"Jeff Liebermann" wrote in message
...
On 21 Sep 2008 03:37:42 GMT, Ed
wrote:

I have also noticed that most of the PGs don't even have an FRN #

What's a PG?

Its the first two letters in the FCC General RadioTelephone Operator
License number.
Ed K7AAT

Thanks. ULS, CORES, FRN numbers, and such started around 1998(?). It
was essentially optional (because the system didn't work) until about
mid 2000, when Congress demanded that all business with government
agencies include an SSI number (social security number). To get an
FRN number, you need to supply an SSI number.

I passed my GROL in Nov 1994, somewhat before FRN numbers were first
issued. Prior to that, I had an FCC 2nd and later 1st RadioTelephone
license with radar endorsement. I didn't want to deal with the ULS
mess so I avoided getting one. I eventually wanted to upgrade from
Technican class to General class[1], and which required an FRN number.
Oh well. Some of my friends and accomplises that obtained GROL
licenses at the same time as me still have not obtained FRN numbers.


[1] I was going to just sign the paperwork for the General class
license as I had passed 5 wpm back in the stone age of ham radio as a
Novice. However, the VE assured me that the price was the same for
the Extra Class license, so I should try taking it anyway. The logic
seemed reasonable except for one problem. I hadn't studied for the
Extra in the slightest. So, I blundered, guessed, snarled, and
muddled my way through the Extra exam, fully expecting to fail
miserably. I had to borrow a calculator. I was amazed when I passed
the Extra by one question. I'm fairly sure I answered all the
technical questions correctly, but missed most of the operating, band
limits, sub-bands, rules, and regs.


----------

I took the General Radiotelephone Operator's License exam in 1981, just
after it went into effect. However, they were still giving the old 2nd class
exam, which was mostly about tube technology and which shared nothing in
common with the Extra Class amateur exam of the time.

My original license number was PG-3-110. I took the exam for the radar
endorsement a few months later and they changed the license number to
something else, which slips my mind at the moment.

Ed Cregger