Frank Gilliland wrote:

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 11:09:31 -0400, Michael Coslo
wrote in
:



Frank Gilliland wrote:


Now that's not an argument either for or against the dropping of the
code requirement. Like I said before, it's no big deal. And like I
also said before, what -IS- a big deal is the dumbing down of the
written test.

Sometimes I think that the "dumbing down" is a factor of the maturing
Ham looking at how things appear from the vantage point of time and
accumulated knowledge.

They might remember the test seeming very difficult when they took it.
Then they look at modern tests (if they even do look at them) and
conclude that the modern tests are exceptionally easy, when it is simply
that they have learned much in the years that have passed since their
own tests.



By "dumbing down" I was referring to the question pool being released
to the public where it can be memorized to some extent. As for the
level of technical expertise, I'm sure the content hasn't changed much
over the years (except maybe for the addition of semiconductors).

That is one interesting feature of modern society. If we are going to
have standardized test- which seems to be gospel anymore, we have to
publish the answers. One of the more amusing side effects of that is
that the pools occasionally have an incorrect answer. Then we'll see it
corrected. I wonder how many testees got credit for a wrong answer, and
vice-versa?


But then again, maybe the technical aspects of the test -should- be
'dumbed down'. Modern ham radios have digital PLL tuners, automatic
antenna matchers, audio signal processing..... I even saw one that had
a built-in Morse code decrypter. About all that's left for the ham to
learn anymore is on-air protocol and antennas. It's no wonder so many
hams are becoming appliance operators. Heck, the FCC would do just as
well to turn the service into several CB bands and drop the license.

The appliance issue *is* a problem IMO, and I think it is incumbent on
the Ham to build things. But that's just me. While I'm not quite up to
designing and building a full featured modern radio, I can and do design
and build stuff around the shack

Of course, I'm not about to give up my modern radio either. 8^)

- Mike KB3EIA -