What really amazes me is you folks don't know what the real test is for
getting on HF!!!! You have to do it!!! That means really figuring out how
to put up the appropriate antenna, tuning it, tuning and running your rig
properly, ect. You can get all the answers correct on today's exam and
still fail in the real world.

In fact, there have been "hams" here locally that tried for over a year to
"get out" and learned more in that process than they ever learned by
memorizing today's exam questions.

I submit that these IMPROVEMENTS recommended by the ARRL are a good start
and will have more people LEARNING how to get on HF. A GOOD thing. The
bands are FAR less busy than they were 30 years ago. Unless we get more
people into this great hobby, it's gone...

And to really improve HF operations on ham radio...we must get rid of the
archaic mode divisions on each band. I would like to see us have the same
privileges as the rest of the world's amateurs enjoy....or are we not good
enough???

73,
Chuck...K1KW

I really have to agree with you on this once Chuck. Yet it still bothers me
that the ARRL said they would rather see all the Techs get upgraded with no
written test. Your right, last year during field day, I learned more about
putting up HF antenna's and HF operating procedures than I had learning on
my own from a book. It seems its easier to learn hands on than it is trying
to memorize from a book.
Also, there aint nothing like putting up a tape measure dipole next to
another active antenna thats hooked up to a Mark V field running 200 watts
CW. Thats a nice tingling sensation!! Hi Hi.
73's Mike
KC2JGA


"Chuck...K1KW" wrote in message
news:jJ2Pb.87250$Rc4.367239@attbi_s54...
What really amazes me is you folks don't know what the real test is for
getting on HF!!!! You have to do it!!! That means really figuring out
how
to put up the appropriate antenna, tuning it, tuning and running your rig
properly, ect. You can get all the answers correct on today's exam and
still fail in the real world.

In fact, there have been "hams" here locally that tried for over a year to
"get out" and learned more in that process than they ever learned by
memorizing today's exam questions.

I submit that these IMPROVEMENTS recommended by the ARRL are a good start
and will have more people LEARNING how to get on HF. A GOOD thing. The
bands are FAR less busy than they were 30 years ago. Unless we get more
people into this great hobby, it's gone...

And to really improve HF operations on ham radio...we must get rid of the
archaic mode divisions on each band. I would like to see us have the same
privileges as the rest of the world's amateurs enjoy....or are we not good
enough???

73,
Chuck...K1KW

"Chuck...K1KW" wrote in message
news:jJ2Pb.87250$Rc4.367239@attbi_s54...

And to really improve HF operations on ham radio...we must get rid of the
archaic mode divisions on each band. I would like to see us have the same
privileges as the rest of the world's amateurs enjoy....or are we not good
enough???

73,
Chuck...K1KW

I think we need protection from ourselves. I think that way too many in the
US will not follow a voluntary band plan particularly in the heat of
contest. Keep in mind that with the exception of Japan, the US has more
amateurs than all the rest of the world combined and that world might find
it a bit of a nuisance if we did away with the splits and just had a band
plan like they do. The Japanese don't really figure in as so many of them
are inactive (their licenses are for a lifetime) or are limited to very low
power operations.

The only band where it is causes much inconvenience is the 40m band and that
is now, at last, on its way to being fixed. Last summer's international
treaty changes have directed the broadcasters to move out of 7.100 and 7.200
and that will become exclusively amateur. I forget the timing though but
it's just a few years. Perhaps in time, ITU regions 1 and 3 will have the
same extended 40m that we enjoy here in region 2.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE