TZUTC: -0600   
   MSGID: 484.fidonet-memories@1:19/33 2443818d   
   REPLY: 23951.memoryln@1:2320/105 2440658e   
   PID: Synchronet 3.18c-Win32  Nov 15 2020 MSC 1927   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.11-Win32 r3.179 Nov 15 2020 MSC 1927   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   Ed,   
      
    DS>   I resemble that remark, sir!!    
      
    EV> I meant it as a comment about Myself, don't take it personally, but at   
    EV> least We have something in common besides earning an Amateur Radio   
    EV> License. I gave up on trying to pass the Amateur Extra Class exam and   
    EV> settled for being a notch below Your Class with the Avanced Operators   
    EV> level while the F.C.C. still was offering that License.   
      
     Well, whenever you see the "" or "", it's usually meant to be   
   dripping with sarcasm...as thick as pancake syrup. Darn...now, I'm   
   getting hungry...another dilemma...what to eat. H.A.M. does stand for   
   "Have Another Meal", and you don't call us "Late For Dinner".  That   
   reminds me...I have to run "The Food Net" tonight on the QuadNet Array.   
   Due to scheduling issues, I just do that net once a month, on the 3rd   
   Saturday...I figured it was best to do it once a month, rather than not   
   at all.   
      
     I have spreadsheets in the 4 main US Time Zones (Eastern, Central,   
   Mountain, and Pacific) of selected D-Star, D-Rats, and Echolink Nets.   
   Usually, the only time I'm on the air is for nets that I am running.   
      
     It has gotten to be such a mad rush (never mind a "rhubarb" ) when   
   it comes to checking in for a net. So many are "net hoppers", and it   
   drives me nuts..."Net Control, please checkin [callsign], [name],   
   [location], short time, no traffic"...and not a minute later, they   
   are doing likewise on another net. Some days, there are several nets,   
   and several meet at the same time. A fellow ham radio operator in the   
   Memphis, Tennessee area, wondered "do they even have a life outside   
   of ham radio??".    
      
    EV> I passed the Amateur Extra Morse Code part but failed to pass the   
    EV> Written Part.   
      
     With my nervous system damage from the 2 lightning strikes and the   
   severe concussion years ago, I couldn't pass the CW exam...but I did   
   try a 5 WPM CW test before the FCC eliminated it. The thing is, there   
   are only 500 kilohertz of spectrum in the Advanced and Extra Class   
   spectrum that General class licensees can't use. Then, there's 250   
   kilohertz of spectrum in the Extra Class spectrum that Advanced Class   
   licensees can't use.   
      
     To me, there are only 5 reasons to become an Amateur Extra Class   
   amateur radio operator.   
      
   1) Full amateur privileges, although on HF, you have to stay at least   
   three kilohertz away from the band edge, to avoid going out of band.   
      
   2) If traveling overseas, with a CEPT license, you have the Extra   
   Class (full) privileges. Obviously, with COVID-19, the overseas   
   travel isn't much of an option now.   
      
   3) Access to the 2x1 or 1x2 (AE5H, N5EL, etc.) callsigns...if you   
   are lucky enough to get them.   
      
   4) As a Volunteer Examiner (VE), you can give and grade ALL of the   
   license exams (Technician, General, and Amateur Extra)...even though   
   there are no more Morse Code exams.   
      
   5) Snob appeal (hi hi).    
      
     To non-ham radio operators, "hi hi" is known as "the telegraphers    
   laugh". And, I find myself saying that instead of using "ha ha",    
   before I got licensed nearly 30 years ago. Yet, before starting   
   BBSing in 1985, I didn't know what "", or the emoticons were. ;)   
      
    EV> I believe I have a Tagline that has words close to that phrase.   
      
     If not, you do now.    
      
    EV> Well Sir, We do have that in common, except I can't remember if Joe   
    EV> paid for His own meal at Mister Gatti's Pizza when We were there.   
      
     After Joe got lost navigating around the area, it was the least I   
   could do for him.    
      
   Daryl   
      
   ... What makes cheese so confidential, that we need shredded cheese??   
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