[GreenKeys] RTTY HF technician license? Not so fast.

[Gary]

Eugene Hertz wrote:
[...]
> Nine-year-olds have passed it. How, I can't imagine). I can not
> imagine how hard the general test would be to get me the proper
> ability to use RTTY on HF (and run my model 28--ok, this message is
> only "near-topic").
> 
> Very dissapointing and a little discouraging :( 
> 

I have a few comments, but, as this is mostly off topic I'll try to keep 
them limited.

- High school age is rather common for getting an amateur radio license. 
   High schools may have ham radio clubs or stations.  My high school 
did, and, of course, several students were licensed, mostly general 
class. I think that is a more appropriate age, compared to nine, for 
getting kids started.

- You don't have to imagine how hard the general test is.  The question 
pool can be downloaded from the ARRL web site.  The conceptual level for 
general is about the same as for technician.  The emphasis is on HF 
operating, but otherwise not greatly different.

- If you would like to operate HF RTTY the best approach would be to 
plan to get a general class license.

- It has been a while since I actually operated HF RTTY.  I got my start 
back in high school with a Model 15, a Heathkit DX-60 transmitter, a 
Hallicrafters SX-100 receiver and a Twin City TU built from parts picked 
up at hamfests and scrounged from old dead TVs.  I only operated on 80M 
with a dipole back then.  For me, making a contact two states away was 
DX, but it kind of amazed me how well such a simple setup could do.

73,
Gary
[So much for "limited" comments.]