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![]() "Thomas Horne" wrote in message ink.net... 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. Rest assured it does not come across as quarrelsome and presents some interesting talking points. 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. Consider this though. Even though not interested in DX work, there may be some need for long distance communications not just the ability to talk across the local area. In Katrina, everything was down and upon occasion a little bit more than just VHF/UHF was needed and used. I favor keeping the three licenses but if we had to drop to two, my choice would be General and Extra. 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 Keep in mind though that as N2EY has said many people do not have all that much background to build upon. I think the Tech and General writtens have about the right amount of difficulty my self. Dee, N8UZE |
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