ARRL Bulletin 4 ARLB004 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT January 28, 2020 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB004 ARLB004 New Amateur Extra Question Pool Released The new Amateur Extra-class license examination question pool, effective from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, has been released and is available at the National Conference of Volunteer Coordinators (NCVEC) website at, http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=356. The 2020-2024 Extra-class pool incorporates significant changes compared to the current 2016-2020 question pool, which expires on June 30. The number of questions in the pool was reduced from 712 to 622. The result was 239 modified questions, 49 new questions, and 139 questions removed due to changes in what was felt to be an abundance of outdated questions, while areas of new technology and subjects were added. In addition, an effort was made to balance the difficulty level, removing or replacing some questions deemed too easy or too difficult compared to the rest of the pool. The 2020 pool has 10 diagrams, which have been renumbered because the new question pool has two fewer than the 2016 question pool. NNNN /EX
If you pass the 20 word a minute Code test can you still get an Extra?? Oh the new exam probably doesn't cover CW but FT8!!
I am glad I got extra before they added all the digital questions. As it was I had to memorize most of the questions and answers...yes all 720. I missed 6 on the test. But I have been trying to take it again lately just for fun and fail miserably every time. I guess I was just lucky or gifted just enough to pass the extra test in 2014.
Sorry, I am really not a bad tempered old man.....I was simply stating I do not think I could pass the extra as it is today. I wouldn't mind getting into digital...just as soon as I buy all the other things I want I life...or win the lottery...whichever comes first. I sincerely tried to learn code, but I cannot hear the distinction between the dits and dahs due to an injury I received I my hearing. The sounds are way too muffled. So I am really happy that one can get extra without code or digital proficiency.
That was a general remark, not directed at you or anyone in particular. Well almost no one, it's directed at curmudgeon. I have no rythm and tinnitus, CW isn't for me either. But I'm all about digital modes.
Thank you....I was going to ask where can I get an application for ARCs....Amateur Radio Curmudgeon Society. LOL!!
I got a better idea. How about they make someone make a real functioning transceiver? not crystal, but with a VFO.... Tube type or transistor. Nothing fancy, just a simple one. and force the person to name all of the components or each section, what it does and how it works. They have to build it; all parts, soldering gun, and solder itself provided, but give them a time limit, an hour. Build it, tell how it works, and what everything does. Must be a AC unit with a power supply section. You can bet that 99.5% of these clueless....um, people? could never do it and would flunk. Sad, but true.
Probably 100% would not be able to do this, and for this reason (and lots of others) it is a very bad idea. Even the commercial radio exams do not require anything like this, they're just a test with multiple answers, just like ours. And those questions are also in a publicly available pool. If the FCC thinks publicly available questions and answers are OK to be licensed to operate and repair radios with real life and death consequences, why would anyone assume that the FCC would require much stricter requirements for a hobby?
