I can't believe someone who's been licensed since 1961 can't just go sit for the Extra and pass it. If you've been active the whole time, then you've acquired the knowledge just by hanging around other hams.
My thought exactly. I'll bet he CAN pass it. He just lacks confidence to go for it.
Maybe. Or perhaps there's a different issue.
From February 1953 to November 1968, all US hams except Novices and Technicians had full amateur operating priviliges. There was no difference in what bands, modes or powers Generals, Conditionals, Advanceds or Extras could use.
That all changed November 22, 1968, and again November 22, 1969, when subbands-by-license-class went into effect. I was an Advanced in late 1968, and I remember it well.
My response, and that of many others, was simply to upgrade to Extra.
But there were a number of hams who thought that they should have been "grandfathered" and not lost any privileges.
Over the years there have been various proposals and comments to somehow do just that. Some years back, QCWA proposed formally to FCC that any General or Advanced who could prove they'd been a General, Conditional or Advanced before November 22, 1968 should get full privileges.
But for more than 40 years, FCC has said no.
73 de Jim, N2EY
