[Elecraft] FCC exams

[Edward R Cole]

I took my first FCC exam in 1960 for the General (and did not pass 
the CW exam).  This was in Detroit in an old office building with 
austere gov't issue "everything", including the examiners.  The CW 
test was the old five random character test of which 1-minute must be 
perfect copy.

Many years later (1982) I re-took the General exam at the FCC office 
in Anchorage, AK.  This time the CW test was ten multiple choice 
questions about the clear-text CW that was sent.  One only needed to 
pass 7 questions.  I passed.  I took the Advanced a month later with 
ease (I had passed the Second Class Radiotelephone in 1971 so the 
General was easy).

In 2000 I took my Extra before my local VE and it was only the 
written test as they had lowered the CW requirement to 13wpm.  I joke 
that I have "the Slow-Code Extra".

The FCC examining was definitely harder in my estimation.  There are 
better technical questions on the newer exams, though.  The Second 
Class was technically way above extra.  Glad I took it when questions 
were still about vacuum tubes.

73, Ed - KL7UW
1958 Novice - KN8MWA
1959 Technician - K8MWA
1971 2nd Class Radiotelephone
1981 Radar Endorsement
1982 General, Advanced - AL7EB
2000 Extra - KL7UW