Advance to Extra Class "Grandfather" Propose

[W5DQ]

.... but I feel that I am entitled to have the same opportunity to be "grandfathered" into Extra Class as those Technician Class hams.

You ain't entitled to nothing ...... It's a different test. Tech was same test with additional code test. Since the FCC dropped the code, that made the requirements basically equivalent. For crying out loud, get over it and take the test. Young kids pass it every day and I guarentee it won't raise a whelp or draw blood and after you're done, Mommy will take you out for ice cream!!!!

..... the real solution would be to give Advanced license holders Extra privileges, but let them keep the Advanced license

You want peanuts, popcorn and the decoder ring or tin whistle with that 'gimme' ???



Gene W5DQ

[W5DQ]

To me the tests are just to let you get a foot in the door. The real learning comes from operating and learning from the amateurs that have been around the hobby for awhile.

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!

W8MLD has discovered the REAL truth about license classes and testing. What you learn to enable you to pass a test is like the driver's license learner's permit. You learn the very basics and then you pull out in traffic. same for ham radio. Get a license and then start your training.

[NI7I]

Except thayt the exams cover a great deal more than the "basics". If what you say is correct, we should all be taking novice exams, and from that, recieve all the
privlidges.. I like my idea better (of courese I do). Watch a video, sign an afadavit atesting to certain knowledge, pay a fee and get a liceens.. why go through
the pretext of taking an exam.. The exams are bogus anyhow..

Lee
NI7I

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!

W8MLD has discovered the REAL truth about license classes and testing. What you learn to enable you to pass a test is like the driver's license learner's permit. You learn the very basics and then you pull out in traffic. same for ham radio. Get a license and then start your training.

[WD5GWY]

Might as well throw my 2 cents in on this one.
I have an Advanced class license and do not feel that I should be grandfathered into Extra.
I took the Extra class test years ago(written part) and passed it. BUT, I could not write fast
enough to write down what was being sent in the code test. (I could carry on a qso in my head
and write down what was needed for the log ) I got flustered and failed the code test. Being a long
haul truck driver at the time, I didn't have a lot of time to come back and retake the code test.
Ended up , not ever going back. NOW, no code test needed! So, I do plan to go ahead and take the
test again. And KEEP my call as well.
BUT, I don't want the Extra just given to me. I'm lazy, but, not THAT lazy!!
james
WD5GWY

(Advanced Class license holder who ALMOST passed the 20wpm code test for Extra Class 20 years ago!)

[WA4BRL]

Might as well throw my 2 cents in on this one.
I have an Advanced class license and do not feel that I should be grandfathered into Extra.
I took the Extra class test years ago(written part) and passed it. BUT, I could not write fast
enough to write down what was being sent in the code test. (I could carry on a qso in my head
and write down what was needed for the log ) I got flustered and failed the code test. Being a long
haul truck driver at the time, I didn't have a lot of time to come back and retake the code test.
Ended up , not ever going back. NOW, no code test needed! So, I do plan to go ahead and take the
test again. And KEEP my call as well.
BUT, I don't want the Extra just given to me. I'm lazy, but, not THAT lazy!!
james
WD5GWY

(Advanced Class license holder who ALMOST passed the 20wpm code test for Extra Class 20 years ago!)

Good man, James. Not only for the integrity of wanting to earn the higher license, but also for the desire to keep your call sign. Perhaps like me, you see our original 2x3 calls as badges of honor which show us as old timers. These WA, WB, WD, KA, and other prefixes place us distinctly in the time periods when we were first licensed: 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, etc.

Too many new licensees get 1x3 and 1x2 calls as if to grab instant credibility. All this has done is to reduce the desirability of those calls. As a result we OT's have meaningful calls with real cachet, for none of the newbies are scrambling to get themselves old 2x3's.

[WB4OLD]

Honestly I think the FCC should do away with the different license classes and have a single amateur radio license that allows access to the entire ham spectrum.

What testing for the license? Extra testing now is not that tough. Have all licensees take the Extra? Do not think that is what is being thought of, but rather dumb it down so that Tech would then be the new Extra. Or even lower standards more since the Tech test is keeping out so many otherwise qualified people from getting a license.

[AG6JU]

perhaps, one license class is OK, I suggest to allow 200 watts or more after licensed for more than 1 year. I don't think beginner handling 1.5 kw is good idea. many tube type amp has lethal voltage. higher power increase chance of RFI, etc.

[NI7I]

Get outta Doge.. There are lethal voltages in todays solid state rigs if they are powered by 110v.. and the RF currant of a hundred watt rig, under the right
conditions, could be lethal.. But there are a kajillion tube rigs availabkle to the newbie ham that carry lethal voltages with no stretch of the imagination..
Lethal voltages arcertainlyky not restricted to amps.. Under todays rules a beginner ialloweded to operate that 1.5kw.. It is now common for a ham to walk into
a VE session with no license and walk out an extra.. At least, under my plan, there would be no pretense for the sham of testing..

Lee
NI7I

perhaps, one license class is OK, I suggest to allow 200 watts or more after licensed for more than 1 year. I don't think beginner handling 1.5 kw is good idea. many tube type amp has lethal voltage. higher power increase chance of RFI, etc.

[WA6TKD]

It is now common for a ham to walk into
a VE session with no license and walk out an extra..

Common, really? What is your definition of common in this context? 1 in 10, 1 in 100, 1 in 1000, 1 in 10,000, 1 in 100,000. Give us a rough guess of how common you think it is to have someone actually go from 0 to extra in one session. I'm know it's been done, but common? I think your argument hurts your own credibility by making such claims of fact.

[NI7I]

In my club, aprox 1 in 25.. That's fairly common.. Is it your argument that it isnt common? There is no reason to believe that it doesnt happen
more frequently in larger metropolotin areas. Today, you need not study anything but the question and answer pool to acomplish this.. I supose
you would argu this "fact". Several on this forum have claimed to acomplish this without much trouble. I'm not overly concerned about my credibility
in this regard. If you doubt the bnumbers, they are easy enough to check..

Lee
NI7I

Common, really? What is your definition of common in this context? 1 in 10, 1 in 100, 1 in 1000, 1 in 10,000, 1 in 100,000. Give us a rough guess of how common you think it is to have someone actually go from 0 to extra in one session. I'm know it's been done, but common? I think your argument hurts your own credibility by making such claims of fact.