I only have a tech license. I have had it for a couple of years. I would like to say I have been too busy to pursue it but that is BS. I have made a goal of this winter to put together a vehicle and base station. My ultimate goal is to get my son involved so we can talk, he is about 700 miles away. I figure I will just start over and get refreshed on the tech and try to get the general. I do not do the ham cram classes, I take the complete ones. I am one of those people who need to do things a couple of times to get it down pat. I have used public safety radios for the past thirty five years and we have always been trained when you are on the air make your transmissions as short as possible. From what I have heard Hams generally like to talk like on a phone which goes against everything I have been taught. I guess I need to change.