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
>
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