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June 21st 05, 02:46 PM

bb wrote:

wrote:

From: "Dan/W4NTI" on Sun 19 Jun 2005 22:46

"Jim Hampton" wrote in message
...

Some folks back then wanted the General but settled for a tech license when
they couldn't pass muster at 13. Unfortunately, if you got on the air (back
when, 2 meters was the novice voice band to try and get more activity on 2
meters!) it was possible to *never* work on the code and you were stuck as a
tech. Most likely 6 meters was the band of choice as the best front ends
might have had a 4.5 dB noise figure on 440 MHz. Even 2 meters wasn't all
that busy; Heathkit sixers and twoers were the rigs of the day. I really
wan't familiar with any territory above 30 MHz back then.

When is "back then?" And how can an LOS path be "busy" in a
non-urban area? Picture sitting around waiting for ducting or
temperature inversion to reach out beyond 30 to 40 miles...

The twoers and sixers were rock-bound. Anyway, he said that he wasn't
familiar with VHF.

The other choice was to work on your code. The novice license was issued
for one year and was not renewable. I took this choice and it took me a
while to get my code speed up. When I did take the test and pass 13, I was
good for about 18 (which helps when you're nervous and travel 60 miles to
take the test administered by the FCC, not a VEC).

So? I traveled 90 miles by train to the Chicago FCC office for
my First 'Phone test. No snow and I kept my shoes on all the way.

Aha! Gotcha!

You forgot to mention the changes in elevation over changes in
distance!!!

I like train rides!

- Mikey -

Extra lite extraordinaire