[SFDXA] KB6NU's Column for February 2012

[Kai Siwiak]

I agree, Sebastian! 
This is part of the silliness of the Extra question pool.  Many of the 
questions are designed to trip up applicants rather than to test 
knowledge, or to teach.
I get to review all the questions pertaining to RF Exposure and Safety. 
I will not allow any question and answer set to pass if ANY of the wrong 
answers inadvertently teach an unsafe condition.  We learn in test 
taking.  The sad truth is that many of the Extra questions reinforce 
erroneous and outdated principles and practices in the name of a "tough 
test".  In my humble opinion, the Extra Class license should be earned 
by logged and verified evidence of good on-the-air amateur practice 
rather than by an elitist written test loaded with silly and often 
erroneous questions. Imagine licensing automobile drivers without a 
practical test!

Furthermore, there is no requirement in International agreements for ANY 
testing at all for any license class!

Just my humble opinion! 

73
Kai, KE4PT

Sebastian, W4AS wrote:
> Bad information!  Here's is what I posted on that site:
>
> Is this question actually part of the Extra exam?  If so, it's not entirely correct.  The commonly used bands are 50 and 144 MHz, however 222 MHz is also suitable for meteor scatter contacts.  And when there's a shower, contacts can and are made on 432 MHz as well.
>
> 30 second exchanges are the norm, not 15 seconds.
>
> And the biggest mistake is the part about short transmissions.  Transmissions of the same information, whether it be CW or digital, is done continuously throughout the 30 second period. 
>
> 73 de Sebastian, W4AS
>
>
>
> On Feb 26, 2012, at 2:30 PM, Bill wrote:
>
>   
>> Hi, all--
>> Here's my column for February 2012. 73, Dan KB6NU
>>
>>
>> The Extra Class Question of the Day
>>
>> by Dan Romanchik, KB6NU
>>
>> Extra Class question of the day: meteor scatter
>> Amateur radio operators use many different ways to get signals from one spot to another. Perhaps one of the most interesting is meteor scatter propagation.
>>
>> Meteor scatter propagation is possible because when a meteor strikes the Earth's atmosphere, a cylindrical region of free electrons is formed at<bold>the E layer</bold>  of the ionosphere. (E3A08)<bold>28 - 148 MHz</bold>  is the frequency range that is well suited for meteor-scatter communications. (E3A09)
>>
>> Unfortunately, these ionization trails are relatively short-lived, so to communicate via meteor scatter, you need to either be able to detect when these paths are available or be transmitting when the paths are available.<bold>All of these choices are correct</bold>  when talking about  good techniques for making meteor-scatter contacts (E3A10):
>>   - 15 second timed transmission sequences with stations alternating based on location
>>   - Use of high speed CW or digital modes
>>   - Short transmission with rapidly repeated call signs and signal reports
>>
>>     
>
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