Dan/W4NTI wrote:

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
t...

Carl R. Stevenson wrote:


And I think the three classes of license are reasonable and appropriate.
Tech becomes the "entry" license, general is "mid-grade," and extra is
"top." I don't see anything wrong with that ...

What do you think would be a good division knowledge wise between the
classes? The tech and general are not too bad now, knowledge to
privileges. I lean a bit toward having the Extra require a bit more
knowledge, or perhaps experience. I know a few no-experience Extra's and
it just seems (to me) that some "time in grade" might make the license
more meaningful.

- Mike KB3EIA -



Man you got that right Mike. It was that way, decades ago. The extra used
to mean something. Now it means squat.

To my logic, the top level should be exactly that - the top level. The
expert in the field. This should entail more than the test requirements.
The Extra should be able to be depended on to give intelligent and
accurate answers to normal situations that crop up:

"Whoa there fella, you're in the CW portion of the band operating
voice. Here let me show you where the band edge is."

"Ahh, the reason you can't work Europe is you have your dipole oriented
the wrong way."

"Here, let me help."

The general class op can of course be inexperienced Sometimes they can
do things in an incorrect or inefficient manner. But that's okay as long
as they eventually get it right. But if the highest class doesn't really
mean anything, perhaps there should only two classes

Don't believe me? Look at the before and after code gutting. I was going
to get a fancy 1X2 years ago. Glad I didn't now.

I'm still trying to decide what to do. I do a fair bit of contesting,
and KB3EIA is quite a mouthfull at those times. It's not too bad CW wise
(tho I haven't done CW contesting - maybe if I ever get good enough)

- Mike KB3EIA -