In article .net, "KØHB"
writes:

"N2EY" wrote

Well, there you have it. Element 1 is easier than 5 questions on the
written test.

No, you don't "have it" at all, Jim.

Then what am I missing?

Question for question, the Technician examination questions are noticeably
more difficult than those on the old Novice examination, and there are more
of them.

OK, fine. 5 more of them to be exact.

Woefully inadequate? FCC disagrees!

Do you think they're right?

Nope. But they're the "expert agency"...

And I also disagree with them on code testing serving "no regulatory
purpose"...

(1) FCC thinks that 35 question Tech test is adequate.
(2)The same FCC that sees "no regulatory purpose" in code tests.

Is FCC mistaken?

They are mistaken on point one. They are correct on point 2.

I think they're worng on both points. YMMV

But the main point is that they *can* be wrong.

Have the changes of 2000 resulted in more tinkerers entering the ARS in a
given time period (say, per year) than before the changes were made?

I have no way of knowing for sure. Neither do you.

That's true. But we can have impressions and opinions.

It is my belief,
however, that the diminished emphasis on technical issues in the test, along
with the 'Ham Press' lack of emphasis on technical matters, is making the
Amateur Radio service less effective in recruiting those of an experimental
and tinkering bent.

Agreed!

73 de Jim, N2EY