On Thu, 05 Nov 2015 18:31:43 +0000, Stephen wrote:

>> Well, true - I don't know what the UK tests are like - in the US,
>> there's a lot of radio theory even in the lowest level exams.
>>
> What I meant was the difference between theory and practice.

OIC, yeah.

>> The Extra class license is (or at least "used to be" - I took my exams
>> 20 + years ago now, and that was only the technician level exam) more
>> difficult than some of the commercial license exams.  At least, that's
>> what I was told by someone who had both a commercial license and an
>> extra class license. :)
>>
> I should hope so. Was it military training? I've worked with a couple of
> exRN "Sparkers" and "bunting tossers". There would be a lot of drink
> involved, I would guess.

He has some military training, yeah - navy, IIRC.  But also had been 
involved in other commercial radio ventures as well over the years.

In his younger days, drink might've been a thing, but by the time I met 
him, I don't think he was drinking at all any more.  Far as I know, he's 
still kicking around the church where I met (and worked) with him.

>>> It's not? I thought it was an international requirement for a Ham
>>> licence. Even at foundation level (5 wpm).
>>
>> Nope, no requirement at all now.  The ITU ratified a decision to allow
>> each country to decide on its own if CW was required or not back in
>> 2003.  The FCC dropped the requirement from all license classes in 2006
>> (effective in 2007).
>>
>>
> Obviously I'm not up to date. I imagine "Attics, cardigans and a tuned
> loop antenna".

Hehehehe, yeah, I didn't even realise that I'd been promoted to "full 
technician" in 2007.  Only found out a couple years ago when I was 
looking at updating my address for my license.  Which reminds me, I need 
to update my address (I haven't been active in a few years).

Jim

-- 
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and 
besides, the pig likes it." - George Bernard Shaw

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