Passed my EXTRA CLASS Ham Radio exam tonight (vanity)

ARRL/VEC ^ | 4-8-2009 | Me

[Clinging Bitterly]

I have been a licenced Ham operator since 1978. I have had a Technician Class license since 1982 - this was back in the days when you had to go to an FCC office to take the tests, which at the time for me was about 200 miles from home.

Since US Ham Rado went No Code in 2007, I have been qualified to upgrade to General Class by simply going to a test session and filling out some paperwork. The reason for the "free" upgrade is the exam elements I passed back in '82 are the same as for the General Class today.

So, tonight there was a test session in town and I went in to get my grandfathered upgrade. While there the examiners suggested successful applicants (which I would be by default) could move on and test for successive upgrades without extra cost or penalty beyond time spent so I said what the heck. I had within the past month browsed the question pool (a public record by law) and already figured there's no way I could pass this right now, but nothing ventured nothing gained they say.

And the test was hard. It had a few gimmes, a surprizing number of questions covering advanced theory that related to things I'd specialized in and even pioneered in years past, a lot of stuff I sort of knew but not in depth, and the remainder, about equal to the margin between acing and passing, that I knew little about at all. But going through it I became more encouraged as I went along, and in the end I passed with exactly the minimum required number of correct answers, and as one of the examiners said, it doesn't matter whether you aced it or barely passed, it isn't posted on the wallpaper and you don't have to sign with your score in the EXTRA CLASS sub bands.

And I am so jazzed, and for more on WHY I am so jazzed, read the comment body. The link above goes to nothing specific but there you can discover how to join the fraternity yourself. I am glad to have returned, and anxious to see what's new.

[mylife]

SW/HAM Ping

[mylife]

With the chicom bugs placed in our power infrastructure yesterday, I think any ‘backup’ communication systems are a good idea.

I think as long as there are airwaves to surf there will be HAMS

[Bigun]

EXCELLENT!!!

I would give you my call sign and set up a contact but that might give away information better left unknown here.

Welcome to the world of Extra class ham radio!

73’s!

[Clinging Bitterly]

You might recall I was admiring that old Collins a couple months ago on that shortwave thread, and I just pinged you back on that one to this one.

Do you still have the FT101E setup too?

After that thread, which is the bug that bit & got me back into it, I brought my HF stuff back in out of storage. For a birthday present to myself I bought a new MFJ 941E antenna tuner and their ready made G5RV antenna plus a couple fresh feedlines. Soon enough we had good late season hard spitting snow day so I hurried out & got the antenna rigged up before it quit (because that's antenna weather) and the little old FT-747GX is outfitted with the latest mods and all working great.

I have an FT-200 (Tempo One) also. The Tempo branded version was somewhat popular in the US in it's day, but lots more folks opted for something like a Kenwood TS520 that outdid just about anything in the price range in almost every way. I guess I like my stuff simple the FT-200 is pretty basic (like your Collins but Moocho Cheeper and probably not anywhere near the receiver). I put it on the air and it still works great & has full rated power out. Doesn't really fit in though for what I want either as a main or backup rig because at this point I want to keep all emergency power capable. So my intention for it is to give it a cosmetic workover and sell it, and use the proceeds to help pay for a more modern and somewhat more full featured HF rig. It'll be a workable HF rig for some beginner, as it was for me, and it's sure to go cheap, though I would not be surprised to get back every penny I paid for it 27 years ago.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

From one bitter clinger to another, congratulations on the upgrade. My journey to Extra was on a whim. I had became interested in and passed the Novice ticket back in the 70’s but never could get the time or money to set up a station.
About 6 years ago I found myself wanting a career change and went back an pursued an electronics degree. During the middle of that I had the inspiration to renew my interest in ham radio so I glanced at the question pool, decided to give it a try, and found a location that was testing. We still had the minimal code requirement in effect, so I found evidence of my old novice ticket to present and sat down to take the tests. To be honest, the hardest parts for me were memorizing the band allocations because I'd never had the operating experience. I sat through all the tests and came out of he session having zero experience and an Extra license. Well, at least it would show up in a couple of weeks. The first contact I made was exciting and a story unto itself, but I've enjoyed the hobby immensely. 73 and good job on your adventures.

[Right Wing Assault]

What impact does the Internet have on ham radio? Has it rendered ham radio to some degree obsolete?

In a natural or man-made disaster (to use obama-talk for terror attack) if there is any power failure, hams rule. Many have mobile units in their vehicles and battery powered hand-helds that can be recharged by the vehicle battery. Cell phones? The towers will be dead. Internet? Mostly dead unless you have a satellite phone hooked to your computer.

[Clinging Bitterly]

Absolutely not.

But I will say FCC has “improved” the public accessible database and it no longer displays our birthdates and SSNs for all to see. Wondered for a long time why they didn't see just how wrong that was.

Now it appears to display all that's required by law as public record and nothing more, which is probably about all Hams need to know about one another and still quite a lot more than folks without that particular interest need.

Gee I can't remember, how did we hams learn about one-another before the internet?</sarc>

(once years gone by I did post my call on this forum, and by necessity a couple times articles & op-eds containing My Real Name, but there's way more concern these days and I'm not likely to do it again)

[halfright]

Congrats!!! de V26DX

[Texas Fossil]

Congratulations on passing the Extra, I got mine in 1985. (Later passed GROL)

I first sat before an FCC examiner on Commerce Street in Downtown Dallas in 1976.

I knew there was another reason I liked you.

[Red_Devil 232]

I sold the FT-101 set up a few months ago. The guy I sold it to is the Webmaster for the following web site. He is a dedicated Yaesu aficionado and collector. He could not believe the condition and said it was like getting a brand new FT-101 straight from the factory in original boxes and all the original sales recipts & paper work and manuals!

FT-101 Fox Tango International Web Page

[Eagle50AE]

Congrats on your extra ticket..

I'm a orphan: advanced with the 20 wpm code and just never went back to take the extra written..

In these times its good to be able to reach out without wires.

for those interested in becoming hams (to see how easy getting on 2 meters would be ), here's a site for taking a free practice exam ( and more information on hams)
here's a link

http://aa9pw.com/

to find out how sorry the current sunspot cycle is performing:

http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/

for a good beginners guide:

http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/?a-beginners-guide-to-amateur-radio,77

and the arrl site:

http://www.arrl.org/

and finally, information to assist in protecting your equipment in the worst case scenario:

http://www.endtimesreport.com/faraday_cages.html

congrats again
k****
collins kwm-2
2kw h/b
art-13
sx-17 (yes, functional)

[nnn0jeh]

Very good job. I had a novice lic in 1973 while in high school but did not follow through. 27 years later i got back in and am now an Extra also as of 3 years ago. Once again good job.

[halfright]

forgot to post the picture...You have some catching up to do....Here is the humble shack...

[Bobalu]

That’s great!
Now if those darn sunspots would just come out and play.

HI HI HI .... .. .... .. .... .. .... ..

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

A hearty congratulations from a fellow Extra Class “Ham”. I remember that — studied VERY hard on both theory and 20+ wpm morse code to get that license. Have a wonderful day!

[reagan_fanatic]

Congrats on your Extra, CB!

I am also a licensed ham - I got my General Class back in 1996, and it has been a hoot operating on the bands. I don’t have my Extra yet, mainly because that test is rather heavy in theory where I don’t do too well, but one of these days I’ll take the jump and go for it.

Again, congratulations on your Extra Class license!

[jwparkerjr]

re: s it still a requirement to have mastered Morse code?

Nope! There is no longer any requirement to demonstrate a proficiency in sending and receiving code.

It was once a requirement simply because it was the major method for communication over the air waves. And, as an old ham friend of mine, K4KCW, used to say, “It keeps the riff-raff out!”

[bikerman]

Been hamming since 1979 like to work CW. Congrats to your achievement hope to cu down the log.73s

[stickandrudder]

Congrat’s from an Advanced class. Hope your enjoy the new privileges. have thought of upgrading to Extra, but like having the Advanced. 73’s

[msnpatriot]

Congrats! And Enjoy! In a time when hams can enjoy the hobby with computer technology. They do a good job incorporating them together.

Passed Extra in 98, the nature of CW caught my interest and have stayed with that mostly. Like the fact that there's still lots of CW activity, and contests. Did alot of Fists operations, SKCC for manual keys.

Good Luck