[CW] Life Time Novice

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

I do not know if I can write a LITTLE article about being
a novice. I will try.

Thank you for asking and researching the article about
“The Lifetime Novice, April 1980 QST and then tracking me
down.

I drove 120 miles round trip to Liberal KN. twice a week
for ham classes. I lived in the Texas Panhandle on the
OK/TX State line.

After taking the Novice Test on 9-1-1976 I received my
license 6 months later on 3-18-1977 as WD5CJI. None of
that instant licensing stuff back then. While waiting for
my ticket I bought a used Swan rig in Denver CO. so that I
could go on the air the same day I got my ticket,  that is
IF I got it.

I did not WANT to use CW. I wanted to key up the big radio
on SSB with 1500 watts!! In fact I told my gripey neighbor
that I was “going to suck up all of his electricity from
his light bulbs.”

I did use CW as there was no other choice. Guess what?  I
found out that I liked it!!

  The same year that I was licensed the FCC changed the
rules about mandatory upgrades after 1 year as a Novice
and you could remain a Novice forever.

  It was my intention to do just that, remain a Novice
forever.  I was doing what I wanted to do and that was CW
only. There was no need to upgrade, ever.

  I was a Novice from 3-18-1977 to 1-30- 1997 (19 years 9
months.)

  Went to Advanced Class: 1-30-1997
9 months later
Went to Extra with code: 10-06-1997

The ONLY reason I upgraded to Extra was:

While engaged in a conversation with 3 Extra Class VE’s
from my club one of  them remarked,” what do you know
about it Charlie, you are just a Novice!”

That remark made me really angry. “I will show them, I
thought to myself.”

After passing my Extra from these same 3 VE’s I ask them
if they would like to continue that conversation now that
I “KNEW SOMETHING” !!!

Never, never, never judge a persons intelligence by the
class of license they hold!

I have not enjoyed being an Extra Class Operator nearly as
much as I did being “JUST A NOVICE”. I am not on the air
as much as an Extra as I was when I was Just a Novice. The
thrill is gone. Sure wish I was still “JUST A NOVICE.” I
really miss it.

Guess perhaps I upgraded for the wrong reasons.

All of the awards that I have achieved I did so as a
Novice on CW only. I now own a CW straight key made in
Germany that I paid $800.00 US Dollars for when purchased
new so I must really like CW.

I am an ARRL Life Member. Also a member of QCWA, INDEXA,
10-10, NAQCC and many other organizations. Former ARRL
West Texas Section Manager with the vanity call of WB5T. I
resigned as Section Manager after 2 and 1/2 terms due to
poor health. I am now 71 years old.

Charles C. Royall WB5T
San Angelo, TX.
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