Sad Reality

[AC4BB]

It Never ceases to amaze the sheer numbers of people that work so hard to get their ham licences, and end up using them a few times and putting them into a drawer somewhere and never take them back out, people that can't even remember what callsign they were issued. And some never get on the air not once. And we all know that things will happen there's something in family life and family should always come first. People die and so forth.
But, you would think that sometime within a ten year period that people would find some time to operate. What are the culprits behind just sitting on a call and not operating.? People have handhelds and Mobiles and all kinds of portable and even Echolink. For those that might not have radios. we have time to watch the NEWS, sit on the porch( Which is where I commonly operate from). I just cannot figure for the life of me why people who have earned a priviledge don't use it. I guess it's like registering to vote, Millions do and very seldom go to a poll, . I was scanning 11 meters recently and heard a discussion about hams and someone who I assume by the conversation was a ham." Said most hams were " Boring and he felt he needed to be in CB where his real friends are " ( Sic)

If we were to encourage people to get and stay active the numbers of not only new hams would increase so would the number of renewals.. I don't point my fingers at any particular class of Licences but I do believe if you're committed enough to get a ticket use it as often as you can. I have heard Bootleggers using calls that people either have lent them because they didn't use it or that people didn't keep an eye on their licences close enough.

[KC0VWU]

I have a General license and I've never been on the air. I likely won't get on the air until the end of summer and I don't know who I would talk to and I don't know what I'd talk about anyway.

So why did I bother to get licensed?

Well, back in 7th grade, a friend and I tried to get licensed but we were hopeless and failed miserably. We always said we'd "do it later" and so on. But he got killed and I thought that I could keep my end of the deal by going forward with it. When I heard the FCC was going to get rid of the Morse requirement, I decided that the time was now because I wanted a license that had meaning (for me). So I studied Morse code like crazy and (barely) passed Element 1. I was a Tech, then a Tech w/code, then a General.

Now what?

I don't know. I have *0* aptitude for electronics so getting a station together has been sort of difficult. In the meantime, I'm going to continue to study to get my Extra exam but that won't give me any practical experience so whether or not it will finally "click" with me is unknown. I wish that the tests were more about the "how to" part of it.

In any event, all I really want to do is have some fun, make some contacts, and trade QSL cards. Hopefully someday that will happen.

[al2i]

I only made 2 QSOs in 30 years.

I made hundreds of QSOs as a Novice (WL7GQS) running about 40 watts on one crystal-controlled freq., but after that ticket expired I didn't get a new one for over 10 years. Then I got my General (NL7GB) and only made 2 QSOs using that call before that ticket expired. 10 years more, and I got my Extra ticket.

Now I am quite active again, and happily collecting hundreds of QSL cards from HF CW while using my IRLP node and checking out the nifty new 2-meter Kuparuk Radio Club repeater I just got working yesterday.

Couldn't most of those people be a little like me and do their active hamming when the time is right for them to do so?

[k4kyv]

If those people don't find ham radio inherently interesting enough to bother to operate once they get their licence, then we are better off without them.

Back before everything became plug 'n play, amateur radio had the inherent ability to attract newcomers of its own accord. One of the reasons for the lack of new blood today is that appliance operating is booooring.

[K9STH]

One major problem is that way too many newly licensed Technician Class licensees get a handheld for their only unit. This so-called "shack on the hip" is the surest way that I know of to become disillusioned with the Amateur Radio Service.

After a few weeks of working the same people time after time through the local repeater the new operator decides that this just isn't "fun" anymore and puts the handheld on their dresser and forgets that it is even there.

A handheld is among the worst type of units for a newcomer to use. They have very poor antennas, low power, and a very limited range. Then a great number of them have pretty poor receivers especially where things like intermod and overload are concerned.

That is why I NEVER recommend a handheld/portable unit for the first rig that a newcomer obtains.

Glen, K9STH

[al2n]

I would get on the air more, but the wife and kids keep taking over my new ham shack spot in the house.

I had a corner in the spare room, but I got evicted by the oldest who wants a room of her own. I then moved to a corner of the bedroom, but the wife quickly piled her sewing and craft stuff all over the table I had set up.

Then I moved the operation in the living room and had a great spot all lined up and ready for some equipment. Three days later, you could not tell that the spot was supposed to be mine with all the fabric, yarn and toys that had gathered overnight.

I got another spot all picked out, but I am keeping my mouth shut till I get a new rig. If I give away the location I am sure that the craft stuff will move once more.

I think the wife is challenging me for the dominant hobby in the house. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[n0jaa]

Quote[/b] (KC0VWU @ June 19 2006,05:29)]I don't know. I have *0* aptitude for electronics so getting a station together has been sort of difficult. In the meantime, I'm going to continue to study to get my Extra exam but that won't give me any practical experience so whether or not it will finally "click" with me is unknown. I wish that the tests were more about the "how to" part of it.
Well, that's the way it used to be. #Once upon a time, Amateur Radio was an exclusive club made up of people who had significant electronics skills. #Having a ham radio license was something back then; electronics companies would give preference to someone applying for a job if that person had an Amateur Radio license.

The written tests were heavy on electrical theory, especially theory pertaining to radio. #It would not be unusual for someone to spend an hour on a written test. #This was also the time when the FCC was administering the tests.

Jump forward to the 21st Century. #A radio operator from the 1950's could pass one of these written tests blindfolded! #The "dumbing down" of Amateur Radio has resulted in only superficial electrical theory on tests, and the tests themselves have been downgraded from 100 questions to 25 or 35 questions. #We have no-code licenses because people aren't willing to take the time to learn the code or who think it is "too hard" and refuse to learn it. #

But don't put the blame squarely there! #We Amateur Radio Operators are equally to blame for being so eager to get new licensees that we are willing to suspend the requirements of the service just to get more people licensed so the statistics will look better.

Amateur radio has evolved from an exclusive club of radio amateurs who could build a transmitter with one hand tied behind a back to an almost-CB mentality where today's operators couldn't construct a simple light circuit with both hands!

Amateur radio today does not carry the clout it did 30 or 40 years ago. #Having a ticket now is virtually meaningless. #Show your ticket to an electronics company today and they'll shrug their shoulders at it.

Many of today's "operators" can't turn their rig on without having to ask for assistance. #Then when they finally DO get on the air, they have no idea what to do! #

This is certainly manifested by the CB-like mentality demonstrated on certain 75-meter and 20-meter frequencies, operators who don't know how to conduct themselves on the radio or who don't know what to say once they get there. #There are other operators who don't know it is improper to call CQ on a repeater, who don't know how to respond to an emergency, who think they "own" the frequency they're on, who get angry when someone makes a legal break-in to ask a question or pass emergency traffic, who get steamed when another operator tries to correct them on a point of legality or procedure... need I go on?

When push comes to shove, I'd rather have fewer Amateur Radio operators who are fully qualified in their license class than more operators who don't know the difference between a light bulb and a battery!

If we remain on this path, in 20 or 30 years there will be no more Amateur Radio... we will have dumbed it out of existence!


(Edited for spelling.)

[N6BOA]

Quote[/b] (k4kyv @ June 19 2006,07:34)]If those people don't find ham radio inherently interesting enough to bother to operate once they get their licence, then we are better off without them.
How do these people affect you? So what if they don't want to work HF. This has no bearing on you, your contacts, your license...nada. They are folks with licenses who are not using the bands - seems to me you have nothing to complain about.

[W2ILP]

Why get on the air...if you can use your licensed call letters to get here on QRZ?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif You can't legally broadcast on the air or say some of the stuff that you might say here.

w2ilp (I Like PSK-31) but it depends too much on the ionosphere.

[N6BOA]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ June 19 2006,07:35)]One major problem is that way too many newly licensed Technician Class licensees get a handheld for their only unit. #This so-called "shack on the hip" is the surest way that I know of to become disillusioned with the Amateur Radio Service.

After a few weeks of working the same people time after time through the local repeater the new operator decides that this just isn't "fun" anymore and puts the handheld on their dresser and forgets that it is even there.

A handheld is among the worst type of units for a newcomer to use. #They have very poor antennas, low power, and a very limited range. #Then a great number of them have pretty poor receivers especially where things like intermod and overload are concerned.

That is why I NEVER recommend a handheld/portable unit for the first rig that a newcomer obtains.

Glen, K9STH
Agreed. Obviously I used an HT when I got my Tech license. I was admittedly disillusioned when I found HF to be so much work. I liked putting my shack together, but I found making contacts to be less enjoyable - at first anyway. I do spend more time on 2m and 70cm than HF, but now I like HF. I'm not really that comfortable with it, though, thanks to all those folks out here on the internet who "poopoo" on 5 wpm Extras or newbie Extras. I like SSB best since I suck at CW (about 10 wpm). I read so many of these threads and a lot of people make you feel unwelcomed unless you have a Masters in electronics and you know all the ropes about HF. So, instead, I listen to a lot of QSOs and simply "take notes". I don't spend heaps of time TXing. When I do engage in HF, with one exception, folks seem to want to QSO with me and answer my questions. There are really nice folks on the air out there.

But as Glen said, I think the HT gives new hams the wrong idea about ham radio. I would also advise them NOT to read many of these threads...just get on the air (TX on HF if they have the appropriate license) and have fun. I learned that is the best way.

[w3sy]

Quote[/b] (N6BOA @ June 18 2006,15:52)]Quote[/b] (k4kyv @ June 19 2006,07:34)]If those people don't find ham radio inherently interesting enough to bother to operate once they get their licence, then we are better off without them.
How do these people affect you? So what if they don't want to work HF. This has no bearing on you, your contacts, your license...nada. They are folks with licenses who are not using the bands - seems to me you have nothing to complain about.
Um.... Read it again. He's not complaining. In fact, he's suggesting that they are not worth the bother either way.

Bet he appreciated your lecture, though.

N6BOA continues:

Quote[/b] ]Agreed. Obviously I used an HT when I got my Tech license. I was admittedly disillusioned when I found HF to be so much work. I liked putting my shack together, but I found making contacts to be less enjoyable - at first anyway. I do spend more time on 2m and 70cm than HF, but now I like HF. I'm not really that comfortable with it, though, thanks to all those folks out here on the internet who "poopoo" on 5 wpm Extras or newbie Extras. I like SSB best since I suck at CW (about 10 wpm). I read so many of these threads and a lot of people make you feel unwelcomed unless you have a Masters in electronics and you know all the ropes about HF. So, instead, I listen to a lot of QSOs and simply "take notes". I don't spend heaps of time TXing. When I do engage in HF, with one exception, folks seem to want to QSO with me and answer my questions. There are really nice folks on the air out there.

If you aren't in politics, I can only ask, "Why not?" HAW!! Whew, that paragraph is quite the pingpong match! Like HF... But not comfortable with it... Feel unwelcome... But folks want to QSO with me and will answer questions... People don't like the slo-code Extras... But there are really nice folks out there.

Ow, my neck hurts!

Honestly... hand to God... I have never heard anyone on HF badmouth the 5 wpm extras or give anyone grief for not being engineering geniuses. Sure, the Internet has the loudest haters -- But look where they are: THE INTERNET.

Methinks some folks are a bit too touchy. Jump in. The water's fine. (Really.)

Over...?

[N6BOA]

Quote[/b] (w3sy @ June 19 2006,14:04)]Quote[/b] (N6BOA @ June 18 2006,15:52)]Quote[/b] (k4kyv @ June 19 2006,07:34)]If those people don't find ham radio inherently interesting enough to bother to operate once they get their licence, then we are better off without them.
How do these people affect you? So what if they don't want to work HF. This has no bearing on you, your contacts, your license...nada. They are folks with licenses who are not using the bands - seems to me you have nothing to complain about.
Um.... Read it again. He's not complaining. In fact, he's suggesting that they are not worth the bother either way.

Bet he appreciated your lecture, though.
No lecture was given...but I can see that what he wrote can be interpreted two different ways.

[W2ILP]

I plan to do some operating on Field Day. I hope that many hams do the same. I never find that there aren't lots of guys active on the air on FD. It is a ham tradition that gets some hams on the air who seldom operate at other times.

w2ilp (Increase Lotsa Propagation)...and leave the propaganda on QRZ.

[w3sy]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ June 18 2006,09:35)]One major problem is that way too many newly licensed Technician Class licensees get a handheld for their only unit. #This so-called "shack on the hip" is the surest way that I know of to become disillusioned with the Amateur Radio Service.

After a few weeks of working the same people time after time through the local repeater the new operator decides that this just isn't "fun" anymore and puts the handheld on their dresser and forgets that it is even there.

A handheld is among the worst type of units for a newcomer to use. #They have very poor antennas, low power, and a very limited range. #Then a great number of them have pretty poor receivers especially where things like intermod and overload are concerned.

That is why I NEVER recommend a handheld/portable unit for the first rig that a newcomer obtains.

Glen, K9STH
This is my cue to pile on.

I've said this so many times that I'm almost as sick of saying it as you guys must be of hearing it: The FCC really screwed the pooch when they started messing with the Novice ticket. Then they made their failure complete by eliminating the license.

The original concept of the Novice ticket was a great idea -- Enough privileges to give a good taste of hamming, but enough restrictions to inspire the newbies to advance. Crystal control... 75 watts. You could get the job done with that, but you wanted more. I think most ex-Novices will tell you that those early restrictions made them better operators by they time they upgraded.

Then the FCC cooked up the "Novice Enhancements" in the 1970's. Go ahead and use a VFO. 250 watts? No prob. If I remember right, I think 10 meter SSB was thrown in too. Bye bye incentive (for many people).

Enter the NCT, the new entry point into hamming. Goodbye combing through the nighttime 40 meter QRM for that elusive new state. Hello, "Is the cotton pickin' repeater channel clear, break broke?? KQ4QFU listening! beeboop"

Other than catching up with the locals during drive time, the 2 meter repeater is a snoozefest. A wasteland. And THIS is where we steer new hams and say, "Hey doods! THIS is hamming! Check it out!"

You kidding me??

When I was on CB in the late 60's as a 12 (!) year old, we looked at the Novice ticket as a BIG step up. Now, if you are on CB, running LEENYER and SHOOTIN' SKIP, 2 meter repeater operation is a step DOWN.

Way to go, FCC. And ARRL, you weren't a big help on this either.

Out.

[WA4ABM]

No doubt about it. My novice days on a xtal controlled Heathkit were the happiest.

[W5HTW]

Quote[/b] (k4kyv @ June 19 2006,07:34)]If those people don't find ham radio inherently interesting enough to bother to operate once they get their licence, then we are better off without them.

Back before everything became plug 'n play, amateur radio had the inherent ability to attract newcomers of its own accord. One of the reasons for the lack of new blood today is that appliance operating is booooring.
How true. We took away, and continue to remove the dregs, of the challenge, then we ask why aren't people interested? How many young people do you know who are really excited about running the hundred inch dash? Or jumping the ten inch high jump? Or swimming the three foot mud puddle?

How many adults do you know who strive to reach par in golfing, or bowl a high game, or bag a quail, or a bear, who would like to shoot the fish in the barrel?

Humans may gripe about the effort and we certainly see a huge amount of that here. But when they meet a challenge, they are like roosters - they stand erect and flap their winds and crow, and rightfully so! Some of the people who hate Morse code, for example, finally pass the test and suddenly they are just overwhelmed with pride and self confidence. You don't get that by taking eighteen swings to hit a six inch diameter ball thrown from four feet away.

But a truly major factor is that those new hams who were recruited in the 1990s were misled. They were told now they could get into ham radio! The code testing was gone! So they jumped at it.

Where did they land? With a channelized radio that looked, smelled, tasted and sounded like a CB. Hell, that's where they just came from! But now, darn, they can't even work skip, and they have rules and can't use handles. And they were still standing on the outside of the real ham radio, looking that window at the Collins S-lines, or the new Kenwood 850s or whatever. As out of reach as it had always been. They had been lied to! They were no closer to the "real ham radio" than they had been on channel 13 shouting, "Hey Rebel, you gothca ears on?"

They were seriously disillusioned. And I don't blame them! They were recruited under false pretenses. "YOU are gonna be a ham!" But what they didn't know was there was a "when" to it - "WHEN" you get the code speed up and pass your General ticket.

Of course the other recruitment technique was just as bad. "YOU can keep in touch with Mama and the kiddies." No cell phone required. Get 'em all a ham ticket and get on your local repeaters so you can tell if Mama wants you to bring home a loaf of bread.

They were not welcomed readily either. And when real family plan cell phones came along, they threw the radio into the trash can and bought Verizon or Sprint. Almost all of them are gone, but the licenses remain active. Ask them what kind of radio they have, and they'll tell you it does GPS and downloads videos, while talking to Grandma. "I think it's T-Mobile."

So that's where they went. And now, as the ten year terms from those who jumped on the wagon in the late 90s, start to run down, and the cell phones are busier than ever, the tickets will start to expire. Already the ones from the early and mid 90s have gone. Only a small amount left.

The original, one-year, Novice ticket was indeed perfect. It not only gave one access to "real ham radio" but it gave a powerful incentive to learn. Perhaps even better than that, it gave one an opportunity to "try out this thing called ham radio" without a major investment in time, money or effort. And a lot of Novices fell by the wayside, as they got into it, found it was not what they wanted, and they let that one year ticket expire. They went to other things; photography, flying, music, girls, cars, work, college. They tried ham radio, but it wasn't for them. That was the real gold in the Novice ticket. A "try it before you buy it" approach.

It was the apprentice license. If you liked doing it, you had to become a Journeyman. Couldn't stay an Apprentice forever. Then the FCC said, Yes you can! You can be a learner till hell freezes over. Big mistake, and the ruin of the intent of the license.

With the Novice as the Apprentice and the General as the Journeyman, the Extra was the Master's Certificate. Now it is the Journeyman, or often, Journeyman-Apprentice mixed, and sometimes just the Apprentice. We destroyed the Elmer class. We made the teachers into the students they should be teaching.

Many people will drop out of ham radio. Some as stated, they never really got into it - they were still on the outside looking in. Others because it wasn't as good as the new family plan cell phones. Others because the license structure has been 'fixed' until it is unrecognizable.

Some because despite the useless approach to incentive in ham radio today, Incentive Licensing remains! What a contradiction!

Ed

[w8cbc]

I guess I'm a throwback.

Certainly it wasn't hard for me to work all the way up to Extra. I'm enjoying the hell out of it though! I haven't had to increase my CW to 20 WPM but if it were a requirement, guaranteed I'd be working on it.

I'm a throwback in many other ways so why not? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[w3sy]

I'm still happy to see some newcomers with the old spirit. I know one high schooler down in 4-land (trombone player, unfortunately, but I guess you can't win 'em all -- HAW) who DEFINITELY has the right idea. So there's still hope.

Yeah, some will take to hamming. Many will not. ALWAYS been that way. I can accept that.

By the way, another aspect of the Novice license that is now lost -- It gave continued life and purpose to fine vintage gear, available at a reasonable price.

[WA5KRP]

Quote[/b] (w3sy @ June 19 2006,16:28)]Quote[/b] (K9STH @ June 18 2006,09:35)]One major problem is that way too many newly licensed Technician Class licensees get a handheld for their only unit. #This so-called "shack on the hip" is the surest way that I know of to become disillusioned with the Amateur Radio Service.

Glen, K9STH


I've said this so many times that I'm almost as sick of saying it as you guys must be of hearing it: #The FCC really screwed the pooch when they started messing with the Novice ticket. Then they made their failure complete by eliminating the license.

The original concept of the Novice ticket was a great idea -- Enough privileges to give a good taste of hamming, but enough restrictions to inspire the newbies to advance. Crystal control... 75 watts. You could get the job done with that, but you wanted more. I think most ex-Novices will tell you that those early restrictions made them better operators by they time they upgraded.
Well said by both. All one has to do is contrast what a ham can do with an HT vs. what a ham can do (even with limited privileges) with 75 watts on HF. An HT can be a real dead end for a new ham. Lordy, if I had cut my teeth on an HT I'd be long gone within a year of getting my ticket.

I'd love to see the old Novice ticket resurrected, the one with HF CW privileges. We had a ball and became decent operators in the process. After getting a taste of HF, there was NO WAY we wouldn't go for a General, Advanced, or Extra.



WA5KRP
Texas

[ai4ep]

Hey, just for the fun of it, here on qrz...there is an area you can access from the front page of taking any of the tests for different class of amateur radio licenses...go and take the one for a No Code technician, yes, I know you have already passed it, and did it with flying colors, ( blah blah blah ), but just for the FUN of it, go and re -take it again to prove how EASY it is.

Then come back here and tell the rest of us how you did on the test...no cheating / lying/ bragging...tell all of us how you did.

Me ? I did not miss a single question.

Can you do that good on the first try ?

I have been telling you folks how easy the tests are, now go back, re take just one ( invest the 10 minutes it may take to prove me wrong ) , come back here and tell all of us how good / bad you did.

Man alive, these FCC tests are way too easy to become an amateur radio operator.

Just WHERE is the challenge ? All it takes is ambition. Sure for me there is a gap between becoming a techincian and a general, but that is life. Women, work, ego and a few other minor situations got in the way of progress...but that is all behind me now.

Now quit wasting time and go take the NCT test and come back here and tell all of us how you did....just for the FUN of it. You aint got nothing better to do on the last day of Spring, first few days of Summer 2006. ( Summer begins on June 21, 2006...tomorrow ).

[AC0H]

Quote[/b] ]Then come back here and tell the rest of us how you did on the test...no cheating / lying/ bragging...tell all of us how you did.

35/35, 9.45 minutes.

[w8znx]

for heck of it took the tec test
how could anybody get all the questions right


did anybody else catch

question that could not be answered

by the answers offered

answer listed as correct, is wrong

mac

[W7WV]

No tech licensee should feel that all there is to life is VHF/UHF.
Some are satisfied to be on that spectrum for life but there is a whole new world on HF.
Sure, conditions are poor right now at the low end of the cycle, but things do get better as time goes on.
PS, you don't have to have an electronics back round to be a ham. Many don't have the knowledge level that the old timers feel they should have.
But today much of this gear is "plug and play" as they say and you almost can't go wrong.
Learning a simple formula to build a wire antenna or two take about 2 minutes.
There is much to learn if you want to know more and more than enough people to help you do just that.

[N6KX]

Was it, "How many Frenchmen can't be wrong?" #Oh, no, that was on my Extra exam. #Never mind.

Howie N6KX #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[kc7jty]

Quote[/b] (AC4BB @ June 18 2006,00:57)]It Never ceases to amaze the sheer numbers of people that work so hard to get their ham licences, and end up using them a few times and putting them into a drawer somewhere and never take them back out, people that can't even remember what callsign they were issued. And some never get on the air not once. And we all know that things will happen there's something in family life and family should always come first. People die and so forth.
But, you would think that sometime within a ten year period that people would find some time to operate. What are the culprits behind just sitting on a call and not operating.? People have handhelds and Mobiles and all kinds of portable and even Echolink. For those that might not have radios. we have time to watch the NEWS, sit on the porch( Which is where I commonly operate from). I just cannot figure for the life of me why people who have earned a priviledge don't use it. I guess it's like registering to vote, Millions do and very seldom go to a poll, . I was scanning 11 meters recently and heard a discussion about hams and someone who I assume by the conversation was a ham." Said most hams were " Boring and he felt he needed to be in CB where his real friends are " ( Sic)

If we were to encourage people to get and stay active the numbers of not only new hams would increase so would the number of renewals.. I don't point my fingers at any particular class of Licences but I do believe if you're committed enough to get a ticket use it as often as you can. I have heard Bootleggers using calls that people either have lent them because they didn't use it or that people didn't keep an eye on their licences close enough.
Do I get a prize for reading your D A post?

The guy that is operating on the CB is spot on.....you people are dying out, get adjusted to it. Morse code anyone?

[k4kyv]

Test Complete
The elapsed time was: 15 minutes and 59 seconds.
You have passed the test with a score of 91.4 percent.

Quote[/b] (w8znx @ June 20 2006,11:29)]for heck of it took the tec test
how could anybody get all the questions right


did anybody else catch

question that could not be answered

by the answers offered

answer listed as correct, is wrong

mac


I'm not sure about that. I believe you get a different test each time you try a practice test, so your test questions may not have been the same as mine. I also tried the Tech test.

One that I missed was about what happens when you "turn the squelch too low." I was unsure what they meant by turning the squelch "low."

Another was a question about operating another amateur's station and the control operator.

Mac, is this the question you are referring to?

What is the meaning of the procedural signal "K"?
"Any station transmit"
"All received correctly"
"End of message"
"Called station only transmit"

I said D, "Called station only transmit." But the correct answer they gave was A, "Any station transmit." I have always interpreted "K" to mean "go ahead," assuming that you are already in communication with the other station.

The test seemed considerably easier than what I remember my 1959 Novice test being. If someone reviewed a copy of today's published study guides that reportedly contain the entire question pool giving all the correct answers, I don't see how anyone could fail to score 100%.

Without a published question pool, but a real study guide to tell the candidate what material to learn regarding very basic radio theory and operating practice, the test would be valid for entry level.

But I had expected at least something on Ohm's law, which was not even mentioned on any of my questions.

[al2i]

Quote[/b] (k4kyv @ June 20 2006,12:18)]But the correct answer they gave was A, "Any station transmit."

The test seemed considerably easier than what I remember my 1959 Novice test being. If someone reviewed a copy of today's published study guides that reportedly contain the entire question pool giving all the correct answers, I don't see how anyone could fail to score 100%.

Without a published question pool, but a real study guide to tell the candidate what material to learn regarding very basic radio theory and operating practice, the test would be valid for entry level.

But I had expected at least something on Ohm's law, which was not even mentioned on any of my questions.
If I give someone's callsign followed by a "K", the entire pile answers. Chaos. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif


Quote[/b] ]Without a published question pool, but a real study guide to tell the candidate what material to learn regarding very basic radio theory and operating practice, the test would be valid for entry level.

That would be wonderful, but that America has faded. Now we wait on the steps of the stupordome to be handed our licenses.


Quote[/b] ]But I had expected at least something on Ohm's law, which was not even mentioned on any of my questions.

Better yet was the time KL7FZ asked three new amateur extras what the wavelength of the 20 meter band was, and after consulting with each other, they decided that they really didn't need to remember the "formula".

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[K0RGR]

Yep, the reason those people never get on the air is because the rest of us had to walk to the FCC office, through five feet of snow, uphill both ways, and had to draw schematics on our test.

Somehow, I don't think that's what wrong with our entry level. It IS what's wrong with the Extra, but that's another topic.

I wonder what percentage of new Novices never got on the air. I think you'd be surprised to find that it was actually fairly high, too. And a lot of them dropped out when they couldn't get the 13 WPM code. But I do think that what we have now is a serious illness, bordering on an epidemic.

HTW is right - one of the biggest problems is that many Techs find out that 2 meter FM isn't the answer to all questions, and feel that they were misled. I think this is having a secondary negative impact, as these people who think they were cheated come back to haunt us later.

I hope FCC does the right thing and really changes our entry level. Just dropping the code requirement is probably the wrong thing to do. ARRL's proposed Novice offering is too generous, too.

I'm really interested in "pushing" the all-mode, all-band radios over the HT as a first radio. As I will point out, more than 90% of my time on HF is just listening, and they don't need a license to do that. Meanwhile, they can catch the openings on 6 when they happen, and play with 2 meter DX on SSB.

[w8znx]

Hi Don
the bum question
i lost it and can not find it agn

it goes like this

what emission type may always be use for station
identification regardless of transmitting freq

there is no longer
a correct answer to that question

the answer that came back correct was
#
cw

which was right till few years ago
before
we got those weard ass
60 meter usb only channels

took the test more than once
passed each time

did get some questions wrong
stuff you memorise before going
to take the test

like

the freq limits of 23 cm band in ITU region 2

heck how would i know the freq limits
of 23 cm

if i was intrested in geting on the band
i would look that up

another question i got wrong was
on slow scan tv on 2 meter repeters
agn
have never been on slow scan
never will be on slow scan
and havent used a 2 meter machine in years

to me old drawing a schematic
question is easy
don't know why
find it easer to remember
how to draw a hartley or colpits osc
than much of the old math was

mac

[K3XR]

Quote[/b] (AC4BB @ June 18 2006,23:57)]It Never ceases to #amaze #the sheer #numbers of #people #that work so hard to get their ham #licences, ## .
I would dispute "work so hard to get their ham licenses".
The fact that the tests have been made so easy is exactly why some quickly lose interest, they simply did not work hard enough to appreciate what they have.

[w8cbc]

Quote[/b] ]The elapsed time was: 5 minutes and 44 seconds.
You have passed the test with a score of 94.3 percent.

I missed two on RF safety. And I work around 50kW broadcast transmitters, hee.

There was a question about ohm's law in my sample.

al2i - the wavelength of the "20 metre" band is closer to 21 metres.

[AC4BB]

tells me I'm thinking something right about the subject when the 2 negative responses are BANNED members, I don't think I can base my total respose on the (1) one CB guy that had some problems with Ham radio.For one thing he still operates regulary and complains CW is holding him back and has stated on several occasions on 2 meters & 70 CM that' He can hardly wait for CW to be dropped". Yey, this same individual was overheard telling his CB buddies that they were his true friends. Wouldn't you have just the tinyest amount of trouble with someone like that.? So, here's a fellow licensed less than 6 months now. and he won't Particpate in any kind of program aimed at getting his speed to 5 WPM.

And here's the Upshot he calls those that are active in Ham radio and those that worked with him initially to be "Not only Boring but Dumb people" But on the flip side He talks to those same " Boring and Dumb people on the amateur bands regulary. I have recordings of him putting down good hams by name. and if he continues his tyrades I may just play the recording(s) to those individuals.