I've been running through the test questions for Element 3. Been into electronics and radio in one way or another for over 40 years. The
theory and math for this test seems easy enough for me, it's the damn
RULES questions that I'm finding difficult. Difficult to memorize that
is. Man, they're almost as arbitrary as airspace rules on the pilot's
written. I passed that federal test with flying colors, but I had to
just memorize all the rules questions.

I'm finding this to be pretty much the same, except that I'm not as good
at memorization as I used to be. Do any of you licensed hams out there
no of a better way to get there... some sort of rhymes or other
silliness to make remembering this area of the test more doable for a
failing mind?

-j-



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Re: Gonna Git My Genral
By: Delbert to All on Wed Sep 26 2007 05:59 pm

I've been running through the test questions for Element 3. Been into electronics and radio in one way or another for over 40 years. The
theory and math for this test seems easy enough for me, it's the damn
RULES questions that I'm finding difficult. Difficult to memorize that
is. Man, they're almost as arbitrary as airspace rules on the pilot's written. I passed that federal test with flying colors, but I had to
just memorize all the rules questions.

I'm finding this to be pretty much the same, except that I'm not as good
at memorization as I used to be. Do any of you licensed hams out there
no of a better way to get there... some sort of rhymes or other
silliness to make remembering this area of the test more doable for a failing mind?

Not really.. what areas of the rules do you have problems remembering? Most of it is common sense like "don't broadcast music", "don't use CB 10 codes", stuff like that. Are you having problems with the bandplan rules or operating procedures?


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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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W8ZZU wrote to Delbert <=-

Re: Gonna Git My Genral
By: Delbert to All on Wed Sep 26 2007 05:59 pm

I've been running through the test questions for Element 3. Been into electronics and radio in one way or another for over 40 years. The
theory and math for this test seems easy enough for me, it's the damn
RULES questions that I'm finding difficult. Difficult to memorize that
is. Man, they're almost as arbitrary as airspace rules on the pilot's written. I passed that federal test with flying colors, but I had to
just memorize all the rules questions.

I'm finding this to be pretty much the same, except that I'm not as good
at memorization as I used to be. Do any of you licensed hams out there
no of a better way to get there... some sort of rhymes or other
silliness to make remembering this area of the test more doable for a failing mind?

Not really.. what areas of the rules do you have problems remembering?
Most of it is common sense like "don't broadcast music", "don't use CB
10 codes", stuff like that. Are you having problems with the bandplan rules or operating procedures?

Well, yes.

The common sense stuff for operating proceedures is pretty straight forward, but there is a lot to know. There are a LOADS that are just arbitrary
though like:

G1B01 (C) [97.15(a)]
What is the maximum height above ground to which an antenna structure may be erected
without requiring notification to the FAA and registration with the FCC, provided it
is not at or near a public-use airport?
A. 50 feet
B. 100 feet
C. 200 feet
D. 300 feet

No common sense there. Just a number that needs memorized.
That's like "how tall is too tall?" ;)

G1A08 (C) [97.301(d)]
Which of the following frequencies is within the General Class portion of the 20
meter phone band?
A. 14005 kHz
B. 14105 kHz
C. 14305 kHz
D. 14405 kHz

I got a chart on the wall for that!
I guess I'll have to take it off the wall and put it in my head some how. ;)

There seems to be quite a few in G1 that are like that.

You gotta love this one:

G1A07 (C) [97.301(d)]
Which of the following frequencies is within the General class portion of the 75
meter phone band?
A. 1875 kHz
B. 3750 kHz
C. 3900 kHz
D. 4005 kHz

Huh? After the recent shuffle, is there anything left that is actually called 75 meters? ARRL seems to be calling it all 80 meters now. Better stick with what FCC is actually calling it I guess... or just memorize the answer. ;)

G1A09 (C) [97.301(d)]
Which of the following frequencies is within the General Class portion of the 80
meter band?
A. 1855 kHz
B. 2560 kHz
C. 3560 kHz
D. 3650 kHz
E. It can just get down right silly on these federal tests.


G1B05 (D) [97.113(a)(4),(e)]
When may music be transmitted by an amateur station?
A. At any time, as long as it produces no spurious emissions
B. When it is unintentionally transmitted from the background at the transmitter
C. When it is transmitted on frequencies above 1215 MHz
D. When it is an incidental part of a space shuttle or ISS retransmission

Hmmm... D.? ;)


G1B10 (C) [97.203(c)]
What is the power limit for beacon stations?
A. 10 watts PEP output
B. 20 watts PEP output
C. 100 watts PEP output
D. 200 watts PEP output

Does it get anymore arbitrary?


G1C01 (A) [97.313(c)(1)]
What is the maximum transmitting power an amateur station may use on 10.140 MHz?
A. 200 watts PEP output
B. 1000 watts PEP output
C. 1500 watts PEP output
D. 2000 watts PEP output

How loud is loud?
You know, there is a reason for reference material.

All right, I can see I'm going to have to do the flash card thing or
something. No short cuts... rote, rote, rote.... ;-[]

So I've got a ton of receivers around here, and I've enjoyed listening
to HAMS and SW since I was tiny, but it's time now to fire up some
of the transmitters I've accumulated and really get into it. I want to
answer those guys I listen to, but I also like to build and
experiment. I've built rigs that deserve, IMO, to see something more
than a dummy load.

Jason, what did you use to study for the test, just the Q&A's or a
class, or?

-j-

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Re: Re: Gonna Git My Genral
By: Delbert to W8ZZU on Thu Sep 27 2007 03:23 pm

Not really.. what areas of the rules do you have problems
remembering?

Most of it is common sense like "don't broadcast music", "don't use CB 10
Mostcodes", stuff like that. Are you having problems with the bandplan
Mostrules or operating procedures?

Well, yes.

The common sense stuff for operating proceedures is pretty straight
forward, but there is a lot to know. There are a LOADS that are just arbitrary
though like:

G1B01 (C) [97.15(a)]
What is the maximum height above ground to which an antenna structure may
be erected
without requiring notification to the FAA and registration with the FCC, provided it
is not at or near a public-use airport?
A. 50 feet
B. 100 feet
C. 200 feet
D. 300 feet

No common sense there. Just a number that needs memorized.
That's like "how tall is too tall?" ;)

I believe that one is 100 feet. Anything over 100 feet, you have to notify the FAA.

G1A08 (C) [97.301(d)]
Which of the following frequencies is within the General Class portion of the 20
meter phone band?
A. 14005 kHz
B. 14105 kHz
C. 14305 kHz
D. 14405 kHz

I got a chart on the wall for that!
I guess I'll have to take it off the wall and put it in my head some how.
;)

That one is C. because the phone portion of 20 for general class is 14.125 - 14.350.

You gotta love this one:

G1A07 (C) [97.301(d)]
Which of the following frequencies is within the General class portion of the 75
meter phone band?
A. 1875 kHz
B. 3750 kHz
C. 3900 kHz
D. 4005 kHz

Easy one.. you can eliminate A. because that is the 160M band. :)

Huh? After the recent shuffle, is there anything left that is actually called 75 meters? ARRL seems to be calling it all 80 meters now. Better stick with what FCC is actually calling it I guess... or just memorize the answer. ;)

There is a 75 meters.. its what old timers call the top portion of the band. :)

G1A09 (C) [97.301(d)]
Which of the following frequencies is within the General Class portion of the 80
meter band?
A. 1855 kHz
B. 2560 kHz
C. 3560 kHz
D. 3650 kHz
E. It can just get down right silly on these federal tests.

Not silly.. A. and B. are eliminated. General is always the higher portions of the band. Advanced (a now defuct class) is just below that, and Generals are at the higher (or top) end.

G1B05 (D) [97.113(a)(4),(e)]
When may music be transmitted by an amateur station?
A. At any time, as long as it produces no spurious emissions
B. When it is unintentionally transmitted from the background at the transmitter
C. When it is transmitted on frequencies above 1215 MHz
D. When it is an incidental part of a space shuttle or ISS retransmission

Hmmm... D.? ;)

Yep, D. on that one. Easy one.. Common sense.

G1B10 (C) [97.203(c)]
What is the power limit for beacon stations?
A. 10 watts PEP output
B. 20 watts PEP output
C. 100 watts PEP output
D. 200 watts PEP output

Does it get anymore arbitrary?

They just want to make sure you don't fire up a beacon on 6 Meter with 1500 watts and take out every single TV in a 10 mile radius. :)

G1C01 (A) [97.313(c)(1)]
What is the maximum transmitting power an amateur station may use on 10.140 MHz?
A. 200 watts PEP output
B. 1000 watts PEP output
C. 1500 watts PEP output
D. 2000 watts PEP output

How loud is loud?
You know, there is a reason for reference material.

Well, that range is limited for a reason.. It is shared with commercial broadcasters (shortwave). The amount of power you run has nothing to do with your "loudness" 10.140 is CW (continuous wave or morse code). D. can be eliminated because 1500 is the max anyway. I believe it is 200 on this band.

All right, I can see I'm going to have to do the flash card thing or something. No short cuts... rote, rote, rote.... ;-[]

So I've got a ton of receivers around here, and I've enjoyed listening
to HAMS and SW since I was tiny, but it's time now to fire up some
of the transmitters I've accumulated and really get into it. I want to answer those guys I listen to, but I also like to build and
experiment. I've built rigs that deserve, IMO, to see something more
than a dummy load.

I agree.. I am glad you want to get your licsense and wish you the best of luck. Maybe we can work on 20 or 40 sometime. Perhaps even 6 meter if the sporadic E is right.

Jason, what did you use to study for the test, just the Q&A's or a
class, or?

I am 29 years old.. I have been into radio since I was 12. It just comes with years of experience. I wasn't licsensed until 2002 however. I never really was interested in amateur radio until then. I never took any class, I just learned by hands on and reading I guess.


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
| Jason - W8ZZU |
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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Re: Re: Gonna Git My Genral
By: W8ZZU to Delbert on Thu Sep 27 2007 21:43:00

I believe that one is 100 feet. Anything over 100 feet, you have to notify FAA.

Does that include non-structure antenna? Like a kite hauling a vertical dipole?

There is a 75 meters.. its what old timers call the top portion of the band :)

I know, I listen to it sometimes, but their including everything up to
4.0 in their 80 meter table now. I just found it odd to see it still
refered to that way on the test, and then followed by the same question
for the lower part of the band and refered to as 80.

G1B05 (D) [97.113(a)(4),(e)]
When may music be transmitted by an amateur station?
A. At any time, as long as it produces no spurious emissions
B. When it is unintentionally transmitted from the background at the transmitter
C. When it is transmitted on frequencies above 1215 MHz
D. When it is an incidental part of a space shuttle or ISS retransmission

Hmmm... D.? ;)

Yep, D. on that one. Easy one.. Common sense.

Heheheh, I still can't stop from laughing on that one. ;)

So I've got a ton of receivers around here, and I've enjoyed listening
to HAMS and SW since I was tiny, but it's time now to fire up some
of the transmitters I've accumulated and really get into it. I want to answer those guys I listen to, but I also like to build and
experiment. I've built rigs that deserve, IMO, to see something more
than a dummy load.

I agree.. I am glad you want to get your licsense and wish you the best of luck. Maybe we can work on 20 or 40 sometime. Perhaps even 6 meter if the sporadic E is right.

Perhaps, but most of the stuff I have is 160 and 80. 160 AM and CW is
what I want the General for. I guess I'm homebrew boat anchor type.

I am 29 years old.. I have been into radio since I was 12. It just comes w years of experience. I wasn't licsensed until 2002 however. I never really was interested in amateur radio until then. I never took any class, I just learned by hands on and reading I guess.

If I had been logging freqs and modes like a real dx'r all these years,
I wouldn't be scratching my head so much right now. I mostly tune
and listen just to listen to the content and to work the receiver, not
really paying that much attention to exactly where I am all the time.

More *inteligent* working of the receiver is needed I think.

What's your code wpm like? Are you doing any code, or RTTY or packet?

-j-



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Re: Re: Gonna Git My Genral
By: Delbert to W8ZZU on Thu Sep 27 2007 21:16:26

More *inteligent* working of the receiver is needed I think.

^^^^^^^^^^

Uhg!

-j-



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Re: Re: Gonna Git My Genral
By: Delbert to W8ZZU on Thu Sep 27 2007 09:16 pm

I believe that one is 100 feet. Anything over 100 feet, you have to notify FAA.

Does that include non-structure antenna? Like a kite hauling a vertical dipole?

I don't believe so, just permanent structures.

There is a 75 meters.. its what old timers call the top portion of the band :)

I know, I listen to it sometimes, but their including everything up to
4.0 in their 80 meter table now. I just found it odd to see it still
refered to that way on the test, and then followed by the same question
for the lower part of the band and refered to as 80.

I agree.

I agree.. I am glad you want to get your licsense and wish you the best of luck. Maybe we can work on 20 or 40 sometime. Perhaps even 6 meter if the sporadic E is right.

Perhaps, but most of the stuff I have is 160 and 80. 160 AM and CW is
what I want the General for. I guess I'm homebrew boat anchor type.

160 is ok.. I don't talk there. 80 phone is full of pricks. It is the new CB. I rarely talk there.

I am 29 years old.. I have been into radio since I was 12. It just comes w years of experience. I wasn't licsensed until 2002 however. I never really was interested in amateur radio until then. I never took any class, I just learned by hands on and reading I guess.

If I had been logging freqs and modes like a real dx'r all these years,
I wouldn't be scratching my head so much right now. I mostly tune
and listen just to listen to the content and to work the receiver, not really paying that much attention to exactly where I am all the time.

More *inteligent* working of the receiver is needed I think.

What's your code wpm like? Are you doing any code, or RTTY or packet?

My code is rusty.. I can barely recieve but I can send at 13wpm. I usualy use a decoder to recieve and send with a straight key. My use of CW is pretty rare these days however. I have never got into packet or was really interested in it. RTTY is pretty interesting but I have yet to delve into it. I did however recently acquire a rigblaster M8 that I plan on hooking into my 746-pro and my logging computer (PII-400).


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