Subj : Re: Trying to study for extra
To   : Nigel Reed
From : Andre Robitaille
Date : Thu Aug 13 2020 07:30 am

On 10 Aug 2020, Nigel Reed said the following...
 
 NR> I'm never likely to need half the stuff I have to remember, and if I

Then I'd argue you probably don't need extra. After a little over two years
into radio, I've used something from every section of the test except
sat, and even that knowledge I've used in discussions with people.

Why are you interested in extra?

 NR> If I'm going to build an antenna, you bet your life I'm going to find
 NR> one on the internet that someone has already designed, tested, and
 NR> tweaked.

I can tell you in no uncertain terms, every antenna you buy or built, *maybe*
with the exception of a loop or metal vertical, is going to need some antenna
knowledge to get the best performance out of it.

I have operated with plenty of people of all sorts, including a bunch with
extra class, and about 80% of them have damn near no idea what they're doing
with antennas, setup, and/or operating. I promise that if you learn what's in
extra and put it into practice as you need it, you'll find value in it.

 NR> So for those who have recently studied and passed the extra, how do you
 NR> get this stuff to stick in your mind long enough to pass the test?

Everyone is different. My son, Etienne, memorizes well and just used
hamstudy.org to memorize the easy parts. Then he used The Fast Track to Your
Extra... by Michael Burnette audio book for the harder parts.

I used hamstudy for the parts I mostly already knew. Then for the harder
parts, especially electronics, I would listen to the Fast Track book on 1.25x
and follow along with the regular book.

Etienne passed with a couple wrong answers. I did worse. He was eleven at the
time. :-/


- Andre, WI9AJR

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