VHF src exam

[P4ddy]

Right, everyone says it's easy etc but I get real nervous at the word exam. Even during our constant one on one audits at work I get nervous like it's an exam. I've gone through the Tim Bartlet book but up until the actual call making sections I feel like I just switch off and absorb nothing. Do I really need to know about arial heights, how frequency works etc etc?. How much of the book is actually relevant to the exam? Are there any free mock tests online?

[Grian]

Nothing useful to add sorry, but just to say that exams and studying knowing I will be examined has the same effect on me!

[Chris Bolton]

It's nearly 40 years since I did the exam. I don't remember anything difficult such as aerial heights that required you to remember specifics rather then understand concepts. So you'd be expected to know that aerial height matters and that VHF is line of sight, but not aerial heights in metres. I think mock transmission was the main component. Other questions might be things like the difference between simplex and duplex. It would be good to have comment from somebody that's done it recently, as it will have changes and my memory won't be perfect.

Have you looked on the RYA or sailing sites for info?

[P4ddy]

Done plenty of Google searching but not really found anything like a mock exam. Something like the driving theory mocks would be ideal. Just something to help other than reading something which half of I just don't take in.

[Owen]

You just have to talk on the radio, that's all. There are a few "Pro-words" like Hallo, this is, over, and out, that you need to know. You need to be able to give a Mayday call. They need to know who you are, where you are, what the problem is, what help you need. You use channel 16 until told to go to another channel by the coast guard, that's it. Forget aerial heights, signal propagation and all that technical stuff. Don't worry about making a mistake, just do the course and they will get you through.

[P4ddy]

What about the multiple choice with a 60% pass mark. The practical I feel better with like doing my class 1 I was fine but with the.case studies part of theory I 'just' scraped through. Your making me feel more upbeat about it though

[Owen]

I did the course at an outdoor centre on the Isle of Cumbrae, they had us walking around in pairs for the practical. It was a kind of treasure hunt, we had to call up each other and give them clues etc. The whole concept of the exercise was just to give everyone the confidence to just talk on the radio. They weren't trying to catch us out or anything like that, it was just to get us used to using the equipment. It wasn't an exam as such, everyone passed, it's just to get you using your radio in a way that it helps you rather than hinders you.

Can't even remember a multi choice question part, I think we did that as a whole class.

[MikeB]

Keep in mind that they want you to pass - - - -

(So it's a bit different to the "exams" of our school days - - - )

[beinbhan]

As MikeB says they aren’t there to fail you.

[P4ddy]

Just downloaded a course details pdf and it included the 3 hr pre course reading. This is better for me as I can now see what to concentrate on. I shall be doing a rya powerboat level 2 course (late in the year hopefully) as I'm getting a boat at some point for fishing, taking the grandkids out etc, and included is a free VHF course.