Hello All,

One of the reasons I got my Extra ticket is because of the extra bandwidth to work European staions in the lower end of 40, 75 and 80 meters. Plus, if there's contesting going on and I am not participating in the contest, the extra bandwidth is a welcome respite.

Also, for Nigel's reason of not worring about being out of my license bandwidth. XD

I won't lie: the Extra test was difficult for me but I did it. I'm still glad I did it though.

-- Sean

... Go straight to the docs. Do not pass GO. Do not collect $200!
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Re: Extra Class
By: Sean Dennis to All on Sun Oct 19 2025 12:36:37

I won't lie: the Extra test was difficult for me but I did it. I'm still glad I did it though.

I study from time to time but there is a lot of try and remember and most of it I'll never likely use and if I do, it's all on the internet anyway.

I sometimes wonder about the validity of tests in the day and age of the internet. Way back when you couldn't just go online and look up half the stuff you need to know, bu then again, you really need a basic understanding of the laws that we have to operate under which is not one of those "I didn't know" type things you can get away with if you nuke your neighbors TV pushing a gigawatt right down their antenna :)
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Hi Nigel,

I sometimes wonder about the validity of tests in the day and age of the internet. Way back when you couldn't just go online and
look up half the stuff you need to know, bu then again,
you really need a basic understanding of the laws that
we have to operate under which is not one of those "I
didn't know" type things you can get away with if you
nuke your neighbors TV pushing a gigawatt right down
their antenna :)

From my experience as a VE, most hams taking a test seem to want to memorize the answers then learn later the actual information. I did the same myself but through experimentation and gaining experience, I learned and understood.

The Part 97 stuff is something you have to read, memorize, and understand. The FCC doesn't take "I didn't know" for an answer.

73,
Sean


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On Sun, 19 Oct 2025 20:53:00 +0000
"Sean Dennis" (1:18/200) <Sean.Dennis@f200.n18.z1.fidonet> wrote:

Hi Nigel,

I sometimes wonder about the validity of tests in the day and
age of the internet. Way back when you couldn't just go online
and look up half the stuff you need to know, bu then again,
you really need a basic understanding of the laws that
we have to operate under which is not one of those "I
didn't know" type things you can get away with if you
nuke your neighbors TV pushing a gigawatt right down
their antenna :)

From my experience as a VE, most hams taking a test seem to want to
memorize the answers then learn later the actual information. I did
the same myself but through experimentation and gaining experience, I
learned and understood.

The Part 97 stuff is something you have to read, memorize, and
understand. The FCC doesn't take "I didn't know" for an answer.

But they accept lucky guess :)
--
End Of The Line BBS - Plano, TX
telnet endofthelinebbs.com 23
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On Sun 19-Oct-2025 12:36p, Sean Dennis@1:18/200.0 wrote:

Also, for Nigel's reason of not worring about being out of my license bandwidth. XD

LOL. yeah, now all you have to worry about is accidently responding to an out of region DX station, in a portion of the band you would not be listening to if you weren't an Extra. Oh, and when you normally would just not log it so nobody would know. You do because you are working a contest.. (ASK ME HOW I KNOW...).

Then there are the hams that will openly talk and teach others how to transmit out of band on their BaoFangs or CB(HF) modified radios, and will make it seem like you are the bad person for pointing out it is illegal.

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
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On Sun 19-Oct-2025 8:53p, Sean Dennis@1:18/200.0 said to Nigel Reed:

From my experience as a VE, most hams taking a test seem to want to memorize the answers then learn later the actual information. I did the same myself but through experimentation and gaining experience, I learned and understood.

At least it is easier to do so now all the information that is available on Youtube.

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
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