"KØHB" wrote in message link.net...
"N2EY" wrote


http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/12/03/1/?nc=1

Note this:

"The General class question pool does not contain any diagrams or
symbols."


NTI (No Theory International) at work in the background.

If this is a surprise to anyone, you only need examine the 'gang of four'
who is responsible for the question pools. This has the fingerprints of
W5YI smeared all over it. He has stated publicly that he feels that since
people who acquire entry level ham tickets invariably purchase their
equipment assembled these days, and send them in for repairs when broken,
they no longer need to possess theknowledge needed to build their own
stations, nor the knowledge to determine if their repairs/adjustments result
in proper on-the-air signals. Because of this fact, he thinks that the
majority of questions regarding math and theory (knowledge mainly needed to
build/repair/adjust equipment) should be removed from qualification tests,
and simply replaced with questions on operating technique and regulations.
If he had his way, math and theory questions would only be part of Amateur
Extra examinations.

73, de Hans, K0HB

Take note that that is the situation here in Canada.

When things were restructured back in 1990, not only was the code
test separated out, but the written test became simpler. And
that test did not allow for the building of transmitters. You had
to take the advanced test to do that.

I have no idea if that idea came from hams or the DOC. Certainly
there was the suggestion that since few were building, the test
did not need to deal too much with technical stuff. Of course,
the simpler test, and more important the rule that outright bans
a homemade transmitter's use with that Basic license, institutionalizes
the concept that it's a hobby of communication, not technical matters.

When I was licensed in 1972, it was still called the "Amateur Experimental
Service" here in Canada.

Michael VE2BVW