[Elecraft] New ham and the KX3

[Rick WA6NHC]

Heh, using myself as an example:  I took the 13 WPM code test at the FCC 
in SF to gain the General (an imposing building, 555 Battery Street is 
forever imbedded in memory). I held an Advanced for years but know I'll 
never make 20 WPM code, it simply isn't one of my talents. Once that 
requirement was dropped, it was the math that trips me up.  I don't 
know, nor do I care what the formulas are BUT I know where to find them 
when I need them.

I learn more by doing than reading.  The better teachers know there are 
three ways to learn, seeing, hearing, doing; then teach ALL methods at 
the same time.

At one point, I got bored, so I took the tests online until I was 
consistently above 85% then took the actual exam making only guesses at 
the math.  Some were correct, based on frequent exposure to the tests.  
If I did well everywhere else, it would be enough to pass, regardless of 
the math.  I blew through the rest of the test, which carried me to an 
Extra.  So if I can do it, pretty much anyone else should make it.

One exception is my older son (both area licensed).  He has a degree in 
math and a CSEE, is highly trained and working in digital magic for a 
military contractor but can't help over-thinking the test (an engineer 
fault, besides, it's mostly analog).  The test is grossly outdated and 
the generic answers are too dumbed down to the point of being inaccurate 
(to folks like him).

Now where did I put those math books? :o)  Oh yah, next to the CW 
practice machine...  hmmm, dusty again.

73,
Rick wa6nhc

On 2/26/2014 11:19 AM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT wrote:
> With the current testing structure (for better or worse) he can make 
> Extra in less than a year.
>
> Biggest problem I had with the Extra test was giving the "test" 
> answers and not the correct answers based on years of operating 
> specialized modes.
>
> 73 -- Lynn