[ARC5] US Morse Exam History...Commercial versus mateur (OT)

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 22 Dec 2012 at 7:01, Mike Everette wrote:

> When I took my Extra, I had to take not only that but also the
> Advanced, AND the General as I held a Conditional Class because I had
> lived about 10 miles further than the distance limit from the "nearest
> examining point" when I upgraded from Novice.  

Same here, except that I was over 100 miles from that. My best Elmer, 
Woody Davey W7CJB, gave me the Conditional test. I flunked the first go 
through of the code test from over-confidence (I hadn't studied). After that 
fiasco, I studied diligently using an Instructograph, and passed the next one 
with a score of 100%. I have never had any really serious trouble with CW 
ever since, and it has been my favorite mode for many years.

> The first thing the examiner, Russ Banks, W4FAX, did was give me the
> 20 wpm code test (!!).  Then, the General written exam, which I
> passed.  All the while Russ wandered over to check on me often,
> mumbling "Ah ain' NEVER seen a Conditional come in voluntarily to be
> tested..."

Ah! That clears up a question I had in my mind from way back then: why the 
FCC examiner (whom I did not know, although he was a ham) kept looking at 
me strangely and would very often come by and check on me when I was 
taking the written exams.

He also let me use my 1936 McElroy bug to take the sending test. The RO 
who took it at the same time used a straight key. I remember being amazed 
that he could send such perfect CW with a hand key at 20 WPM. He "patted" 
it, which I had never seen before.

I also remember that the FCC folks all used some sort of code oscillator and 
a bug at each desk to send quick notes to one another across the 
office...even the gals. I thought that was neat.

>  I took the Advanced written, with more mumbling and
> over-the-shoulder scrutiny from Russ.  Passed that... then came the
> Extra, which compared to the Advanced test, was a gift.

Yes. The Advanced was much longer and more detailed than the Extra. 
However, I felt the Extra was much more technically challenging than 
anything up to that time I took, including the Commercial tests.

> I was the last person out of the examining room that day.

So was I. Then I drove the 300 miles back to Missoula, Montana that night in 
my 1953 Hudson Hornet Club Coupe.

Ken W7EKB