On Oct 26, 2:34 pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
AF6AY wrote:
Out of 120 questions, I missed 6 (counting the marks made by the
VEC team leader) and am sure that 5 of those were on certain
regulations like bandplan numbers and satellite operation.

The bandplan frequencies and satellite operations are a real issue with
me. I always thought that better questions were available, since like
you note, you look at a chart. I do too.

At least with the band plans, the better question for the test would be
to see if the testee knew where to look them up.

With all due respect, I think there's a bit of terminology confusion
here.

In amateur radio use, "bandplan" refers to voluntary, suggested usage
of frequencies,
not regulations. For example, AM operation on 75 meters centers around
3885 kHz
even though it is legal (for Region 2 Extras) to use AM anywhere from
3600 to 4000 kHz (as
long as the sidebands are inside those limits).

"Subbands" refers to the frequency limits in the regulations
themselves, by mode, class of license,
or both.

For example, 'phone modes are not allowed from 3500 to 3600 kHz for
any class of FCC-licensed
radio amateur in Region 2. That CW/data-only subband is part of the
regulations, not the bandplan.
Or the rule that only Extras can use 3500 to 3525 kHz, etc. -
regulations, not bandplan.

Yes, some hams do use the term "bandplan" to refer to the regulations.
But doing so leads
to confusion, because the term usually means voluntary agreements, not
regulations. Why
not use the term that most clearly expresses the concept?

On 160 meters there are no subbands by mode or license class, but
there is a bandplan!
Same for 30 meters.

The problem with removing direct questions on the regs is that such an
approach has a
proven record of not working as a regulatory tool. Back when FCC
licensed cb users,
the license form required a signed statement that the licensee had
read the regulations,
understood them, and would follow them to the letter. Compliance with
the regulations
for that radio service turned out to be less than FCC anticipated,
however.

Putting specific questions on the regs in the tests is one way of
saying that knowing those
regs is important for all hams. If they are replaced by questions
about "where do you look
up the band edges" or some such, why can't the whole exam be replaced
by such questions?



73 de Jim, N2EY