Exams…

Those who read the article about me knew that I was going to "D-ečko". Last week I received the coveted invitation. When studying, I mainly relied on two sources: the book "Requirements for amateur radio station operator exams" by Ing. Jaroslav Kadlčák OK1BB and Ing. Miloš Prostecky OK1MP and the website of the Slovak Technical University https://www.teleoff.gov.sk. Since time was short and I wanted to learn it as best as possible, there were a few articles on the portal and I only replied to e-mails today - SRI...

My pilgrimage to the exams started on Monday evening - by tram through Starý Smokovec to Poprad. After 40 minutes of waiting, the bus arrives. He arrives at Nivy before five in the morning. I am already encouraging it in such a way that even a crocodile would be scared. At the station I wait for daylight, then I jump to eat something and head for the city. TÚ SR is located at Továrenská 7 in a nice building. I'm already sitting at the gatehouse at about half past seven....

How do such amateur radio tests take place?

Everyone - it's seven o'clock (shame!) we go to the meeting at eight o'clock, where we are welcomed by the chairman of the examination committee, Mrs. Kováčová. He will introduce us to the members of the examination committee and tell us how such an examination is conducted. We still need to check the applications, and we can start!

Adepti na triedu C a B začínajú skúškou z morzeovky a prevádzky. In order not to disturb them, we go into the corridor, but behind the door we hear the beeping. Concentration, nervousness and great anticipation can be seen on the faces. After all, they have been preparing for this for so long!

After that, the others also get to speak - it's the turn of the regulations and technical exams. Five questions from each area. Nothing complicated if one has studied it. I guess it's only the technique that makes it difficult - I guess every applicant stayed there the longest.

Ja začínam examination of the regulations. Začínam otázkou: „Čo je to amatérska vysielacia rádiová stanica?“. „Za akých podmienok je možné vysielať z paluby lodí a lietadiel?“: ďalšia otázka. Nie som si celkom istý, ale zdá sa, že odpovedám dobre. „Čo nie je dovolené vysielať?“ Potom sa odoberám na chodbu, kde si porovnávame otázky…

Po krátkej pauze prichádzam na „prevádzku“. Tú hodnotili moji známi ako aj najťažšiu. Rozoberáme možnosti využitia 2m. EME, tropo, lokátorový systém, QSL tickets... The questions are really more difficult, it's not enough to just get good at it. There are several to think about. A "I'll call an acquaintance" joker would do. Finally, the coveted seven letters appear: he passed.

I immediately sit in my chair and they start otázky z techniky. „Za prvé – usmerňovače, typy, vlastnosti, využitie. Za druhé: čo je to predozadný pomer antény? Tretia: antény pre VKV. Štvrtá: vstupný zosilňovač prijímača a požiadavky naň. Posledná: bloková schéma TCVR-a.“ Kreslím jednocestný, dvojcestný, Graetzov usmerňovač… Na každú otázku si v duchu formulujem odpoveď: yagi, quad, quagga, parabolas, verticals, gain, polarization, advantages. I finally have everything!

A more relaxed atmosphere reigns in the corridor among the participants - most have already completed their exams - and successfully so. When are they all done? So it will appear on the band in the foreseeable future šesť nových operátorov plus jeden staronový. Mrzí ma len, že sufix by mal začínať písmenom „A“. Chcel som požiadať o značku „OM0WAO“, kvôli rodinnej tradícii…. Zdá sa mi nezmyslené, že existuje predpis o tom, že sufix musí začínať týmto písmenom.

The exams seemed easier than I imagined. Or was it just the luck of the questions? I don't know. But they are definitely manageable. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for other adepts for the exams and I look forward to hearing from you, dear HAMs!