Sorry for getting into this thread so late, but couldn't resist any longer.
Boy when I took my first exam, I don't think that they had cameras, let alone photo IDs. I don't think that they had them on my USNR ID card, that I received a few years later when I was 17. In Tucson the FCC inspector(RI) and his tape machine only came around about twice a year. Early in my sophomore year in high school, our local SCM , who was also our code and theory mentor and instructor, recommended that we try taking the 13 WPM code test for the experience, but not to expect to pass it. So my four buddies and I went down and promptly failed. Later we received a waiver, and didn't have to attend Study Hall, if we instead went to the high school's "set aside" radio room and practised Morse code reception and theory, So after about six months of diligently practicing, it was time to go again and meet with the inspector. This we all did with great hopes of being successful. However, no joy, we were way too nervous to give adequate attention to be able to copy the 65 straight characters necessary. I did the best, by copying about 120 consecutive characters correctly, except that I had one error in the middle. A few weeks later, at our weekly after school practise session with our SCM, he announced that we was were going to have a code contest, and that he would buy the winner a malted (remember those ?) Well after about 5 minutes of sending with a hand key (he was very good), he had us turn in our papers with what we'd copied. It seemed like forever that we had to wait, while he inspected our papers. When he finally was through, he announced " You have all passed the code test for a Conditional class license !" Well WE bought him a malted ! After we completed the "mail in" Theory test and received our class C licenses we spent about six months working CW, on mostly 40 meters, before going again to take the tests before the RI. So with nothing to lose and no nervousness, we all passed the class "B" exam with flying colors, including the written part with all the required drawing of schematics and the real math problems(no multiple choice). After the required one year waiting period, we again went before the RI and took and passed the class "A" exam that gave us phone privileges on 80, 40 and 20 meters. Yes things were a bit different then ('46) , and as we all like to think, harder ! 73. Chuck, W7CS ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html