Perturbation

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Test Free Licensing

Posted: 30 Sep 2016 03:47 PM PDT
https://ke9v.net/2016/09/30/test-free-licensing/


Hardly a week goes by without hearing of another successful Saturday
licensing session resulting in new amateur radio licensees. These typically
the result of a cram session where a neophyte can walk in the door having
zero knowledge of the hobby, and walk out the door four hours later a brand
new radio ham.

I frequently complain about these puppy mills and am just as frequently
rebuffed by those who run them. Im told that no amount of study and testing
can create a radio amateur only hand-on experience can do that so the
notion is to get them licensed as quickly as possible and let nature run
its course.

And you know what? I agree with them. But that sort of begs the question,
then why dont we do away with license testing altogether? If these tests
are merely speed bumps to the entry of the hobby, lets dump them.

Twenty years ago I would have rejected the notion of eliminating testing
out of hand. Demonstrating proficiency in operating a transmitter was
considered essential to preventing chaos on the bands. And a certain level
of technical acumen was necessary to prevent unintentional interference.

Neither of these concerns are realistic to the amateur service in the 21st
century.Â*Transmitting equipment must be accepted by the FCC before it can
be sold and those who still home brew gear are rare and obviously smart
enough to know what they’re doing.

We seem to have reached a point where testing only perpetuates the business
of testing. The sales of license study manuals and Volunteer Examiner
puffery are the only real “winners� in this ongoing sham.



Incentive licensing was a worn-out concept in 1980. We have need of only
one class of license that conveys all amateur privileges and it should be
issued based on an application basis only – perhaps with a $100 fee that’s
good for ten years.

If radio amateurs wanted to volunteer to administer the issuance of
licenses and maintain that database, perhaps the fee could be used to help
fund FCC enforcement?

Think about it. You can’t churn out qualified radio operators from a
four-hour memorization session. Even the volunteers who promote this
process agree. New hams will learn best from on the air time and actual
practice. The testing process serves only to prop up the sales of study
guides, memorization tricks, and to create a point of control for volunteer
examiners.

That we’ve always done it that way is of no consequence, it’s time to move
forward.

It would be a wonderful if local clubs facilitated the application process
at the conclusion of an hour-long “get to know us better� club meet and
greet. Having new licensees become acquainted with seasoned local operators
provides tangible benefits – unlike the phony baloney memorization sessions.

Benefits include;

1. Cleaning up the FCC database thru regular license fees.

2. Potentially creating a fund for continued FCC enforcement activity.

3. Removal of costs associated with testing aids and study materials.

4. Elimination of the work associated with creating testing pools, etc.

5. Putting new applicants in touch with local clubs.

6. Streamlined process where all licensees carry all amateur privileges.

Perhaps best reason of all would be reality.

We’ve been perpetuating a 20th century concept and pretending that it adds
value to the amateur service. In reality, it’s a totem based on century old
ideas about exclusivity and false hope that it elevates our service when in
fact, its just a delusion to make us feel better about ourselves.

Am I wrong? Sound off in the comments below.

In article (KE9V via rec.radio.amateur.moderated Admin) writes:
I frequently complain about these puppy mills and am just as frequently
rebuffed by those who run them. Im told that no amount of study and testing
can create a radio amateur only hand-on experience can do that so the
notion is to get them licensed as quickly as possible and let nature run
its course.

And you know what? I agree with them. But that sort of begs the question,
then why dont we do away with license testing altogether? If these tests
are merely speed bumps to the entry of the hobby, lets dump them.

Am I wrong? Sound off in the comments below.

You are wrong. Listening on the bands we hear some of the problems
with the fast no-knowledge licensing. Partly, it is the vast silence
on many repeaters, partly it is the clueless nature of the folks who
are on the air and posting questions online that shows they have not
been getting advice from more experienced and knowledgable hams.

I am referring to two major problems: One is the lack of elmering in
the training process. New hams now get their license from the database
and don't get guidance from more experienced hams. Some of them get
their license, get a HT which goes in their emergency kit, and that is
the end of it.

The second is that the exams are getting easier - partly because the
questions are easier, and partly because the answers are published for
quick memorization. The technician license exam is now much more like
the novice license exam of years past.

We frequently see examples online, of people posting questions that
make one wonder if they even studied for a 4 hour cram course.

The answer is not eliminating testing. If anything, we should make
it more difficult, forcing the student into a longer learning process
with better retention of the material, and the chance for elmering and
advice from experienced hams.


I would, however, be in favor of reducing VE testing fees. The cost
of producing a printed exam should be a lot lower in these times where
VE goups have computers available, and filing the results online has
saved other costs. But reduction in testing costs doesn't seem to have
resulted in a reduction of VEC test fees.


Alan

On 10/1/2016 10:01 AM, KE9V via rec.radio.amateur.moderated Admin wrote:

Perturbation

///////////////////////////////////////////
Test Free Licensing

Posted: 30 Sep 2016 03:47 PM PDT
https://ke9v.net/2016/09/30/test-free-licensing/


Hardly a week goes by without hearing of another successful Saturday
licensing session resulting in new amateur radio licensees. These
typically the result of a cram session where a neophyte can walk in the
door having zero knowledge of the hobby, and walk out the door four
hours later a brand new radio ham.

I frequently complain about these puppy mills and am just as frequently
rebuffed by those who run them. Im told that no amount of study and
testing can create a radio amateur only hand-on experience can do that
so the notion is to get them licensed as quickly as possible and let
nature run its course.

And you know what? I agree with them. But that sort of begs the
question, then why dont we do away with license testing altogether? If
these tests are merely speed bumps to the entry of the hobby, lets dump
them.

Twenty years ago I would have rejected the notion of eliminating testing
out of hand. Demonstrating proficiency in operating a transmitter was
considered essential to preventing chaos on the bands. And a certain
level of technical acumen was necessary to prevent unintentional
interference.

Neither of these concerns are realistic to the amateur service in the
21st century. Transmitting equipment must be accepted by the FCC before
it can be sold and those who still home brew gear are rare and obviously
smart enough to know what they’re doing.

We seem to have reached a point where testing only perpetuates the
business of testing. The sales of license study manuals and Volunteer
Examiner puffery are the only real “winners� in this ongoing sham.



Incentive licensing was a worn-out concept in 1980. We have need of only
one class of license that conveys all amateur privileges and it should
be issued based on an application basis only – perhaps with a $100 fee
that’s good for ten years.

If radio amateurs wanted to volunteer to administer the issuance of
licenses and maintain that database, perhaps the fee could be used to
help fund FCC enforcement?

Think about it. You can’t churn out qualified radio operators from a
four-hour memorization session. Even the volunteers who promote this
process agree. New hams will learn best from on the air time and actual
practice. The testing process serves only to prop up the sales of study
guides, memorization tricks, and to create a point of control for
volunteer examiners.

That we’ve always done it that way is of no consequence, it’s time to
move forward.

It would be a wonderful if local clubs facilitated the application
process at the conclusion of an hour-long “get to know us better� club
meet and greet. Having new licensees become acquainted with seasoned
local operators provides tangible benefits – unlike the phony baloney
memorization sessions.

Benefits include;

1. Cleaning up the FCC database thru regular license fees.

2. Potentially creating a fund for continued FCC enforcement activity.

3. Removal of costs associated with testing aids and study materials.

4. Elimination of the work associated with creating testing pools, etc.

5. Putting new applicants in touch with local clubs.

6. Streamlined process where all licensees carry all amateur privileges.

Perhaps best reason of all would be reality.

We’ve been perpetuating a 20th century concept and pretending that it
adds value to the amateur service. In reality, it’s a totem based on
century old ideas about exclusivity and false hope that it elevates our
service when in fact, its just a delusion to make us feel better about
ourselves.

Am I wrong? Sound off in the comments below.


As a retired teacher of mathematics, who now does teach part of some of
the "quick repetition" classes, I agree that I don't like the idea. But
I think there can be a considerable benefit to these classes also. When
I am teaching one, I definitely don't just go over memorizing answers to
questions. I try to give "reasons" why the correct answer has to be the
right one, and also why the wrong answers are wrong. As reasons I spend
some time on each topic explaining what is really going on. A student
who is just looking for help with memorizing will find some of that,
since our brains do a better job of memorizing when there is something
to structure the item. But I can usually get them asking questions about
the "why" that seem to me to go well beyond just memorizing. The other
teachers who share these classes with me seem to have these goals also.

Yes, I'd like to change the class drastically, but for many reasons
beyond my control that is not going to happen. One of the reasons has to
do with who is taking the class: Many of my students are there because
some outside agency wants them to have a license, not necessarily
wanting them to know much. Various emergency services, some portions of
cell phone companies, etc., have a ham ticket on the path to promotion
or even holding the job beyond some initial temporary position. While I
have those students' attention I can try to "sell" what we all love
about ham radio as well as the desire to get a license, and to upgrade,
as a challenge to face. One of the guys who started with a technician
class I was part of was a VE at our most recent session: He is working
on his Extra ticket, and I feel certain he will get there.

Maybe there is a place for some of the complainers to become teachers
and do the job in a way they think would be an improvement!

Bob W, WA9D