[Elecraft] transistors explained OT

[Mike Morrow]

>> I've had my extra ticket since 1963. When I took the test there
>> weren't any transistors on it.
>
>Had mine since 1970. Some solid state theory on it. A few things have
>changed since then.


I took my commercial radiotelegraph exam in 1980.  There was no solid-state
anything on the two technical exam elements.  Well, I guess the exam
question on crystal set receivers (which were used for many years as reserve
500 kc receivers in some merchant ship radio rooms) could be considered
solid-state related.  I remember thinking how much more up to date
technically the amateur exams were, compared to the commercial exams.  The
commercial telegraph exams were the last FCC exams to require schematic
drawing and essay answers on ten percent of the questions, and the last FCC
exams to require demonstration of Morse sending capability, but they clearly
reflected at least a 25 year lag in technology.

73,
Mike / KK5F