There's something new about North African Squirrels? Exciting~!

I completely understand that. When I was a kid, I experienced quite a bit of "ham culture". And really it hasn't changed that much. There were people carping about license classes back then- though the specific complaints are lost to my memory.

Thanks for the supportive comment.

I happen to agree with what you are saying. But my perspective is from being very very new.

First off, I had prepped for the Technician test in the 70's as a kid. I even passed a few practice exams. Honestly, the General exam today seems on par with the difficulty of the General exam of the 70's. But that assessment is from memory and not including CW requirements. I'd like to see a measurable standard for the difficulty of the current tests against the old tests- other than a bunch of old hams playing lip service to their "superiority". Or alternatively pining away about code.

From my perspective: the biggest issue I've seen is the haranguing of younger hams who have entered the hobby under the so-called "relaxed conditions".

If you want to talk about harm- that's harmful. I've literally sat with a group of hams and listened to a speech given to a new tech about "how worthless his license is". Think about that. It's not a rare occurrence. It's harmful.

And it's not just harmful to the new licensee. It's harmful to the hobby. And it's harmful to clubs, of which many specialize in creating "new hams".

So the current state of licensing "standards" has little to do with "harm". It's more the attitudes of some longer term hams that do the damage.

Oddly enough, even if you attempted to memorize the question pool you would learn a great deal.

I still say you have less a chance of passing through memorizing answers due to the nature of that test.

No preference I enjoy reading both.

But I wish the QRZ read/unread tracking worked better. Sometimes it shows no new posts when I can see new posts in the threads.

Other than that- it's kind of a wash. And that's a positive for me.

There's a difference between political correctness and holding views that were abandoned in 1959.

It's funny how everyone from sexists, racists, or other backwards and sadly outmoded people seem to retort with "I'm not politically correct". You aren't politically correct. Or any other kind of correct.

You're just wrong.

I suppose a woman should be telling you this. But that comment is not only stereotypical but sexist.

Congrats Rose.

Those guys you speak of dissuade both genders.

Heck, if I had heard what I heard on HF last night before I was licensed- my interest may have been dimmed. It sure made me turn off the radio and think about my involvement in this.

My skin is pretty thick. But issues of sexism, racism, and ageism (against the younger set) really get to me.

But the fact of the matter is that "those guys" actually think they are something special and the last of their breed. Sadly, in order to continue feeling that way they need to minimize everyone else.

I've only been a ham since January 5th. Maybe it will get better. But I could see how anybody in my generation (born in the 60's), male or female, would be turned off by quite a few things.

Well, I'm not a dummy, but wouldn't put myself above anyone. My personal situation right now gives me a great deal of time not had previously due to a demanding work schedule. But for the last year, I've been caring for a very ill parent. That is indeed a luxury most people do not get and it's appreciated. The side effect of my new "temporary career" is lots of time to study and learn things.

But from the standpoint of having just sat for the exam, and preparing in a way where there was an understanding of the material, it was a challenging test.

I could not memorize 700 questions. My head isn't that big. Maybe that's just me.

What's next?: Working through this ARRL antenna book on my desk, then start re-learning code for QRP operation, and then buy a nice low power rig.

Perhaps, it's not about intellect, but rather about character and perspiration.

I hope my comments were not taken in an insulting manner. I'm too young of a ham to really comment on these things with any authority.

73

Michael

I'm about to tread where angels fear to go... but....

To me it seems an uncertainly that you could memorize the answers to the Extra exam.

I passed both the Technician and General exams in January 2013. Then I passed Extra Saturday (3/16/2013) after two months of preparation, and failed attempt in February.

As a note: my background has radio in it and 22 years experience in network design and security.

The Extra exam is different. You could definitely memorize the Technician exam. You *might* be able to pull it off with the General exam. It's an impossibility with the Extra exam. There were questions on the exam that demanded I knew subject. They mocked me!

Maybe I don't have a big enough brain pan to memorize 700 questions. However I am smart enough to learn reasoning. And that test seemed to spend a lot of time making me think.

When I was a kid... must have been '74 or '75 the FCC came into Chicago and busted one guy on CB with a high power amp. The next week the Trading Times (local swap paper) had like 50 linear amps for sale cheap. They stayed listed a long time.

All it takes is one. Sometimes.

The Japanese electrolytics are just fine.

There was a bit of a scandal in Asian industry, where a Chinese company stole the formula for a type of electrolytic cap form a Japanese firm. But... it gets more interesting... because the formula stolen was the *incorrect* one. Thus the caps produced were garbage and had a MTB measured in months.

This was a big scandal in my industry (IT), because a whole boatload of equipment, most famously from ASUS, failed due to the leaking electrolytics.

Everything from computers to network electronics were affected. And technically competent IT folks actually soldered new caps in (The monitor I'm using is an example of that).

But then again you cannot always tell the source of a capacitor. *shrug*

I have to admit, some of these reports of activity on various bands are somewhat discouraging to me. I've just gotten my General ticket and intend to use my privileges to talk to people rather than contest.

Playing with the tech, learning, and conversing with other Hams seems more compelling to me. Here's hoping there's people on the bands that feel the same way when I have an HF rig up.

I don't really have a dog in this fight, other than I hate liars. I'm saddened that anyone needs to claim something they are not.

My dad was a Korean era vet- but he was stationed in Germany and did not see any action. I suppose because I'm proud of him, I can see little sense in anyone lying about their service. He was always honest that he was not much more than a radioman, and never saw action. Showing up for service was hard enough to be commendable, and I could not even imagine what combat duty was like.

Thank you to those who served BTW.

I guess I'm befuddled by the dishonesty.