I've finally found

[WA2ZDY]

It's not from FCC but I think it's the best we're going to find:

http://www.qsl.net/ecara/wayback/page33.html

And while you're at it, look at

http://www.qsl.net/ecara/wayback/page32.html

and realise it wasn't that long ago. I confess, having never held a Tech class ticket, I was unaware that Techs didn't have the whole 2m band. I do remember the expansion of the repeater subband on 2m though.

This is a fun series of articles. From the beginning of radio on. Good stuff.

[W3MIV]

Great post, Chris. Thanks!

[N8CPA]

Let me add my thanks. I love those retrospectives.

I became a Novice in 1979, and I was in absolute awe of anyone with license of higher class than mine. I didn't realize that the Technicians had been so recently "enhanced."
But, through most of my first five years of licensing, most of the magazines I read were back issues. So the currency of my knowledge was a bit out of phase, unless it appeared in W1AW bulletins, or was being discussed on HF. Beyond that, my primary source of current event information was the 2 meter grapevine. Everyone knows how reliable that grapevine can be. When I first heard of the potential of an American NC license--some time in '83--it was via the grapevine, so I dismissed it as a preposterous rumor. Oh, how wrong I was!
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ai4me]

I love the Way Back Machine. Bill Continelli did an outstanding job in his articles, and I have read several of them so far. They even make for great trivia questions when on trivia nets!

He should publish all this info in a book if you ask me!

Here is some trivia for you. Are you aware of the significance of his call sign? There is a reason he picked that call sign and it has something to do with radio history...

Don
AI4ME

[K9STH]

Prior to late 1959 Technician Class licensees did not have ANY 2-meter privileges. Novice Class had 145 MHz to 147 MHz but the Technician Class could not operate on the band at all.

People have wondered how 146.940 MHz became the original calling frequency on 2-meter FM.

Actually, the original 2-meter calling frequency was 147.300 MHz and this was used all over the country. But, when the Technician Class was allowed to use 2-meters and were looking for a frequency, the commercial standard channel separation was 60 KHz on "highband". Since the previous calling frequency was on 147.300 MHz the idea was to keep the "new" frequency close enough to allow operation on both the old and new frequencies if possible. Therefore, the first "channel" frequency down from 147 MHz band edge was 146.940 MHz and it was adopted as the "new" FM calling frequency.

And now you know "the rest of the story".

Glen, K9STH

[WA2ZDY]

W2XOY was an experimental callsign, probably issued to an experimental TV station at the dawn of TV broadcasting. #In fact, it sounds familiar in that context so . . . #that's my bet.

Edit: I just found the reference to W2XOY being the GE FM station in Schenectedy.

[WA2CWA]

You wouldn't believe how many of those 23 channel rigs we dumped for pennies at Lafayette during those last few months before the ban. It was almost like, buy an antenna, get a CB for a $1 more; Buy a mobile mount, get a CB for .....etc. etc. From what I remember, when the ban date was announced, we had less than 6 months to get rid of all the inventory, including the inventory that was still in the pipeline coming from Japan.

Pete, wa2cwa

[KC9GUZ]

Maybe thats why there are seemingly more 23 ch rigs floating around that 40 CH!
Heck, you cant get away from them!! I see them at almost every pawn shop, CB shop garage sale, AND even the Goodwill stores!!!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[WA2ZDY]

You're right Pete. I remember those fire sales, especially at places like Two Guys and Korvette's in Woodbridge. Midland CB for $5.95. I wanted some to put on 10m but the money wasn't there when I was a teenager. I was lucky I had what I had.

Good old days.

[KC9GUZ]

What a great website. Lots of stuff i didnt know about. WA2ZDY TY for posting this!!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[KC9GUZ]

Darn.. I wanted to get back on that site to look for more info and now its down.

[n2nh]

Quote[/b] (KC9GUZ @ Dec. 15 2005,01:30)]Darn.. I wanted to get back on that site to look for more info and now its down.
<span style='color:darkred'>same here.</span> http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif