Review of Novice license for radio amateurs The Netherlands is moving towards a realistic power level (100 watts) and improved band allocations for their Novice license holders A Google translation of the VERON news story reads: The national associations for radio amateurs VERON and VRZA have examined the Novice license at the request of - and in close collaboration with - Telecom Agency. The end result has been presented to Agentschap Telecom in the form of a report. In an official response, Agentschap Telecom thanks VERON and VRZA for picking up and completing this difficult job. Both the Review Novice license report and the full reaction of Telecom Agency to the report can be found in the two documents below. The reassessment looked again at the usefulness and necessity of the Novice license. A survey among radio amateurs was part of the study. Conclusions in the report are that harmonization in a European context (CEPT) should be pursued and that the Novice license - in addition to a step up to a Full license - is a fully-fledged amateur license. Agentschap Telecom endorses these conclusions. A number of recommendations are also made in the report. Agentschap Telecom makes every effort to adopt the following recommendations: • Release of the full amateur frequency bands 14.00 - 14.35 MHz (20 meters) and 7.0 - 7.2 MHz (40 meters). • Increasing the permitted transmitting power from 25 to 100 watt PEP for the Novice frequency bands below 30 MHz. Adopting these recommendations takes time, depends on approval by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and will not be realized before 2020. Until that time nothing changes and Novice amateurs are not allowed to use possible new band parts or higher transmitting powers. Source with links to documents https://tinyurl.com/VERON-Novice-License-Review Current Netherlands Novice allocation: 25 watts max power on all bands. Novice call = PDx. Bands are: 430.0-440.0 (from 436 MHz only secondary) 144.0-146.0 28.0-29.7 14.0-14.25 7.05-7.10 http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/june/review-of-novice-license-for-radio-amateurs.htm
Are PA oldtimers jumping out of windows over this 'giveaway' of privileges to their entry level hams? That's what happens over here..
There is a strong case certainly in the UK and Australia [which have very similar licensing systems] for holders of the entry-level Foundation License to have digital mode privileges. All of the Foundation holders I have met [and having done the course myself] are more than capable of using FT8 etc. Modern USB equipped radios make it even easier.
Belgium has 3 levels, and nobody has problems between the levels. Even the (lowest) Entry level in Belgium has more bands then the poor Novice in Holland. In Holland the Novice is really treated as a mistake-class, they have hardly any options to use. Moving from 25W to 100W doesn't do that much, they should have gotten at least the 80m band. BTW, the Novice in Holland still didn't get the new rulings, as the politicians are slow as hell. I doubt they get it before 2050
Most older hams here voted in favor of their license class. as stated it is still limited to a few bands and above 30 MHz 25 watts is still the norm. and yes i voted for the Novice license expansion. But then i;m only holding a license since 44 years.
