Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
#1
![]() |
|||
|
|||
![]()
AF6AY wrote:
As an FYI on the tests up to mid-2007, I've counted the number of pool questions from my printout of the pools available in Februrary 2007: Technician pool had 392 (35 required). Ratio of pool to requred 11.20:1 General pool had 485 (35 required). Ratio of pool to required 13.86:1 Extra pool had 802 (50 required). Ratio of pool to required 16.04:1 The pools have gone beyond 10:1 by a fair margin...even if I've mis- counted slightly. My printouts (single spaced, both sides) FILL a 1" loose-leaf notebook. Did you exclude from that count the questions that were later disqualified? When I took the tests, most of the questions about band edges had to be dropped because of the rule change. A few others were dropped due to errors or poor wording. I think the current pool size has been chosen to allow for a safety margin for the elimination of some erroneous questions. (I am currently studying for the GMDSS operator test and the worst questions on the amateur tests are worded better than a large number of these.) My figure of 8 or 10 pool questions to 1 test questions was very rough and not intended for 4 significant digit precision. However, other FCC test pools bring the average a bit closer to it, such as the GMDSS test pool (600 in pool, 100 on test). Some time back I showed the notebook to an acquaintance who is an aspiring actor, not a radio hobbyist. He is used to memorizing lines of a script and being as letter-perfect as possible, his lines as well as others in the same scene. His main comment went something like, "Holy ##$%&!!! You had to memorize all that?!?" :-) "No," I said, "Only certain things about regulations...theory and practice should be known enough to pass." 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. That was satisfactory to me with 95 percent correct. I've got a little chart of bandplans and don't expect to get to outer space to operate satellites. :-) Beat you. I got 100 on all three tests (amateur elements 2, 3 and 4). I will admit that there was some rote memorization involved, especially on the parts that I didn't know anything about (calculations involving imaginary numbers, for example). -- Klystron |
#2
![]() |
|||
|
|||
![]()
Klystron posted on Wed 24 Oct 2007 17:25
AF6AY wrote: As an FYI on the tests up to mid-2007, I've counted the number of pool questions from my printout of the pools available in Februrary 2007: Did you exclude from that count the questions that were later disqualified? I only counted the applicable pool questions. Yes, I also printed out the NCVEC website listing of question changes, but only as a very general reference, not to be used specifically for my 25 Feb 07 test. www.ncvec.org When I took the tests, most of the questions about band edges had to be dropped because of the rule change. A few others were dropped due to errors or poor wording. I took my test before an ARRL VEC team. The ARRL-supplied test question sheets had already excluded changed questions (and answers). Good security was practiced by the ARRL VEC team leader and the other three in the team, all materials for testing kept in a small padlocked carrying box. Scoring templates were translucent plastic sheets, blue and imprinted with the ARRL logo, if memory serves me correctly. My figure of 8 or 10 pool questions to 1 test questions was very rough and not intended for 4 significant digit precision. However, other FCC test pools bring the average a bit closer to it, such as the GMDSS test pool (600 in pool, 100 on test). After doing the total count of questions on my printout, I used a pocket calculator to derive the percentages. It has flexible significant digit settings and I used my standard setting of two significant digits in the fraction of percentages. I apologize if that offends anyone. [HP-32S II, cost $60 in 2001 off-the-shelf, just got an HP-35S, $60 still, the latest in the 35-year history of scientific pocket calculators, direct from HP on-line shop] GMDSS testing would be done in front of a COLEM since it is a Commercial radio license group. Different from the VEC. My First Class Radiotelephone (Commercial) Operator license test was taken at an FCC Field Office in Chicago, IL, 51 1/2 years ago. There were no COLEMs or VECs then and testing was not privatized. All commercial radiotelephone licenses were changed to the General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) much later and my First 'Phone was changed automatically to that. I kept that GROL renewed also until it became a lifetime license, no renewals required. I am not interested in obtaining any other commercial license now. 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. That was satisfactory to me with 95 percent correct. Beat you. I got 100 on all three tests (amateur elements 2, 3 and 4). I concentrated only on passing my three required test elements. I wasn't in 'competition' with anyone else but myself. The FCC sets the limits on the pass versus fail and the FCC grants the license. I passed. I mentioned my observed scoring only as an afterthought. The percentage of questions passed didn't seem to be logged by any in the VEC team. Scores aren't in the data- base from the FCC. I will admit that there was some rote memorization involved, especially on the parts that I didn't know anything about (calculations involving imaginary numbers, for example). Complex number quantities are not an absolute necessity in amateur radio...unless one wants to be successful in designing certain parts of radio and electronics or doing a more in-depth realization of what actually comprises impedance or admittance. I learned complex number quantities from a third- or fourth-hand used reference on mathematics given to me in 1959. [I still have it and use it as a refresher on other math from time to time] They are not hard to learn, just a bit strange to those who haven't yet gone beyond scalar quantities. Both the HP-32 and HP-35S will do complex number arithmetic as a built-in function on the keyboard and the HP-35S has a much larger program storage. I wish you well on your GMDSS test before a COLEM. 73, Len AF6AY |
#3
![]() |
|||
|
|||
![]()
Beat you. I got 100 on all three tests (amateur elements 2, 3 and 4).
I will admit that there was some rote memorization involved, especially on the parts that I didn't know anything about (calculations involving imaginary numbers, for example). -- Klystron When I started studying for the Advanced or maybe it was the Extra class exam I was somewhat intimidated by the section on imaginary numbers, J operator, etc. I studied it in college to get my electronics degree but that was quite a while ago. My first thought was I can just guess at these questions and if I miss them all I will still pass the test. Then I decided to just memorize the (Radio Shack) study material, not the formulas or the math to solve the problem. I passed first try. Ace - WH2T .. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Forum | |||
shorty forty (G5RV) little brother | Antenna | |||
FA: FORTY(40) NOS HITACHI J56 POWER MOSFET TRANSISTORS T-03 | Equipment | |||
FA: FORTY(40) NOS HITACHI J56 POWER MOSFET TRANSISTORS>T-03 | Equipment | |||
60S TOP FORTY RADIO RETURNS | Broadcasting | |||
Does this Shorty Forty Antenna work? | Antenna |