Morse code not on the way out

[KI8RK]

Me too - license arrived October 14, 1967.

Please don't take offense at the bold italic as it is being used just to seperate our respective comments

Very similar, yes. I was a freshman in high school then.

No, we didn't. Novices never had 6 meter 'phone.

You are correct about that. I could only work two meters at our club station as I could not afford a rig myself (until a friend got me a deal on a lunch box "twoer"). The club had a Cleg 22 and a six meter rig (matching) next to it and that is probably what I remember.

We did have 145-147 MHz on 2 meters, CW or phone, for a time. But in the late 1960s the 'phone went away, then 2 meters, for Novices.



Nope. Sorry, that's just wrong.

By "went away", the context of the statement was in attaning privileges. Since the newbies could no longer aquire the novice after that, for all intents and purposes of this discussion, it went away for new people at that time.

First off, the Novice license still exists today. It underwent many changes from 1967 until April 15, 2000, when FCC stopped issuing new Novice licenses. But over 14,000 still remain on the current unexpired database.

Second, the changes known as "incentive licensing" went into effect in the late 1960s. In 1967, the Advanced was reopened to new issues after having been closed since Jan 1 1963. Also, the Novice license term was doubled to 2 years. In November 1968, new subbands-by-license class went into effect, so that Generals and Advanceds lost some bandspace on 80/75, 40, 20 and 15 meters and only Extras had full privileges. IIRC, in November 1969 some of those subbands-by-license-class were changed again.

Ok, I did skip a lot of things. This is all true, of course. However, I was trying to stick to the original statement that starrted this thread (about removing the exclusivity of the extra only portion of the cw bands) and not trying to write a book on the history of license evolution based on my somewhat failing memory.


I wouldn't want to, but I would, if that was required. In fact, my attitude would be one of "BRING IT ON!!".

Likewise, and I applaud that. Me too. But again I was trying to interpret as acurately as possible the thought of the original post.

The real issue with "incentive licensing" was that most of the hams in the mid-late 1960s had only been licensed a short time and never knew anything other than "Generals get it all".

Btw, in 1967, a ham with 45 years' experience would have been licensed in 1922.

BTW, the 45 years was stated in the current timeline (1967 - 2012) ???

73 de Jim, N2EY

Thank you for your insight, 73

[KI8RK]

SRI ki8rk . I meant WN9HJW had it correct. Not whining by the why, but they should do the right thing and grandfather all advanced class.

No problem. Thank you for the history. I must admit that some of these threads are difficult for me to follow correctly. The twenty year hiatus (I too was away for several years and missed alot) explains my misconception. You make very good points for your argument, and, I guess it comes down to a number of individual's preferences trying to address a somewhat subjective subject.

Anyway, anyone that is looking for more room to work CW has my respect as I too love cw and with a Vibroplex straight key. -73

[G4LNA]

My limit is my spelling, terrible, oh for an implantable spell-checker

[WB9UJS]

There is no 6 month time endorsement for the T2. In fact a T3 holder is NOT authorized to operate a ship station open to public corresondence by telegraphy. See Element 5 question 5A45. On the FCC Commercial License website it says that a T3 is authorized to operate certain classes of coastal stations - nothing is said about ship stations. The T3 takes examinations over elements 1 and 5 + the code tests 16 groups per minute and 20 wpm plain text. The T2 takes written elements 1, 5, and 6 and takes the 16 gpm and 20 wpm plain text code test. The FCC says they are issuing about 15-20 T2 tickets a year mostly for ops at ship museum stations + IT'S FUN! It's great to work toward a goal and have somethng tangible to show for your endeavors. I would think most ROs would be honored that there are those who want to strive to learn and appreciate their work which made the profession of the radio telegraph operator one of honor and skill. The ship license is good for a five year term - yes we keep it renewed along with USCG certifications and deck training, because we still cruise on the ship.
-73-
Mark
WB9UJS

[K8BL]

N0JX
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I don't quite follow the logic here regarding LEARN the CODE and EARN the privileges. Code is no longer a requirement to earn privileges. Just follow the FCC rules and pass a simple exam(s) to earn privileges.

Originally Posted by K8BL
Bottom line: LEARN the Code and EARN the privileges.

Nothing more & nothing less. Read the Rules and simply abide by them. Or, follow the Rules and see if they can be reasonably changed. Spare us all the whining!!

--------------------------------------------------------

N0JX left out the context that referred to Incentive Licensing. That's where you LEARNED the Code and EARNED the Privileges.

Of course we ALL know there is no longer a Code requirement.

So now, with No-Code Extras, the message is "PASS the Test and EARN the Privileges".

Aren't all Americans getting sick of everything being watered down and dumbed down and GIVEN away? Doesn't anyone have to work for anything
any more? The RULES say you must have an Extra to operate in particular Band Segments - LIVE WITH IT! Or, get off your duff and PASS the Test!

Stop whining about not being GIVEN privileges! We're all sick of hearing about it for 40+ years!!

[KC0TJO]

Your mistake is in comparing HR to a college degree, or anything that is not a hobby. It is a simple test, one that a freshman in HS can easily pass, even 40 years ago. If you want a button or hat to wear to the hamfest, you can buy one emblazoned with whatever saying you feel will convey your message the best. If you want a special callsign, you can apply to the FCC vanity program for one. If you want a notice on your license, you can run it through your home printer, and add any sort of special wording that you feel necessary, something like "Hey, I can do 20 WPM!" or something similar. Then you can hang it next to your sheepskin and point it out to visitors to your home.

It really is amazing the length some hams will go through to prove their "worth" to others, or the silly things they come up with as part of their "special recognition".

Joe

Very well said.
KC0TJO

[KB7FHK]

I will not become an Extra until I can pass the test without having to memorize the questions and answers. Last test I missed it by one question! I can't comment on the CW, the military forced me to learn CW before I knew about amatuer radio.

So if None of the questions and answered were published and a person actually had to study or learn by some other means then their ticket would be earned and those who really had a desire to be a HAM could become a HAM.

The big picture is all a scam anyway. More hams=$$$$ for special interest groups, manufacturers, and anybody who can figure out a way to profit from their or someone elses ticket. So the more the requirements are dumbed down the more participants, and the bigger the wallet.

[KB7FHK]

Give a listen to 20M I and you will definately hear a few that don't want or need to use HAM radio for the intended purpose and these ops also verify the fact the dumbing down the requirements has degraded a great hobby.

[K7JEM]

Give a listen to 20M I and you will definately hear a few that don't want or need to use HAM radio for the intended purpose and these ops also verify the fact the dumbing down the requirements has degraded a great hobby.

I think this is a common feeling, but pretty much unproven. Everyone wants to assume that "dumbing down" (whatever that means) creates the poor operators we have on the air, while ignoring societal changes that have occured over the same time frame. I would suggest that HR is more a reflection of the society we live in, and less a result of any changes in testing. When profanity and obscenity are accepted talk on the street and in TV and movies, we need to expect the same on the air. When common courtesy is gone in human interactions such as driving or visiting the mall or eating establishment, why would we expect different on the ham bands?

HR evolves on pace with society, either for the better or worse. We can't expect HR ethics to stay in 1969, when society has "evolved" to 2012 norms. It just doesn't happen that way.

Joe

[N2EY]

It really is amazing the length some hams will go through to prove their "worth" to others, or the silly things they come up with as part of their "special recognition".

I don't see it as "silly" to value, document, and celebrate achievement. Even though amateur radio isn't a job, real achievement is worth noting.

And the mechanisms for such are already in place. We have awards for working all states, zones, many countries, grid squares, and much more. ARRL's code proficiency program has been around for longer than I have, and goes up to 40 wpm. (Used to stop at 35 wpm, but then there were so many hams asking for more that they added 40 per).

In fact, I think we need more recognition of achievement, not less.

Of course license test requirements are a completely different issue.

73 de Jim, N2EY