[Boatanchors] [Bulk] Re: ARRL Band Plan

[Glen Zook]

Today's Amateur Extra Class written examination is pretty darn easy!  Also, using the various "sample" tests, one acquires the ability to recognize the correct answer without have any understanding of the question.  Since the correct answer, and all of the incorrect answers, MUST be presented on the examination papers using the exact wording as in the examples, the human brain very soon recognizes the correct answer.  The only thing that is permitted is to vary the order in which the possible "answers" are presented on the examination papers.
This is very unlike the General Class examination that I took in October of 1959.  Instead of being multiple choice answers, one had to draw schematics, determine the value of things using memorized formulas showing your calculations on supplied "scratch paper", fill in the blank, etc.  There were VERY few multiple choice questions.
The old Advanced Class examination was multiple choice.  However, one had to choose which components that were missing from schematics, calculate things, and so forth.  For "grins", I worked a couple of the calculations using misplaced items in the formula and the "wrong" answer that I got was definitely one of the possible multiple choice answers.  However, the General Class examination was considerably harder.
The Amateur Extra examination was only harder than the Novice Class examination that I took in February 1959 because it had 50-questions instead of 20-questions! Glen, K9STH

Website: http://k9sth.net
      From: "pmarkavage at juno.com" <pmarkavage at juno.com>
 To: w5jo at brightok.net 
Cc: Boatanchors at puck.nether.net 
 Sent: Monday, April 13, 2015 1:38 PM
 Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] [Bulk] Re: ARRL Band Plan
   
If Generals feel their portion of the band is congested, they only have
to upgrade to Extra (under the current FCC rules) to take advantage of
all the band spectrum. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. 

I would also suspect many of today's newly minted Technicians (computer
savvy et al) would have more of an interest to operate digital modes then
the traditional CW mode.

It's the 21st century; times are changing and amateur radio operating
practices, procedures, wishes, and desires need to evolve.