Ed,   
      
     Let me try this again. I was working on a big reply to you, and fat   
   finger syndrome caused me to exit OLX, and I lost it...so I have to   
   start all over. :P   
      
   EV>I've joined Daryl's Thunderbolt BBS, although I don't Log On it much,   
   EV>and thought I'd join Your BBS if it wasn't Dial-Up only.   
      
     You won't get zapped...I know you're not the kind to break the rules   
   on the BBS. :)   
      
   EV>iirc, there was a period here in the past that there was a charge for   
   EV>renewing of a license, but luckily I never had to renew my station   
   EV>during that period.   
      
     I've only been licensed since 1991 (and have to wait another year   
   before I can become part of the QCWA (Quarter Century Wireless   
   Association), so I don't know much about past license fees, as it were.   
      
     Today, the exam fee is what is charged by the administering Volunteer   
   Examiner Coordinator (VEC)...currently $15 or less. If an examinee fails   
   an exam during a test session, they can re-take the same exam, with a   
   DIFFERENT QUESTION SET, for another exam fee...if the examiner team has   
   the time and resources. However, if an examinee fails an exam twice in   
   the same session, chances are they need more study.   
      
     There is no fee to renew ones license, IF one has a SEQUENTIALLY   
   issued callsign. However, if one has a vanity callsign, they must pay   
   whatever the fee is at the time of renewal (I think it's $21.60 as of   
   December, 2014; and it's likely to increase in the coming years). If   
   they don't pay the fee, they LOSE the vanity callsign, and are given the   
   next sequential callsign in the queue for their particular license   
   class.   
      
     RENEWALS can only be done between 90 days BEFORE, and up to 2 years   
   AFTER EXPIRATION of the license. They can NOT operate if the license is   
   expired.   
      
     Now, if ones license lapses (is expired more than 2 years), they LOSE   
   their CALLSIGN and PRIVILEGES (it's as if they had never taken a ham   
   radio license exam)...and ANYONE can apply for that callsign under the   
   vanity callsign system.   
      
     Former licensees can get back into the hobby by just passing the   
   Technician Exam (Morse Code is no longer required for an amateur radio   
   license, as of February 23, 2007)...and they'll get a NEW CALLSIGN. The   
   former license class is noted first, followed by the new license class,   
   (if their license lapsed, and they pass the Technician exam to get back   
   into Ham Radio):   
      
   Novice -- Technician. This is an upgrade, since Novice Class licenses   
   are no longer issued as of Dec. 15, 2000...but holders of these can   
   renew them at the appropriate time.   
      
   Technician -- Technician. They get their former privileges back.   
      
   General -- General. They get their former privileges back.   
      
   Advanced -- General. Since Advanced Class licenses are no longer issued   
   as of Dec. 15, 2000, this is a DOWNGRADE in privileges. However, they   
   can get that lost 250 kilohertz of spectrum BACK...plus, an additional   
   250 kilohertz of spectrum (reserved for Amateur Extra Class licensees   
   ONLY), by taking and passing the Amateur Extra Class exam. Current   
   holders of Advanced Class licenses can renew them at the appropriate   
   time.   
      
   Amateur Extra -- Amateur Extra. They get their former privileges back.   
      
     However, they may NOT operate until their NEW CALLSIGN (with the   
   associated privileges) appears in the FCC ULS.   
      
   EV>I could be wrong about what I just wrote, I'm sure Tom or Daryl will   
   EV>straighten me out.   
      
     Only if you're tangled up as a contortionist.  Does it mean that I   
   grab you at one end, and Tom grabs at the other, and pulls like a rope   
   in a tug-of-war??    
      
   EV>I just hope neither one of them uses the Wouff Hong on me.   
      
     That's only for "miscreant" amateur radio operators, who display "poor   
   operating etiquette" on the air.   
      
     Full details on the Wouff Hong, Rettysnitch, and Ugerumph, are at   
   http://www.rettysnitch.org   
      
   Daryl, WX1DER   
      
   ---   
    þ OLX 1.53 þ A heavy night snowstorm is God saying: Take today off.   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
                                                                                     
   --- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS    
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS (1:19/33)