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The Wait is On

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:10 pm
by KC5AV
I took the class on Saturday, 11/17.
I dropped the packet off at the Post Office last night after work. My instructor said not to expect to see anything in the mail until close to the end of January. We'll see.

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:05 pm
by Hyunchback
Looks like you are in the same batch as myself. Took my class the same day. (I graduated at the head of my class. A class of 1.)

Mailed on the same day.

Let's see if that means anything on the other end.

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:05 pm
by KC5AV
Sounds like a plan. I took the class with a friend, and he sent his off yesterday, as well.

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:10 am
by meirvin
add another one that took it on Sat, but I havent sent my packet off yet

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:46 am
by KC5AV
You just better not get your license before I do, then.
;-)

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:00 pm
by KC5AV
USPS confirms that my packet arrived in Austin this morning. I guess there's little to no chance it will make it from the Post Office to the DPS today, huh?

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:30 pm
by KC5AV
Maybe this is an indication of things to come. It was "Delivered" at 9:35 am.

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:55 pm
by meirvin
Ok mine is in the mail (regular). What happens next, do they mail something stating they got it or what.

are people going to the DPS website and typing in their # to follow progress?

Thanks

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:55 pm
by KC5AV
I'm not sure about anyone else. I've just been using the tracking information that I got when I mailed my packet (certified). Beyond that, I'm not sure.

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:37 pm
by meirvin
well it seems once they get it you can track it through DPS:

http://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASA ... elcome.jsp

Press the "Continue" button and you will be taken to a page where you can select options for what you want to do, including "Track the status of your application".

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:05 pm
by tbranch
Once they get it is a stretch :shock: It took mine 4 weeks to change to "Processing Application"...

Tom

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:15 pm
by KC5AV
Well, I've decided that stressing about it isn't going to get it here any faster. I'm just going to pass the time by researching different guns, and trying to decide what I want to carry.

I haven't really been able to shoot much. There are a couple of indoor ranges in the area. I'm planning a couple of days in the next month or so to go and rent some guns, and try to find some that I can feel comfortable shooting.

When my 'plastic' finally arrives, I will go and reward all of my field research with a nice new handgun to go along with it.

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:06 pm
by tbranch
John,

I post here to pass the time. It's soothing to gripe about it. I'm not really all that concerned about the wait.

How's DX in Marshall?

73 de Tom, K4NR

Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 7:34 am
by KC5AV
DX has been pretty non-existant lately. I've been tinkering with psk31 lately, and the last time I had the radio on (Tuesday night) I couldn't see or hear anything worthy of note.

I'm working on getting a beam in the air, but for now, I have an Alpha Delta DXCC multi-band dipole that I can use on 160-6 meters.

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:40 pm
by tbranch
I've been off the air for a couple of years. I guest op at friends' shacks when there is something I really need. Last QSO in 2007 was BS7H on May 5th for a total of 19 QSOs for the year. 323 worked and 320 confirmed. I need 4 more to make the Honor Roll.

I was active on sats for a while. I was going to WAS on the LEOs. Made most of the hard ones except HI. HI on the LEOs is possible on [abbreviated profanity deleted]-29 from Texas but it's marginal at best. AK was easy on AO-51.

While I'm a die-hard CW op, I also enjoy RTTY and PSK31. Made my first PSK31 QSO in Sep 1999. PSK always amazes me with clean copy on almost no signal. I remember working the P5 on 15 RTTY. The band was quiet and despite almost no signal, he was printing perfectly. My Alpha was in the shop so I was pushing a single 3-500Z to about 400 watts. He was working split and you could not hear anything on the band but him. Set the split for something random and called. Got the surprise of a lifetime, wth K4NR K4NR 599 599 BK. They pulled him off the air less than a week later.

Have a good weekend!

Tom