Roy...

 RW{at}> AFAIK, if you already have a license and you've successfully passed a
 RW{at}> higher license exam, you may operate with the higher privileges on your
 RW{at}> present class of license for 30 days or the day your new license is
 RW{at}> delivered in the mail. If you aren't presently licensed, you'll not be
 RW{at}> able to operate until you do have your license in hand.

  Actually, the Certificate Of Successful Completion Of Examination (CSCE)
that an examinee receives for passing a license exam is good for 365 
calendar days after initial issuance. The only time an examinee can't
operate with a CSCE is if they don't have a callsign.

  If they have the callsign, they can use the new privileges immediately,
with the special suffix identifiers, as follows:

/KT or Temporary KT - upgrade from Novice to Technician
/AG or Temporary AG - Upgrade from Novice or Technician to General
/AE or Temporary AE - upgrade from any license class to Amateur Extra

  The "slash commands" are on digital -- the
"temporary" commands are on
voice.

  The CSCE grants "temporary operating authority" on the new bands, until
a new license is granted by the FCC, or the CSCE expires...whichever
comes first. But again, once that 365 day period expires, if the FCC has
not done anything (character issue, past violations, etc.), then the
privileges are lost.

Daryl Stout, WX1DER
ARRL/VEC Amateur Extra Class VE

... I CQ. Therefore, I HAM. -- DE WX1DER
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