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

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 þ OLX 1.53 þ A heavy night snowstorm is God saying: Take today off.
                                                                           
           
--- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS