[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 30 Day Upgrade Challenge (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 4/3/2016 3:43:17 PM EDT
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So after posting This thread it was on 3/2 I cracked open my Extra manual. On 4/2 I took and passed the test.
So I'll throw out the 30 day challenge: For any self respecting no-code ArfHam out there who wants to continue to ruin the hobby, crack open your study guides and practice tests and pass an upgrade test within 30 days (give or take for those who may not have readily accessible testing in their area). Hell, if I can do it for Extra I'm sure anybody can do it. To get folks interested I'm thinking of patches for this. Perhaps commissioning another run of ArfHam patches if the powers that be are good with it. What say you all? |
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30 days would be pretty challenging.
I studied for 3 months, with the bulk of the effort in the last 3 weeks. I passed easily yesterday (missed 2), and I have exactly 0 background in electronics or radio. In fact, I just started in the hobby about 6 months ago. So, if I can do it anybody can. For anybody interested in doing this challenge that doesn't have the materials, I'll mail you free of charge the Gordon West book and audio CD combo. First PM gets it. NOTE - these cover the current question pool, so even if you don't make the 30 day challenge they are only useful through June 30, 2016. ETA - the book and CDs have been spoken for. |
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Quoted:
For anybody interested in doing this challenge that doesn't have the materials, I'll mail you free of charge the Gordon West book and audio CD combo. First PM gets it. NOTE - these cover the current question pool, so even if you don't make the 30 day challenge they are only useful through June 30, 2016. Good deal! There's still just shy of 3 months left of the current test pool. What I did was I studied the ARRL manual and printed out this study guide. For the calculator I just picked up a Casio 115 from Wally World for about $12. Having it really made the difference in being able to follow along with the mathematics in the ARRL manual. That calculator handles complex numbers and polar coordinates with ease. Simply punch in the complex number coordinates, tell it to convert to polar, and bam, done. After reading my way through the manual the night before and the morning of my test I read through the AD7FO study guide pages covering the test questions. Nice thing with the ARRL manual is that it comes with a CD with their practice exams. The software takes some stumbling through, but you can have it test you based on a specific chapter from the book, particular sub elements, or have it randomly generate 50 question tests for score. |
| I'm in, but I'm a bit ahead of the game. I studied for two weeks or so and that has really brought my exam scores up. I still miss a few on each practice test, and want to dig deeper on questions that I know the answer to, but not necessarily the why. The next testing sessions are around the middle of the month here. If I can't make those, there will be one in early May at a hamfest. |
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Quoted:
So after posting This thread it was on 3/2 I cracked open my Extra manual. On 4/2 I took and passed the test. So I'll throw out the 30 day challenge: For any self respecting no-code ArfHam out there who wants to continue to ruin the hobby, crack open your study guides and practice tests and pass an upgrade test within 30 days (give or take for those who may not have readily accessible testing in their area). Hell, if I can do it for Extra I'm sure anybody can do it. To get folks interested I'm thinking of patches for this. Perhaps commissioning another run of ArfHam patches if the powers that be are good with it. What say you all? I like the 30 day challenge idea! We have a lot of extras here in our ranks, so I would suggest adding a way for them to participate as well. If you don't know morse code, then learn to send/receive the alphabet in 30 days. If you do know code, then increase your current send/receive speed within 30 days. |
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I like the 30 day challenge idea! We have a lot of extras here in our ranks, so I would suggest adding a way for them to participate as well. If you don't know morse code, then learn to send/receive the alphabet in 30 days. If you do know code, then increase your current send/receive speed within 30 days. Quoted:
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So after posting This thread it was on 3/2 I cracked open my Extra manual. On 4/2 I took and passed the test. So I'll throw out the 30 day challenge: For any self respecting no-code ArfHam out there who wants to continue to ruin the hobby, crack open your study guides and practice tests and pass an upgrade test within 30 days (give or take for those who may not have readily accessible testing in their area). Hell, if I can do it for Extra I'm sure anybody can do it. To get folks interested I'm thinking of patches for this. Perhaps commissioning another run of ArfHam patches if the powers that be are good with it. What say you all? I like the 30 day challenge idea! We have a lot of extras here in our ranks, so I would suggest adding a way for them to participate as well. If you don't know morse code, then learn to send/receive the alphabet in 30 days. If you do know code, then increase your current send/receive speed within 30 days. I like this as well, I just started back trying to learn code again with LCWO and I am debating trying the CW academy now that I've discovered that. I just wish I would have kept up with it after I learned it for general 
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Quoted: So after posting This thread it was on 3/2 I cracked open my Extra manual. On 4/2 I took and passed the test. So I'll throw out the 30 day challenge: For any self respecting no-code ArfHam out there who wants to continue to ruin the hobby, crack open your study guides and practice tests and pass an upgrade test within 30 days (give or take for those who may not have readily accessible testing in their area). Hell, if I can do it for Extra I'm sure anybody can do it. To get folks interested I'm thinking of patches for this. Perhaps commissioning another run of ArfHam patches if the powers that be are good with it. What say you all?  I will humiliate myself or pass on 4/23. |
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Subelement Name Questions Reset Stats Attempted % Correct E1 - Commission's Rules 30 / 73 63% Reset E2 - Operating Procedures 25 / 68 62% Reset E3 - Radio Wave Propagation 14 / 35 80% Reset E4 - Amateur Practices 25 / 70 50% Reset E5 - Electrical Principles 22 / 71 43% Reset E6 - Circuit Components 35 / 83 28% Reset E7 - Practical Circuits 42 / 124 29% Reset E8 - Signals and Emissions 21 / 56 62% Reset E9 - Antennas and Feedlines 46 / 109 47% Reset E0 - Safety: amateur radio safety practices; RF radiation hazards; hazardous materials 6 / 11 50% Reset Those are my hamexam stats. I've take the extra exam 3 times. Time, at the moment is my limiting factor. Fattyfat was kind enough to pass along his ARRL extra study guide which I have been trying to read when I can. I will try to accept this challenge, though I will have a bit more time since there are no testing sessions in my AO in the next 30 days. |
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Which filter type is described as having ripple in the passband and a sharp cutoff?
A. A Butterworth filter B. An active LC filter C. A passive op-amp filter D. A Chebyshev filter Well, ripple is a cheap wine, and the Russians are known for being cheap drunks, so I'm going the with Russian name, D. A Chebyshev filte Seriously, that's where my brain is at.  Running through the flashcards now and holding a steady overall of 82%
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This. I think the best bet for a non-electrical engineer is to just cram until you are able to pass and go puke your brain onto the test...after which, you will promptly forget 70% of the material. Quoted:
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If your overall is 82%, just take the test already. This. I think the best bet for a non-electrical engineer is to just cram until you are able to pass and go puke your brain onto the test...after which, you will promptly forget 70% of the material. That's what I'm going to have to do, hopefully with better results. |
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I'll go for the challenge. Got my ARRL extra book a couple of weeks ago.
Question: which casio fx-115? ES/ESPLUS/MSPLUS? The "Can't fail" thread got me from zero to general in one testing session 6 years ago. Time for me to go Extra. thx! Quoted:
Good deal! There's still just shy of 3 months left of the current test pool. What I did was I studied the ARRL manual and printed out this study guide. For the calculator I just picked up a Casio 115 from Wally World for about $12. Having it really made the difference in being able to follow along with the mathematics in the ARRL manual. That calculator handles complex numbers and polar coordinates with ease. Simply punch in the complex number coordinates, tell it to convert to polar, and bam, done. After reading my way through the manual the night before and the morning of my test I read through the AD7FO study guide pages covering the test questions. Nice thing with the ARRL manual is that it comes with a CD with their practice exams. The software takes some stumbling through, but you can have it test you based on a specific chapter from the book, particular sub elements, or have it randomly generate 50 question tests for score. Quoted:
Quoted:
For anybody interested in doing this challenge that doesn't have the materials, I'll mail you free of charge the Gordon West book and audio CD combo. First PM gets it. NOTE - these cover the current question pool, so even if you don't make the 30 day challenge they are only useful through June 30, 2016. Good deal! There's still just shy of 3 months left of the current test pool. What I did was I studied the ARRL manual and printed out this study guide. For the calculator I just picked up a Casio 115 from Wally World for about $12. Having it really made the difference in being able to follow along with the mathematics in the ARRL manual. That calculator handles complex numbers and polar coordinates with ease. Simply punch in the complex number coordinates, tell it to convert to polar, and bam, done. After reading my way through the manual the night before and the morning of my test I read through the AD7FO study guide pages covering the test questions. Nice thing with the ARRL manual is that it comes with a CD with their practice exams. The software takes some stumbling through, but you can have it test you based on a specific chapter from the book, particular sub elements, or have it randomly generate 50 question tests for score. |
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Quoted:
I'll go for the challenge. Got my ARRL extra book a couple of weeks ago. Question: which casio fx-115? ES/ESPLUS/MSPLUS? The "Can't fail" thread got me from zero to general in one testing session 6 years ago. Time for me to go Extra. thx! Quoted:
I'll go for the challenge. Got my ARRL extra book a couple of weeks ago. Question: which casio fx-115? ES/ESPLUS/MSPLUS? The "Can't fail" thread got me from zero to general in one testing session 6 years ago. Time for me to go Extra. thx! Quoted:
Quoted:
For anybody interested in doing this challenge that doesn't have the materials, I'll mail you free of charge the Gordon West book and audio CD combo. First PM gets it. NOTE - these cover the current question pool, so even if you don't make the 30 day challenge they are only useful through June 30, 2016. Good deal! There's still just shy of 3 months left of the current test pool. What I did was I studied the ARRL manual and printed out this study guide. For the calculator I just picked up a Casio 115 from Wally World for about $12. Having it really made the difference in being able to follow along with the mathematics in the ARRL manual. That calculator handles complex numbers and polar coordinates with ease. Simply punch in the complex number coordinates, tell it to convert to polar, and bam, done. After reading my way through the manual the night before and the morning of my test I read through the AD7FO study guide pages covering the test questions. Nice thing with the ARRL manual is that it comes with a CD with their practice exams. The software takes some stumbling through, but you can have it test you based on a specific chapter from the book, particular sub elements, or have it randomly generate 50 question tests for score. Wait.....calculator?
Maybe I'm doing it wrong. I'm not studying the material, I'm just studying the test. 
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Quoted:
I'll go for the challenge. Got my ARRL extra book a couple of weeks ago. Question: which casio fx-115? ES/ESPLUS/MSPLUS? The "Can't fail" thread got me from zero to general in one testing session 6 years ago. Time for me to go Extra. Any of them should work for the test. The fx-300es Plus will do the job nicely as well and it costs a dollar less. |
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Casio 115-ES Plus. It's like $12 or so at Walmart.
Given the amount of math that is truly on the test, you can probably get away without one if you are solid in everything else and just take a guess at the math based questions. Unlike the General and Tech where a basic four function is about all that was needed, the Extra class will ask questions the may require log based calcs, cosines, or converting rectangular to polar coordinates. |
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Quoted: Casio 115-ES Plus. It's like $12 or so at Walmart. Given the amount of math that is truly on the test, you can probably get away without one if you are solid in everything else and just take a guess at the math based questions. Unlike the General and Tech where a basic four function is about all that was needed, the Extra class will ask questions the may require log based calcs, cosines, or converting rectangular to polar coordinates. I'm holding at 70-72% right now when I take practice tests. The 23rd should be well within the realm of possibility at this point. I can only imagine the ROTD (Rig of the Day) pictures in the exclusive Extra forum  |
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I'm holding at 70-72% right now when I take practice tests. The 23rd should be well within the realm of possibility at this point. I can only imagine the ROTD (Rig of the Day) pictures in the exclusive Extra forum
There's the NSFW rig pics there that certainly made it worthwhile. Think Easyrider meets a DX Engineering catalog. 
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Quoted: Based on the numbers, you could only have a max of 11 math questions and you have to miss 13 before you would fail. http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/how-much-math-is-on-the-amateur-radio-exams.htm I'm holding at 70-72% right now when I take practice tests. The 23rd should be well within the realm of possibility at this point. I can only imagine the ROTD (Rig of the Day) pictures in the exclusive Extra forum Quoted: Quoted: Casio 115-ES Plus. It's like $12 or so at Walmart. Given the amount of math that is truly on the test, you can probably get away without one if you are solid in everything else and just take a guess at the math based questions. Unlike the General and Tech where a basic four function is about all that was needed, the Extra class will ask questions the may require log based calcs, cosines, or converting rectangular to polar coordinates. I'm holding at 70-72% right now when I take practice tests. The 23rd should be well within the realm of possibility at this point. I can only imagine the ROTD (Rig of the Day) pictures in the exclusive Extra forum When I was going for extra, I brought a calculator with me for the questions where you have to do 1/ a value to get the frequency (or whatever, I don't even remember now). Most of the rest of the math question you can really do in your head-but hey under test conditions, you never know. I was prepared to bang them out. I think there was only one question involving math, and it was a dead simple one.  You never know, it is simply the luck of the draw. |
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Based on the numbers, you could only have a max of 11 math questions and you have to miss 13 before you would fail. http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/how-much-math-is-on-the-amateur-radio-exams.htm I'm holding at 70-72% right now when I take practice tests. The 23rd should be well within the realm of possibility at this point. I can only imagine the ROTD (Rig of the Day) pictures in the exclusive Extra forum
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Casio 115-ES Plus. It's like $12 or so at Walmart. Given the amount of math that is truly on the test, you can probably get away without one if you are solid in everything else and just take a guess at the math based questions. Unlike the General and Tech where a basic four function is about all that was needed, the Extra class will ask questions the may require log based calcs, cosines, or converting rectangular to polar coordinates. I'm holding at 70-72% right now when I take practice tests. The 23rd should be well within the realm of possibility at this point. I can only imagine the ROTD (Rig of the Day) pictures in the exclusive Extra forum
That's where I am. I'm shooting for the April 25 session. |
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That's where I am. I'm shooting for the April 25 session. Quoted:
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Casio 115-ES Plus. It's like $12 or so at Walmart. Given the amount of math that is truly on the test, you can probably get away without one if you are solid in everything else and just take a guess at the math based questions. Unlike the General and Tech where a basic four function is about all that was needed, the Extra class will ask questions the may require log based calcs, cosines, or converting rectangular to polar coordinates. I'm holding at 70-72% right now when I take practice tests. The 23rd should be well within the realm of possibility at this point. I can only imagine the ROTD (Rig of the Day) pictures in the exclusive Extra forum
That's where I am. I'm shooting for the April 25 session. I'm averaging 95% on the General and 83% on the Extra. I took a practice exam yesterday afternoon for Extra and got a 76%  and another last night in bed using my tablet (actually dozed off twice in the middle) I missed only ONE question.
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I'm holding at 70-72% right now when I take practice tests. The 23rd should be well within the realm of possibility I'm averaging 95% on the General and 83% on the Extra. I took a practice exam yesterday afternoon for Extra and got a 76% and another last night in bed using my tablet (actually dozed off twice in the middle) I missed only ONE question. There you have it. You just need to take a mid-exam nap. I don't recall hearing anything in the rules against it. Perhaps one of our resident VEs can comment. 
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I'm averaging 95% on the General and 83% on the Extra. I took a practice exam yesterday afternoon for Extra and got a 76% and another last night in bed using my tablet (actually dozed off twice in the middle) I missed only ONE question. Quoted:
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Casio 115-ES Plus. It's like $12 or so at Walmart. Given the amount of math that is truly on the test, you can probably get away without one if you are solid in everything else and just take a guess at the math based questions. Unlike the General and Tech where a basic four function is about all that was needed, the Extra class will ask questions the may require log based calcs, cosines, or converting rectangular to polar coordinates. I'm holding at 70-72% right now when I take practice tests. The 23rd should be well within the realm of possibility at this point. I can only imagine the ROTD (Rig of the Day) pictures in the exclusive Extra forum
That's where I am. I'm shooting for the April 25 session. I'm averaging 95% on the General and 83% on the Extra. I took a practice exam yesterday afternoon for Extra and got a 76% and another last night in bed using my tablet (actually dozed off twice in the middle) I missed only ONE question. That's the luck of the draw on the tests. I lucked out and the real test I got was WAY over on the easy side but I have no doubt I'd have passed regardless. |
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I want to try and do this but being 6 people short at work and training 2 newbies for next 4 weeks myself I don't know if I would even have time to work on studying/eham for upgrade You don't have to do it now. But when things clear up, say you're in and git 'er dun. |
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Quoted:
Good deal! There's still just shy of 3 months left of the current test pool. What I did was I studied the ARRL manual and printed out this study guide. For the calculator I just picked up a Casio 115 from Wally World for about $12. Having it really made the difference in being able to follow along with the mathematics in the ARRL manual. That calculator handles complex numbers and polar coordinates with ease. Simply punch in the complex number coordinates, tell it to convert to polar, and bam, done. After reading my way through the manual the night before and the morning of my test I read through the AD7FO study guide pages covering the test questions. Nice thing with the ARRL manual is that it comes with a CD with their practice exams. The software takes some stumbling through, but you can have it test you based on a specific chapter from the book, particular sub elements, or have it randomly generate 50 question tests for score. Quoted:
Quoted:
For anybody interested in doing this challenge that doesn't have the materials, I'll mail you free of charge the Gordon West book and audio CD combo. First PM gets it. NOTE - these cover the current question pool, so even if you don't make the 30 day challenge they are only useful through June 30, 2016. Good deal! There's still just shy of 3 months left of the current test pool. What I did was I studied the ARRL manual and printed out this study guide. For the calculator I just picked up a Casio 115 from Wally World for about $12. Having it really made the difference in being able to follow along with the mathematics in the ARRL manual. That calculator handles complex numbers and polar coordinates with ease. Simply punch in the complex number coordinates, tell it to convert to polar, and bam, done. After reading my way through the manual the night before and the morning of my test I read through the AD7FO study guide pages covering the test questions. Nice thing with the ARRL manual is that it comes with a CD with their practice exams. The software takes some stumbling through, but you can have it test you based on a specific chapter from the book, particular sub elements, or have it randomly generate 50 question tests for score. Thanks for the link! I've been studying (though not enough) for the last couple weeks. I decided to go for my extra while the current question pool is in effect. That gives me til the end of June. So while I may not fall inside the 30days my goal is still the same. |
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Here's my status update: Total cost of supplies for study = $0 Total days of study = 11 Days until exam = 5 AVERAGE General score = 93% AVERAGE Extra score = 86% Today's morning practice exam General = 94% Today's morning practice exam Extra = 86% Sounds like you are ready! |
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Quoted: Here's my status update: Total cost of supplies for study = $0 Total days of study = 11 Days until exam = 5 AVERAGE General score = 93% AVERAGE Extra score = 86% Today's morning practice exam General = 94% Today's morning practice exam Extra = 86% |
Well to be honest tonight is the test and I won't be going. I will try it the next test they have for us up here. Just for S&G I took the practice test yesterday started out good then down hill quick. Should have read the book lol. Got me a 33.  . Never heard of some of those words before. After that 33 I thought there isn't that much extra to get. The extra. But now you threw the challenge out there I will give it a try for the next cycle
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Time to brain puke. There is an exam session tomorrow in Tacoma. Renton or Port Orchard on Saturday. Quoted:
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Here's my status update: Total cost of supplies for study = $0 Total days of study = 11 Days until exam = 5 AVERAGE General score = 93% AVERAGE Extra score = 86% Today's morning practice exam General = 94% Today's morning practice exam Extra = 86% Second run-through later this afternoon had me at 94% for the General and 92% on Extra. Not bad for never having read the book.
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Got the book in the mail Monday, gone through a couple sections. On 4/3 I said I would upgrade in 30 days to extra- next local test is 4/28 Got my score up to 60% on QRZ, have yet to go through the sections in the book I find the hardest, so hoping for bit improvements by the end of the weekend. |
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Today's practice exam results: General = 91% Extra = 98% I think I've reached a saturation point. My General scores are starting to fall even though Extra scores are up. The only way to get better would be to actually learn the material. Quick, drive to the next test in your area! 
You'll do great. |
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Hey, that is my neighborhood. Are you a Ballard guy? |
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Quoted: Hey, that is my neighborhood. Are you a Ballard guy? Quoted: Geographically or Mentally.I'm out in Eatonville. I thought that would be a great "me" day. Drive up for exam, bring giant cooler for pickled herring and Bavarian Meats, and stop by the U Village BurgerMaster and catch up with some ex-classmates/pals. I took my last exam with the Radio Club of Tacoma but there was no way I was going to go from Zero to Hero in three days. The 23rd seemed do able. I'm averaging in the low 80's at the moment. Consistent 90's by next Saturday is very likely. |