Dee Flint wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
On Mar 4, 9:10 am, "Dee Flint" wrote:
"KH6HZ" wrote in message

...

There will ultimately be two classes of ham radio license.
Tech, and Extra.
Or Class A and Class B. A VHF+ entry-level license, and a license with
all
privileges.
Just as I suggested in my Y2K NPRM restructuring comments, I might add.
I disagree. My bet is that we'll indeed have a de facto two level
license
system but I think they will be General and Extra.
I've been on record for a long, long time advocating a one license
"system." However, I've compromised with Hans suggestion of a simple
entry level license, and a full license. Whover said we needed more
license classes ought to have his head examined.


Well it's hard to say what the right number of classes is. I would advocate
two licenses: a 50 question General exam and a 50 question Extra exam. The
material in the Tech & General tests has enough overlap and is basic enough
that it would not be a big hardship on applicants to master the combined
material. Going straight from a Tech or other entry level test to Extra is
a huge jump in both quantity and complexity of the material. It would
certainly discourage a lot of people and might increase the drop out rate.

Already our club is planning for future licensing classes to combine these
two. Of course, we'll have to create our own syllabus and figure out how
best to present the combined material. At this point in time, there are no
combined manuals that already address the material for both license classes.
In principle it would be similar to the Now You're Talking book that was
available prior to the 2000 changes, which combined the Novice and
Technician material in one integrated study guide such that a person could
study for both Novice and Tech writtens at the same time. Our goal will be
to not only help them get licensed, but to try for General right out of the
box.

As I see it, there simply is no longer a need for an "entry level" license.

Dee, N8UZE

Dee
If this comes across as quarrelsome then I apologize in advance. The
technician class license serves a useful purpose as a place for those
who are interested in local public service radio. I got two of my
Community Emergency Response Team members to take the weekend class to
prepare for the technician exam. Both of them passed and are now ready
to serve as Radio Telephone Operators (RTO) for there units. If
training for emergency communications service isn't a legitimate
function of Amateur Radio then nothing is. Not every one is interested
in DX work. The ability to talk across the area without depending on a
rather complex and brittle trunking or cellular system is attractive to
some folks. The only reason that I'm striking for the higher licenses
is that I'd like to learn more about radio and it's various modes of
transmission.

I believe that the present general is a little too light on the theory
however. I was able to prepare for the upgrade exam in only two weeks.
I was urged to take the element four exam when I turned in the element
three even if only to get an idea of what I was preparing for. It was
very humbling to take that element with no preparation but it did give
me an impression of the difficulty level of element four. From what I
saw something between the present general and the extra would be a good
level for the general test to be. A heavier emphasis on field
measurement and other aspects of Radio & Electric Safety would be one
aspect to consider making more demanding.
--
Tom Horne, KB3OPR/AG