I've run into many new extra class operators who ask: "How do I
calculate the length of a dipole?" or; "My tuner gets rid of the SWR in
my antenna!". [Q&A Extras]
I also teach classes. 8 2 hour sessions over two months with homework
for a Technician License. I do NOT teach Q&A. I believe the Q&A style
teaching is a fraud!!
Maybe we should petition ARRL to request a minimum time in class before
an upgrade is possible. Example 1 year as Tech before a person can
upgrade to General: and, 2 years as General before a person can upgrade
to Extra. This would create the prospects of 'some' experience in radio
art for the senior class.
I hold an Engineering degree, BSEE + many MSEE credits, and took my
Extra when I retired.
Deacon Dave, W1MCE for almost 50 years of ham radio.
Jim Reid wrote:
>
> I am shocked at the following report from the ARRL!
> I am sending this to a fairly wide distribution with this
> question: is this where Amateur Radio really wants
> to be going? Or do you think the following is just
> great and wonderful??
>
> >From today's ARRL Letter:
>
> "New York's Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club--LIMARC
> --reports its first "one-day Extra" licensing upgrade class was
> such a success that it's scheduled additional sessions for later
> this spring. LIMARC recently attracted two dozen students to its
> first Extra class license study short course, and nearly all who
> attended walked away with their Extra tickets.
>
> "....the session involves seven hours of
> intensive study. Five instructors taught the nine Extra examination
> subelements, which include FCC rules, operating procedures, radio
> propagation, Amateur Radio practices, electrical principles, circuit
> components, practical circuits and antennas and feedlines.
>
> When the session ended, 20 of the 24 applicants had passed
> Element 4. "
>
> All in a "one-day" short course.
>
> Wow, I am impressed. Took me an entire semester in engineering
> school to learn how to solve all those impedance, complex
> plane, R+/- jX problems. And 20 of these guys learned how
> to do those, along with all that other stuff, and STILL the same
> day took and passed the Extra license exam????
>
> Maybe what those five instructors "taught" was the answers
> to the questions on the test to be given that day??? At least
> one enquiring mind would like to know! I believe what is
> being reported is not possible and still be legitimate, unless
> those 20 guys had way above genius IQ's. Or maybe, they
> all have "perfect recall" memories.
>
> Guess I was a real slow learning; I was years getting the education,
> experience and UNDERSTANDING under my belt before I went
> for the Extra. Oh yes, also had to pass the 20 wpm CW test
> that same day, but that isn't needed anymore. Maybe it was
> getting to 20 wpm CW that took me all that time, no, don't
> think so. Just took me awhile to learn/understand what the
> meaning of the stuff on the Extra Class license was all about.
>
> Yes, what does the Extra Class license mean anymore??
>
> Just a bit disappointed,
>
> 73, Jim KH7M
>
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