View Full Version : no-code-tech to EXTRA class
ai4ep
01-25-2004, 11:21 PM
Out of pure curiosity, just wondering if there is a way to determine how many of todays EXTRA class operators started out ( even for just a few hours/days/weeks/months/years ) as NO CODE TECHS ? No-code-techs have been around since 1991 ( about 12 - 13 years ) and there should be quite a few who made the trip . ...( in case no one has noticed, I have not been here in this forum much over the past week, FINALLY found something better than being on the computer, it is called " being on the radio, whether it be 440, 2 meters or HF ". Will check back in a week to read your answers. ).......thanks...kd4amg
One!
Soon to take 3rd class radiotelegraph op test.
My mic now has a proud place on the shelf in the closet.
DE N0FAA
n7wsb
01-26-2004, 12:14 AM
I actually went from no-code tech to extra in one jump.
Where in the world would you go these days to take a third class Commercial Radiotelegraph test? #Or a Second, or a First, for that matter? #I took my code test for First Radiotelegraph in Anchorage, Alaska in 1976 at the old Federal Bldg on 4th Avenue. #My original certificate carried the number T1-138. #That field office along with all the rest has been closed a long time. #I continue to renew my First Class Operators's certificate by mail, but they are issued out of Gettysburg now.
At least I hope I'll be able to renew it once again..comes due in 04/06. #It is still a legal document.
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (n0faa @ Jan. 25 2004,19:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My mic now has a proud place on the shelf in the closet.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
To paraphrase an old saying:
"Ham does not live by CW, alone".
Don't let your phone skills wither away, bud...keep that mic jack in good shape!
I was first licensed as a no-code tech on 15 Apr 2002. I received my general on 08 May 2003. I passed my extra yesterday afternoon and am waiting for my upgrade to appear in the ULS.
73' de KC2JKQ
Ric Letson
KM5FL
01-26-2004, 04:23 AM
Well Robert, this is probably not what you wanted to hear... In January, 1996, I walked into a VE test session, sat down and took three tests.. Element 1, Element 2, and Element 3A.. Didn't miss a single question.. In February, 1996, FCC mailed my license proclaiming me to be a Tech - Plus Amateur Radio Operator..
KM5FL
In Feburary of 2003 I walked into the VE session as a NOTHING and took Elements 1,2,3, and 4 and passed them all in one night. Came out Extra Class.
w8amd
01-26-2004, 06:01 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AG4YO @ Jan. 26 2004,01:55)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">In Feburary of 2003 I walked into the VE session as a NOTHING and took Elements 1,2,3, and 4 and passed them all in one night. Came out Extra Class.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Same here except it was Sept. 2003.
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (al7n @ Jan. 25 2004,22:08)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Where in the world would you go these days to take a third class Commercial Radiotelegraph test? #Or a Second, or a First, for that matter? #I took my code test for First Radiotelegraph in Anchorage, Alaska in 1976 at the old Federal Bldg on 4th Avenue. #My original certificate carried the number T1-138. #That field office along with all the rest has been closed a long time. #I continue to renew my First Class Operators's certificate by mail, but they are issued out of Gettysburg now.
At least I hope I'll be able to renew it once again..comes due in 04/06. #It is still a legal document.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The W5YI web site lists more places to take it than you know how to get to:
http://www.w5yi.org/w5yi/vol-exam.htm
Even here in landlocked Missouri there is an examiner 15 miles away.
As for the first class license, seems to me the tough part would be gaining the one year of experience in sending and receiving public correspondence by radiotelegraph at ship stations or public coast stations. I wonder if any rich South Florida tycoon type yacht owners are interested in hiring a retired Air Traffic Specialist CW nut? (Hmmm, is my vibroplex under all these bikinis?)
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (N8YV @ Jan. 25 2004,22:31)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (n0faa @ Jan. 25 2004,19:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My mic now has a proud place on the shelf in the closet.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
To paraphrase an old saying:
"Ham does not live by CW, alone". #
Don't let your phone skills wither away, bud...keep that mic jack in good shape![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I've spent 40 hrs a week since May of 1980 beheadsetted and plugged into a mic jack, I'm ready to lose some of those skills!
KC2KFC
01-26-2004, 02:05 PM
I started out as a know code tech in September, 2002 passing both element 1 & 2. My first rig was a Heathkit HW-8 running about 2 watts on a good day. I think the first 50 or so QSOs in my log are all CW on the novice bands. I did start working some phone on 10 meters in October of 2002 when I bought a Kenwood TS-520. Upgraded to General in December 2002, then Extra December 2003. The Extra exam wasn't all that difficult and to this day my most satisfying day in ham radio was passing that 5 WPM code test.
KG4ZQZ
01-26-2004, 03:49 PM
- took me about 8 months from Technician to Amateur Extra... had a lot of fun studying for each Element...
- like others, i'm now studying for the General Radio Telephone Operator License
(and continuing to work on CW)
Well, although the no code tech had been out for a few years, I did:
Novice-June 1994
Tech Plus-Sept 1994
General-April 1998
Advanced-June 1998
Extra-August 1998
Anyone else out there become a true Novice after 1991?
73, Ken
Got my no code tech in March 2001 and upgrade to extra in March 2002.
73's
David
N0FAA...
Yeah, it sort of looks like if you don't already hold a First
Class Commercial Radiotelegraph Certificate, you won't be able to get one, as there is no place any longer to do the work and get the required year's service in. #I sure plan to keep mine current as long as FCC will allow me to renew it. #It is still valid for some work I do on radios, everything except television, and I've got a Commercial Lifetime Radiotelephone ticket for that.
Anyway, good luck on your 3rd test..try a Second while you are at it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained., although be prepared for some silly stuff from the FCC...
When I went for my 2nd in Denver in 1968, it #had been so long since they had given a radiotelegraph exam they had to dig around in the file cabinets and find one. #I ended up doing one of the old essay-type tests (not one with an answer sheet either...the EIC had to grade it manually, lots of circuit diagrams and all that stuff...it was a good test!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif # But they let me use real good headphones to take the code test.....they didn't let the hams do that, only the commercial applicants....I wrote the receiving test plain text and code groups both in longhand....also made me use a straight key for the 20 wpm sending test, but it was a nice J.H. Bunnell key so I got by just fine. # #
Hard to tell what you will end up with from a volunteer examiner. # I was on a volunteer commercial examiner team here in Alaska for a while but we only gave something like two radiotelephone exams in four years, so we quit doing it for lack of applicants...don't know what folks do around here these days. #I suppose there are still VE's available in Anchorage. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
N7VQM
01-26-2004, 08:48 PM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (n7wsb @ Jan. 25 2004,17:14)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I actually went from no-code tech to extra in one jump.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I plan to do this soon, as well.
For a couple years I've been struggling with code. #It never seemed like it could become natural for me. #As it turns out, the problem was that I was trying to learn it too slow. #Now I study it at 20wpm character speed and 10wpm overall speed and I'm breezing along, comparativly.
For the tests, I just need to brush up on rule&regs and band limits and I'm all set.
K9STH
01-26-2004, 10:01 PM
It wasn't from "no-code" to Extra, but I know a fellow who went from no license at all to 20 wpm Extra and did this before an FCC examiner, not a VE, at a single session! He had to take all three code examinations (5, 13, and 20 words per minute - was an FCC requirement, couldn't just start out at 20!), didn't have to take the Novice written exam but did have to take the General, Advanced, and then Extra written exams. Passed all with "flying colors". This was back in the early 1970s.
Glen, K9STH
Glen ,
That is an accomplishment that he can be very proud of !!
K9STH
01-27-2004, 01:51 AM
The fellow was Morgan McMahon who was the owner and publisher of Vintage Radio Publishing Company. He wrote and/or reprinted several books having to do with antique and vintage radio collecting during the 1970s. I met him a couple of times at antique radio collectors conventions during the 1970s.
Glen, K9STH
n7wsb
01-27-2004, 07:11 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (N7VQM @ Jan. 26 2004,13:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I plan to do this soon, as well.
For a couple years I've been struggling with code. #It never seemed like it could become natural for me. #As it turns out, the problem was that I was trying to learn it too slow. #Now I study it at 20wpm character speed and 10wpm overall speed and I'm breezing along, comparativly.
For the tests, I just need to brush up on rule&regs and band limits and I'm all set.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I should clarify it took me 3 testing sessions http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif (one for each element including code) and several months - but when I was done I turned in all my csce's and went from tech to extra.
Quite a change actually - I mean for about 11 years I was a tech. Largely inactive for most of that.
On the code it sounds like your doing really well. I found that 13 wpm was easy to master, but the exam seemed slightly faster so I had to learn at a much much faster rate. The g4fon program really helped out with that.
ad4mg
01-27-2004, 12:25 PM
1st Licensed as KD4KWT March, 2002. #Accepted plenty of BS from the "established" crowd about the no-code ticket.
Took the 13 WPM three times before passing it ... only took one try at the 20 WPM, go figure. #I hated CW at the time, but it grew on me, and I primarily operate mostly CW now.
Passed the "extra heavy" elements October 10, 2003 at a W5YI session headed by WA4HMX & AC4VE.
Best 73,
Luke
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (al7n @ Jan. 26 2004,15:18)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">It is still valid for some work I do on radios, everything except television, and I've got a Commercial Lifetime Radiotelephone ticket for that.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
No kidding?
I didn't realize that a radiotelegraphy license gave any authority to legally service transmitting equipment?
Not being a speedy-key, I never pursued a telegraphy license, but instead focused on the radiotelephone (2nd). Long ago, far away and better times, I guess....
Interesting!
73
ad0ry
01-28-2004, 02:00 AM
I was a VE at an exam session in late 2002, and we were encouraging people to "just try" the next level after they handed in an answer sheet and were waiting for the score.
We had one guy walk in to take the Tech test only. I suggested he try the General as we had a dozen or so tests to score before we'd get to his. #He was reluctant, as he hadn't prepared, but decided to try. When #he handed in his General test, I suggested he try for Extra.
As I recall, he aced his Tech, passed the General test pretty easily, and passed the Extra exam with a few questions to spare. (This isn't quite going from no-code to Extra, as he hadn't yet taken the code test, and didn't during that session.)
He was sweating heavily near the end, and he probably used up 10 pages of scratch paper, but he did it. All of the 5-6 VEs there checked his results - we were all amazed. He was an elec engineer, working in related fields, but he was awfully impressive nonetheless.
I sure hope he passed his 5WPM in the year since then!
Bill, ad0ry
kc7jty
01-28-2004, 02:23 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ad0ry @ Jan. 27 2004,19:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I sure hope he passed his 5WPM in the year since then!
Bill, ad0ry[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Why don't you look up his call and find out.
ad0ry
01-28-2004, 03:40 AM
I would if I had any clue what his name is. This wasn't at a local club -- it was at an exam given to cruising sailors who had converged for an annual meeting of the Seven Seas Cruising Association, with a simultaneous annual meeting of the Waterway Radio Club. The radio club put on classes and an exam, at which I helped. But afterwards, we (examiners and examinees) all departed in our own boats for different directions.
kc7jty
01-28-2004, 06:49 PM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ad0ry @ Jan. 27 2004,20:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I would if I had any clue what his name is. This wasn't at a local club -- it was at an exam given to cruising sailors who had converged for an annual meeting of the Seven Seas Cruising Association, with a simultaneous annual meeting of the Waterway Radio Club. The radio club put on classes and an exam, at which I helped. But afterwards, we (examiners and examinees) all departed in our own boats for different directions.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
ry:
Use a little determination. Can't you figure close to his call sign by the dates involved, location, and others that sat for that testing session (new call signs issued)? Isn't there other info available you can research? I'd like to know if he got the 5 wpm too.
I started out as a No-Code in 91. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #Then passed the 5,13,20 along with General,Advance,and Extra my first year. I don't think I would of got my license if it wasn't for the No-Code. Any ways that's my $.02.
73,
Brent N9BC http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
ai4ep
02-01-2004, 11:11 PM
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Thanks for all the replies...it is appreciated...a few of you really did something MAJOR in going from n-c-t to extra in one sitting !! ( bravo, bravo !! ). I PLAN to try again for my EXTRA some time in mid february - march of this year ( been studying these practice tests here on this site, started out doing about 5 tries per day... finally passed a few ( missed 14 and passed 15 and fail ) ...no 80 % or 90 % yet...but I am working on it instead of being here in this forum .... so that is why you dont see posts by me as much as you used to http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif !!...back to studying, thanks again for all your statements !! kd4amg
WA7KKP
02-03-2004, 11:11 PM
Maybe we should include the old Novice licence too ----
I was first licenced as a Novice in 1968, Conditional (mail-order General) in 1970, Advanced in 1982, and Extra in 2001. 35+ years now as a licenced ham.
Oh, I should mention that I did get a Radiotelephone First Class licence in 1970. Now that one I took all in one day -- Elements 1 through 4. Radar Endorsement came later, at the same time I upgraded to Advanced.
The only exam I've taken with VE's has been the Extra.
In retrospect, it is far far easier to get a licence nowdays.
Gary Hildebrand WA7KKP
ad0ry
02-09-2004, 03:10 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kc7jty @ Jan. 28 2004,11:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">
# Use a little determination. Can't you figure close to his call sign by the dates involved, location, and others that sat for that testing session (new call signs issued)? Isn't there other info available you can research? I'd like to know if he got the 5 wpm too.
[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Hmm -- well, it was about Nov 13-15 2002 in Melbourne FL at the Waterway Radio Club annual meeting and testing session held at the annual Seven Seas Cruising Association meeting. All, or at least most, of the people taking (and administering) tests were full time boaters from all over the US as far as their home addresses (and thus call districts) were concerned, but all were from their sail boats which cruised anywhere between the east coast of the US and the Mediterranean during the year. They were meeting at the end of hurricane season before jumping off for parts unknown.
I expect he did take and pass 5wpm, since everyone testing was on the road to HF privileges -- VHF wouldn't do a boater much good from halfway across the Atlantic. But I have no clue where to even look to try and figure out who he was. I could probably try to reach the guy who ran test session, but I expect he is somewhere in the Bahamas right now. So I'd need to look in some other source.
Any suggestions?
73,
Bill
n3qw (new call; formerly ad0ry)
W4CGP
02-10-2004, 02:18 PM
I started studying for my ham radio license in 1997 (was going to get my Novice ticket) and was initially licensed as a no-code Tech in June 2002. Also passed the General written test at the same time. Took the Code the following April and Extra at the exact same testing session I started at exactly one year later.
It sure took me long enough but I'm glad I did it.
kc7jty
02-12-2004, 02:38 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ad0ry @ Feb. 08 2004,20:10)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Any suggestions?
73,
Bill
n3qw (new call; formerly ad0ry)[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The only thing I can think of is to try to find the new calls issued by the FCC for the specific date he passed his exams. If its for 4 land you may have some luck, but, as it sounds, if it includes the whole country it might not be practical. If you can narrow it down to just a few, looking them over might eliminate some more.
Put out a general CQ for the guy...maybe he'll answer, ha ha.