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Old December 30th 03, 03:55 AM
Mike Coslo
 
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N2EY wrote:
In article et, "Bill Sohl"
writes:


"N2EY" wrote in message
...

In article ,
(Brian) writes:


(Steve Robeson K4CAP) wrote in message
...

Subject: Why You Don't Like The ARRL
From: (Brian)
Date: 12/26/03 3:01 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

How many amateur radio services do we really need? How many do you
really want?

One radio service with a TIERED license structure, Brain.

It is a "TIRED" radio structure.

Not at all!

It's a "tried and true" license structure.

When "incentive licensing" was re-established in 1968, there were about
250,000 US hams. Today there are about 680,000.



Bill,

Remember how the number of US hams barely moved from 1962 to 1968?

If you want Merit Badges, join the
BSA (or CAP).

License class is not a merit badge.


There is no need to have class distinctions between
hams artificially created by the FCC.

License class is not about class distinctions. It's about qualification
for privileges. In order to have full privileges, the knowledge to pass the
Extra is required. Same for the other classes. More knowledge, more


privileges.

But, as you and I have agred before, the privileges gained do NOT relate to
the additional knowledge needed for the higher license class.



FCC disagrees, Bill.

What is the technical competency difference between an Extra
operating SSB with a TS440 in the 80m Extra voice segment vs a General
operating the same rig at say 3.885Mhz?



Not much! But the FCC thinks it's a good idea to reward additional
technical knowledge with more privileges.


And so do I! The arguments of tying technical knowledge to priveleges
is completely bogus, irritating, and eventually self defeating. That
many NCTA's used it as an argument against Morse code testing does not
make it less so. It's just that now, that bird will come home to roost.

For that matter, what is the technical competency difference between operating
CW on the low end of 2 meters vs. the low end of 20 meters? (note that I wrote
*technical*)


What is the technical comptency difference between the Extra operating
in his or her segment of a HF band and an unlicensed CB'er running a
linear?

This doesn't mean an Extra knows everyhting there is to know about amateur
radio because they passed the tests. It just means that said Extra has
demonstrated the *minimum* knowledge required for full privileges.


The problem, again one we agreed on before, is that granting
additional frequency spectrum doesn't rationally flow from the
additional knowledge required for the higher license class (e.g.
Extra vs General, General vs Tech.


It rationally flows if you buy into FCC's logic on the matter.


I look at it as more of a philosophy thing than specific logic. They
seem to want people to learn things. Tying knowledge to priveliges is a
good philosophy in my estimation.

Would you rather that FCC did away with the Extra, Bill? For that matter, what
about the General?


If we adopt the philosophy, it could be done. Insane, but stranger
things have happened.


Allow the ham to distinguish
himself or herself, based upon actual achievements.

Such as?


Good question.


My point exactly.


Maybe we could have merit badges? 8^),

rest snipped

- Mike KB3EIA -