RadioBanter - View Single Post

November 7th 03, 12:24 AM

In article ,
(Hans K0HB) writes:

"Bill Sohl" wrote

They may be more realistic then we may think. How many actual
"homebrew" Novice or Tech rigs have you seen?

Realistic? Surreal-istic is more like it!

I assume you've read the KL7CC paper, Hans

This is the same mantra sung by NCI's ex Executive Director,
W5YI, and his fingerprints are all over this thing. He has
stated publicly that he feels that since people
who acquire entry level ham tickets invariably purchase their
equipment assembled these days, and send them in for
repairs when broken, they no longer need to possess the
knowledge needed to build good "home-brew" stations, nor
the knowledge to determine if their repairs/adjustments result
in proper on-the-air signals.

Bingo.

Because of this fact, he thinks that
the majority of questions regarding math and theory (knowledge
mainly needed to build/repair/adjust equipment) should
be removed from entry level tests, and simply replaced with
questions on operating technique and regulations.

Or not replaced by anything.

If he had
his way, math and theory questions would only be part of
Amateur Extra examinations.

If at all.

While I can't remember the last "fully homebrew" shack I saw

I can. It's downstairs.... ;-)

Actually, it's not 100% homebrew - some nonhomebrew test gear, a little
surplus, and of course the K2. And I didn't build any of the telegraph keys.

But the main rig, power supplies, antenna tuner, antenna, table, shelves,
cables and control system are all homebrew. You and 366 others worked this
station during SS.

(probably KG6AIG
back in the 60's, and even Luis had *some* commercial test equipment items
lying
about), it is extremely uncommon to find a shack where every item is
commercial
(or in it's original commercial state.) Homebrewing and modification to
commercial designs is especially alive and well in the QRP, contesting,
satelite, and microwave communities.

'zactly. Also kits and semi-kits.

The QCAO (Quarter Century Appliance Operators club) and ASSOOBA (Amalgamated
Simple Shacks On Our Belt Association) would love it, but this idea would put
our service on an immediate slide into nothing more than another consumer
orientated Family Radio Service, and the consequent abolishment of Amateur
Radio.

The *single* unique element which differentiates our service from all the
other
radio services is our authority to experiment, build, modify, and generally
tinker around and operate equipment which is not type accepted.

There's also the widespread use of Morse code for communications purposes....

The
"technical"
aspect of our hobby comprises 3 of the 5 reasons (paragraph 97.1) for the
existence of the ARS, and removal of this requirement for licensing would
tear the heart and soul out of the hobby.

(devil's advocate mode=ON)

But...but Hans....are you saying that all that theory stuff should be "shoved
down the throats" of hams who will never use it?

If amateurs were to be licensed without any requirement for electronics
knowledge, then it follows that type acceptance of all amateur equipment
would
be a requirement for sale.

Not at all. Just certification that a design was sound. Canada has this
already, and so does the UK.

How many rigs made in the past 20 years would not qualify for certification?

Used equipment, if sold to "no-Tech" amateurs
would
need to be recertified and "mod-free", and repairs could only be accomplished
by
FCC-approved service facilities. The cost of new equipment would rise to
commercial-service price levels, because of type-acceptance issues, and most
vendors would probably leave the market.

Doesn't all new equipment have to be certified anyway?

Sorry, but you guys are out to lunch with this cockeyed notion.

(devil's advocate mode=OFF)

On that we are agreed 100%

Code-Free, then Tech-Free .... what next, license free? CU on eleven, good
buddy.

One of the proposed ideas for the "Communicator" license is to remove most of
the "radio law" questions from the test and instead simply require that
applicants certify that they have a copy of Part 97, read and understand it.
Where'd they get that idea?

You watch, Hans - those of us who resist these ideas will be called "elitist"
and "stuck in the past" etc.

73 de Jim, N2EY