[ARC5] OT - FCC Will Soon Consolidate Commercial Radiotelegraph Certificates

[Mike Morrow]

Sandy wrote:

> What were  the requirement reductions?  In the code tests or the written 
> elements?   I was unaware of any change.

In the early 1990s the FCC began allowing credit for the Radiotelegraph Second
Class Morse exam if one held an Amateur Extra Class license.

Thus, the requirements for over 60 years that one must satisfy:

20-wpm plain language one-minute perfect send and receive in a five minute test
              plus
16-wpm random 5-character code groups one-minute perfect send and receive in a
five minute test.

became for those claiming Amateur Extra Morse credit:

Receive only, 10 multiple choice questions about a five minute 20-wpm plain text,
each question requiring knowledge of two parts from the text...80 percent score
required.

That represented a significant reduction of commercial Morse requirements.

> I never managed to get my "6 months sea time" but did a bunch of sea trial 
> runs.

And the only thing that the six-month endorsement earned was the right to be the
**sole** radio operator on non-passenger vessels.  It had nothing to do with
advancement to a First Class license.

73,
Mike / KK5F