One way to promote learning of code ...
 

Cecil Moore wrote:
wrote:
Nobody really knows how "hard" the old exams really were, because
they're not available for comparison.

But the ARRL License Manuals are still around, e.g.
The unit of resistance is the ______.
A. Volt
B. Amp
C. Watt
D. Ohm
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

E. WHAT?!?

:-)

LA

One way to promote learning of code ...
 

On 7 Jan 2007 12:45:29 -0800, wrote:

Why should anyone think that riding a Harley is better - or that much
different -
than driving a Honda?

The guy down the street from me has a 1957 Panhead. I don't know
anybody who has a 1957 Honda. That's because as I type this, I'm
drinking my Pepsi out of the '57 Honda.

John Kasupski, KC2HMZ

One way to promote learning of code ...
 

John Kasupski wrote:
On 7 Jan 2007 12:45:29 -0800, wrote:

Why should anyone think that riding a Harley is better - or that much
different -
than driving a Honda?

The guy down the street from me has a 1957 Panhead. I don't know
anybody who has a 1957 Honda. That's because as I type this, I'm
drinking my Pepsi out of the '57 Honda.

John Kasupski, KC2HMZ


Yeah ...

Well, I like those rice burners! Had a Kawasaki Black Ghost, damn that
was a bike!

Now I am too old for those rice rockets, but a nice hog and a year long
putt to look over the states is in the works :)

At my age, time to do it or shut up ...

Regards,
JS

One way to promote learning of code ...
 

On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 09:47:23 -0500, "Carl R. Stevenson"
wrote:

Actually, I believe that the main reason that most emergency/public service
stuff is done using voice (or digital modes) is that they're faster and more
convenient to use in a "tactical" situation.

Yeah. Imagine a high speed chase in the city, and the cop in the
pursuing patrol car tapping out the street names with his key with one
hand while he steers the car with the other hand. Or attempts to steer
the car.

Presenting CW as "something fun" is fine (as long as the presentee is
allowed to decide for him/her self whether it's really fun or not :-)

Presenting it as a "standard" or "value" (implying that without CW you're as
Larry and others used to say "not a REAL ham" is not the way.

Those who like CW should take comfort ... by all reports, in most of the
other countries that have eliminated the CW requirement, MORE people are
learning it now that before - folks may choose to do something if it's
presented right and their choice, but tend not to like having things forced
upon them.

I think by now we should be happy because someone shows interest in
ham radio at all, regardless of which modes of operation they're
interested in.

John Kasupski, KC2HMZ

One way to promote learning of code ...
 

John Kasupski wrote:
...
I think by now we should be happy because someone shows interest in
ham radio at all, regardless of which modes of operation they're
interested in.

John Kasupski, KC2HMZ


AMEN!

Regards,
JS

One way to promote learning of code ...
 

wrote in message
oups.com...

[snip]


Note that FCC *eliminated* the multiple-choice Morse Code test option,
leaving only the one-minute-solid-copy and fill-in-the-blanks options.


It's my understanding that it was the NVEC council who decided to eliminate
the multiple choice option. This was for two reasons. One was to make the
exam consistent no matter which VEC was responsible for the administering
the program. Prior to that, some VECs used the multiple choice while others
used the fill in the blank. The second reason was that now only 5wpm was
needed for General and Extra, eliminating the multiple choice test would
require that the applicant have a better grasp of the code rather than being
a good guesser on the multiple choice. Part 97 only required that the
applicant pass the test and did not define how that test was to be designed
or administered.

Dee, N8UZE

One way to promote learning of code ...
 

"John Smith I" wrote in message
...
wrote:
...
Actually, without skill in morse, you simply will not be able to
participate
in QSO's with a large subset of the stations you listed. A lot of good
DX
(and QRP etc.) is only available in Morse (sometimes only in the extra
class
sections).


Actually, that is outrageous.

With any decent code reader software and the audio of your rig into the
line in of your sound card in your computer, you can copy and send CW
much, MUCH faster, concisely and intelligibly than any "CW Freak" out
there ... you can send CW so fast, they only WISH they could copy it!

... technology, ain't it wonderful? Welcome to the new millennium!

Well, thank you. And Im glad to see you enjoy the new toys that Santa Claus
gave you.

One way to promote learning of code ...
 

Stefan Wolfe wrote:
...
Well, thank you. And Im glad to see you enjoy the new toys that Santa Claus
gave you.



Let me give you the complete picture, he left it under my tree about
1996 ...

JS

One way to promote learning of code (long)
 

Cecil Moore wrote in news:_9goh.25784$QU1.5684
@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net:

wrote:
Nobody really knows how "hard" the old exams really were, because
they're not available for comparison.

But the ARRL License Manuals are still around, e.g.
The unit of resistance is the ______.
A. Volt
B. Amp
C. Watt
D. Ohm

I have in front of me a Coleco Radio Amateur Question and Answer
License guide from 1956, the "golden Age of Amateur Radio"

The booklet is a 6 by 8.5 inch paperback of 32 pages. It notes on
the cover that it contains:
FCC-type Multiple Choice Questions
Typical FCC-Type Practice Exams
Questions Grouped by Subjects
Novice, Technician and General CLasses

Let us take a look at some of the questions.....

1. The Instrument used to measure resistance is:

a. wattmeter
b. ammeter
c. voltmeter
d. ohmmeter

2 The unit of power is:

a. the ampere
b. the coulomb
c. the watt
d. the joule

3. The third harmonic of 350 c.p.s. is:

a. 117 c.p.s.
b. 250 c.p.s.
c. 700 c.p.s.
d. 1050 c.p.s.

4. The instrument used to measure current is:

a. wattmeter
b. ammeter
c. voltmeter
d. ohmmeter

5. The frequency of a sine wave is:

a. the time in seconds for one cycle
b. the amplitude of the wave
c. the number of cycles per second
d. the angle of rotation


gawsh-awful simple stuff there.

Some are a little less elementary, but still not too bad...

17.The Q of a resonant circuit is the:

a. inductive reactance divided by the resistance
b. inductance divided by the resistance
c. circulating current divided by the capacitance
d. circulating current divided by the inductance

18. If a 6 henry choke is connected in series with a 12 henry choke,
(with no mutual inductance between them) the total inductance is

a. 4 henries
b. 3 henries
c. 36 henries
d. 18 henries

Here is a formula...

20. The formula for the reactance of an inductor is: (in the form that
can be handled by newsgroup text)

a. 2pi/fL
b. 1/2Pi*fL
c. 1/2*fL
d. 2Pi*fL/2

a couple more formulae, then back to some "cyphering"

22. What is the total resistance of one 10 ohm resistor and two 20 ohm
resistors all connected in series

a. 50 ohms
b. 5 ohms
c. 30 ohms
d. 45 ohms

Okay, we move on to Vacuum tube questions. I'll not go too much into
these, as I suspect most of us would agree that vacuum tubes aren't
terribly relevant to getting a license these days...

28, The maximum safe heat radiation capability of the plate of a tube is
indicated by the following rating:

a. transconductance expressed in mhos
b. maximum plate dissapation expressed in watts
c. plate resistance expressed in ohms
d. grid bias expressed in volts

okay - now we get to one of the dreaded "schematics"

30. Draw a schematic diagram of a pentode audio power amplifier stage
with an output coupling transformer and load resistor, showing suitable
instruments connected in the secondary for measurement of the audio
frequency voltage and current; and name each component part.

analysis he

Most of the components are named for us. The output transformer with a
load resistor and a voltmeter and ammeter are no-brainers. Various
things like the screen, grid, and cathode resistors are known even to
a tube neophyte as myself. In truth, I didn't think of the bypass caps.
I suppose I would have gotten this one wrong. But I suspect if I was
taking the test in those days, I would have had more exposure to hollow
state technology. Certainly I would get that one now if I were to take
it a second time.


I don't feel like typing much more. Hopefully I've made my point.
And if anyone missed it, my point is that the tests given in the so
called "golden age" of Amateur radio were definitely NOT harder than the
tests administered today. Of course those rascals from Coleco could have
just been pulling our legs, making a booklet that was not relevent to
the tests as they really were at that time. Kinda doubt that though.

So what really happened? My guess is that they only *seemed* harder
to those who took them - at the time they took them. A lot of people are
not very experienced when they are starting out - otherwise they
wouldn't be starting out. Those tests might just seem plenty difficult
to a real newbie.

So the newbie passes the test. Newbie learns a lot over the years,
and eventually becomes an old timer. As an old timer, the ex newbie
forgets that so much of their learning took place between those first
tests, and what he/she eventually ended up with as a knowledge base. So
the old time starts to think that all hams should be tested according to
the old timer's knowledge level.

Or than again, maybe they just want to bitch.

(Sorry all, for the reasoned response - I realize that it doesn't belong
in this group - heheh.

- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -

One way to promote learning of code (long)
 

Mike Coslo wrote:
...


.... and inductors of that size find, really, no use in amateur radio
these days, high voltage electrolytics are getting impossible to find,
nor are tubes used much, only us old-old timers for sentimental reasons.
And then, any tubes I have used recently have come from russia ...

I suspect there is good reasons they have changed the exams ...

JS