"N2EY" wrote in message
...
In article k.net,
"Dan/W4NTI" w4nti@get rid of this mindspring.com writes:

I would insist on an operational test for SSB and FM too besides the
written. And I would insist that the operationals be conducted by a
VE
team
to an established standard not just a "well he is doing OK" sort of
thing.

You know Dee, there is some real wisdom in that. I think many people
would be served well by having an HF contact - possibly their first -
at the time of testing. It would get that first contact out of the way,
it would possibly calm the person down and be a little bit of fun, and
would really keep people thinking about good on the air procedures and
manners.

It would also be enjoyable to be on the other side of that QSO. I would
suspect that an Op that was a volunteer "first contact" would be a part
of the VE team.

What a nice/good idea!

I did a writeup on how that sort of test could be done. All it would take
is a
couple of QRP rigs and some dummy loads (wouldn't actually have to be on
the
air).

But NCVEC would have a cow. Too much of a "burden".

In Europe, mostly the old Iron Curtain ones, required a certain amount of
SWL time. Documented etc.

Even more than that. They required that a prospective ham actually BUILD a
receiver of a certain complexity from scratch, then use it to receive and
log a
certain number of stations and countries using both 'phone and CW. They'd
have
to explain the receiver's design, construction and operation, too.

Once all that was done, they'd get a beginner's license and authority to
build
a transmitter of a certain complexity and power. Which would then be used
to
make verified contacts in order to earn an upgraded license.

There were also written and code tests, of course. But those tests alone
would
not earn a license - those hams had to build their rigs, then demonstrate
understanding of their theory and operation as well as actually use the
dern
things.

What a concept.

73 de Jim, N2EY


I'll tell you this Jim...the Ruskies had and probably still do have the best
CW operators in the world.

I used to have to listen to them a lot in a job I had. Amazing how so many
of them sounded like the hams on 20meters...hi.

Dan/W4NTI