I have had it in my head that the next time I was in Dayton I would write the American exams and see how far I could get. I hold a Canadian “Advanced” ticket and while the content of they two systems is similar, it is hard to speak with any authority on the two systems without experiencing them in their full exam glory

So over the last couple of weeks, thanks to remote VEC crews I wrote my Tech, General and Extra exams. I am now recognized as an Amateur Extra by the FCC.

For my sins, I received a truly awful CW call, KN6PZW, (-.- -. -.... .--. --.. .--). The call not much better on phone. The “6 land” call is is in tribute to my home of seven years in Northern California, despite not earning it when I was in residence. There may be a Vanity call in my near future!

What did I learn?

The remote exam system works really well. Bless the VEs and their VEC orgs, particularly in the Age of Covid. They are keeping the hobby alive and well. My good friend Vince, VE6LK/AI7LK is an examiner on both sides of the border and without folks like him I don’t know where we would be in this chaos. (No, Vince did NOT administer my exams)

It’s harder than it looks. It’s been many years since I had to sit an amateur radio exam and while the Technician and General were low to no study affairs, I did cram for the Extra and a good thing I did. The questions are tricky and the math is not optional. That said it is humbling to actually have to remember the formulas and do the work.

It’s “Dangerous”. FunFact: Canadian “Advanced” Hams actually lose privileges once we have written the Tech exam (at least while we are on US soil), so if you are an Advanced and you are thinking about this, you had better go big, lest you be stuck with only operating a HT at Dayton!

It is still fun. I LOVED studying for and writing my Canadian exams years ago. It was “fun school”. I took great pride in getting a good mark and I was highly engaged in the process. I completed my Basic and immediately started to study for the Advanced (Something I recommend for others (“Stay in school kids!”). This time it was a humbling grind, mostly due to self imposed deadlines, but still fun and yes, still felt good.