ComReg Awards New HAREC Exam Contract to IRTS #Exam #Licensing
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We are delighted to announce that ComReg have awarded a new contract to the IRTS for the preparation, delivery, and the marking of in-person HAREC examinations, earlier today 14 March 2022. This new agreement also contracts the IRTS to deliver Morse Code telegraphy proficiency testing for those who are interested in obtaining Amateur Station CEPT Class 1 Licenses noted for their shorter call signs.
Following a couple of months of intensive work by the IRTS Examination Board and the IRTS HAREC ComReg Submission Subcommittee, a detailed, 51-page proposal was accepted by ComReg. The new contract, and the submission, closely follow the requirements set-out in ComReg Information Document 21/123 on 1 December.
An important aspect of the submission was to propose an amended structure for the future HAREC exams to more closely meet ComReg requirements. The new exam will retain a two-part structure, it will still consist of 60 questions, and it will have the same, paper-based format. In line with the old exam, each part of the exam will also require a pass mark of 60%. However, the contents of the two exam parts will change a little, some subjects will be covered in another part than before, and some areas will be examined in more detail than before. The following structure has been agreed with ComReg:
Exam Section A: Technical (30 questions)
Safety Interference and Immunity Electrical, Electro-magnetic, and Radio Theory Components and Circuits Transmitters and Receivers
Antennas and Transmission Lines
Propagation
Measurements Exam Section B: Operating Rules, Procedures, and Regulations Phonetic Alphabet Q-Codes
International Distress Signs, Emergency Traffic and Natural Disaster Communications Call Signs Radio Spectrum Allocation in Ireland and IARU Band Plans Social Responsibility of Radio Amateur Operation and the Code of Conduct Operating Procedures and Non-Interference ITU Radio Regulations CEPT Regulations Irish Laws, Regulations, and Licence Conditions: 3 questions The IRTS are currently working on the HAREC Exam Syllabus and an updated HAREC Study Guide. While the majority of the existing Exam Syllabus and the current IRTS Course Guide will remain intact, there is a fair amount of necessary work still ahead of the IRTS. We hope to publish the new and updated documents this Spring.
Further information about the next exams including the dates, the updated study guide, the new exam syllabus, and the new sample examination paper, will be announced here, on irts.groups.io, on our web site irts.ie and on our weekly radio news service.. Anyone interested in attending the next HAREC course organised by the National Short Wave Listeners Club, who are affiliated with the IRTS, should contact training(at)swl.ie for more information.
Declan Horan EI9FVB
Chairperson, IRTS Examination Board
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Ger McNamara EI4GXB <ei4gxb@...>
Great news Declan. Thanks for the update. 73 Ger On Mon 14 Mar 2022, 16:38 Declan Horan EI9FVB, <horandx@...> wrote:
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Ger McNamara EI4GXB & KD2JTM
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Keith EI5KO
Good that things are getting sorted but can I ask a question? What’s has happened to the proposed entry level licence as indicated in the Comreg proposal.
Reading what’s just been posted here there doesn’t seem to be any change to what was there previously. Regards
Keith Wallace
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Keith, you ask a good question. ComReg have stated in their document 21/136a, dated 17 December, page 52, that they will seek a framework for novice licensing in the future—not now. They state that it will first need approval from the DECC Minister under Section 6 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, and subject to available resources. At this stage their request for examination tenders, in document 21/123, related only to the full HAREC in-person exam. They did not ask for any other type of examinations, not even online exams. The novice or entry-level licence has to be first defined in the Irish legislation—like the current one is. I am sure the IRTS will be working with ComReg on that.
Here is a quote from the ComReg reply: -- 73 Rafal EI6LA |
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Robbie EI2IP <ei2ip@...>
Well done to all those involved, and a very important service for new blood into the hobby, in Ireland.
Hopefully, there will be a good uptake this year.
Regards, Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Ei2iP Twitter : https://twitter.com/ei2ip YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/ei2ip QRZ : https://www.qrz.com/db/EI2IP
From: IRTS@groups.io <IRTS@groups.io>
On Behalf Of Declan Horan EI9FVB
Sent: Monday 14 March 2022 16:39 To: IRTS@groups.io Subject: [IRTS] ComReg Awards New HAREC Exam Contract to IRTS #Exams #Events #Exams
We are delighted to announce that ComReg have awarded a new contract to the IRTS for the preparation, delivery, and the marking of in-person HAREC examinations, earlier today 14 March 2022. This new agreement also contracts the IRTS to deliver Morse Code telegraphy proficiency testing for those who are interested in obtaining Amateur Station CEPT Class 1 Licenses noted for their shorter call signs.
Following a couple of months of intensive work by the IRTS Examination Board and the IRTS HAREC ComReg Submission Subcommittee, a detailed, 51-page proposal was accepted by ComReg. The new contract, and the submission, closely follow the requirements set-out in ComReg Information Document 21/123 on 1 December.
An important aspect of the submission was to propose an amended structure for the future HAREC exams to more closely meet ComReg requirements. The new exam will retain a two-part structure, it will still consist of 60 questions, and it will have the same, paper-based format. In line with the old exam, each part of the exam will also require a pass mark of 60%. However, the contents of the two exam parts will change a little, some subjects will be covered in another part than before, and some areas will be examined in more detail than before. The following structure has been agreed with ComReg:
Exam Section A: Technical (30 questions) Transmitters and Receivers Antennas and Transmission Lines Propagation Q-Codes
The IRTS are currently working on the HAREC Exam Syllabus and an updated HAREC Study Guide. While the majority of the existing Exam Syllabus and the current IRTS Course Guide will remain intact, there is a fair amount of necessary work still ahead of the IRTS. We hope to publish the new and updated documents this Spring.
Further information about the next exams including the dates, the updated study guide, the new exam syllabus, and the new sample examination paper, will be announced here, on irts.groups.io, on our web site irts.ie and on our weekly radio news service.. Anyone interested in attending the next HAREC course organised by the National Short Wave Listeners Club, who are affiliated with the IRTS, should contact training@... for more information.
Declan Horan EI9FVB Chairperson, IRTS Examination Board |
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Fantastic news well done to all involved. kind Regards Dermot EI2GT On Mon, 14 Mar 2022, 18:31 Robbie EI2IP, <ei2ip@...> wrote:
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Fantastic to hear Declan. Thanks to all who put in the hard work, can't wait for the start of Class Echo
73 de Eamonn |
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Keith EI5KO
Tks Radar,
73 |
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You are 100% correct Keith: the 1 Dec 2021 request for tenders 21/123 only requested HAREC exam services and nothing else, even explicitly excluding online exams—something many are keen to do. The spectrum strategy ComReg document of 17 Dec 2021 came out after the RFT. The IRTS submission was dated 7 Jan 2022, and therefore was informed by the spectrum strategy document. The submission expressed full readiness to support ComReg’s exam requirements related to any new licence types and other exam formats. Unfortunately, all of those will have to wait a little longer, until ComReg and the Irish legislation are ready. That will take another round of consultation with the public to actually figure out what the new novice/entry level licence requirements and benefits are going to be.
-- 73 Rafal EI6LA |
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That's great news Declan.
Well done to all involved. Does this mean that the wording of the contract has been finalised? If yes, can you and/or one of the team please comment on/ provide guidance on this provision that was in the RFT, Section 4.16 Services (pg. 11) "The Preferred Participant selected to conduct the examinations, or its staff/members, shall not conduct or be involved in, in any way whatsoever, in any course of instruction which is intended to prepare candidates for the examination" Thanks |
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Good to hear, well done to all involved and thanks for the detailed outline.
Regards, Declan McGuire EI6IVB |
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John / EI7ISB
That's great news Declan
Congrats and Well done to all involved. |
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On Mon, Mar 14, 2022 at 08:37 PM, Tom EI5IEB wrote:
Can you and/or one of the team please comment on/ provide guidance on this provision that was in the RFT, Section 4.16 Services (pg. 11) "The Preferred Participant selected to conduct the examinations, or its staff/members, shall not conduct or be involved in, in any way whatsoever, in any course of instruction which is intended to prepare candidates for the examination"Tom, please explain what is the nature of your concern. I have no doubt that you have our mutual interests, as a member of the IRTS, in mind. I may be able to answer you but I am not sure what exactly is the issue that you are focused on. I am sure, however, that the final agreement and the 51-page IRTS submission have addressed all of ComReg’s requirements based on their acceptance of it. Did you know that Dom EI5IAB, who is also a member of your club, the East Leister Amateur Radio Club, has helped draft and proof the HAREC submission? He may also be able to help you. -- 73 Rafal EI6LA |
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Thanks, Rafal,
The wording appears to prohibit members from offering any form of training to prospective exam candidates. If my understanding of the wording is correct this would be a limiting factor for all of us in providing training to members of our clubs, The Society and others. There is a subtle difference between the content of RFT and the content of the final signed contract/agreement. It is not unusual for amendments to be made and points clarified during the negotiation phase after it has been awarded. I'll be happy to be corrected if I'd misinterpreted the wording of the RFT. |
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Well i was hopeing that thay put the exam in to 3 diffent parts for the ones that dident pass the last exam |
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Daniel EI8ICB
It is normal for there to be restrictions relating to conflict of interest in exam invigilation. I am a remote exam invigilator with the RSGB, and I am strictly forbidden from invigilating an exam session if I have been involved in the training of any of the candidates. A secondary school teacher cannot invigilate Junior/Leaving Cert exams taking place in the school they teach in.
The statement in the RFT certainly reads as a general prohibition on any staff or member of the IRTS being involved in training - but I would assume this is simply a very poor choice of wording and the actual intention is similar to the above, i.e. you cannot invigilate or otherwise be involved with an exam if you have been involved with the training of any of the candidates sitting it. 73 Daniel MI0DNL/EI8ICB |
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Dom EI5IAB
Raf,
Tom is asking his question as an individual member of IRTS. It is not a club position/question. As a rule I don't share or discuss examination board issues with anyone outside the board. This is for the purpose of confidentiality and segregation of duties. My club respects this and don't ask. Regards Dom |
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Thank you, Tom, for clarifying your question, and thanks to Daniel for explaining how the RSGB ensures the integrity of their exam invigilation. Clearly, both of you have experience and relevant ideas in this area. I think both of you could assist the IRTS with the examination efforts. May I respectfully suggest that you volunteer your time to assist us in this, please?
Tom, regarding your point about prohibiting any members from offering training to prospective exam candidates, it has been thoroughly covered in the IRTS submission. The submission extensively covers exam integrity in 24 paragraphs. It focuses the prohibition that you have referred to on the the IRTS Examination Board. This board is a formal IRTS subcommittee bound with confidentiality rules. Its members, like your colleague Dom EI5IAB, are the very individuals who are not allowed to provide training for prospective candidates. As Dom has just added, he further maintains the confidentiality requirement by not discussing information confidential to the Exam Board outside of it. I am not a member of the Exam Board. I have been a member of the separate IRTS HAREC submission subcommittee who has worked on the documents and interacted with ComReg throughout. However, I have no knowledge of anything covered by the exam integrity rules, including exam questions, names of candidates, or any results. Perhaps most relevant to your question, the submission also clarifies that the general membership of the IRTS, as opposed to the small IRTS Exam Board, includes well over a 1000 radio amateurs. The submission explains that many of the IRTS members continue to coach and train each other, including potential exam candidates, on both a personal basis and as members of clubs affiliated to the IRTS. Because they are not members of the small IRTS Exam Board they are free to continue doing this. The submission is a legally binding counterpart to the current agreement. I hope this clarification helps you and others continue doing your great job of teaching and helping others study for and pass the exams. Thank you for that on my own and everyone’s behalves—much appreciated. -- 73 Rafal EI6LA |
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Dave EI6ITB
Excellent stuff.
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Sean Rima EI1884 <sean@...>
Great news.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Sean On 14/03/2022 16:38, Declan Horan EI9FVB wrote:
We are delighted to announce that ComReg have awarded a new contract to the IRTS for the preparation, delivery, and the marking of in-person HAREC examinations, earlier today 14 March 2022. This new agreement also contracts the IRTS to deliver Morse Code telegraphy proficiency testing for those who are interested in obtaining Amateur Station CEPT Class 1 Licenses noted for their shorter call signs. |
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