A big welcome to KJ5RAT

[Beowulf]

That was fast! It seems just like yesterday when you were sitting for your Technician exam.

Nice work Jon.

-Mike-

 

[OGBeno]

For those of you that have gotten used to KJ5RAT, you can get ready for a new call sign. I have a CSCE in hand for my General Class license! As soon as I get my new call sign from the FCC I'll be applying for a new vanity.

KJ5RAT temp AG

So for us untechnical types, can you explain the difference between what you had and what you have now? I assume what you have upgraded to is "better" or "more advanced"?

Thanks.

 

[alia176]

He is now legally required to wear a pocket protector

 

[marcfj60]

Be careful you don't piss off the HAM geeks that updgrade their licensing and equipment. It makes it easier for us HAM-hopefuls and geeks-in-training to get good used gear for less than the new price.

 

[pappy]

So for us untechnical types, can you explain the difference between what you had and what you have now? I assume what you have upgraded to is "better" or "more advanced"?

Thanks.

He is now legally required to wear a pocket protector

As Ash said, there is the pocket protectors, which requires I wear a light colored, button-up shirt tucked half in, half out of baggy trousers, and stop combing my hair. Then there is the tan I need to loose from being sequestered inside a radio shack in my spare time trying to call far off distant places bouncing high frequency CW off the ionosphere.

From a practical perspective, probably not much will change. As it says below, the Technician Class license is the introductory license. Even though I didn't think so at the time, the test was easy to pass and I think every body does. If I wanted to I could now work on the high frequency frequencies. I think I saw someplace that I can now use 83% of the ham frequencies. The highest class is Extra Class, and they get 100% privileges.

From the FCC:

Technician

The privileges of a Technician Class operator license include operating an amateur station that may transmit on channels in any of 17 frequency bands above 50 MHz with up to 1,500 watts of power. To pass the Technician Class examination, at least 26 questions from a 35 question written examination must be answered correctly. Technician Class licensees also have privileges in four amateur service bands in the HF range (3-30 MHz) (Refer to Section 97.301(e)).

General

The General Class operator license authorizes privileges in all 27 amateur service bands. Upon accreditation by a Volunteer-Examiner Coordinator (VEC), an individual can help administer certain examinations. In addition to the above written examination, the requirement for a General Class operator license includes a 35 question written examination for which 26 correctly answered questions is the minimum passing score.

There is also information at arrl.org on the differences.

 

[OGBeno]

Interesting.

Well, if I ever attain true cruiser geekdom, I'll make sure to go "all the way"!

 

[pappy]

Interesting.

Well, if I ever attain true cruiser geekdom, I'll make sure to go "all the way"!

You heard it here folks. Beno will be our first Amateur Extra.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

congrats Jon!

I couldn't hold November 15 off, so I'll have to delay my engeeking to the next test... Or does my FCC RTO permit count? I'm pretty sure I've got some serious nerd-coupons in my pocket.

Dan

 

[SteveLCetc]

engeeking - a truly original word! Nothing on Google!

 

[alia176]

Hey Dan,

You think we can talk on 2M when you're in the cockpit?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Hey Dan,

You think we can talk on 2M when you're in the cockpit?

Nope. We've got 3 VHF COMMS (108-137 MHz), one of which is virtually always switched from a voice channel to a data channel, so that we get ACARS data and messages from the company (it's like text messaging, plus we use it to send and receive performance and weight and balance data, along with weather reports, OOOI data, FDAMS messages, etc...).

We can listen in on AM radio stations in our older (about 2+ years old) airplanes. They still have ADFs in them (which just so happen to be able to tune commercial AM radio stations), but the newer delivered airplanes are not delivered with ADFs (the airplane itself cannot do an ADF approach, we actually fly the ADF approach by letting the airplane follow the GPS).

If you had an aviation band R/T we could probably get ahold of you within probably 150 miles or so.

Dan

 

[pappy]

Looks like I'm legal. Interesting, they didn't issue a new call sign. Best I can tell they are not going to issue a new call sign "systematically" because of the existing vanity sign.