Code? Schmode! (what a load?)

You "hams" want to keep the pride and technical prowess
within Amateur Radio into the new Century? Then do this:

1) Eliminate ALL code testing for ALL License classes.

2) Enact a complete re-vamping of the pool of the written
exam questions.

(and now for the rub)

3) DO NOT PUBLISH the question pools - PERIOD !

If someone wants an Amateur License, then they should have a
working technical and theoretical knowledge of RF Theorems and
all related aspects of electrical and electronic practice.

It used to be that if you were an Amateur Operator you had to demonstrate
a degree of professionality and knowledge

Having an Extra Class licence should be *almost equal* to someone
who has a BSEE. Both should be able to answer questions on varied
topics of Electrical Engineering with a reasonable degree of competence.

Until something along these lines is attempted, Amateur Radio will
be nothing more than glorified CB radio. I've been to enough club
meetings and hamfests where I've seen holders of Extra Class tickets
who couldn't comprehend even the most basic of electronics theory.
It didn't used to be this way!

Morbeius wrote:



2) Enact a complete re-vamping of the pool of the written
exam questions.

(and now for the rub)

3) DO NOT PUBLISH the question pools - PERIOD !


It used to be that way. Remember the "Dick Bash" books. These came out
when the FCC was still administering Amateur tests. The FCC didn't
release the question pool or the answers. Ham applicants would send the
questions in the remembered from the tests and Bash would publish them.

Andy
WD4KDN





"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only
because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

George Orwell

In article .com, "Morbeius"
writes:

Code? Schmode! (what a load?)

You "hams" want to keep the pride and technical prowess
within Amateur Radio into the new Century? Then do this:

1) Eliminate ALL code testing for ALL License classes.

Why?

2) Enact a complete re-vamping of the pool of the written
exam questions.

Done by whom?

(and now for the rub)

3) DO NOT PUBLISH the question pools - PERIOD !

How?

If someone wants an Amateur License, then they should have a
working technical and theoretical knowledge of RF Theorems and
all related aspects of electrical and electronic practice.

Why?

It used to be that if you were an Amateur Operator you had to demonstrate
a degree of professionality and knowledge

No, you had to display a basic understanding of practical radio as it applies
to
what amateurs do on the amateur bands.

Having an Extra Class licence should be *almost equal* to someone
who has a BSEE.

Why?

I've got BSEE and MSEE, and lemme tellya, if the requirements for a ham
ticket get anywhere near those levels, it won't be pretty.

Both should be able to answer questions on varied
topics of Electrical Engineering with a reasonable degree of competence.

Why?

Radio - all of radio - is but a small part of electrical engineering. There's
no
reason to require such broad knowledge for an amateur radio license.

Until something along these lines is attempted, Amateur Radio will
be nothing more than glorified CB radio. I've been to enough club
meetings and hamfests where I've seen holders of Extra Class tickets
who couldn't comprehend even the most basic of electronics theory.

Here's a clue: The folks you see at hamfests and club meetings aren't
all there is to amateur radio.

It didn't used to be this way!

How do you know?

Sounds just like the system we have here in Australia!
Good luck getting it in the US
Murray vk4aok

Morbeius wrote:

Code? Schmode! (what a load?)

You "hams" want to keep the pride and technical prowess
within Amateur Radio into the new Century? Then do this:

1) Eliminate ALL code testing for ALL License classes.

2) Enact a complete re-vamping of the pool of the written
exam questions.

(and now for the rub)

3) DO NOT PUBLISH the question pools - PERIOD !

If someone wants an Amateur License, then they should have a
working technical and theoretical knowledge of RF Theorems and
all related aspects of electrical and electronic practice.

Murray Kelly vk4aok

Code? Schmode! (what a load?

Yep coming from a no-name ....will consider whom or what the load is ......

You "hams" want to keep the pride and technical prowess
within Amateur Radio into the new Century? Then do this:

1) Eliminate ALL code testing for ALL License classes.

Translation .....I am too lazy to learn 5 WPM. and partake of the 2nd most
utilized communication mode.


2) Enact a complete re-vamping of the pool of the written
exam questions.

Huh ???? revamped ... oh boy I don't even want to get in on this ..... Maybe
we could add questions about gear bevels and ratios for the standard
transmission-CW comparisons out there ...or wait maybe some biology of
whales for buggy whip manufacture .....

(and now for the rub)

3) DO NOT PUBLISH the question pools - PERIOD !

Good point ....try to get it done ......

If someone wants an Amateur License, then they should have a
working technical and theoretical knowledge of RF Theorems and
all related aspects of electrical and electronic practice.

It used to be that if you were an Amateur Operator you had to demonstrate
a degree of professionality and knowledge

Having an Extra Class licence should be *almost equal* to someone
who has a BSEE.

Here is where the bull**** valve gets turned on ...we all have to almost
have EEs to get on the radio ... Look at the name of this
service-hobby-endeavor whatever ...amateur. I am a "ham" as you call it
because of the "love" of radio. If I wanted to make a buck at this then I
should have changed my major 40 years ago. This is the egotistical attitude
held by some of those who have radio or an EE field as their life's work
.....frankly I would find it quite droll to have a hobby with a work matching
arrangement. The license is just the first step into an enjoyable lifetime
of learning ....I nor others need know "nearly" it all before I can pound
brass on 40 or yak on 20.





Both should be able to answer questions on varied
topics of Electrical Engineering with a reasonable degree of competence.

Here we go again ... at this rate you and a few hundred other guys would
have all the bands to yourselves ....sounds like a lot of fun to me. I
think I'll work on my matchbook collection or better yet get into crossstich
with my wife ...at least I would have someting to hang on the wall.


Until something along these lines is attempted, Amateur Radio will
be nothing more than glorified CB radio.

I have heard that before ....ya know it really doesn't ruffle my feathers in
the least ... ya know why ??? ...because I am having fun now and over the
past 40 years and guess what .. hopefully for a few more years to come. It
is a shame that you are either a grumpy old gieser or a grumpy young gieser.



I've been to enough club
meetings and hamfests where I've seen holders of Extra Class tickets
who couldn't comprehend even the most basic of electronics theory.

Yepper there Morbitus .... I would have to agree as a lot of guys out
there, CW or not, bought their tickets ..a net result of : 1. The FCC
desire to rid themselves of the millstone of testing and 2. The fact that
most hams are so cheap they still have their 12th birthday money so to ask
them to cough up a few bucks a year proper enforcement .....good luck.

It didn't used to be this way!

OOGAA OOGAA Bull**** alarm on ....of course it was .. how about all those
"conditional" fellows out there who knew squat ... how about the people the
FCC caught taking tests for others ... I know a fellow who put a lot of guys
on the air with his antics ...until he got caught. There were always ways
around the system.

God Bless ..... 73 KI3R Tom Popovic Belle Vernon Pa. nr Pittsburgh
.... enjoying ham radio for what it is not what others would like it to be
.......

"Mike in San Antonio" wrote in message
...
"Nitespark" wrote in message
news:ZvQRb.1003$gl2.693@lakeread05...

It used to be that way. Remember the "Dick Bash" books. These came
out
when the FCC was still administering Amateur tests. The FCC didn't
release the question pool or the answers. Ham applicants would send
the
questions in the remembered from the tests and Bash would publish them.

Andy
WD4KDN


Dick Bash was and still is one of the finest ham radio operators to
ever key a microphone. A true gentlman & a scholar. A pillar
of the ham radio community.

Mike in San Antonio

Surely you jest.

Dick Bash was solely responsible for more unqualified
individuals entering Amateur
Radio than any other person(s), apart from corrupt VEC's
who accept cash in advance for the promise of a passing
grade on an exam.

Perhaps a few good apples, but the bulk of the "Bash
graduates" I've met are the most misplaced non-conforming
people I've run into on the air. True CB'ers.

The brain drain of Amateur Radio was started
by Dick Bash, and unfortunatly, I'm afraid it
might just be too late to correct the problem.

Morbeius wrote:
Code? Schmode! (what a load?)

You "hams" want to keep the pride and technical prowess
within Amateur Radio into the new Century? Then do this:

1) Eliminate ALL code testing for ALL License classes.

2) Enact a complete re-vamping of the pool of the written
exam questions.

(and now for the rub)

3) DO NOT PUBLISH the question pools - PERIOD !


Even better would be to ask questions that were not covered in ANY
book. That'd make sure only good smart people got in.

Seriously, there is not much these days that doesn't have a supply of Q
and A's somewhere.

I was up at Barnes and Noble a few days ago, and saw they have pools for
many professional trades. Electrician, HVAC pro's, etc. You will have a
looong haul to get the pool eliminated for Ham radio tests.

The answers in the pool are shuffled around for at least the Extra test.

There are 806 questions to choose from, up from 665 in the previous pool.


What is the difference between a pool of questions and a book in which
the answers are in there in text form - or do you suggest that there be
no actual study guide for the tests? If there is a study guide without
the needed material in it, it isn't a study guide.


If someone wants an Amateur License, then they should have a
working technical and theoretical knowledge of RF Theorems and
all related aspects of electrical and electronic practice.


It used to be that if you were an Amateur Operator you had to demonstrate
a degree of professionality and knowledge

How was professionality demonstrated on the test process?


Having an Extra Class licence should be *almost equal* to someone
who has a BSEE. Both should be able to answer questions on varied
topics of Electrical Engineering with a reasonable degree of competence.

Good heavens! A person has to take "almost" 4 years of college to
qualify for Extra? If ya wanna tie it to education, how about BS for
Technician, MS for General and PHD for Extra. Then all those hams would
be real smart!


Until something along these lines is attempted, Amateur Radio will
be nothing more than glorified CB radio. I've been to enough club
meetings and hamfests where I've seen holders of Extra Class tickets
who couldn't comprehend even the most basic of electronics theory.
It didn't used to be this way!

DLTDHYAOTWO!


- Mike KB3EIA -

garigue wrote:
Code? Schmode! (what a load?


Yep coming from a no-name ....will consider whom or what the load is ......


You "hams" want to keep the pride and technical prowess
within Amateur Radio into the new Century? Then do this:


1) Eliminate ALL code testing for ALL License classes.


Translation .....I am too lazy to learn 5 WPM. and partake of the 2nd most
utilized communication mode.



2) Enact a complete re-vamping of the pool of the written
exam questions.


Huh ???? revamped ... oh boy I don't even want to get in on this ..... Maybe
we could add questions about gear bevels and ratios for the standard
transmission-CW comparisons out there ...or wait maybe some biology of
whales for buggy whip manufacture .....


(and now for the rub)

3) DO NOT PUBLISH the question pools - PERIOD !


Good point ....try to get it done ......


If someone wants an Amateur License, then they should have a
working technical and theoretical knowledge of RF Theorems and
all related aspects of electrical and electronic practice.

It used to be that if you were an Amateur Operator you had to demonstrate
a degree of professionality and knowledge

Having an Extra Class licence should be *almost equal* to someone
who has a BSEE.


Here is where the bull**** valve gets turned on ...we all have to almost
have EEs to get on the radio ... Look at the name of this
service-hobby-endeavor whatever ...amateur. I am a "ham" as you call it
because of the "love" of radio. If I wanted to make a buck at this then I
should have changed my major 40 years ago. This is the egotistical attitude
held by some of those who have radio or an EE field as their life's work
....frankly I would find it quite droll to have a hobby with a work matching
arrangement. The license is just the first step into an enjoyable lifetime
of learning ....I nor others need know "nearly" it all before I can pound
brass on 40 or yak on 20.

Lessee, I have a kid in college now, and with Educational discount and
him living at home, it's costing $10K per year. Assuming no discount,
we'd be looking at $40K per annum. Living on campus would add even more.
So the prospective ham would be expected to spend "almost" 4 years,
and "almost" 40K to get their Extra?




Both should be able to answer questions on varied

topics of Electrical Engineering with a reasonable degree of competence.


Here we go again ... at this rate you and a few hundred other guys would
have all the bands to yourselves ....sounds like a lot of fun to me. I
think I'll work on my matchbook collection or better yet get into crossstich
with my wife ...at least I would have someting to hang on the wall.


But just think of the QUALITY of those few Hams, Tom!! I just get all
aquiver at the thought. The Extra walks into the room, and all rise to
show respect. After accepting the respect, they are allowed to go back
to their tasks.



Until something along these lines is attempted, Amateur Radio will
be nothing more than glorified CB radio.


I have heard that before ....ya know it really doesn't ruffle my feathers in
the least ... ya know why ??? ...because I am having fun now and over the
past 40 years and guess what .. hopefully for a few more years to come. It
is a shame that you are either a grumpy old gieser or a grumpy young gieser.



I've been to enough club

meetings and hamfests where I've seen holders of Extra Class tickets
who couldn't comprehend even the most basic of electronics theory.


Yepper there Morbitus .... I would have to agree as a lot of guys out
there, CW or not, bought their tickets ..a net result of : 1. The FCC
desire to rid themselves of the millstone of testing and 2. The fact that
most hams are so cheap they still have their 12th birthday money so to ask
them to cough up a few bucks a year proper enforcement .....good luck.

Getting back to the college analogy, Students today and in my day are
expert at the art of cramming. Study like a madman/woman before the
tests, stay up all night cramming. Take the test and do okay, unless you
have a brain cramp during it.

Ask them a question from the test the next day, and they draw a blank.
All that did was to put that knowledge into short term memory, and most
of what they learned is gone after the test.

So not having a question pool isn't going to guarantee much.




It didn't used to be this way!


OOGAA OOGAA Bull**** alarm on ....of course it was .. how about all those
"conditional" fellows out there who knew squat ... how about the people the
FCC caught taking tests for others ... I know a fellow who put a lot of guys
on the air with his antics ...until he got caught. There were always ways
around the system.


Things never were like they used to be, Eh Tom?

- Mike KB3EIA -

Hap wrote:

Yes, Dick was and is a fine getleman, a truly dynamic individual.
Any negative comments I've heard about him always come from
people who are envious of his many successes, both in and out
of ham radio. Successful people will always be victim of the
envious sick people who can't stand others to be successful.

Hap

I almost tripped over the Hap-hazard there. Yep, that's why many of us
resent Ken Lay, Martha Stewart, Michael Jackson and their ilk. We're
simply envious of successful people.

Dave K8MN

Morbeius wrote:
"Mike in San Antonio" wrote in message
...

"Nitespark" wrote in message
news:ZvQRb.1003$gl2.693@lakeread05...

It used to be that way. Remember the "Dick Bash" books. These came

out

when the FCC was still administering Amateur tests. The FCC didn't
release the question pool or the answers. Ham applicants would send

the

questions in the remembered from the tests and Bash would publish them.

Andy
WD4KDN


Dick Bash was and still is one of the finest ham radio operators to
ever key a microphone. A true gentlman & a scholar. A pillar
of the ham radio community.

Mike in San Antonio


Surely you jest.

Dick Bash was solely responsible for more unqualified
individuals entering Amateur
Radio than any other person(s), apart from corrupt VEC's
who accept cash in advance for the promise of a passing
grade on an exam.

Perhaps a few good apples, but the bulk of the "Bash
graduates" I've met are the most misplaced non-conforming
people I've run into on the air. True CB'ers.

Did you get that in depth when you QSO'd with these "Bash graduates"?


The brain drain of Amateur Radio was started
by Dick Bash, and unfortunatly, I'm afraid it
might just be too late to correct the problem.

Quick! Get out while you still can!!! 8^)

- Mike KB3EIA -