[SOC] Its Creepy . . .

[Radio K0HB]

I took my Extra exam in 1965 on Guam.  

The FCC had no office in the territory (nearest office was in Honolulu), so they farmed out ham testing to the Navy Admiral at COMNAVMAR (Commander Naval Forces Marianas) on Nimitz Hill.  

Chief Radioman Ron Dale on his staff was the test administrator. He and I had served together in destroyers and were good friends, but he was a straight shooter so I knew he'd run a "tight ship" on test day.

Called him to set up the test, and asked if I could bring my Vibroplex.  He said not to bother, he had one in the office.

Day of the test I was a little nervous, as I suppose we all were, but for some reason I couldn't send well on his bug.  Adjustments were good, but something was "not quite right".  Looked like I was going to fail, so as a last resort asked if I could go to the car and get my own key.  Permission granted.

Swapping the connections from his key to mine, the problem was obvious!  My "good friend" had reversed the thumb and finger pieces as a practical joke.  Bast%$d!

Dit dit,

de Hans, K0HB


-----Original Message----- 
From: Lee 
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2016 4:59 AM 
To: soc at mailman.qth.net 
Subject: Re: [SOC] Its Creepy . . . 


I took and passed my Extra in 1976 at the FCC Field Office in Chicago.  
The FCC provided a hand key or you could bring in your own key or bug.  
I was bringing my bug, but on the way to the FCC I had to stop suddenly 
and my bug went flying.  It wound up on the floor boards all miss 
aligned.  So I decided to leave it in the car.  I first had to pass the 
receiving test which I passed with no problem.  Now it was time to send 
20 wpm.  I was now faced with doing this with a hand key rather then 
with my bug.  I sent 5 minutes to the inspector and he said, "give me 
another minute,  I think you were sending at 19 wpm."  So I gave him 
another minute. Again he asked for another minute as he thought I was 
sending at 19 wpm.  This went on for a total of around 10 minutes.  By 
this time my hand was almost in cramps.  He finally said, "OK, you 
pass!"  He never smiled once!  Sure wish I would have taken my Lightning 
Bug into the Field Office.  (I still have that Lightning Bug.)
Lee, w0vt
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