1350GMT arrived and I was shown into the Room where I would be doing the exam by the 2 invigilators from the IRTS, EI7CD and EI4GK. After the rules were read out and formalities dealt with we started the paper at 1400GMT - 3 sections (A- Radio Theory, B- National and International Regulations and C- Safety and EMC), 60 questions and pass of 60% in each section to pass overall.

Ninety minutes later, having finished and read through the paper a few times, I submitted it and left along with a few of the other chaps doing it, heading back to Connolly Station, and arriving back in Belfast shortly after 1900GMT where I got the Derry train back to Ballymoney.

Upon reflection, the whole experience was a good one- Dublin has been the farthest I've travelled on my own and the experience of a proper Radio Licence examination was good as before now I've only ever sat them in radio clubs' meeting places and not at a Government Agency's HQ before.

Let's just hope I get good news in the next 2 weeks.........

UPDATE: Today, 14/October/2008 I have found out that I passed! So watch this space for the new callsigns...

As you are more than likely aware, I'm planning to sit the Advanced RCE sometime within the next few months, having heard that a local(ish) club is planning to facilitate the exam in December 2008. For this exam, and the course they are offering, they want £105 (the last time I checked).

This got me thinking last week...and I wondered if it would be less expesive to travel to the Republic of Ireland to sit the exam in the ComReg offices in Dublin. To my pleasant surprise, when I included return train tickets to Belfast and on the Enterprise Service to Dublin Connolly, inclusive of the cost of sitting the exam and the study material provided by the IRTS, the total came to £60.

I'm quite happy to self teach the material for the Advanced Exam or for the Experiementer's Exam (in RoI) and with the vast difference in the cost of sitting each I'm increasingly considering going to Dublin, after which I may apply for both an EI callsign and use the HAREC facility (due to the fact that the Republic of Ireland, like the UK, is a CEPT signatory) to apply for a 'Reciprocal' licence with Ofcom.

Comments please...