Hi all,

I am wanting to get my extra ham licence and just have a complete mental roadblock when it comes to studying.

As with the other ham tests. The question is, why do I have to remember complicated rules, formulas and equations. All the answers are need are right here in this study book. I can go online and look up any laws and forumlas I need. I'm not going to go up on a roof, construct an antenna and then wonder how can my lineraly polarized Yari antennas be used to produce circular polarization.

My brain wont take it because my brain knows it's all written down for me to refer to when I need it.

How do you, or did you get over that hump?
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Hello Nigel,

Monday February 19 2024 23:45, you wrote to All:

How do you, or did you get over that hump?

I did a "cram and exam". I studied the questions and answers for about five hours at the exam site and immediately took the exam. I passed but I don't know by what margin. Not a method I'd endorse but it worked for me.

I struggled to understand a lot of the questions myself. I think if I'd studied before the "cram and exam", it'd been better for me.

73,
Sean KS4TD

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Hello Nigel!

19 Feb 24 23:45, you wrote to all:

Hi all,

I am wanting to get my extra ham licence and just have a complete
mental roadblock when it comes to studying.

As with the other ham tests. The question is, why do I have to
remember complicated rules, formulas and equations. All the answers
are need are right here in this study book. I can go online and look
up any laws and forumlas I need. I'm not going to go up on a roof, construct an antenna and then wonder how can my lineraly polarized
Yari antennas be used to produce circular polarization.

My brain wont take it because my brain knows it's all written down for
me to refer to when I need it.

How do you, or did you get over that hump?

I have a similar issue. Right now I have a fair amount of the questions/answers memorized from the Extra pool, but I need to buckle down and learn the rest of it before they switch over to the new question pool July 1.


Let me know if you come up with a solution other than "Buckle down and study", because my ADHD-addled brain might just force my body to run off the nearest cliff if i keep this up. :)

Mike


... I forget what I should say, I forget what I should do.
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Hello Nigel!

19 Feb 24 23:45, you wrote to all:

Hi all,

I am wanting to get my extra ham licence and just have a complete
mental roadblock when it comes to studying.

Oh, I just found this online about the 2024 question pool:

The final statistics on the new Extra pool are:
Questions eliminated: 101
New questions: 82
Questions modified: 357
Question total 603 for the new pool vs. 622 for the previous pool (net decrease of 19 questions).



Mike


... Give me liberty or give me Megadeth
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On Fri, 23 Feb 2024 10:55:07 -0600
"Mike Miller" (1:154/30) <Mike.Miller@f30.n154.z1.fidonet> wrote:

Hello Nigel!

19 Feb 24 23:45, you wrote to all:

Hi all,

I am wanting to get my extra ham licence and just have a complete
mental roadblock when it comes to studying.

Oh, I just found this online about the 2024 question pool:

The final statistics on the new Extra pool are:
Questions eliminated: 101
New questions: 82
Questions modified: 357
Question total 603 for the new pool vs. 622 for the previous pool
(net decrease of 19 questions).

I had no idea they were going to change out the questions. The
questions is, do I start now and got it done before the change or
should I wait and have 19 less questions to answer, and hope they
eliminate some of the bizarre stuff they have in there.

Or should I not hope at all!

As for studying. I don't know. i got through my first two with a
combination of books, websites like hamstudy.org and pure luck :)
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On 24 Feb 2024, Nigel Reed said the following...

I had no idea they were going to change out the questions. The
questions is, do I start now and got it done before the change or
should I wait and have 19 less questions to answer, and hope they eliminate some of the bizarre stuff they have in there.

none of it is "bizarre" ..

if you don't want to learn it, just memorize the questions now and go take it. the difference in questions isn't going to change whether you understand any of them or not anyways.

the license is valid ___10 years___ .. just give up some of your time right now and do it.

not trying to be mean, but you need to be kicked in the keister :)

do it!

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On Sat, 24 Feb 2024 20:03:42 -0500
"Alexander Grotewohl" (1:120/616)
<Alexander.Grotewohl@f616.n120.z1.fidonet> wrote:

On 24 Feb 2024, Nigel Reed said the following...

I had no idea they were going to change out the questions. The
questions is, do I start now and got it done before the change or
should I wait and have 19 less questions to answer, and hope they eliminate some of the bizarre stuff they have in there.

none of it is "bizarre" ..

if you don't want to learn it, just memorize the questions now and go
take it. the difference in questions isn't going to change whether
you understand any of them or not anyways.

the license is valid ___10 years___ .. just give up some of your time
right now and do it.

not trying to be mean, but you need to be kicked in the keister :)

do it!

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/25 (Windows/32)
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Haha thanks.
--
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What is Your Callsign?

I'm W9ODR
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Re: How do you study for extra?
By: Ed Vance to Nigel Reed on Wed Mar 13 2024 21:48:12

What is Your Callsign?

I'm W9ODR

KE5NKH
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KX1CHL Randy , lives close to your area (can't recall his QTH right now).
Just wondering if you know him since Your posts has Your QTH on them.

I don't know if Randy would be interested in Joining Your BBS, He may; since way back in 1996 he got me started with a Dial Up Internet Account.

I was first Licensed as KN4ZIQ in 1958 a Novice Class License.
QTH back then in KY, now live in IN.

Long ago I wanted to trade the 1X3 K4ZIQ Call for a 1X3 K9 Call and got the W9 Call issued to me.

The W9 Really makes me look like a OT - I'm really a OT LID.
73
. .
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On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:54:44 -0500
"Ed Vance" (1:2320/105) <Ed.Vance@f105.n2320.z1.fidonet> wrote:

KX1CHL Randy , lives close to your area (can't recall his QTH right
now). Just wondering if you know him since Your posts has Your QTH on
them.

I don't know if Randy would be interested in Joining Your BBS, He
may; since way back in 1996 he got me started with a Dial Up Internet Account.

I was first Licensed as KN4ZIQ in 1958 a Novice Class License.
QTH back then in KY, now live in IN.

Long ago I wanted to trade the 1X3 K4ZIQ Call for a 1X3 K9 Call and
got the W9 Call issued to me.

The W9 Really makes me look like a OT - I'm really a OT LID.
73
. .
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Don't think so, never heard of him. I really should get myself a big
boy radio. I've only got a 4w handheld and I didn't even get that until
after I got my general.
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It was 3 months after I received my Novice ticket that I ordered a DX40 from Heathkit.
After building it I was transmitting on 7.173Mc/s and found a card in my postal mailbox that I was being heard on 14.346 Mc/s , it was an OO Card, (Official Observer).
I wrote Heathkit, and they said one of the Coils needed replacing.
A local store was selling Heathkit products so I took the TX to the repair department and paid to have it fixed.
Sitting in a Bus with the TX on my lap both ways probably looked strange to others riding the Bus, didn't bother me, I paid the fare same as they.

No plans to upgrade from Advanced Class, wish You well studying for the Amateur Extra test.
Took it once, passed CW, failed text part, walked out with a Temporary Advanced ticket.

Since then I lost privileges as to frequencies I can use as all General Class Amateurs on up did.

Maybe one day I'll have a looksee if there is any activity to those exclusive portions of the CW Bands (which I could use with the Advanced but haven't). During my Novice year, one Amateurs K4CSH, Al Hall, came on 3720 Kc/s to talk to the group that used that freq about starting a Kentucky Novice Net - KNN.
He invited us (7?) to his QTH so we'd have an eyeball QSO together.

I don't know if the Club still exist, but after Al became a Silent Key, the Club asked the Friendly Country Cousins to issue Al's Call to the Club.

Good Luck, 73 de Ed W9ODR . .
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Re: Re: How do you study for extra?
By: Ed Vance to Nigel Reed on Sun Mar 24 2024 19:24:23

It was 3 months after I received my Novice ticket that I ordered a DX40 from Heathkit.
After building it I was transmitting on 7.173Mc/s and found a card in my postal mailbox that I was being heard on 14.346 Mc/s , it was an OO Card, (Official Observer).
I wrote Heathkit, and they said one of the Coils needed replacing.
A local store was selling Heathkit products so I took the TX to the repair department and paid to have it fixed.
Sitting in a Bus with the TX on my lap both ways probably looked strange to others riding the Bus, didn't bother me, I paid the fare same as they.

You would have thought they'd send you a replacement since they sent you a bad one. As long as it got fixed, I guess.

No plans to upgrade from Advanced Class, wish You well studying for the Amateur Extra test.
Took it once, passed CW, failed text part, walked out with a Temporary Advanced ticket.

I found morse very easy to learn but difficult to get speed and proficiency. Thankfully there's no CW requirement any more, which I think opens the door to a lot more people, and that probably annoys the old timers some that had to deal with it.
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The DX40 is a kit, I built it.
IIRC Heathkit sent me a new Coil, I had the local store replace it and do an alignment so I wouldn't get another OO Report in the mail.

Morse Code took a little learning for me.
The friend at Junior High School who showed me his Hallicrafter S38-D rx later became our neighborhood Paper Boy.

He was in the Eighth Grade, I was in the Seventh Grade.
His first year of High School he took electronics class and met a guy who had a Novice Call.
In the class he built a 75 watt CW TX that he showed me during summer vacation.

He got a Novice license that summer.
Often I walked with him as he delivered newspapers and talked about electronics in general.
One afternoon his Ham friend from High School was walking with us.
Those two guys started saying things to each other in Morse Code and I didn't know if I was the subject under discussion so I visited the local Library Branch, looked through the Card Index for a book to help me learn CW.
The book I found was over in the Adult Section, the Librarian let me go there to see the book, and let me Check It Out.
It was a Army Training Manual called: "A Menomic Manual for memorizing the International Morse Code".

One help in the book that I always remembered is for the letter P.
PAN P = AN.
. - - . = . - + -.
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I am wanting to get my extra ham licence and just have a complete mental roadblock when it comes to studying.

As with the other ham tests. The question is, why do I have to remember complicated rules, formulas and equations. All the answers are need are right here in this study book. I can go online and look up any laws and forumlas I need. I'm not going to go up on a roof, construct an antenna and then wonder how can my lineraly polarized Yari antennas be used to produce circular polarization.

My brain wont take it because my brain knows it's all written down for me to refer to when I need it.

How do you, or did you get over that hump?

I just saw this post, but still wanted to respond since I went through the exact same problem. I got my general license in 2009 and attempted to study for the extra class examine over half a dozen times for the next decade. I just kept losing interest. In 2022, I finally got it. For me, the most important part was motivation. I felt more motivated in 2022 than every to pass the test than previous years.

The way I did was just pure memorization. I went over the question pool three times trying to memorize the correct answers. The first pass, I only retained about 30%. I retained about 80% the second time. On the third pass, I managed to get just about every question right. This took me about two weeks of constantly studying and setting everything else aside. Talk about a cram and jam. I was even at the gym running on the treadmill with the book open.

After the third pass, I just went in and took the test without even trying the practice exam. I only missed one question. While this method worked for me, I don't know if I can recommend it for everyone. Each person is different.

-KC0ZPS (Ron)

The Dawn of Demise BBS (tdod.org)
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Re: Re: How do you study for extra?
By: Ron Kinney to Nigel Reed on Fri Apr 05 2024 09:24:28

I just saw this post, but still wanted to respond since I went through the exact same problem. I got my general license in 2009 and attempted to study for the extra class examine over half a dozen times for the next decade. I just kept losing interest. In 2022, I finally got it. For me, the most important part was motivation. I felt more motivated in 2022 than every to pass the test than previous years.

I'm not sure the motivation is there considering how much it costs for a rig that'll work in the ranges I'll be taking a test for.

The way I did was just pure memorization. I went over the question pool three times trying to memorize the correct answers. The first pass, I only retained about 30%. I retained about 80% the second time. On the third pass, I managed to get just about every question right. This took me about two weeks of constantly studying and setting everything else aside. Talk about a cram and jam. I was even at the gym running on the treadmill with the book open.

After the third pass, I just went in and took the test without even trying the practice exam. I only missed one question. While this method worked for me, I don't know if I can recommend it for everyone. Each person is different.

This might actually work for me. I don't generally have the time to sit and just pour over stuff for hours like this would require but I guess it's a one and done type of thing, it's not like you need to retest to renew so I might give that a try and coordinate it with then they do testing so I won't have to wait.
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Re: Re: How do you study for extra?
By: Ed Vance to Nigel Reed on Tue Mar 26 2024 19:53:41

The DX40 is a kit, I built it.
IIRC Heathkit sent me a new Coil, I had the local store replace it and do an alignment so I wouldn't get another OO Report in the mail.

Yeah, I looked them up. Must have been pretty cool to build your own. I really don't have the patience for that. I just want to plug it in and go. I know, I know...you can't just do that with a desktop set.

The book I found was over in the Adult Section, the Librarian let me go there to see the book, and let me Check It Out.
It was a Army Training Manual called: "A Menomic Manual for memorizing the International Morse Code".

Much easier these days with the internet having all sorts of CW trainers available online. It makes it pretty easy to both listen to and type out morse.

One help in the book that I always remembered is for the letter P.
PAN P = AN.

That's one way of doing it.
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"Plug it in and go"?
Don't You need to read the manual first?
In Your post to Ron You said something about the cost for a Rig.
Since I got internet access last January I haven't thought to see what Ham gear is available and the cost.

Two years ago I saw the price of a XCVR that was over one thousand dollars (USD).

In the early 1970's $350.00 was the price for a Kenwood TS-520.
I drooled over that rig.
I got really interested in buying it in 1974(or 1975).
The price has doubled.
My thinking the doubling was due to illegal operators on 27 Mc/s Citizen Band freqs had been purchasing a XCVR Yaesu made that still had the old 27 Mc/s Band Switch setting plus AM & SSB.

IIRC Citizen Band began in September 1958.
I got my KNovice License 3 Months earlier in June.

Other members of my greater family bought CB radios, and I probably would have too if I hadn't got interested in Amateur Radio.

Thinking about the early days of CB, I remember in a Ham Magazine there was a cartoon I remember Very Well.

It showed the back end of two parked Cars.
Both autos had a rear mounted Mobile Antenna on the Drivers side of those cars.

There was a Center Loaded Antenna on the left car.
The Antenna on the car on the right was a Quarter Wave CB Whip.
In the next picture the Antenna on the left shows that it was slightly quivering.
The third picture the Ham Antenna was shaped like an enlarged > .
Like it was rearing back as a Rattlesnake would.
The last picture showed the Amateur Antenna curved from the Ham's car towards the CB'ers car with a brilliant flash.
The last picture shows the Ham Antenna slightly shaking as it was coming to a stand still, on the right was a pile of ashes.

Thinking of that cartoon caused me to remember a 75M QSO I heard back in the early 1960's.
One Ham had put a Heathkit Mobile HF 1KW RF Amplifier in his pickup truck and had been talking about it on his way home from work.

He arrived at his QTH and waited for his next turn to speak.
When his turn came he keyed the Mike and said he was home & 73 to all.

Some minutes later he came back on the air and told the group he had turned the ignition off while was waiting to sign out.
After signing out he wondered if his truck would start up.
When he turned the key he heard the Started slowly turning but the truck wouldn't start.
(I can't recall if he turned the RF AMP Off and tried starting the truck again or not).
That Heathkit Amp must surely made a BIG DRAW on that 12 Volt Battery to suck it dry.

I have had lots of good QSO's and heard/learned lots of good things back when I was active on the air.

Not been on (or listened) airwaves for years.
Still licensed though.
Ed W9ODR . .
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