[GreenKeys] Ham testing

[Lee Mushel]

I can't resist commenting on this thread which I find absolutely fascinating!  I was 20 when I passed the "First Phone" test in 1960 and I did have the wonderful experience of taking a broadcast transmitter completely apart one night while working alone as a backup engineer.   I marvel at how I ever managed to do that but the station never lost a minute of "on air" operation!

But the thought I want to pass on is closely related but not easily recognized as being so.   At the moment I am assembling a little radio project that I paid $20 for.  It is a software defined radio receiver for 40 meters.  As I do this I've been thinking about the skills I'm using that were acquired over the last 60 plus years.  And since I am quite familiar with the new licensing system I can't help but wonder how these newcomers to amateur radio will ever gain the experience to do even my simple current project!  People today are just as smart as they ever have been but where is the motivation to get the additional skills needed to enable them to enjoy more aspects of the hobby or to be able to function in a true emergency situation?   This doesn't happen because of participation in a "one night a week net gathering."  I maintain two Model 28 machines that visitors to my ham shack can sit at and experience the "environment" of an operating teletype machine but no one yet has demonstrated any emotion or interest after the experience!

73

Lee  K9WRU
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ralph Mowery 
  To: gil at baudot.net ; aaa-greenkeys 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 10:27 AM
  Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Ham testing


  Yes, the tests are much easier now as you get the exect answers and questions.  All you need is a good memory.   There used to be study guides years ago that would give sample questions but not the exect ones.  
  Same as the comercial radiotelephone license.  Even that must not have been all that difficult when I took it in 1972.  I passed the First class phone when I was 22 and have never seem a TV transmitter and only the local 1 kw AM tansmitter from the outside of the cabinet.

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: gil at baudot.net 
    To: aaa-greenkeys 
    Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 2:51 AM
    Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Ham testing


    Thanks all:


    Even though I am happy to have passed, I can't help but think that it must be much easier than it was a few years ago, before testing web sites existed and back when morse code was required.  I truly applaud folks that went through what must have been a very rigorous test not-too-many-years-ago -- back when you probably needed to be mentored by a real ham in a real shack to get an appreciation for the equipment, the practice, the electronics, and the understanding of all aspects related to running a station.  And you really had to know your dit.



    My hat is off to you old-school fellows,



    gil





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