In article ,
(N2EY) writes:

Heck yes. In fact it went something like this:

First, ya had to have a General or Advanced for at least two years
before they'd even let ya try the Extra.

Then ya had to pass the receive test with at least 100 correct
consecutive legible characters. No going back and fixing things after
the code stopped, either, after the last dit it was PENCILS DOWN or ya
flunked right there.

If ya passed the receive, they let ya try sending with their straight
key or *your* speed key. You sent until the examiner was satisfied.

Only then did they let you try the written. Mess up at any point -
even one character or question - and it was "go home and study some
more and don't come back for at least 30 days". No CSCE, no partial
credit, nada, do it all first try at one sitting or it doesn't count
at all.

Dinosaur? Who ME?

Naw.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Jim:

Ah, yes, the good old days. Challenging licensing requirements and
uncompromising testing procedures. Of course, all that is waaaaay too
PoliticKally IncorrecKt today, since someone with a particular ethnic
origin, skin color, religion, "gender," or a hangnail might not be able
to pass the first time or two. This certainly won't do in these
enlightened times. After all, it might "exclude" someone who is, in
reality, a nascent technical genius who just needs the ability to talk
on the HF phone bands in order to find the inspiration to create the
next fabulous new invention which will revolutionize electronic
communication for the rest of all time!

73 de Larry, K3LT

In article , ospam
(Larry Roll K3LT) writes:

In article ,
(N2EY) writes:

Heck yes. In fact it went something like this:

First, ya had to have a General or Advanced for at least two years
before they'd even let ya try the Extra.

Then ya had to pass the receive test with at least 100 correct
consecutive legible characters. No going back and fixing things after
the code stopped, either, after the last dit it was PENCILS DOWN or ya
flunked right there.

If ya passed the receive, they let ya try sending with their straight
key or *your* speed key. You sent until the examiner was satisfied.

Only then did they let you try the written. Mess up at any point -
even one character or question - and it was "go home and study some
more and don't come back for at least 30 days". No CSCE, no partial
credit, nada, do it all first try at one sitting or it doesn't count
at all.

Dinosaur? Who ME?

Naw.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Jim:

Ah, yes, the good old days.

With all due respect, Larry - were you there?

Did you have to take a sending test?

Did you have to pass all of the elements to upgrade at the same time?

Did you have to wait 2 years to even try the Extra?

Challenging licensing requirements and
uncompromising testing procedures.

They've been "compromising" forever. Back before WW2 the exam was all blue book
essays. Before 1960 there was diagram drawing. The tests I took in 1967-70 were
"dumbed down" compared to those because my tests were all multiple choice.

Of course, all that is waaaaay too
PoliticKally IncorrecKt today, since someone with a particular ethnic
origin, skin color, religion, "gender," or a hangnail might not be able
to pass the first time or two. This certainly won't do in these
enlightened times.

None of that had anything to do with the license test changes.

Incentive Licensing came about in LBJ's time

Dick Bash did his stuff (and got away with it) when Nixon and Ford were in
office

The change to the VE system happened under Reagan

We got medical waivers because a "king" wanted a favor from George Bush 1.

We also got a nocodeham license because of GB 1.

Etc.

After all, it might "exclude" someone who is, in
reality, a nascent technical genius who just needs the ability to talk
on the HF phone bands in order to find the inspiration to create the
next fabulous new invention which will revolutionize electronic
communication for the rest of all time!

Or something like that.

Don't hold yer breath waiting for it, tho.

73 de Jim, N2EY

ospam (Larry Roll K3LT) wrote in message ...
In article ,
(N2EY) writes:

Heck yes. In fact it went something like this:

First, ya had to have a General or Advanced for at least two years
before they'd even let ya try the Extra.

Then ya had to pass the receive test with at least 100 correct
consecutive legible characters. No going back and fixing things after
the code stopped, either, after the last dit it was PENCILS DOWN or ya
flunked right there.

If ya passed the receive, they let ya try sending with their straight
key or *your* speed key. You sent until the examiner was satisfied.

Only then did they let you try the written. Mess up at any point -
even one character or question - and it was "go home and study some
more and don't come back for at least 30 days". No CSCE, no partial
credit, nada, do it all first try at one sitting or it doesn't count
at all.

Dinosaur? Who ME?

Naw.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Jim:

Ah, yes, the good old days. Challenging licensing requirements and
uncompromising testing procedures. Of course, all that is waaaaay too
PoliticKally IncorrecKt today, since someone with a particular ethnic
origin, skin color, religion, "gender," or a hangnail might not be able
to pass the first time or two. This certainly won't do in these
enlightened times. After all, it might "exclude" someone who is, in
reality, a nascent technical genius who just needs the ability to talk
on the HF phone bands in order to find the inspiration to create the
next fabulous new invention which will revolutionize electronic
communication for the rest of all time!

73 de Larry, K3LT

Larry, instead of complaining all of the time about others, why don't
you relate to us how you've revolutionized radio communications?

BTW, how's your WAS coming?

Saw in QST where a ham had 48 states in 1957, then completed WAS with
Hawaii and Nevada in 2003. No doubt another revolutionizing operator.

In article ,
(Brian) writes:


Larry, instead of complaining all of the time about others, why don't
you relate to us how you've revolutionized radio communications?

BTW, how's your WAS coming?

Saw in QST where a ham had 48 states in 1957, then completed WAS with
Hawaii and Nevada in 2003. No doubt another revolutionizing operator.

Brian:

I *have* worked all 50 states; however, I've never received a QSL card from
North Dakota. BTW, I worked all 50 mainly from the mobile HF station I
had in my '78 Plymouth Horizon while stationed at Andrews AFB, MD. And,
in case you're wondering, it was mainly CW, with some SSB contacts.
BTW2: It was done between Sept. 1981 and Feb. 1983, so it took me a
whole 18 months. Sorry to disappoint you.

73 de Larry, K3LT

In article , (N2EY)
writes:


With all due respect, Larry - were you there?

Jim:

Obviously not. Point?

Did you have to take a sending test?

No, but I could have easily passed one.

Did you have to pass all of the elements to upgrade at the same time?

No. You got me there.

Did you have to wait 2 years to even try the Extra?

No. Ditto.

Challenging licensing requirements and
uncompromising testing procedures.

They've been "compromising" forever. Back before WW2 the exam was all blue
book
essays. Before 1960 there was diagram drawing. The tests I took in 1967-70
were
"dumbed down" compared to those because my tests were all multiple choice.

Yeah, I know, and that's my point. However, the level of "dumbing-down"
that has occurred just in the last few years is way out of porportion to that
which took place from the beginning of FCC testing and the time you and I
became licensed.

Of course, all that is waaaaay too
PoliticKally IncorrecKt today, since someone with a particular ethnic
origin, skin color, religion, "gender," or a hangnail might not be able
to pass the first time or two. This certainly won't do in these
enlightened times.

None of that had anything to do with the license test changes.

Oh, really? Prove it.

Incentive Licensing came about in LBJ's time

Dick Bash did his stuff (and got away with it) when Nixon and Ford were in
office

The change to the VE system happened under Reagan

We got medical waivers because a "king" wanted a favor from George Bush 1.

We also got a nocodeham license because of GB 1.

Etc.

Damn those Republicans! OBTW -- who was President when the
"Restructuring" took place?

After all, it might "exclude" someone who is, in
reality, a nascent technical genius who just needs the ability to talk
on the HF phone bands in order to find the inspiration to create the
next fabulous new invention which will revolutionize electronic
communication for the rest of all time!

Or something like that.

Don't hold yer breath waiting for it, tho.

Trust me, I'm not.

73 de Larry, K3LT

"Dick Carroll" wrote in message
...


Brian Kelly wrote:

"Ryan, KC8PMX" wrote in message
...
Yeah, that might be true if you have HF capability........

Can't argue with that. But as Jim points out it doesn't take much of a
radio and antenna to at least listen on HF. What's the show-stopper in
your case?


Desire, obviously

Yes, as in regards to listening to HF voice..... Sounds just like listening
to CB. No, it is environmental conditions. Killer RFI that would make BPL
look like nothing.




--
Ryan, KC8PMX
FF1-FF2-MFR-(pending NREMT-B!)
--. --- -.. ... .- -. --. . .-.. ... .- .-. . ..-. .. .-. . ..-.
... --. .... - . .-. ...

"Brian" wrote in message
om...
W1AW also sends Morse Code practice on VHF, if you live close enough.
But I don't think 8-land is close enough.

Definitely, maybe the supposed field organizations can get together to
rebroadcast the transmissions?? Sounds like an actual good idea.


If not, Jim can tell you how to build an Elecraft K1 out of junk box
parts, or something like that.

Nice idea, but it will be deaf, as that is the problem until I move, which
won't be happening for another 2 years. Will have to suffer till then.


--
Ryan, KC8PMX
FF1-FF2-MFR-(pending NREMT-B!)
--. --- -.. ... .- -. --. . .-.. ... .- .-. . ..-. .. .-. . ..-.
... --. .... - . .-. ...


"Ryan, KC8PMX" wrote in message
...
Yeah, that might be true if you have HF capability........

I've sed it before I'll say it again: The W1AW code practice sessions
and getting on the air ASAP are the best methods out there for
learning the code. The 1AW sessions are reliable, they're not
repetitive and you can pace yourself without breaking a sweat
depending on your own set of learning curve variables. Yes it's
Farnsworth and 1AW Farnworth has obviously worked for decades. Now go
copy 1AW 5wpm sessions until you "get it".


w3rv

In article , ospam
(Larry Roll K3LT) writes:

In article ,
(N2EY)
writes:

With all due respect, Larry - were you there?

Jim:

Obviously not. Point?

That the same complaints you have about today's tests can be made by some of
those who came before you.

Did you have to take a sending test?

No, but I could have easily passed one.

"could have" and "did" are not the same thing.

Did you have to pass all of the elements to upgrade at the same time?

No. You got me there.

Did you have to wait 2 years to even try the Extra?

No. Ditto.

See?

Challenging licensing requirements and
uncompromising testing procedures.

They've been "compromising" forever. Back before WW2 the exam was all blue
book essays. Before 1960 there was diagram drawing. The tests I took in
1967-70 were "dumbed down" compared to those because my tests were all
multiple choice.

Yeah, I know, and that's my point. However, the level of "dumbing-down"
that has occurred just in the last few years is way out of porportion to that
which took place from the beginning of FCC testing and the time you and I
became licensed.

Those who had to do essays and draw diagrams might disagree.

Of course, all that is waaaaay too
PoliticKally IncorrecKt today, since someone with a particular ethnic
origin, skin color, religion, "gender," or a hangnail might not be able
to pass the first time or two. This certainly won't do in these
enlightened times.

None of that had anything to do with the license test changes.

Oh, really? Prove it.

Just look at the records and the old regs. Nothing in there about ethnicity,
skin color, religion or gender. I dunno about hangnails.

Incentive Licensing came about in LBJ's time

Dick Bash did his stuff (and got away with it) when Nixon and Ford were in
office

The change to the VE system happened under Reagan

We got medical waivers because a "king" wanted a favor from George Bush 1.

We also got a nocodeham license because of GB 1.

Etc.

Damn those Republicans! OBTW -- who was President when the
"Restructuring" took place?

That would be Slick Willy Clinton.

After all, it might "exclude" someone who is, in
reality, a nascent technical genius who just needs the ability to talk
on the HF phone bands in order to find the inspiration to create the
next fabulous new invention which will revolutionize electronic
communication for the rest of all time!

Or something like that.

Don't hold yer breath waiting for it, tho.

Trust me, I'm not.

Me neither.

So, have you commented on each of the 7 petitions now before FCC?

73 de Jim, N2EY

ospam (Larry Roll K3LT) wrote in message ...
In article ,
(Brian) writes:


Larry, instead of complaining all of the time about others, why don't
you relate to us how you've revolutionized radio communications?

BTW, how's your WAS coming?

Saw in QST where a ham had 48 states in 1957, then completed WAS with
Hawaii and Nevada in 2003. No doubt another revolutionizing operator.

Brian:

I *have* worked all 50 states; however, I've never received a QSL card from
North Dakota. BTW, I worked all 50 mainly from the mobile HF station I
had in my '78 Plymouth Horizon while stationed at Andrews AFB, MD. And,
in case you're wondering, it was mainly CW, with some SSB contacts.
BTW2: It was done between Sept. 1981 and Feb. 1983, so it took me a
whole 18 months. Sorry to disappoint you.

73 de Larry, K3LT

Larry, I'm not disappointed, but you should be. Talk to Dave sometime
about ARRL award programs. Condensed version: If you don't have all
the cards, you don't have the award.

So you still need to confirm North Dakota for WAS. And the guy in
Qst, 1957-2003, has your 1981-200??? beat.

N2EY wrote:

Only then did they let you try the written. Mess up at any point -
even one character or question - and it was "go home and study some
more and don't come back for at least 30 days". No CSCE, no partial
credit, nada, do it all first try at one sitting or it doesn't count
at all.


hold on s second Jim! You're saying one missed question meant flunking
the test?

- Mike KB3EIA -