I am now an Amateur Extra

having passed the test last night. Until my paperwork arrives I can use the Extra frequencies simply by adding AE to my call sign.

Yesterday was a gold plated bastard. I arrived home at 0400 and sacked out at 0500 until about 0830 and then did a bunch of "I just got back home' chores. Around 1600 I decided I felt OK so I impulsively hopped in the pickup and hauled my tired ass over across the state line to a school where they were giving the ham radio tests.

I walked in expecting it to be as informal as it was when I took my Tech and General tests but the club that was giving it made things a little more formal. Everyone had to be there before any paperwork started and yada yada yada. Still, I guess it was OK. The worst part was waiting, as usual.

As soon as I got the test I wanted to sleep but I slugged it out and as soon as I found out I had passed it I instantly felt invigorated so the drive home wasn't too bad.

 I passed with an 86% which ain't too bad.

This is a pretty good deal for me because it allows me a little more band space on a lot of the bands, nost notably 40 and 20 meters.

I was the only one there upgrading to Extra, two other guys were upgrading to General and the rest were taking the entry level test for Technician. As is often the case, I was the last one to be handed my exam and my exam had more questions than anybody else's and I was the first to hand mine in.

I generally 'test fast' because either you know it or you don't and when I pore over a question I often overthink it and confuse myself, generally to my loss.

Not a bad day for just doing something on a whim.




my other blog is: http://officerpiccolo.blogspot.com/ http://piccolosbutler.blogspot.com/