[Elecraft] 20 WPM

[Fred Jensen]

Ken Kopp wrote:
> And they wouldn't accept my 20 WPM Radiotelegraph ticket
> for my 20 WPM extra!  But by then it was a snap.

They did accept mine in Los Angeles in 1956 ... well sort of.  I was 
sort of rattled going for my Extra and got to the FCC several hours 
before the exam.  The examiner [nice but likely expecting a little more 
maturity than the 16 yr old possessed] said, "I'm giving the 2d 
Telegraph.  Fill out the app and take the code.  If you pass, I'll give 
you credit for the 20 for the Extra this afternoon."  I did, I passed, 
and he did.  He also told me I had nothing to lose by taking the 2d 
written.  I passed -- exactly.  I didn't get credit for that in the 
afternoon, but I passed the Extra written by a slightly larger margin.

Apparently the FCC was enamored with the Colpitts oscillator in those 
days ... I too had to draw the circuit, and then answer a couple of 
questions about its characteristics.
> 
> Here's a tip, BTW ... many can write faster when copying CW
> by using longhand.

I'm a genetic southpaw who was required to learn to write right-handed 
in public school.  As a result, I couldn't write legibly with either 
hand and still can't.  The nice examiner looked at my paper, said, "Why 
don't you print this out below each line for me," I did, and he passed 
me.  I think it all depends on who the examiner was and maybe what kind 
of day he was having.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2007 CQP Oct 6-7
- www.cqp.org