I would guess that of the last 50 new Technicians who immediately took the General exam in my VE sessions, at least 45 failed.  Moreover, they generally left the sessions with annoyed, dejected looks, rather than the happy look that a new licensee should have.  

I really can't say if a new Technician is more or less likely to be motivated to study for the General if he or she has or has not previously failed that exam.  I think, but could be wrong, that failing the General is a de-motivator.

However, I'd bet that a large percentage of new Technicians could pass the General with a week or two of determined study, and they would be on the whole happier with their new status if they did not have an unnecessary 'failure' in their background.

The other VEs at our monthly testing session routinely encourage successful Technician examinees to attempt the General exam the same evening.  They state (1) it costs nothing extra; (2) you might pass; and (3) you will get a 'feel' for the General exam material.

I disagree with this practice. The applicants almost always fail the General exam. Human nature being what it is, they go home with a tinge of sadness rather than the unalloyed pleasure they should feel on achieving their first licenses.

I believe a successful Technician should be alloyed to take the General exam the same night if he or she requests to do so.  However, the VEs should not go out of their way to encourage the practice.

Get that G5RV up as high and in the clear as possible.  With a QRP signal, a so-so receiver and no prior amateur experience, you're going to need all the antenna efficiency you can get.

As for being lumped in with "today's Extras", what about those of us who passed the Extra decades ago, before published Q&A pools, Bash books, CSCEs, VE sessions and such?

That's why I keep my 1971 FCC Amateur Extra Class "permanent" diploma-form license certificate posted over my station.

I might well be wrong, but I have a suspicion that twenty years from now you could still be using (if you wanted to) your K3 or Horizon II, but not your Flexradio (even though they are quite interesting and I'm always glad to see new ham manufacturers).

No excuse at all for the other ham's behavior.  However, I trust that you first asked if the frequency was in use?  And that your "dead key" transmissions to determine SWR were at most a couple of seconds in duration?

Took a slew of college and graduate school entrance exams, numerous pilot and ground school exams, the bar exam and the CPA exam.  None of them allowed me to learn which questions (if any) I missed.

I like the looks of the Begali Sculpture, but bought a used Bencher that looks and works great for $30.  If the Begali didn't cost 15+ times as much I might have bought it.  When (if ever) the Bencher wears out I will reconsider.

You mean there are hams who don't buy all their stuff at Dayton???

Should have been in American Morse.

Or, possibly, the Amateur Extra First Grade required 20 wpm because the Commercial First Grade (of the same time period) also required 20 wpm plain language.  As I recall, the Commercial Extra First Grade required 25 wpm plain language.

...And back in the pre-ABC days the Amateur Extra First Grade license required 20 wpm.

Until the microprocessor era, the CWID requirement for RTTY operation was a nuisance, although admittedly a minor one.  For years, RTTY operators petitioned to eliminate the requirement.  The FCC consistently denied the petitions, stating that the CWID served important purposes.  Then one day in the 70s the FCC simply deleted it as a minor technical adjustment to the roles that required no discussion.

the miracle whip is an enjoyable challenge when used outdoors and in the clear.  It is not very useful indoors.

Neil N3DF

No, May 12 is merely the deadline for filing public comments.  You and I might both be dust before the FCC makes its final decision.

Neil N3DF