Well I've had a chance to tally the test results for my Feb 23rd session in Oak Park, MI

24 candidates total. 21 for upgrades, 3 for new licenses

2 failed on the upgrade exam
1 failed on new license exam

2 achieved General as their 1st license by passing both elements 2 and 3 at this session.
14 upgraded to General from Tech via test or CSCE
5 upgraded to Extra from Tech via test and/or CSCEs

Dee, N8UZE

Dee, N8UZE

"Dee Flint" wrote:

24 candidates total. 21 for upgrades, 3 for new licenses

How do these numbers compare to your previous test sessions? Would you say
you saw an increase in the number of new applicants? An increase in the
number of upgrades? No change?

"KH6HZ" wrote in message
...
"Dee Flint" wrote:

24 candidates total. 21 for upgrades, 3 for new licenses

How do these numbers compare to your previous test sessions? Would you say
you saw an increase in the number of new applicants? An increase in the
number of upgrades? No change?


Previous sessions average about 4 candidates for the total. Sometimes all
new, sometimes all upgrades, sometimes mixed.

Dee, N8UZE

On Feb 24, 11:51�am, "Dee Flint" wrote:
"KH6HZ" wrote in message

...

"Dee Flint" wrote:

24 candidates total. *21 for upgrades, 3 for new licenses

Great work, Dee!

How do these numbers compare to your previous test sessions? Would you say
you saw an increase in the number of new applicants? An increase in the
number of upgrades? No change?

Previous sessions average about 4 candidates for the total. *Sometimes all
new, sometimes all upgrades, sometimes mixed.


The big question is what happens in the long term.

Any time there is a change that reduces the "price"
of something, you can expect a surge of "customers". Sometimes the
surge becomes a
long term trend, sometimes not.

73 de Jim, N2EY

On Feb 24, 11:40 am, "Dee Flint" wrote:
Well I've had a chance to tally the test results for my Feb 23rd session in Oak Park, MI

24 candidates total. 21 for upgrades, 3 for new licenses

Dee ~ These three are the meat & potatoes of the matter, the 21
upgraders being no-counters as far as the growth or shrinkage of the
hobby is concerned. Supposedly the idea behind the elimination of the
code tests is to draw new blood into the hobby, folk who would
otherwise not bother with becoming licensed yes?

The way I see it there's a market research opportunity here which
needs to be explored and exploited. It strikes me that it's data from
the VE sessions which at least in part point the way to growth
strategies.

Not that only three individuals at one VE session on the first day out-
of-the-box is statistically significant and indicative of any kind of
long-term trend of course. All that aside I'm interested in knowing
what compelled these three individuals to go for ham tickets yesterday
- if you happen to have that info. Former hams "coming back in"? CBers
"moving over"? SWLs? Kids? Geezers . . . ?

2 failed on the upgrade exam
1 failed on new license exam

2 achieved General as their 1st license by passing both elements 2 and 3 at this session.
14 upgraded to General from Tech via test or CSCE
5 upgraded to Extra from Tech via test and/or CSCEs

Dee, N8UZE

w3rv

wrote in message
oups.com...
On Feb 24, 11:40 am, "Dee Flint" wrote:
Well I've had a chance to tally the test results for my Feb 23rd session
in Oak Park, MI

24 candidates total. 21 for upgrades, 3 for new licenses

Dee ~ These three are the meat & potatoes of the matter, the 21
upgraders being no-counters as far as the growth or shrinkage of the
hobby is concerned. Supposedly the idea behind the elimination of the
code tests is to draw new blood into the hobby, folk who would
otherwise not bother with becoming licensed yes?


The 3 testing for new licenses is, for all intents and purposes, what I have
had at test sessions before the rules changed. Although one datum is not
sufficient to really draw any conclusions, this does not bode well for
growth.

The way I see it there's a market research opportunity here which
needs to be explored and exploited. It strikes me that it's data from
the VE sessions which at least in part point the way to growth
strategies.

Not that only three individuals at one VE session on the first day out-
of-the-box is statistically significant and indicative of any kind of
long-term trend of course. All that aside I'm interested in knowing
what compelled these three individuals to go for ham tickets yesterday
- if you happen to have that info. Former hams "coming back in"? CBers
"moving over"? SWLs? Kids? Geezers . . . ?


Unfortunately with such a large group and limited time for use of the
facility, there was no time for chit chat. We administered 27 written tests
in addition to those who were just doing paper upgrades. I do know that one
of the three was a former ham (Tech+) as he mentioned it when he
pre-registered. He is one of the individuals who passed both Element 2 and
3, thereby earning his General ticket.

2 failed on the upgrade exam
1 failed on new license exam

2 achieved General as their 1st license by passing both elements 2 and 3
at this session.
14 upgraded to General from Tech via test or CSCE
5 upgraded to Extra from Tech via test and/or CSCEs

Dee, N8UZE

w3rv

The individual reporting from Manitoc, WI (?) gave similar results, heavy on
upgraders and very light on new licensees. We'll have to wait and see what
the future brings but "early returns" would suggest simply a change in
upgrading patterns and no change in new licensees.

Dee, N8UZE

"Dee Flint" wrote in
:

The individual reporting from Manitoc, WI (?) gave similar results,
heavy on upgraders and very light on new licensees. We'll have to
wait and see what the future brings but "early returns" would suggest
simply a change in upgrading patterns and no change in new licensees.

Do you think that you can make a valid conclusion after less than 24
hours?

- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
36...
"Dee Flint" wrote in
:

The individual reporting from Manitoc, WI (?) gave similar results,
heavy on upgraders and very light on new licensees. We'll have to
wait and see what the future brings but "early returns" would suggest
simply a change in upgrading patterns and no change in new licensees.

Do you think that you can make a valid conclusion after less than 24
hours?

- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -

No I do not. It's like elections, it isn't complete until all the returns
are in. It's also why I have a "guessing game" pool on the percent change
in licensed hams at the one year mark. Would you like to add a guess to the
pool?

Dee, N8UZE

Dee, N8UZE

Dee Flint wrote:

...
No I do not. It's like elections, it isn't complete until all the returns
are in. It's also why I have a "guessing game" pool on the percent change
in licensed hams at the one year mark. Would you like to add a guess to the
pool?

Dee, N8UZE

Dee, N8UZE



That is good. After decades of insanity, may take a decade just to sit
things on a so-so course ...

JS

On Feb 24, 9:57 pm, "Dee Flint" wrote:
wrote in message

oups.com...

snipped

Unfortunately with such a large group and limited time for use of the
facility, there was no time for chit chat. We administered 27 written tests
in addition to those who were just doing paper upgrades.

.. . . overload time eh. . . ?

I do know that one
of the three was a former ham (Tech+) as he mentioned it when he
pre-registered. He is one of the individuals who passed both Element 2 and
3, thereby earning his General ticket.

Good.

2 failed on the upgrade exam
1 failed on new license exam

2 achieved General as their 1st license by passing both elements 2 and 3
at this session.
14 upgraded to General from Tech via test or CSCE
5 upgraded to Extra from Tech via test and/or CSCEs

Dee, N8UZE

w3rv

The individual reporting from Manitoc, WI (?) gave similar results, heavy on
upgraders and very light on new licensees. We'll have to wait and see what
the future brings but "early returns" would suggest simply a change in
upgrading patterns and no change in new licensees.

No surprises there at all, it's just one more example of history
repeating itself.

My contention is that while they're few in numbers the newbies are a
good if not the best source for finding out what actually drives folk
toward ham radio. The way I see it we're not mining the VE sessions
for the hard data which could be used to more rationally target the
efforts currently underway to bring folk into the hobby. Which strike
me as a collection of committee-designed hipshots in the dark which
would never in this world fly out in commercial reality.

Given my druthers I'd cobble together some sort of questionnaire to be
passed out to the newbies at VE sessions which asks the pointed
questions which I think need to be answered. Over a period of say a
couple years of compiling their inputs we'd have some of the hard data
we don't have now. Shouldn't be much additional workload involved at
the VE sessions. Pass out the questionnaires at the registration desk,
collect 'em on the newbie's way out and forward 'em to The Committee
for analysis and the reality checks they need.

Dee, N8UZE

w3rv