Know what's ironic?

[KC9ECI]

Speculation is that the new no code rules will come into effect at 0000 hours local time, 1 January, 2006...just in time for Straight Key Night.

BTW, if the current crop of Techs take the General exam and pass, assuming the code is dropped as a requirement, will they automaticly become Generals?

[KA3RFE]

The FCC said in the NPRM that only the issue of Morse code testing will be the only rule change. If a codeless tech passes general written now and does not test for CW, it does him no good. The rule change goes only in effect for tests passed after the date the rule becomes active.

No automatic upgrades. No change in privileges right now.

[KI4LZK]

So you are saying if a tech, takes the general prior to them dropping code, they would have to take the general written again, although they passed it?

I already have mine so its no biggy. Just wondering.

[w4rot]

I guess one would have to do the /AG or /AE thing a while if this were so,until the paperwork hits. Could be a backlog on that though. I don't think the boards will be overrun with the "I just made my first cw contact on Straight Key night" type post...but you never know do ya.
Tom,Methinks you've done pretty well you friggin' ex NCT.
Kettle meet Pot..(flame on myself).
Man I'd kill to be in cow land now..its hot a 14 yards of Hades down here.
w4rot

[W5HTW]

No, I don't think that is the case at all.

A Tech passing the General right now, to include Element 1, would become a General, not a Tech. Consequently, (If the January date is fact, and I have seen nothing to state that it is) whenever the new rule goes into effect, that person is no longer a Tech anyway, but a General. The rule would in no way affect him. Unless he wanted to UNlearn Morse!

A Tech passing the General written right now, but not taking (or not passing) the Element 1, would, as far as I can tell, become a General when the ruling goes into effect. However, I don't think it would be "automatic." I think he would have to apply for it, but I do NOT think there would be any additional testing. And he would not need to show any evidence of taking the Element 1 test, as that would be moot.

Consequently I believe that those who have waited all this time for the code to go away, may now start taking the General written test, if they feel qualified. If they pass it, when the new rule goes into effect, they can probably simply request an upgrade to General, as they will have already taken and passed the test.

That has not been covered in the rule, but the fact is, there is no valid reason to have to take the same test twice. Suppose the ruling's effective date was Dec 15th, for example. Suppose someone passed the General written on Dec 14th. Would they have to retake it the next day, just because of the rules change? I hardly think so. The General written is the General written, regardless of when it was taken.

Ed

[KC9ECI]

Terry-
It's fianlly cooled off to 86F and 61% humidity. It's supposed to be hotter tomorrow. We had some severe WX move through yesterday and a lightning strike set an old barn/garage on fire, and had it not been raining, I think the heat would have done me in this time. I looked at the Weather underground page for Dublin Ireland and I see the high there this week has been a fridgid 65F...I can't wait. two weeks of drinking Guinness and signing EI/KC9ECI/P.
Back to the topic at hand, it doesn't really matter to me, but it's sad that so many are never going to know the satisfaction of working to earn that upgrade. Anyone can memorize the answers to a multiple guess test...I'm living proof of that.

[w4rot]

Yeah Tom,
I'm definitely not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but it sure was a rush to pass the old 5 wpm. It would have helped me if the FCC would have required x number of cw QSO's, but I'm coming back to it. I wanna play in the cw contest.
Anyway..Have a safe trip. Tap out a few, put back a few. Let us know when your firing it up. Enjoy EI land.
Now back to the thread.
w4rot

[ai4ep]

Hey how about making the written test so hard, that it takes a rocket scientist to pass it ?

...sure glad I am already an EXTRA and dont have to worry about it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[KI4LZK]

I agree, It was a great experience to learn cw. I acctually am re-learning it. This time the right way. There are some top notch CW Ops here trying to get me on there team for Field Day next year.

What I was trying to say earlier, not sure if I did, was that If someone passed the general written test now (not taking the cw test) when this goes into effect they would not have to retake the test. As W5HTW said it really doesn't make since.

73s

Josh

[KC0NBW]

the only reason i got the extra was so i didn't have to remember all those %$%^$^* subbands ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[KD7WHQ]

There will always be a pull to CW, and if the requirement is removed, practice on (shudder) HF may happen.

The sky isn't falling. As I have said before, it is on-air behaviour that makes or breaks the ham. And, it is on those listening to elmer.

Those that don't blend in will either go away on their own, or can be dealt with.

Gerritson is a worst case example; most will take the cues, or will head back up to VHF.

Not taking bets on this NPRM happening, but I don't believe ham radio will ever become CB.

One thing I would like to see though; a minimum of 6 months above 50 MHz before HF operation was permitted.

Time enough to learn the ropes, before going international..

[ai4ep]

Yep...for some of the C B operators that now have a lot of power, extra channels, etc... they would LIKE to become amateur radio operators, but ONE big thing they do not like the idea of --- the FCC having access to their home address . They like the " anomybility " of being a C B operator with an amp and extra channels .

They totally do NOT like the U S government ( on any level ) having their home address, except for the ways they want the government to know...... you have to realize that this is folks in my area even if it is the year 2005.

They wont become amateur radio operators simply because of their fear of the government. ...and the lack of trust.

These folks get paranoid at seeing U S GOVERNMENT tags on vehicles from the US FOREST SERVICE in Bankhead National Forest, and the Marshall Army area near Huntsville.

It is just how they are.

[AC0H]

Quote[/b] ]A Tech passing the General right now, to include Element 1, would become a General, not a Tech. Consequently, (If the January date is fact, and I have seen nothing to state that it is) whenever the new rule goes into effect, that person is no longer a Tech anyway, but a General. The rule would in no way affect him. Unless he wanted to UNlearn Morse!
This is correct.
If an NCT passes the General test now and the code test goes away 01/01/2006, then all he/she will have to do is present the CSCE for General theory credit to a VE team and have them shuffle the paper work to Gettysburg.

The same thing happened when the FCC dropped the 20 and 13wpm code requirements. Any Tech+ with credit for the theory tests could do the "paperwork" upgrade after the changes went into effect.

[KA3RFE]

Quote[/b] (AC0H @ July 23 2005,15:20)]Quote[/b] ]A Tech passing the General right now, to include Element 1, would become a General, not a Tech. #Consequently, (If the January date is fact, and I have seen nothing to state that it is) whenever the new rule goes into effect, that person is no longer a Tech anyway, but a General. #The rule would in no way affect him. #Unless he wanted to UNlearn Morse!
This is correct.
If an NCT passes the General test now and the code test goes away 01/01/2006, then all he/she will have to do is present the CSCE for General theory credit to a VE team and have them shuffle the paper work to Gettysburg.

The same thing happened when the FCC dropped the 20 and 13wpm code requirements. Any Tech+ with credit for the theory tests could do the "paperwork" upgrade after the changes went into effect.
The FCC change in Morse testing will not provide any "instant upgrade." A tech with code remains a tech with code. A tech who passes element 3 with code right now is a general. A tech who passes element 3 with no Morse test right now is still only a technician. The FCC did not address any privilege change or license class status in this NPRM. In fact, I believe they even said this in the document.

Whether or not the FCC is going to recognize prior sucessful completions of element 3 for upgrades that are still good has not been addressed. The only proposal in the NPRM is related to Morse code testing. Nothing else.

If it were me, and I was a tech, I would NOT be testing now in hopes that I'll get on HF without passing the code test. The FCC isn't saying anything about whether or not they'll accept this prior to the change in Morse requirments, or even if they are going to make changes in the rules to allow techs on HF anyway.

I wouldn't make any assumptions.

73

[n5tjd]

Quote[/b] (wx4ckv @ July 22 2005,19:41)]I agree, It was a great experience to learn cw. I acctually am re-learning it. This time the right way. There are some top notch CW Ops here trying to get me on there team for Field Day next year.
I am trying to do the same.

I've already made my feelings known on the issue, but I feel sorry for the ones this will affect. They will never know what it is like to pass a code test. The feeling you get when all the VEs (mostly older well experianced amateurs) surround you all giving you a pat on the back and wanting a handshake from the newest amateur to pass the ritual.

The written exam was just a test of knowledge, passing the code was what welcomed you into the fraternity. Back when the code speeds were 13 and 20wpm, it must have been even more exciting.

[KE7DZZ]

As a newly licensed NCT studying code and theory for my upgrade, I think dropping the code requirement is a bad idea.Learning and using code shows a dedication to the hobby that future "No Code" generals and above might not have. Regardless, I will get my general upgrade BEFORE the change goes into effect.

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (AC0H @ July 23 2005,15:20)]Quote[/b] ]A Tech passing the General right now, to include Element 1, would become a General, not a Tech. #Consequently, (If the January date is fact, and I have seen nothing to state that it is) whenever the new rule goes into effect, that person is no longer a Tech anyway, but a General. #The rule would in no way affect him. #Unless he wanted to UNlearn Morse!
This is correct.
If an NCT passes the General test now and the code test goes away 01/01/2006, then all he/she will have to do is present the CSCE for General theory credit to a VE team and have them shuffle the paper work to Gettysburg.

The same thing happened when the FCC dropped the 20 and 13wpm code requirements. Any Tech+ with credit for the theory tests could do the "paperwork" upgrade after the changes went into effect.
only the tech+ holders that took the test before march of 87 or so, the rest had to take the tests as usual.

[AC0H]

Quote[/b] ]A tech who passes element 3 with no Morse test right now is still only a technician.
If an NCT has an CSCE for the General theory test, all he/she will have to do after 01/01/2006, or whatever date the FCC chooses, is show the VE team that CSCE and fill out a new form 605. They've already got credit for the only remaining requirement for the General license.

I suspect there's going to be a huge run on General theory tests for the next several months.