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#11
January 8th 07, 04:02 AM
posted to rec.radio.amateur.policy
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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 - |
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