!

You can submit your objection using the FCC URL:

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-comment#comments

Reference the Rule Making Request RM-11953

Time is not on our side as the open comment period closes on 31 July
2023.

========================================================================

The ad hoc group "Shortwave Modernization Coalition" petitioned the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow data communications on multiple bands within the HF 2 - 25 MHz range with up to 20 KW,
including in bands immediately adjacent to spectrum allocated to the
Amateur Radio Service. This group appears to represent high-speed stock
trading interests.

ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio (R) is treating the
petition as a subject of concern for its members and the greater Amateur
Radio Service. ARRL Laboratory staff are studying the matter from a
technical standpoint, including analysis of transmitted signals
potentially interfering with Amateur Radio communications on Amateur
Radio spectrum. The results from this expert review are being finalized
and will inform ARRL's filed comments on the matter.

The FCC has assigned the petition RM-11953. Comments are due by July 31,
2023, and reply comments by August 15. While the petitioners exclude the amateur bands, high power operations on immediately adjacent bands are proposed.

A copy of the petition is at:

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1042840187330/1 (PDF).

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Arkansas Section
Section Manager: James D Ferguson Jr, N5LKE
n5lke@arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (432:1/112)