Passing the test

[k4kyv]

This method does NOT teach you how to be a radio operator, or even the material which underlies the test questions. This method focuses on your PASSING the test. This is Step 1 in becoming a ham radio operator.

Step 2 is to learn how to use a radio. We sell an inexpensive book to help with Step 2 right after the exam. Step 3 is to buy a radio, and Step 4 is to get on the air, and get experience checking into nets that are used for preparedness and drill. As you progress in Step 4, you may wish to serve as net control for a net some evening.

But first things first--get your license. And that is what this day’s activities are all about. Because the test focuses on SHORT TERM memory, there is little purpose in getting the technician test materials in advance.

What are the advantages over other programs?

    * Highest pass rate (well over 90%)
    * Shorter study materials
    * Shorter study time needed

http://www.wcf.com/aero/exams/

EARN YOUR RADIO LICENSE IN ONE DAY!

[steve_qix]

Remember the "6 week wonders" back on the 60s and 70s?

Back then, in broadcasting - if the station had a directional antenna system and/or ran more than some amount of power (I actually forget the exact requirements it's been so long), it was required that a First Class Phone licensee be on duty at all times.

So, the DJs had to have their First Phones because there was only one engineer (me, in this case) and I couldn't possibly be on duty all the time.  They would take these crash courses and actually pass the First Class Phone license, which was not particularly easy and contained a lot of technical questions.

During an FCC inspection back in the early '70s, the FCC inspector asked the DJ on duty (remember, this guy had a First Phone!) if the station was running the proper power level.  All of the remote readings were available - plate current, plate voltage and common point current.  The 6 week wonder immediately answered "yes".  The inspector asked how he knew that, and the answer?  "Because it says so on the side of the box" (meaning, the amount of power the station is supposed to be running - 5kW, was written on the side of the rack along with the normal current, voltage and common point readings).  I'm pretty sure the inspector wanted the guy to figure it out.

So, I guess things really haven't changed much is 40 years  

[k4kyv]

Remember the "6 week wonders" back on the 60s and 70s?

Back then, in broadcasting - if the station had a directional antenna system and/or ran more than some amount of power (I actually forget the exact requirements it's been so long), it was required that a First Class Phone licensee be on duty at all times.

Back in 1964 when I did my stint as the lone "Chief" Engineer at a local 1 kw AM daytimer, every station was required to employ a CE with First Class Radiotelephone licence. That's about the time I first heard the term "30-day wonder".

A few years later they deleted the requirement except for stations with DA or running above a certain power level.  I seem to recall that it applied only to 50 kw stations (WATSA Bill, KD0HG?).  Not sure about stations running lower power. One of the reasons given by the FCC was that the universal licensing requirement had become meaningless with the advent of the 30-day wonders.

Later they downgraded the 1st Phone by combining it with the 2nd class Radiotelephone, and issued that ugly yellow thing called the "General Radiotelephone".  Eventually they made it good for life, but mine had an expiration date.  I procrastinated and failed to renew mine on time, so it expired before they were extended to the lifetime of the holder.  I never bothered to re-acquire it, since by then it had become a worthless piece of paper.  I still have my long-expired original First Class Radiotelephone certificate framed and hanging on the wall. I think I threw away the yellow thing.

Now, I don't believe they require a commercial licence for any broadcast maintenance, and stations are no longer required to employ a chief engineer.

[W3SLK]

I'll stick my neck out here and freely admit I got the General Radiotelephone license. I figured it would be worth something when my site was being sold by Merck, (recently re-acquired by them). I was hoping to get back into avionics or RADAR work which I did when I was employed by Unkle Sam's Yachting and Swimming Club.

[Opcom]

I consider the General Radiotelephone to be a higher class of license than the Amateur Extra. It was not as easy to obtain anyway. When I took the test, it was the only option. It is gray and I still have it.

[k4kyv]

I sat for the First Class Radiotelephone and the Extra Class ham exam the same day in 1963, on a whim when a friend of mine invited me to go with him when he took his, needed for a new job. We both already had our 2nd class tickets.  I was surprised at the similarity of the commercial and ham tests.  Some of the questions on the two test were verbatim, down to the multiple-choice answers and schematics to be drawn.  I hadn't studied, but looked over a Q-A manual on the way down to the test, and had worked a little CW from time to time, and I suspect I passed the 20 wpm code test only by the skin of my teeth. I thought the 1st Class was easier than the 2nd Class exam I had taken a year or two earlier.

Ironically, I passed both my tests but my friend failed his 1st class (he didn't try for the Extra) and had to try again 30 days later.  He passed that time.

The General Radiotelephone probably is a higher class licence than the current Extra Class. I wouldn't say the same about the Extra Class exam I took in 1963.

[WA1GFZ]

The owner of a large local station set me straight right after I passed my first phone. He told me all the jobs would go away soon and find different work if you want to make any money. He showed me all the people working for him and said most would be gone in a few years. It was very good advice.

[Fred k2dx]

I think a dog or cat could pass the 'extra' these days.

[WA1GFZ]

Fred, Don't insult the poor pets.

[W2XR]

Don,

I got my First 'Phone in January of 1972, around the time that I got my Advanced Class license. I needed it to work part-time (I was in college at the time) at a local 5KW DA/1KW non-DA critical-hours AM station doing whatever transmitter and studio maintenance they could throw at me, including mowing the lawn at the 30 acre antenna/transmitter site on the International Farmall tractor they had. I even serviced the engine in that thing when it wouldn't start. I pretty much loved every minute of it, considering I was paid minimum wage. As an 18 year old kid, I would have worked there for free, and as a young ham, it beat the hell out of putting cans on some supermarket shelf.

In 1972, no one at this station was permitted to even touch the transmitters or antenna phasing cabinet (or take the FCC mandated once-a-day antenna base current readings at the ATUs) without having a First Class Radiotelephone Operators License. If recall correctly, this was true of any commercial broadcasting station at the time, regardless of operating power. Since the station had a directional antenna array, a First Phone operator had to be present either at the transmitter site or the studio (where the transmitter could be controlled remotely) on a continous basis. No exceptions. As such, there must have been 6 or 7 First Phone licenses hanging up at the studio, so someone would always be available and on-call to satisfy the FCC requirements. When we ran 1KW non-directional operation during critical hours, a First Phone op was not required to be present; a Third Class op would satisfy the FCC rules at the time. But when the station went from 1KW non-DA to 5KW DA after critical hours, and then back to 1KW non-DA during critical hours, a First Phone had to be the one to perform the changeover, even though this entailed only pushing two buttons simultaneously.

I think with the advent of the General Radiotelephone Operators License, the rules were eased somewhat, but I left the broadcasting industry long before that happened. My First Phone was subsequently grandfathered to the General, which is good for life. The First Phone had to be renewed every 5 years.

I also remember those "six week wonder" license guys, and mostly radio announcers went to those schools to enhance their ability to find work at the smaller market stations. Many of the engineers who passed the First 'Phone on the merit of really knowing the stuff, held the six week wonders in true contempt.

And yes, the Second Class license was somewhat more difficult than the First, with a lot of the questions really pertaining to public service and commercial two-way radio equipment and maintenance. The Second had 100 questions, whereas the First had only 50. The First had questions relating to television transmission, directional antenna arrays, and AM and FM broadcast transmitters.

At one time, having a First Class Radiotelephone Operators License really meant something, particularly to a potential employer within the electronics industry. My guess is the General Radiotelephone Operators License is probably virtually meaningless nowadays.

73,

Bruce

[k4kyv]

At one time, having a First Class Radiotelephone Operators License really meant something, particularly to a potential employer within the electronics industry. My guess is the General Radiotelephone Operators License is probably virtually meaningless nowadays.

The same could be said about holding an amateur radio licence.

[K5UJ]

Interestingly, you can still get a First Class Radiotelegraph ticket.  Well, we can't, but anyone who puts in a year as a commercial telegraph operator can.   But even that isn't proctored by FCC.  They have contracted with some company to administer the test which I think is by appointment only.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/index.htm?job=t1

[W3LSN]

Interestingly, you can still get a First Class Radiotelegraph ticket.  Well, we can't, but anyone who puts in a year as a commercial telegraph operator can.   But even that isn't proctored by FCC.  They have contracted with some company to administer the test which I think is by appointment only.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/index.htm?job=t1

The radiotelegraph licenses have become increasingly meaningless since the implementation of GMDSS and elimination of CW from HF in 1999. Except for the fact that some international treaties still require what the FCC calls the T2, the key tickets now are the GMDSS maintainers and operators licenses. Also the FCC has just opened a docket seeking to elliminate the T3 and combined the T1 and T2 into a single "radiotelegraph certificate" and make it a lifetime ticket much like they did with radiotelephone.  This would basically remove all but the minimum RT requirement for treaty purposes. I believe the docket is still open for comments.

73, Jim
WA2AJM/3  & T2 ticket holder

[Opcom]

At the time I got the G-Phone it was to work on 2-way radios and CBs. I had no interest in ham radio and just experimented independently using old test and ham equipment I bought or stuff I built from TV set parts. Lament the loss of all those large TV set power transformers!

I would not dispute that the Extra exam got easier in the time elapsed between that and when I got the Extra. From what's been said, it seems like it's all been getting incrementally watered down over several decades.

[Bill, KD0HG]

Don and all:

Radio stations today are required to have a designated Chief Operator. The person so designated will be named in a document signed by the station owner/general manager. There is no such legal term for a Chief Engineer any more, although station owners may designate someone with that title. It applies to the pay check, not to the FCC.

The Chief Operator is responsible for various duties (these may be delegated, though the chief operator remains responsible). Among these duties are equipment inspection and calibration, AM monitor point field strength measurements (for directional stations), AM and FM equipment performance measurements (occupied bandwidth), and a weekly review of the station log.. The Chief Operator should be able to demonstrate that they are able to monitor and correct out-of-tolerance conditions- power, modulation, bandwidth, EAS test compliance. The chief operator of an AM directional station or an AM nondirectional station with authorized power greater than 10 KW must be an employee of the station. The chief operator of other radio stations may be an employee or a contractor. The current rules do not require anyone to have a radio license, but chief operators are required. They're the person that signs the station logs and gets quizzed by the FCC during station inspections.

[W2XR]

Interestingly, you can still get a First Class Radiotelegraph ticket.  Well, we can't, but anyone who puts in a year as a commercial telegraph operator can.   But even that isn't proctored by FCC.  They have contracted with some company to administer the test which I think is by appointment only.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/index.htm?job=t1

Hi Rob,

That is very interesting. I thought the Commercial Radio Telegraph licenses went the way of the dodo bird years ago. I say this as I never really paid much attention to the radiotelegraph licenses anyway, and I never had any desire or need to obtain one of these tickets. And from what I understand, although a U.S. shipboard radio operator is (or was) accorded some privileges that the senior officers of the ship also have, the work is supposedly very boring, and obviously in some cases, entails long periods away from home.

Looking at the link you had provided to the FCC website, I see no mention of an independent agency the Commission has contracted with for the administration of these exams. I'd be curious as to how this is handled. Perhaps the testing process is similar to the VEC system for radio amateurs.

73,

Bruce

[W2XR]

Don and all:

Radio stations today are required to have a designated Chief Operator. The person so designated will be named in a document signed by the station owner/general manager. There is no such legal term for a Chief Engineer any more, although station owners may designate someone with that title. It applies to the pay check, not to the FCC.

The Chief Operator is responsible for various duties (these may be delegated, though the chief operator remains responsible). Among these duties are equipment inspection and calibration, AM monitor point field strength measurements (for directional stations), AM and FM equipment performance measurements (occupied bandwidth), and a weekly review of the station log.. The Chief Operator should be able to demonstrate that they are able to monitor and correct out-of-tolerance conditions- power, modulation, bandwidth, EAS test compliance. The chief operator of an AM directional station or an AM nondirectional station with authorized power greater than 10 KW must be an employee of the station. The chief operator of other radio stations may be an employee or a contractor. The current rules do not require anyone to have a radio license, but chief operators are required. They're the person that signs the station logs and gets quizzed by the FCC during station inspections.

Thanks, Bill. This was most informative.

As I had indicated in my post on this subject, I really had no idea what the current regulations are nowadays within the broadcast industry with regard to the station technical personnel, as well as their legal and technical responsibilities, etc.

As the late Paul Harvey would have liked to have heard, now I know!

73,

Bruce

[K5UJ]

hi bruce,

here is the information on who handles the exams. turns out there is more than one:

http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/index.htm?job=cole

I was never a ship's sparky but I was stationed in the port city of Pusan (Busan) in S. Korea for a year and a friend of mine there who is a ham and had a station setup was a regular on the SEA Net on 20 m. and a lot of merchant marine ships had ops who were hams and checked into the net.  Sometimes at port in Pusan they'd visit.  Through them over the years he had some flavor of the sea life:  yes, weeks maybe months away from home, some danger maybe at times but usually not and (depending on the ship) good duty and pretty good pay.  In my (earlier) youth I toyed with trying to get into it but I'm too much of a midwestern landlubber. 

rob

[Opcom]

All the radiotelephone operators licenses have been combined, but there still exist the grades of radiotelegraph licenses:

http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/index.htm?job=license

The FCC currently issues the following types of commercial operator licenses and endorsements:

    * Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit
    * Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit-Limited Use
    * Marine Radio Operator Permit
    * General Radiotelephone Operator License
    * GMDSS Radio Operator's License
    * Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator's License
    * GMDSS Radio Maintainer's License
    * GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer License
    * Third Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate
    * Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate
    * First Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate
    * Ship Radar Endorsement
    * Six Month Service Endorsement

Discontinued Licenses and Endorsements

The following types of licenses and endorsements are no longer issued:

    * First Class Radiotelephone Operator License
    * Second Class Radiotelephone Operator License
    * Third Class Radiotelephone Operator Permit
    * Broadcast Endorsement
    * Aircraft Radiotelegraph Endorsement

So even though the 'phone grade is alone, the brass-pounders will be pleased to see there are still qualifications to be had. This said, it is a certificate, not necessarily a license. What's the difference, why the difference? Is this the aftermath of the change a few years ago away from a CW requirement?

[Jeff W9GY]

Got a young fella here in town that got his general last spring.  He can barely work a screwdriver (no kidding folks!) and has no concept of anything electrical.  He just likes to talk on the radio and meet people (his words).  Anyway, he's been studying for the extra on line for some time now...failed first try back in September, and failed again (by one question) last Saturday.  I must say I was glad to hear the news!!!

[K6IC]

As a kid,  I,  too,  worked in broadcast.  The larger stations in my area -- Spokane,  WA -- would hire only First Phone license holders for any job in Engineering.

The First was the "ticket to ride".   Hired on at KHQ TV AM FM at age 20,  and had a lotta fun as a Union station engineer.  Spent almost all of my time in the studio pushing buttons,  riding levels,  and cuing tape and film.

Was a great job to have, and thanks to the regulation requiring the moderately difficlult to obtain license,  it was a well paying job.   It allowed me to put myself through college,  working 16-20 hours per week,  and FT in the summers as vacation releif.

Was happy with the work,  and happy to get out of it in the early 70's.  AH,  the good old days !  ...   but gone forever.   DE  Vic

[Opcom]

It's a shame that the engineer position at radio stations is not what it used to be in most cases. This would be the government's fault, then for de-regulating?

I passed element 8 today BTW, got my RADAR endorsement coming!

[Steve - K4HX]

No, it would be radio's fault for sucking.

[KA2QFX]

I got my 2nd class while still in school and my first right after graduating. I needed them for the work I was doing and didn't want any FCC issues.  I did a fair amount of land mobile back then. About a year or two after the requirement was dropped I noticed the level of RF trash rising at local repeater sites (NYC) until no amount of cavities and circulators would restore things. Without remote receiver sites you were out of business.

I saw a fair share of screwdriver jockeys, working under someone else's license, tuning cans with SWR meters and maxing out screen controls on paging systems.  They couldn't spell dB!  I actually measured a broadband noise floor of -17dBm in one site in Brooklyn. That's a lot of trash!  Glad I'm done with that.

We sound like a bunch o' ol' buzzards. As QIX would say, "Back in the days of vacuum toobs..."

Mark

[Opcom]

These are the days of the vacuum toob renaissance.