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Author Topic: Introduction and Questions  (Read 962 times)

TRUTHSEER

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Introduction and Questions
« on: June 23, 2019, 07:23:49 PM »

Hello,

I am retired and looking for a hobby to fill dead time.  During the mast month I have watched numerous Youtube Ham videos, found a number of sites dedicated to Ham knowledge, operation, and exam licensing help.  I find my mode of operation (learning) a bit different than what is available for gathering information surrounding the scheme of Ham Radio in general.

Because I have an electronic background I could walk in an Exam Testing and pass the test.  Sites that have practice exams tell me this.  Given this intro I do not want to go in this direction (arrogance doesnt get anywhere) because I found these questions are, at best, cumbersome (the questions where written by someone who doesn't know about electronics) and communicates there is a deeper understanding about the equipment and personal operation of such Ham radios that I want to know the background reasons for these questions.

My first question for this license neighborhood forum is, when I come across a question that pertains to license questions can I have confidence to finding knowledge here so that I can come away with a better understanding, and therefore be of more a part of the Ham community?

Thanks in advance.
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W9IQ

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RE: Introduction and Questions
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2019, 03:19:26 AM »

Be aware that "electronics" comprises less than 20% of the test questions. So you may find the need to study other areas such as regulations, operating practices, etc. However, I would appreciate examples of the electronics test questions that were, as you say, written by someone that does not know much about electronics. As instructors, we are always looking to improve the quality of the question pool.

Feel free to ask your licensing questions here. There are a lot of knowledgeable hams and license class instructors on this site.

As your first lesson from this site, understand that ham is not an acronym nor a proper noun. So capitalization is not required except when starting a sentence with the word.

- Glenn W9IQ
« Last Edit: June 24, 2019, 03:30:18 AM by W9IQ »
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

SOFAR

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RE: Introduction and Questions
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2019, 07:12:28 AM »

Hello,

I am retired and looking for a hobby to fill dead time.  During the mast month I have watched numerous Youtube Ham videos, found a number of sites dedicated to Ham knowledge, operation, and exam licensing help.  I find my mode of operation (learning) a bit different than what is available for gathering information surrounding the scheme of Ham Radio in general.

Because I have an electronic background I could walk in an Exam Testing and pass the test.  Sites that have practice exams tell me this.  Given this intro I do not want to go in this direction (arrogance doesnt get anywhere) because I found these questions are, at best, cumbersome (the questions where written by someone who doesn't know about electronics) and communicates there is a deeper understanding about the equipment and personal operation of such Ham radios that I want to know the background reasons for these questions.

My first question for this license neighborhood forum is, when I come across a question that pertains to license questions can I have confidence to finding knowledge here so that I can come away with a better understanding, and therefore be of more a part of the Ham community?

Thanks in advance.

Not sure if you have a specific question. Or you want to complain about the exam before ever taking it?

There's not that much to the process.

Go to FCC CORES, register for an FRN. Go to ARRL, find an exam in your area

Use Hamexam.org for practice exams, and flash cards.
https://hamexam.org
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K3UIM

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RE: Introduction and Questions
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2019, 07:16:14 AM »

"As your first lesson from this site, understand that ham is not an acronym nor a proper noun. So capitalization is not required except when starting a sentence with the word."
Glenn, Is nothing sacred with you??? I beg to differ! LOL
Also, I think you might be 25 years too late in your expectations for an "electronic" ham test. (Tongue in cheek, of course.)
Charlie, K3UIM
« Last Edit: June 24, 2019, 07:19:35 AM by K3UIM »
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Charlie. K3UIM
Where you are: I was!
Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

K7MEM

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RE: Introduction and Questions
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2019, 09:12:30 AM »

Because I have an electronic background I could walk in an Exam Testing and pass the test.  Sites that have practice exams tell me this.

That is somewhat true. However, I don't believe that an electronic background is required. As Glenn indicated, there is very little on electronics. So you can go to a testing facility and take the Technician, General, and Extra written exams, one right after the other. If you pass them all, you can walk out a Extra class operator, without ever turning on a radio. Since they dropped the Morse Code requirements and downsized the license classes, anyone can become a instant Extra.

Some 20 years ago I was a General. I went to the testing station and took the Advanced and Extra class written tests, and the 20 WPM Morse test. I left there with a Extra class license. I had been a design Engineer for 30 years at the time. It helped a little, with understanding some of the concepts, but good test preparation was the key to passing the tests.

In the end, the real learning starts once you get your license. Not before.
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Martin - K7MEM
http://www.k7mem.com

K3UIM

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RE: Introduction and Questions
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2019, 04:12:31 PM »

MEM: "Some 20 years ago I was a General. I went to the testing station and took the Advanced and Extra class written tests, and the 20 WPM Morse test. I left there with a Extra class license. I had been a design Engineer for 30 years at the time. It helped a little, with understanding some of the concepts, but good test preparation was the key to passing the tests."
Maybe because it was "earned" it meant a bit more than the ticket does today?? Good point! (Pride in ownership.)
Charlie, K3UIM
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Charlie. K3UIM
Where you are: I was!
Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

K7MEM

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RE: Introduction and Questions
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2019, 05:39:37 PM »

MEM: "Some 20 years ago I was a General. I went to the testing station and took the Advanced and Extra class written tests, and the 20 WPM Morse test. I left there with a Extra class license. I had been a design Engineer for 30 years at the time. It helped a little, with understanding some of the concepts, but good test preparation was the key to passing the tests."

Maybe because it was "earned" it meant a bit more than the ticket does today?? Good point! (Pride in ownership.)

That is a good point. However, my motives were also a bit selfish. When I started my upgrade process, I was a Novice class operator and had been for a very long time. I was a CW operator and didn't have a need for a higher class license. But it was obvious, at least to me, that licensing requirements were going to change. I could see the Morse Code requirements being eliminated. And I wanted to upgrade to Extra, in the Ham Radio that I knew.

So I first took the Tech and General written tests and the 13 WPM Morse test, all in one test session. Then, 2 months later, I went for the Extra, the way I already described. So I went from Novice to Extra in a two month span and "I did it my way" (you can break into song at this point).

That's probably why I have no animosity towards those that earned their Extras, after the license requirements were changed. They did it their way, and "I did it my way" (second chorus here).
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Martin - K7MEM
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W1VT

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RE: Introduction and Questions
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2019, 05:43:28 PM »

I also passed all my Advanced written, Extra written, and 20 wpm code test  in one testing session.  I was just 15 years old and had yet to own a calculator or slide rule, so it took a long time grind through the calculations with pencil and paper.  As I was quite small for my age it was quite a surprise to other hams that not only did I have a ham license, but I had my amateur extra!

The ARRL License manuals are intended to give a little backgound on the test questions instead of merely teaching you to pass the test.  One of the challenges in being a  professional or scientist is that every hobby and profession as its own jargon.  Some translation is often required for a full understanding.  A number is useless if it off by some unknown constant. 
« Last Edit: June 24, 2019, 05:54:13 PM by W1VT »
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K4PIH

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RE: Introduction and Questions
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2019, 06:29:19 AM »

IMHO bone up on the regulations. There are some technical questions but I agree with the others that most of it is regulatory.
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