There's been several threads in another forum lately debating "restructuring" to create a beginner's license.
The old Novice license has been mentioned a few times as an example. But nobody seems to remember exactly what the Novice test was like, except that it was "easy". Yeah. It was easy. For that time frame.
When I first licensed as a Novice in 1971, the license was a two-year non-renewable license. There were CW only privileges on 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters. No voice, no RTTY/Data. Transmitters were required to be crystal-controlled, and "input" power not exceeding 75 Watts.
Despite all those restrictions, many thousands of hams got a great deal of enjoyment from the hobby as Novices.
Most of those restrictions were modified or lifted starting in the mid 1970s. As a result, the Novice license eventually lost it utility and charm, in my opinion.
In 1971 the Novice written test was multiple choice. 20 questions. But the verbatim questions and answer pools were not published. However, the FCC, who administered the testing at that time, did release study questions that covered the necessary material, but were not worded as multiple choice questions. These were done in such as way as to encourage study of the material, not memorization of questions and answers.
The sample questions were published by the ARRL in the Radio Amateur's License Manual, which they'd publish a new version every year. I have the January 1971 version. Some are now obsolete of course. I've selected some of the 50 study questions below, to give a feel for what was involved.
What is the maximum permissible percentage of modulation of an amateur radiotelephone station?
What are the rules and regulations regarding purity and stability of emissions?
When may an amateur radio station be used by a person who does not hold a valid license?
What is Ohm's Law?
When is one way communication permissible?
What precautions can be taken to reduce the possibility of shock hazard in electrical equipment?
What is chirp and how can it be remedied in a cw transmitter?
Why is impedance matching necessary?
What two elements are most commonly used in the fabrication of transistors? What do the terms "alpha" and "beta" of a transistor mean? Draw the schematic diagram of a transistor.
What factors are commonly responsible for harmonic radiation and what practical means can be used to detect and correct such a condition?
The plate voltage in the final stages of an amateur transmitter is normally measured between what points in the circuit?
What is a Hertz?
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Originally Posted by WN9HJW
