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by AlbertCory 697 days ago
Further details:

> For higher rungs of the achievement ladder like "advanced" or "extra" you needed to pass an exam about electronics as well as receive and send Morse code at a fast clip.

The General license (which I got) required 13 wpm. I think I read somewhere that they still broadcast Morse code practice every night.

The Extra was 20 wpm. I don't remember "Advanced."
2 comments
pclmulqdq 697 days ago
By the time I got a HAM license that I only used for digital transmissions, several people taking the test with me were "old-timers" who were lamenting that you didn't need to know CW to get a license.

There is apparently still a thriving CW community, and some of them use auto-keying now, so you don't need the manual dexterity any more.

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sbrorson 697 days ago
I'll add one more piece of ham lore to this thread. The gigantic electronic component distributor DigiKey got its start when the founder designed and marketed a Morse code key to the ham radio audience. DigiKey was originally a mail-order business selling to hams.

The point is that the ham radio hobby is very intertwined with the electrical engineering profession. It's very technical ... not just a bunch of guys talking to each other over the radio (although it's that too).

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howard941 697 days ago
The advanced class had the same 13wpm code requirement as the general but added a difficult technical element to the exam suite. When I took it back at an FCC office I found it to be the hardest test of all.
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9659 697 days ago
Do you still have an Advanced class license? I think that Advanced class is the only license that is currently around (and able to be renewed) that required a code test.

The Novice test was something else. 20 questions. 5 WPM code. I was thrilled when it came in the mail. 40 Meter CW, look out.

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howard941 697 days ago
No I have an extra. I thought they did away with the advanced when the privileges were realigned couple or 10 years back. I haven't kept up with the class privileges.
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pclmulqdq 697 days ago
They did away with advanced more than 10 years ago.
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drmpeg 697 days ago
Time flies. It was actually April 2000, 24 years ago.
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