RadioBanter - View Single Post - Feb 23 is the No-code date

Mike Coslo · January 28th 07, 03:20 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.policy

wrote in
ups.com:

On Jan 27, 8:11�pm, Mike Coslo wrote:
wrote
roup
s.com:

* * * * a most interesting history lesson snipped for brevity

Generals. This was in the era when FCC not only had many scheduled
exams, but would also send out traveling examiners upon request if
a minimum number of examinees could be guaranteed. Ham exam
sessions were being conducted by FCC at hamfests, conventions, and
club meetings, and the perceived need for the Conditional
disappeared.

---

Your recollections are correct, Cecil, with minor corrections to
the Conditional distance. Which changed right around the time you
got the license, as did the retest rules.* * * *

Although I can see a few quirks here and there, I would have to
say
* * that overall the testing, requirements, and methods have improved
* * over the years, rather than regressed.

On what do you base that conclusion, Mike?

I see the accessibility of the tests as improved. But that's about it.

I had to chuckle at some of
* * the early stuff, which was awkward, and most arbitrary.

Like what?

I'll answer this and the last question at one time. 75 miles, 150
miles. mail in tests, move closer than the "limit" lose your license if
you don't retest. Don't move, keep it. That's just a little bit. It all
seems arbitrary, and almost capricious to me. YMMV.

Some of
* * those tests amounted to "open book" tests, which are surely
easier * * than Open pool tests.

How?

The old tests were definitely not open book in any sense of the word.
You weren't even allowed to bring your own pencils in some cases.

Mailing the test in? At least ther was no chance whatsoever of
looking up the answer in the book, eh?

How about a question like this:

"A manufacturer guarantees his crystals to be within .01% of the
marked frequency, when used in the recommended circuit at 20 degrees
C. The crystals have a negative temperature coefficient of 50 parts
per million per degree C.

What is the lowest whole-kilocycle frequency that should be ordered
for a 40 meter crystal, if the crystal is to be used in the
recommended circuit over the temperature range of 5 to 35 degrees C?
Allow 1 additional kilocycle to allow for crystal and component
aging.

Show all work."

That was an important thing at that time. And to be honest, I would
have to look a few things up to give a reasonable accurate answer. But
the math is not that difficult, unless I am way off. I could give an
answer I had around 50 percent confidence in now, but if I was wrong, it
would be like the guff that Dave has to take with his "out of band
frenchmen". Mike the dumb nickle Extra that couldn't answer a question
from an old test! ;^)

But unless the question isn't from any book, or just somehow shows
up on a test with no references anywhere to be found, I'd do a bit of
research and the answer would be forthcoming. Hard? Not in the least.

No open book, no cheat sheets, no formulas given - and that's just one
question on the General exam.

Maybe the steely eyed FCC examiner watches you take the test you
mail in so that you don't have to take the test in front of the steely
eyed FCC examiner?

* * * * Certainly if there were only a few exams existing for the
different
* * levels, it would be very important to be hush-hush about the
* * contents of those exams. It certainly would argue against those
few tests being so much superior.

How would the existence of a few tests argue against that?

Jim, am I being obtuse or what? Seems to me that if there are only a
couple tests, that cheating would be much easier, that retesting would
likely expose the applicant to the same test again, and that your
"buddy" could give you some valuable hints. I saw the same question from
your 1960's essay type question, and my 1950's guide. Unless we are
arguing extremely small points here, any differences between the tests
of the good old days and now just aren't big enough to be that concerned
about.

In fact, as this discussion goes on in here and outside of this
group, I am more and more convinced that an equally acceptable
explanation is a sense of nostalgia, a yearning for good old days that
perhaps never really existed, and the fact that middle aged men are
capable of becoming upset about just about anything. I sometimes feel
the tug myself, until I remember just how the good old days were.

I could be wrong though.....

- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -