HamRadioNow: That ARRL Entry Level License Survey

Sorry, anyone calling "Hi Hi" an abbreviation should have his license immediately suspended.

 

Respectfully, what excitement would that be?

I said something similar myself in regard to 10m being a poor choice for a Techs first HF experience. IMO, it should be a more reliable band.

 

With the current licensing protocols the extra memorization/learning required to obtain a general ticket make the incentive to upgrade almost a moot point as far as HF privileges are concerned. I think it actually encourages upgrades, it did for me.

 

This seems in strong contrast to the idea of a simpleton license and very much in the right direction, IMO.

 

The hobby is NOT dying. Numbers are on the RISE. If people don't want to spend a lousy month learning some stuff to get a license than tough. It's NOT that hard to do. Do young people today hate learning? Seems like it to me.

 

Eh, let's just let the Chicken Little hams believe that the hobby is dying. Maybe they'll go somewhere else.

 

We can hope!

 

Can you be more specific as to the age group. Currently their is an issue with the sub 30 group and I would hope that is isolated to that generation.

 

Hi hi!!

LOL!

ROTFL!

 

I can't say I agree with that. A segment of the population attains middle age every single year. Our young potential hams from 10 to 20 years ago, are now middle aged. We have a steady stream of middle aged potential hams that we do recruit, that "come of age" looking for a hobby in mid-life. I consistently read posts on social media from new hams, discussing their new license or upgrade, and many are in the 30-50 year old segment.

Comparatively, middle aged individuals are bound to be more active than younger individuals, once those younger folks hit young adulthood. Four years or more of college, building a career afterwards, and raising a family does not leave much time for OTA activity.

Good luck with the crusade.

Jim AB4D

 

Do people under 30 hate learning?

 

Eric, you are free to "completely and utterly disagree. The test only seems ridiculous to you, because apparently you have no interest in learning electronics and theory, which are basic building blocks that lead someone to learn about more complex electronic circuits and function.

If you had not memorized the question pool, and had actually applied yourself, you would know a few things of value. Such as, why we exist in the first place, and "talking on the radio is not really the main purpose of why we exist, or why we have the privileges and bands we are allotted. Our ability to "talk on the radio" is the reward for learning the all the non-fun stuff required by the regulations, so the Commission knows, we are capable and have the knowledge required to operate our stations in accordance with the regulations.

If you simply want to talk on the radio, there are other services for that, GMRS, CB Radio, FRS, etc. They require virtually no training at all, you can talk on the radio all you want, without ever being required to learn a thing or wasting one moment of your time.

The reason the test includes basic electronics and theory, because applicants are expected to, and are required by the regulations to learn basic electronics, not just cheat and memorize the questions and answers. It's consistent with the basis and purpose of why amateur radio exists.

97.1 Basis and purpose.

The rules and regulations in this part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles:

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art.

(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.

(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill.

Now turn your attention to (d). Do you understand, the Commission expects each licensee to make an effort to be all three, commensurate with their license class. That is why it's REQUIRED, that you know how many volts a circuit will produce using a certain set of components in a working circuit.

So it's not old hams making you do something you don't like, it's that pesky FCC!

Regardless, the hobby is not dying. Records show we have significantly more people licensed now, than 10 years ago. The only thing that is probably down? The number of members at the ARRL.

Are you sure, you are in the right hobby? From your comments, it really sounds as though your expectations are inconsistent with the basis and purpose of why we exist. Ham radio is not a buffet, you don't get to pick and chose at it.

BTW, CW has not been part of testing for many years. I agree, it's pretty cool using digital over the air. The smart phone does that uniquely well, no license or radio required.

73'

 

Excellent, I keep my APRS station up and running 24/7. I had my old packet radio gear from the 90's (KPC3/FT5100), sitting idle. So I burned a new EPROM with the latest firmware for my KPC3, and put it on APRS duty.

I'll look for your station.

Jim AB4D

 

Talking on the radio is the main reason I hold an Amateur Radio license. I have no desire to build radios or fix radios or learn to fix my own FT-450D anymore. I did plenty designing and repairing of medical equipment over my life time career so I just love to get on and talk and work contests and collect QSL cards now. I'll build my antennas but that is about it now. So am I a bad Amateur Radio operator now that my main love is to just talk on the radio and have fun getting to know other hams by talking to them?
I love to hear Dave W7UUU talk about all the old stuff he likes to restore but I have no desire to do that anymore. I do like to help my 8 year old grandson use his electronic building kit and help him learn though.

So I just talk and look for DX stations and work contests. And I love 6 meters.
John, WB0MPB
PS, I would prefer to go on a cycle ride or just sit out on the patio listening to nature then building an electronic circuit now. Maybe it's old age and just doing it for so many years. I did use to love designing and installing biomedical telemetry systems but I don't even miss that now.

 

I think this is the right direction, this is really what ham radio is about and always has been, IMO. I am pleased to see the ARRL taking this direction and the Maker types certainly don't need a free ticket, they are smart enough to earn one just like the rest of us.

Cool stuff http://makezine.com/2017/03/22/the-art-of-pcbs/