[Antennas] License ease(was random wire)

Sat, 25 Jan 2003 22:56:57 -0600

I never was a Novice.  I got my General in 1954, while attending the US
Army High Speed Radio Operator school in Camp (now Fort) Gordon, GA. 
Passing speed, then, was 25 wpm, but you learned on 5-letter groups, and
used a mill (typewriter).  Ruined me for clear text at anything higher
than 15.  As there were so many potential candidates, the FCC would send
examiners quarterly from Atlanta.  I had passed 15 wpm, and was working
on 18, when they came down, so I bought an ARRL License Manual and passed
the entire General exam 1st shot.  At the time, you had to wait a year to
upgrade to Extra.  didn't get a chance to upgrade, as I was stationed in
Europe for two years (did hold DL4SD while stationed in Germany). 
Changed addresses in the Chicago area in 1967, so I went to the FCC
office and upgraded to Advanced, as I was out of practice in the code. 
Made Extra in 1990.  

Regardless of the work I did in preparing for all FCC exams, I found that
the only way I really learned was to get on the air (this applied to my
Army radio work, as well.)  I agree that the waiting period is valuable
to learn what is going on, and to develop good Ham habits.

Dave          W9LYA

APRIL 15, 2000 HAIKU

Working hard for years
On 20 words per minute
Extra now at 5

A smoky old Okie named Joad
Tried teaching a toad to croak code
                But voicing displeasure
                At Sam F. B.�s treasure
He croaked for a video mode

A telegrapher from Klamath
Almost became psychopath
                His problem, of course,
                Was dyslexical Morse
(He always sent �What wrought doG hath�)

On Sat, 25 Jan 2003 19:21:11 -0600 "George, W5YR" <[email protected]> writes:
> Tom, can't tell if you are joking or not, but it *was* a one year
> waiting period at the Class B license level before you could take 
> the
> Class A exam. At least that was the case in 1946.
> 
> Similarly, when I took my Extra in 1954, as I recall, there was 
> some
> sort of time requirement of being licensed before being allowed to
> take the exam.
> 
> I highly favor these "experience periods" during which the amateur 
> has
> an opportunity to put to use what he has "learned" from the exam
> process and to better prepare for the next level. There are 
> practical,
> manual skills that need to be acquired and developed in addition to
> the "book learning."
> 
> 73/72, George
> Amateur Radio W5YR -  the Yellow Rose of Texas
> In the 57th year and it just keeps getting better!
> Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe
> K2 #489  IC-765 #2349 IC-756 PRO  #2121 IC-756 PRO2 #3235
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Horton" <[email protected]>
> To: "Jim Reid" <[email protected]>; "David Shrader"
> <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 6:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [Antennas] License ease(was random wire)
> 
> 
> > At 14:06 25-01-03 -1000, Jim Reid wrote:
> > >So how,  maybe,  to re-establish the idea that the Extra Class
> > >represents the highest level of "expertise"?  Only thought I
> > >might suggest is to go back to an earlier requirement,  from
> > >the 50's and earlier I think:  you must hold the General
> > >license class ticket for some extended period of time before
> > >you are eligible to "sit" for the Extra exam.  What period of
> > >time?  Was a year at one time to hold Class B before you
> > >could take the Class A exam.  Perhaps a year as General
> > >would give a new,  active ham at least some appreciation
> > >for the technical and operational elements of amateur radio
> > >that might lead him/her on to Extra "expertise" level,  if
> > >that is felt to be a desired meaning for the Extra ticket.
> > Jim,
> >   I'm pretty sure it was a five year wait before you could really
> even
> > think about it!
> > 73, Tom K5IID
> > "E"  Sorter for the ARRL W5 QSL Bureau
> > Williamstown, WV
> 
> 
> 
> 
> - - - 
> 
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