< <So what did you do? Analog *and* digital, I'm impressed! Yes! I've worked on the first high speed mobile data terminal amoung other things. Try doing 3125baud in 1974 over a voice bandwidth channel (uhf repeater) with a CM2100 as the system for mobile rounting and comms. Back then the MOdat (motorola was running at 600baud and channel interference was killing transmissions before they ended). Built the repeater too mostly out of U44 and similar chassis with a pair of 4cx250s for final to get 1000 ERP from a 10db stationmaster on 474.975 (5mhz split). <I got the "general" radiotelephone ticket (used to be called "2nd class") o <the first testing day after they eliminated 1st class and changed the rule <(hmm, this would be early 1980s), but never got a radio job or otherwise I've had mine since '69, First with with televison and Microwave. I was a certified geek/nerd/techno way back when. Fired their mind at the fed as I wanted the Rt license and at my age (noxious HS kid) they figured I was a novice or maybe shooting for the ham. Had my father cheering me on as he had to sit the whole day. My mother though it highly inappropriate. <had any practical use for it. I was really proud of getting a low serial <as a result of the rule change, but then I was late renewing it and lost <the low #, went from PG-1-7 to PG-1-18665, I felt like such an idiot!!! Ouch. My number, PG-1-67xx, that replaced the older license number when they went to the for life system. Back in 73 almost signed on with a friends 85ft sloop that went to the Med as sparks. Captains signature on the back would have been a trip. It was something you do for fun as I was making more at work. Should have taken the ride. <Of course now they last for life anyway. The exam took me several tries t <pass, it was *much* harder than the ham exams. But I got lucky, even afte <the rules change the Boston FCC office was still using old tests (the one <finally passed was dated 1968) which covered tubes but not transistors, goo <thing because my books were old too and didn't cover transistors well at al It was tough. I studied for weeks to get ready and did all elements in one day (NYC federal building). I did use mine for the radio biz and when I applied to college it was part of the leverage I used to get some of the courses dropped. I figured that was worth most of the 17 credits I beat them out of. Back then the First was as close to certified tech or operating engineer as you could get and not have to go to school. I still carry the pocket card as I fly and thats my radio license as well. Allison