Telegraph licenses

[Gary Schafer]

Hi Bob

Yes the commercial telegraph code test was much more difficult than the amateur
extra code test. No errors at all for 1 minute. I believe that they counted
words differently also. That is why I am surprised that they now give credit for
the ham code test. Even when the commercial test was more difficult than the ham
extra code, they would not give credit towards the ham code test either. I never
took the telegraph test but read all of the telegraph material when doing the
radiotelephone and radar. I believe it is a little broader. Like you say it
covered a lot of areas but it did not have much in it that pertained to
broadcast and tv like the radiotelephone did.
Even these licenses are not much good for anything anymore. Only need them to
work on ship or aircraft electronics now. Wonder if you were ever a Sparky on a
ship ? I did  a bit of marine electronics work on the big ships many years ago.
Never sailed though.

With all of the hysteria about the new ham tests amongst some hams I thought
that with the code credit the fcc is giving now some hams might want to get some
of the commercial license. They are not really good for much anymore but it
would kind of be like the old days when the amateur extra didn't have anymore
privileges than a general did. Just bragging rights if that's important to them.

73
Gary  K4FMX

Bob wrote:

> I took my 2nd Telegraph quite some time back and at that time it was a
> written test that had been coverted to a multiple choice.  Rather clunky,
> but the content was quite different than the elements I took for my First
> Fone or Second Fone during that same period.  In fact the breadth of scope
> on the Telegraph was quite a bit wider than on the Telephone Licenses
> covering everything from crystal sets, Word count for Telegraph charges,
> radar, navaids, antennas, international maritime law, and a host of other
> items from super regen receivers to ship board battery and power systems.
> Twas not a cakewalk test.  The CW test before the sour faced examiner also
> culled half the mornings candidates in the SENDING portion after a 30
> percent cull in the 16 wpm group test.  NO mistakes in sending or even a
> crappy fist would end your hopes that day.  I asked the examiner, after I'd
> scraped though and passed the CW tests, why he was so hard on the applicants
> and his answer was, "These folks are may be the only hope in a major ship
> disaster and we will not put a sloppy operator on our ships or in our shore
> stations.  But that was then and this is now. Things change with time and cw
> is becomming but a fond memory of glories past.  Have a good day
>
>     Bob, KE6F
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gary Schafer <gschafer at MEDIAONE.NET>
> To: <BOATANCHORS at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV>
> Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2000 8:12 PM
> Subject: Re: Telegraph licenses
>
> > Hi Jeff
> >
> > I think that is a wonderful idea! They never used to recognize any ham
> > ticket for any credit on the commercial license. Wonder when they
> > started that?
> >
> > Now all of the guys that are complaining about the new ham test can show
> > there metal by getting 2nd class radio telegraph licenses. Only problem
> > though I think the theory tests are all multiple choice! Reading the
> > study guide would be kinda like cheating ?
> > So would that really show that they learned it or just memorized the
> > study questions?
> >
> > Used to be the theory portion of the radiotelegraph was similar to the
> > 2nd and 1st class radiotelephone test. Now the 2nd and 1st
> > radiotelephone are combined and  called a general radiotelephone
> > license. I think the test is easier than the old ones were. Don't know
> > if the same was done to the radiotelegraph. I don't know if you still
> > need to use your calculator (or slide rule) or draw any diagrams anymore
> > either. Might be so easy now it's not worth the trouble. (grin)
> >
> > 73
> > Gary K4FMX
> >
> >
> > Jeffrey Herman wrote:
> >
> > > The FCC's web site shows that 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class R/T
> > > licenses are still available, and that having a current
> > > Amateur Extra Class will automatically give you credit
> > > for Telegraph Elements 1 (16wpm, random groups) and 2
> > > (20wpm, plain text); Elements 1 and 2 are required for the
> > > 3rd and 2nd Class ticket.
> > >
> > > Go to:  www.fcc.gov/wtb/commoperators/Welcome.html
> > >
> > > Don't know how much longer those licenses will be available,
> > > but getting one would enable a person to keep a firm grip on
> > > our past, which seems to be quickly slipping away.
> > >
> > > 73, Jeff KH6O
> >