----- Original Message ----- 
From: "PATRICK GORMLEY" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: To upgrade or not


> It took me 4 whacks at the advanced which I passed on my way to extra in
> 1981.  Dick Bash helped me understand the math involved and that enabled 
> me
> to pass the extra the same date at the fcc office in Baltimore.  Having my
> own reader the late k3int was a big help.  A year later, I took my grol 
> and
> kj3t was just as good. 73- pat kk3f
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Pat Byrne" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 12:19 PM
> Subject: Re: To upgrade or not
>
>
>> Scott,
>> I forgot that prior to the Extra I had the Advanced license.  It was
>> WAY difficult even though it tested on the technology I rather
>> knew.  Took it around 1977 or so.  Took it twice, as a matter of
>> fact.  Back before V E testing so went to the F C C Field Office in
>> chicago and that scary old Field Engineer read it to me.  He might
>> very well have been a nice man but every one of us who went to the
>> office to take an exam were scared as hell by him!!  Took my General
>> at the same office probably with the same examiner!  He did describe
>> the schematics very well before asking the questions.
>> Pat, K9JAUAt 11:10 AM 8/19/2012, you wrote:
>>>Thanks to all who have contributed their thoughts to this thread and to =
>>>those who will at some point. I plan to continue studying for my Extra, =
>>>although I have some other demands on my time which has kept me off the =
>>>air more than I would like. However, I do believe there is value in =
>>>upgrading, but I also can respect those who elect not to upgrade for =
>>>whatever reason. I just thought I would bring the issue up with the =
>>>group since my conversation with a friend and see what others thought.
>>>
>>>73
>>>Scott/N3BYY
>>>
>>>On Aug 19, 2012, at 9:28 AM, Albert Sanchez =
>>><[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>
>>> > Scott
>>> > I have been following this thread with considerable interest and
>>> > have=20=
>>>
>>> > decided to add my two cents worth.
>>> >=20
>>> > I got my ticket back in 1966 as a "Conditional" class licensee. Back =
>>>then if=20
>>> > you lived 75 or more miles away from the closest FCC office the =
>>>General=20
>>> > class exam could be administered by another local ham. I passed both =
>>>the=20
>>> > written and the 13 WPM CW exam. Later, sometime in the early 1970's, =
>>>the FCC=20
>>> > grandfathered all Conditional class licensees up to General class. I =
>>>was=20
>>> > happy to stay within the band limits for my class of license until =
>>>earlier=20
>>> > this spring, something like 46 years. Then, something happened. My =
>>>wife had=20
>>> > gotten her General class ticket 4 years ago and decided to try for the
>>> > =
>>>Extra=20
>>> > class before the question pool changed in July of this year, well,
>>> > she=20=
>>>
>>> > passed. As a result, I decided that "If she can then I should"! I =
>>>studied=20
>>> > the material, including the math, and was successful.
>>> > I do like the extra band priviledges particularly on the CW bands, =
>>>but,=20
>>> > mostly I became an Extra class licensee because it was there, and, now
>>> > =
>>>I can=20
>>> > go anywhere. Good luck
>>> > Best 73's,
>>> > Albert, WA7FXB
>>> > ----- Original Message -----=20
>>> > From: "Scott Howell" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> > Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 6:27 AM
>>> > Subject: To upgrade or not
>>> >=20
>>> >=20
>>> >> All,
>>> >>=20
>>> >> I happen to have a conversation with a friend who like myself is =
>>>working =3D
>>> >> on upgrading from General to Extra. The conversation turned to =
>>>whether =3D
>>> >> upgrading from General to Extra would really be of any value. Now I =
>>>am =3D
>>> >> really interested in your thoughts, but I do not really want to hear 
>>> >> =
>>>a =3D
>>> >> bunch of crap either because I know there are some really strong =3D
>>> >> opinions on expanding knowledge etc. You can learn and expand =
>>>knowledge =3D
>>> >> without upgrading your ticket obviously, so that is not the issue.
>>> >> THe conversation surrounded the question of added privileges in =3D
>>> >> operating in lower parts of the HF band. So, the question is beyond =
>>>the =3D
>>> >> added band privileges and the fact you can call yourself and Extra:
>>> >> (1) Why did you upgrade and
>>> >> (2) Does it really make that much of a difference?
>>> >> I think one of his issues was learning the technical material such as
>>> >> =
>>>=3D
>>> >> the math etc. would be a challenge and since he really is not =
>>>interested =3D
>>> >> in building equipmentt. He obviously appreciates his responsibility =
>>>for =3D
>>> >> operating his equipment and maintaining his equipment so he operates 
>>> >> =
>>>as =3D
>>> >> a responsible Ham.
>>> >> Again, I am not looking to start a hostile thread over appliance =3D
>>> >> operators vs those who want to learn the technical knowledge. So, =
>>>before =3D
>>> >> you respond, step back and consider the topic before just firing off 
>>> >> =
>>>=3D
>>> >> comments based on your initial reaction because those comments may =
>>>not =3D
>>> >> be constructive. Hey not everyone feels the need to upgrade and I =3D
>>> >> personally see nothing wrong with that. SOme are more interested in =
>>>the =3D
>>> >> communications skills aspect of operating than the technical side as 
>>> >> =
>>>has =3D
>>> >> been observed on this list in the not to distant past.
>>> >> THanks in advance for your thoughtful consideration and responses.
>>> >>=20
>>> >> 73
>>> >> Scott/N3BYY=20
>>
>