I won't lie: the Extra test was difficult for me but I did it. I'm still glad I did it though.
I sometimes wonder about the validity of tests in the day and age of the internet. Way back when you couldn't just go online and
look up half the stuff you need to know, bu then again,
you really need a basic understanding of the laws that
we have to operate under which is not one of those "I
didn't know" type things you can get away with if you
nuke your neighbors TV pushing a gigawatt right down
their antenna :)
Hi Nigel,
I sometimes wonder about the validity of tests in the day and
age of the internet. Way back when you couldn't just go online
and look up half the stuff you need to know, bu then again,
you really need a basic understanding of the laws that
we have to operate under which is not one of those "I
didn't know" type things you can get away with if you
nuke your neighbors TV pushing a gigawatt right down
their antenna :)
From my experience as a VE, most hams taking a test seem to want to
memorize the answers then learn later the actual information. I did
the same myself but through experimentation and gaining experience, I
learned and understood.
The Part 97 stuff is something you have to read, memorize, and
understand. The FCC doesn't take "I didn't know" for an answer.
Also, for Nigel's reason of not worring about being out of my license bandwidth. XD
From my experience as a VE, most hams taking a test seem to want to memorize the answers then learn later the actual information. I did the same myself but through experimentation and gaining experience, I learned and understood.
From my experience as a VE, most hams taking a test seem to want to memorize the answers then learn later the actual information.
Re: Extra Class
By: Sean Dennis to Nigel Reed on Sun Oct 19 2025 20:53:00
From my experience as a VE, most hams taking a test seem to want
to memorize the answers then learn later the actual information.
Which is definitely the wrong way to do it. It's so dissapointing to
hear hams ask questions about even the most basic stuff they would've
known if they actually bothered to /learn/ the material, instead of
just memorizing. The kicker is I usually know the answers...and I'm
not even a ham!
Go to my BBS, under Doors > Fun Stuff take the general test and see how
you do.
LOL. yeah, now all you have to worry about is accidently responding to
an out of region DX station, in a portion of the band you would not
be listening to if you weren't an Extra. Oh, and when you normally
would just not log it so nobody would know. You do because you are working a contest.. (ASK ME HOW I KNOW...).
Then there are the hams that will openly talk and teach others how to transmit out of band on their BaoFangs or CB(HF) modified radios, and
will make it seem like you are the bad person for pointing out it is illegal.
At least it is easier to do so now all the information that is
available on Youtube.
Which is definitely the wrong way to do it. It's so dissapointing to
hear hams ask questions about even the most basic stuff they would've known if they actually bothered to /learn/ the material, instead of
just memorizing.
The kicker is I usually know the answers...and I'm
not even a ham!
Go to my BBS, under Doors > Fun Stuff take the general test and see
how you do.
Re: Re: Learn, Amateurs Learn!
By: Nigel Reed to All on Tue Oct 21 2025 12:39:01
Go to my BBS, under Doors > Fun Stuff take the general test and
see how you do.
Cool. Um, which is...?
Hello, Nigel!
Replying to a message of Nigel Reed to All:
Go to my BBS, under Doors > Fun Stuff take the general test and
see how you do.
Hmm, that might be a good thing. Took and passed my General in 2008.
Stupid is as stupid does. Like the idiots on 7.200 and 14.313.
I wish YouTube was around when I was working on my Tech (late 1997).
Would have made life much easier.
Maybe you should become a ham. I think you'd make a great elmer,
Considering you post from my BBS and it's in my tagline...
Novice and Tech were not the problem for me, read "Now You're Talking" cover to cover, was an excellant book for teaching the therory. Much better than the ARRL pub and the Gordon West books.
Re: Re: Learn, Amateurs Learn!
By: Nigel Reed to All on Tue Oct 21 2025 21:08:19
Considering you post from my BBS and it's in my tagline...
I did see that, but I'm confused. I thought Nelgin was the Sysop, or
is this a multiple personality thing? :)
Re: Learn, Amateurs Learn!
By: Sean Dennis to Mortar M. on Tue Oct 21 2025 18:39:52
Maybe you should become a ham. I think you'd make a great elmer,
Heh, 'preciate the sentiment, but I have a long way to go before I'd
try that. As for becoming a ham, I've studied for the Tech ticket a
few times, but VEs in my area are hard to come by, but now that
there's remote testing, I just might give it another go.
On a tangent, anybody have any reccomendations for a study guide in
book form? I learn better by reading. I had ARRL's book, but I
found it lacking details.
I did see that, but I'm confused. I thought Nelgin was the Sysop, or is thi multiple personality thing? :)
Nigel is Nelgin's real name. ;)
Since he posts under both names, it's no wonder I was confused.
On Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:27:37 -0500
"Mortar M." <mortar.m.@endofthelinebbs.com> wrote:
The problem I have is that there's a lot to remember and by the time
I'm 3 chapters in, I probably forgot what's in the first chapter.
I learn by with continue testing and incorporating more as you go. A
bit like computer labs, you start with simple stuff then you build on
that knowledge until you know the thing inside out.
I find that sort of HAM learning/training hard to come by.
--
End Of The Line BBS - Plano, TX
telnet endofthelinebbs.com 23
--- SBBSecho 3.30-Linux
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Ihad a General Class License 30 years before taking the Amateur Extra
test.
It back in the days when the F.C.C. gave tests.
I passed the CW portion .
The written part had topics about some things I never knew, such as acUHF Oscillator Triode Tube, I also recall a question about Sattellite operation.
I failed the written part but left the room with an Advanced Class ticket. Ed W9ODR
Rug Rat wrote to Ed Vance <=-
At the end of the day though, it is all about what you do with the
hobby.
On Sun 26-Oct-2025 5:06p, Ed Vance@1:2320/105.0 said to Nigel Reed:
Ahhh yes, the good ol Advanced test. Took and failed that one 7 times. Was the biggest reason I put off Extra for so long, and as mentioned earlier I still would not have it except for the excellent classes being done on YouTube! There is only so much math I can take before my brain just shuts down! There was no way I would get through it without being walked through it, and being shown that for the questions, 3 other formulae to get to the one you need, because the answer already gives you the number you would get from the 3 other fomulas.
Then there is the CODE.. THE CODDDE. That was another 5 trips to the testing center. The 4th time I missed it by 3 lousy characters... It was a blessing and a curse that the VEs knew me, because I had done the full rotation in San Diego County! They encourged me when they saw me, but had to ummm. "play" with me too. My friend KF6JAX came with me to take his General theory.. (I'm putting him there as a place holder..). So when they were scoring the test, they we saying between them. So close again... I was a bit miffed at myself. I was sure I was ready this time, "So.... What.... I missed it by 2 this time.." One guy says, "one.." I said, "I'm going to go smoke... I will be back up to schedule for next week..."
I came back, and my friend who was still testing, gave me a thumbs up... I was like, "No! Really?!!" Got my papers and swore I would never take another code test! Thank God I didn't have to.
Though now that JAX and I are both No Code Extra's, I still playfully tease him that at least I can say I did the 13...
At the end of the day though, it is all about what you do with the hobby.
Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
--- CNet/5
* Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)
One of the reasons I got my Extra ticket is because of the
extra bandwidth to work European staions in the lower end of
40, 75 and 80 meters. Plus, if there's contesting going on and
I am not participating in the contest, the extra bandwidth is a
welcome respite.
Also, for Nigel's reason of not worring about being out of my
license bandwidth. XD
I won't lie: the Extra test was difficult for me but I did it.
I'm still glad I did it though.
From my experience as a VE, most hams taking a test seem to
want to memorize the answers then learn later the actual
information. I did the same myself but through experimentation
and gaining experience, I learned and understood.
The Part 97 stuff is something you have to read, memorize, and
understand. The FCC doesn't take "I didn't know" for an
answer.
Which is definitely the wrong way to do it. It's so
dissapointing to hear hams ask questions about even the most
basic stuff they would've known if they actually bothered to
/learn/ the material, instead of just memorizing. The kicker
is I usually know the answers...and I'm not even a ham! ---
Hmm, that might be a good thing. Took and passed my General in
2008.
I wish YouTube was around when I was working on my Tech (late
1997). Would have made life much easier.
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