MEANINGFUL ENTRY-LEVEL LICENSE PRIVILEGES

I always felt that the ARRL plan was flawed with the auto upgrades. But the underlying plan was sound. An entry class License with both VHF and HF makes good sense. There are some questions in my mind about the phone privileges I would feel better if they eliminated the 40 and 80 meter privileges. The 40 meter Band is small and often very busy. A better plan would give the Technicians full privileges on the 10 meter Band and 21.35-21.45 on the 15 meter phone band. The power out put is about right.
73
Brock

 

OK ARRL,

Please, don't muddy the waters at this late date. Let this process take it's natural course.

Dennis

P.S. I am an ARRL member and have been even before I got my ticket.

 

Sounds peachy to me....

 

I can agree and also disagree with the ARRL proposal. I feel the ARRL hit it right on the money with the proposal and reasoning of leaving the 5WPM requirement for Extra.

However, the restructuring of HF privileges for Technicians I can disagree on. For one, it would cloud the whole incentive for upgrading to General, and in essence completely void the General Class license. Giving small increments of added band does not provide incentive in itself to achieve the next level. For many the whole incentive for General is access to HF.

What is wrong with simply removing the requirement for 5WPM at General level? This opens the door to those who either have great difficulty in learning Morse or have absolutely no interest in the Morse mode of operating.

Also, if people wish to upgrade from the entry level Technician, the General exam ensures that the potential upgrade has the additional knowledge of essential HF skills needed to "move up".

I also disagree with the ARRL's finding that a majority of Technicians do not upgrade due to the stumbling block of Morse. Of most Technicians I know, a majority of their interest lies in communications above 50 MHz. Since Amateur Radio has so many facets, and there is something for everyone, this doesn't mean all amateurs are interested in HF communications. I know many who only are in to Amateur Radio because they really enjoy 2M, 440, APRS, Airmail, Satellite, 1.2 GHz and other such communication techniques found above 50 MHz.

I also know many General and Extra's that spend a majority of their time in the HF bands because that is the facet of Amateur Radio that fascinate and attract them.

I feel that the Tech/General line is more of a border than a barrier, and has more to do with preference than ability.

 

" Sounds peachy to me......."
So it does to me....
They need to have something to earn the first HF spurs.
Then they can go forward or let the new-bought HF-rig get dusty on the shelf....who would want to do that, anyway.
Pity we are at the minimum of the sunspot-cycle, they will have to really chase the DX on 10 and 15.
Will that make them stop or go on?
I hope they all catch the bug!
73 de Hans

 

In July 2003 I walked in with no ticket and passed the tech and general test. We have an entry level license for HF and it is sadly enough the general class. It is easy to get and will be even easier with the end of code, not that 5 WPM is any challenge.

 

The Technician license will revert to its original intent if the code requirement is dropped.  it will, once again, become a license for those who wish to experiment with radio 50Mhz and above.  

Now, how many of you think that the current, and future, crop of techinicians will now begin to complain that the General test is just "too hard" and is a barrier to them enjoying HF privileges, raise your hands.

Let's see,  1, 2,  3, 4, 5.................

 

I learned morse at age 12 and first ham license at 13. Passed 20 wpm and second class radio telegraph commerical at age 20. But, as with all things, time rolls only forward and technology changes.

I certainly do NOT oppose the elimination of CW. It might be good in real hard situations where you're in a life boat and the mike won't work. Beyond that its hard to imagine cw at five wpm being useful for anything.

I did understand the FCC was thinking about extending the US phone bands, especially on 80 meters and on 40. What ever happened to that idea? If the ham of the future at the elite extra class level need only demo a five WPM code speed, of what use is the extensive band allocations for cw only?

Cheers and Beers.
W1IT/4

 

Something like this?

CW only privileges on narrow segments of 80, 40, and 15 meters. Power limitation, 75 watts. No VFO. This allows them to test the HF waters and make contact with some more experienced hams.

Limited voice privileges on 2 meters. Fixed frequency control and 75 watts power maximum.



Ed

 

That sounds a bit like the privileges of the Novice ticket I held in 1960.


Hmmmmm!!

 

Hi all,

I am trying to stay out of the fray but with these comment just burns me up! This is HOBBY the last time I checked people do it for fun some of us do it for public service with Skywarn and the other nets on the air.

Why is it we have to make it class war fair... my goodness people why? You act like it's the end of the world if the FCC changes the code requirement... SO they change it you’re still going to be on the air still treating people like crap still being the same idiots you say they are letting in by dropping the code... People you need to take a long look in the mirror.... if you stop and think about it you will not like yourself for what your saying and doing...How is it you beat your chest saying I learned the code blau... blau ... blau then a "new" Extra Lite as you call them shows up and you treat them like crap...? How is hobby going to make it doing that crap? You have a lot more fools on the HF bands now than you’re willing to admit… It’s rather obvious that did not do jack squat to keep them out… just seemed to amplify the stupidity of some of them.

Face it people unless things change for the times this hobby is dead and dieing a slow death...but how cares right? The hobby is nothing but CW or is it? You tell me?

I am not for totally ending the CW mode it does have a importance and a use I agree with that but in today’s age and technology it obsolete. I will NEVER be for abolishing it all together, no, I will not agree with that but the hobby need to move forward new technologies and advancements are going to keep this alive… Right now we have to make a stand or we are fighting a lost cause.


73's to ALL of you

Moe N4CQW

 

w5htw- yes go with your way and the code will Be back next year more trouble or go the fcc way and the trouble will Be gone in year or 2 ,73 Bill

 

n4cqw- sir good post 73 Bill

 

How long are we going to dance this mess around? How many more times will we go to the FCC and look like a bunch 4 year olds who just can't get along? Why does everyone need to kiss the bottoms of Extras and place them on a pedestal so they can look down on the rest of us? The CW test for Extras is like a rice cooking test for the Chinese. If 9 year olds can pass the Extra exam why would they possibly need a 5 wpm CW test?

It's time to stop the madness and go with a Single-Class licensing system. And we need to do this before the FCC decides to do it for us and impose a substantial admission fee in the bargain. Let the politicians go to Washington and let radiomen get on the bands.