[Boatanchors] [novicerigroundup] Re: [Glowbugs] Re: NOVICE RIG ROUNDUP

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

My KN2GKK Novice license was issued on 30 November 1953.  I got the Technician license as K2GKK in Summer 1954, but missed the 13 WPM Morse.


That preserved my then and still K2GKK callsign.  In those days, you could hold both Novice and Tech simultaneously.


My home was near Jamestown, NY so I was required to travel to Buffalo, NY (District 20) for both exams.  Ham exams were conducted there monthly and the Conditional and Novice licenses were only optional for locations that were over 125 miles from quarterly exam points.


I got 27 characters ONCE on the Novice test.  When I tested and passed my General in early 1955, I had 65 characters ONCE!


* * * * * * * * * * *
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 *
* (Since 30 Nov 53) *
* Oklahoma City, OK *
* USAF, Ret'd 61-81 *
** FAA, Ret'd 94-10 *
* * * * * * * * * * *



________________________________
From: Boatanchors <boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Bob Groh <bob.groh at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2017 23:13
To: Bry Carling; BoatAnchors QTH
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] [novicerigroundup] Re: [Glowbugs] Re: NOVICE RIG ROUNDUP

Back in 1957 when I got my Novice license in '2' land (New York State), the
WN2s and KN2s were already gone and they had moved on to WV2s (my call was
WV2CKY). Then when I made the jump to Technician and then General that was
converted to WA2CKY.  And that is the call I still have today. (although I
moved on to an Extra class back in the early 1990s).  When I got my Novice,
you HAD to upgrade within a year or you lost your license. As my year was
running out, I was able to find a ham to give me the test for Technician so
I could keep my call! Back in those days, you had to go to the FCC
Examiner's office to take the code test and, since I was in high school at
the time and 100 miles from the nearest FCC office (Buffalo, NY) - getting
there was a no-go.  But they did have a provision that you could take the
Technician license with a local ham (if he held a General license) - and I
took advantage of that so I could keep my call.  The next year I was living
in Rochester, NY and the FCC folks came into town and once or twice a year
and gave license tests (code and theory both) so I practiced my code,
signed up and with 50 or so other very nervous folks took my General test.
Made my 13 wpm right on the bloody edge of failing!!!  But I passed!!

Ah, yes, the good old days.

73
Bob Groh, WA2CKY