I'm going for extra for two reasons.
One, I want a shorter 1X2 or 2X2 call sign. Even after listening to other hams over time, I still have trouble following along with long call signs even when they spell it phonetically. I have trouble copying short ones too, just not as much. I have learned to appreciate shorter call signs as easier for me to understand. And the people with short calls are the ones on the Extra bands. And I'd rather own a 1X2 sign that I have some control over, than some random WN8LEBM string.
Two, I want to be able to go anywhere on the band chart without thinking about the interband separations between different ham classes. Fuck that shit.
I thought you were already an extra. You gotta get with the program so we can chat it up on 3.625 using USB just to defy accepted protocol.
Was going to ask a similar question, so thanks for the pre-answer.
I took general after tech because I scored well, even though I hadn't studied general. (Same test fee, so why not?) I passed but didn't do well enough on the General score to think I could squeak by on Extra, so I didn't bother.
FWIW, I'm going to have to renew in a couple of years, but I've never felt cramped by General. I've gotten used to 2x3, and it would be weird to learn a new call (and I suspect I would accidentally fall back to the one I've been saying for almost a decade anyway.) The longer calls a pain in the ass on CW, but for phone, you'll get used to copying and you'll stop noticing.
If I had to re-exam to renew, I would probably go for Extra, but I don't, so I won't. I'm thinking of starting an ARC at my church, though, and if we have a testing session at the end of class (I would probably end up teaching it, but I'm not a VC) I'll sit for Extra then.
Sounds like you're a seasoned expert!
I never really did much with the license, got it because the technician was easy to get and it helped at a RADAR place I worked one time.
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