[TenTec] Commercial CW License

[Hank Alvestad]

I've held an FCC commercial RT-1 license since 1981 (RT-2 before
that); sailed on US-flag freighters as deep-sea R/O 1977-1987 (all
oceans.)  Back then, the requirements to sit for the license exam
were: (1) a minimum of one year as an RT-2 (2nd class) holder, (2)
then a minimum of 6 months service at sea (not calendar time - actual
6 months service as shipboard R/O), (3) then two CW exams - 5 minutes
of coded groups at 20 WPM, followed by 5 minutes of plain English text
at 25 WPM.  There was also a CW sending exam.  After you passed these
requirements, you had to pass the written exam.  The rate of pay back
then made it worth the effort - not just "exclusive wall paper."  RT-1
was only required to serve as Chief R/O on certain vessels required by
international law to carry more than one R/O.  I don't think any more
of those are in service, under US flag.  For most US merchant ships,
RT-2 is sufficient.  These days, a GMDSS ticket is also required for
the person serving as Electronics Officer.

Additional current references, for those interested in sea-going
electronics work:

arawet at earthlink.net   (see ads in various issues of QEX Magazine)

http://www.elkinsmarine.com/index.html

Just FYI.
Hank, K2XJ

> --------------------------------------------------------------------
--
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2007 13:21:53 -0600
> From: "Dr. Gerald N. Johnson" <geraldj at storm.weather.net>
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Commercial CW License
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Message-ID: <1172344913.4639.23.camel at host.domain.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> On Sat, 2007-02-24 at 09:42 -0700, JAMES HANLON wrote:
> > This is a snip from this week's ARRL Letter that will be of
interest to those considering a Commercial CW License.
> >
> > Jim, W8KGI
> >
> > FCC says no commercial credit for prior military, ham radio,
experience:
> > The FCC has told a California radio amateur that it will not waive
a
> > commercial license application rule on the basis of his Amateur
Radio Morse
> > code qualifications. Last April, Robert E. Griffin, K6YR, of San
Luis
> > Obispo, applied for an FCC First Class Radiotelegraph Operator's
Certificate
> > -- known as a T1 license -- requesting a waiver of
?13.201(b)(1)(iv). That
> > rule says T1 applicants must have a year's experience "sending and
receiving
> > public correspondence by radiotelegraph at a public coast station,
a ship
> > station, or both."
>
> Oh, that's simpler than it was 48 years ago when I got my 2nd and
ship's
> radar endorsement. Then the experience had to be AT SEA under the
> command of a holder of the first. Coast station didn't count for
that
> experience (likely a free to the ship apprentice ship). Though as I
> recall it only took 6 months, not a year.
>
> I suppose ships sparks today though they spend more time on a
satellite
> circuit or fixing computers and VCRs than on HF still are required
to
> have the first CW on US ships. Otherwise its nothing but exclusive
wall
> paper. I passed my 2nd (and 1st phone) 48 years ago, but the CW
license
> hasn't yet paid for its cost (and it was free other than trolley
fare to
> the examination site and the day skipped from school).
> -- 
> 73, Jerry, K0CQ,
> All content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer
>