Subj : Re: Learn, Amateurs Learn!
To   : Rug Rat
From : Ed Vance
Date : Tue Oct 28 2025 12:45:02


> On Sun 26-Oct-2025  5:06p, Ed Vance@1:2320/105.0 said to Nigel Reed:

> Ahhh yes, the good ol Advanced test.  Took and failed that one 7 times.  Was
> the biggest reason I put off Extra for so long, and as mentioned earlier I
> still would not have it except for the excellent classes being done on
> YouTube!  There is only so much math I can take before my brain just shuts
> down!  There was no way I would get through it without being walked through
> it, and being shown that for the questions, 3 other formulae to get to the
> one you need, because the answer already gives you the number you would get
> from the 3 other fomulas. 

> Then there is the CODE..  THE CODDDE.  That was another 5 trips to the
> testing center.  The 4th time I missed it by 3 lousy characters...  It was a
> blessing and a curse that the VEs knew me, because I had done the full
> rotation in San Diego County!  They encourged me when they saw me, but had to
> ummm.  "play" with me too.   My friend KF6JAX came with me to take his
> General theory..  (I'm putting him there as a place holder..).  So when they
> were scoring the test, they we saying between them.  So close again... I was
> a bit miffed at myself.  I was sure I was ready this time, "So.... What.... I
> missed it by 2 this time.."  One guy says, "one.."   I said, "I'm going to go
> smoke...  I will be back up to schedule for next week..."

> I came back, and my friend who was still testing, gave me a thumbs up...  I
> was like, "No!  Really?!!"  Got my papers and swore I would never take
> another code test!  Thank God I didn't have to.

> Though now that JAX and I are both No Code Extra's, I still playfully tease
> him that at least I can say I did the 13...

> At the end of the day though, it is all about what you do with the hobby.

> Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
> Blog and Forums  - www.catracing.org
> IMAGE BBS! 3.0   - bbs.catracing.org 6400
> C-Net Amiga BBS  - bbs.catracing.org 6840
> --- CNet/5
>  * Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)


In aHigh School I had classes for Plane Geometry and Algebra.
Didn't need totake Trig or Solid Geometry because I wasn't in the College
Preparatory class,just the General Technical class.
Being in the General Technical class I didn't have to have a class in Foreign
Language as the others did.

I like Math, its the Alphabet I have a problem  with.
HMMM, Never use a preposition to end a sentence with 

Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A.  ;-)

I was at San Diego one weekend in the 60's , my being a Amateur Radio Operator
and Navy Radioman back then.
One thing that I remember seeing is houses that had a external TV Antenna on
them used Open Wire Feedline from the antenna to the house.
I was fromKentucky then and never saw that type of lead in on a TV Antenna,
back home outside TV antennas used plastic 300 Ohm twinlead.
A few Hams fed their antenna with Open Wire feeders, but most used Coax.

In my area the F.C.C. would come quarterly to give exams.
I'm thinking you had to wait 30 Days between tests unless you were upgrading.
I used that Rule as a Novice by taking a Technician Test at the Dayton
Hamvention in May, and then taking the General Test when the F.C.C. came to my
area in June.

I passed the CW portion for both Tests and got to take the Written portion.
While waiting I told the Mailman that I was waiting for a letter from theF.C.C.

One day I was sitting outside when the Mailman told me I got the letter I was
expecting.
I asked him "Is there a window on the envelop?" and he said yes.
The license was for Technician instead of General, butat least I had kept my
Suffix my Novice ticket had.
I was KN4ZIQ and got K4ZIQ for a 5 year term.

Another few weeks and the Mailman brought another letter from the F.C.C.
It had a window too. 
When I opened it there was a note about them previously issueing the Tech
license and for me to send the Tech license back to them before the General
license could take effect.
THE TECH TICKET WAS IN THE POST BOX ON THE CORNER A FEW MINUTES AFTER I READ
THAT NOTE!!!!!

Later that year I joined the Navy andwent to Boot Camp, then Radioman School.
At Radioman School I learned to use a Typewriter when listening to CW. I
finished Third in my class and had passed the 26WPM speed.
The two who got First and Second Place had never used Morse Code before joining
the Navy.
73
Ed
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