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#2
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On 7 Jul 2003 14:21:15 GMT, Alun Palmer wrote:
We'll just have to think of something else to talk about. Besides, it's not over yet. The FCC will likely have multiple petitions to look at. For example, what happens to Techs? Should they all get Tech+ privileges? In the short term, that's what I personally expect we will see. In the long term, however, I think we will eventually have only two license classes instead of the current three (one for VHF/UHF only privileges, and one for full HF privileges in addition to that). 1. FCC remains under a congressional mandate to simplify regulations. The easiest system for FCC to administer would be exactly what I have outlined - either you have HF privileges or you don't. 2. Reading between the lines on the FCC's R&O WRT the last restructuring of amateur license classes leads me to believe that the commission would have preferred to do this in the first place but its hands were tied by the international requirement that WRC just removed. Absent that requirement now, FCC will be free to do what I think it would have preferred to do four years ago. 73 DE John, KC2HMZ |
#3
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Radio Amateur KC2HMZ wrote in message . ..
On 7 Jul 2003 14:21:15 GMT, Alun Palmer wrote: We'll just have to think of something else to talk about. Besides, it's not over yet. The FCC will likely have multiple petitions to look at. For example, what happens to Techs? Should they all get Tech+ privileges? Seems completely obvious to me that they should. In the short term, that's what I personally expect we will see. In the long term, however, I think we will eventually have only two license classes instead of the current three (one for VHF/UHF only privileges, and one for full HF privileges in addition to that). I disagree! The only reason to separate HF and VHF/UHF is/was because of the code test. HF licenses had to have code tests because of the old treaty. Once the new one is ratified, that reason goes away. Seems to me that in a nocodetest future it would make much more sense to let all hams have access to at least partial privileges on most ham bands, rather than continuing the artificial HF vs. VHF-UHF separation. How about this: Three classes of license - call them Third, Second and First for discussion's sake. Thirds have a simple written test and get to use a few modes (CW, SSB/FM phone, some data) on parts of all bands. Power limit is below that requiring RF survey. Callsigns are six characters, and Thirds can't be repeater control ops or VEs. Seconds have more modes, more space on the bands, and more power. Callsigns are five or six characters. Seconds can be repeater control ops and VEs. One year experience as a Third required. Firsts have all privs, callsigns with four, five or six characters, etc. One year experience as a Second required. You get the general idea. 1. FCC remains under a congressional mandate to simplify regulations. The easiest system for FCC to administer would be exactly what I have outlined - either you have HF privileges or you don't. But is that what's best for the ARS? I don't think so. 2. Reading between the lines on the FCC's R&O WRT the last restructuring of amateur license classes leads me to believe that the commission would have preferred to do this in the first place but its hands were tied by the international requirement that WRC just removed. Absent that requirement now, FCC will be free to do what I think it would have preferred to do four years ago. I think what FCC wanted several years back was pretty close to what they actually did - 3 classes of license, minimal or zero code testing. No medical waivers. Less written testing, too. 73 de Jim, N2EY |
#4
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#5
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(Brian) wrote in
om: (N2EY) wrote in message . com... Radio Amateur KC2HMZ wrote in message . .. On 7 Jul 2003 14:21:15 GMT, Alun Palmer wrote: We'll just have to think of something else to talk about. Besides, it's not over yet. The FCC will likely have multiple petitions to look at. For example, what happens to Techs? Should they all get Tech+ privileges? Seems completely obvious to me that they should. Ditto Novices In the short term, that's what I personally expect we will see. In the long term, however, I think we will eventually have only two license classes instead of the current three (one for VHF/UHF only privileges, and one for full HF privileges in addition to that). I disagree! I also disagree, same reason. The only reason to separate HF and VHF/UHF is/was because of the code test. HF licenses had to have code tests because of the old treaty. Once the new one is ratified, that reason goes away. Seems to me that in a nocodetest future it would make much more sense to let all hams have access to at least partial privileges on most ham bands, rather than continuing the artificial HF vs. VHF-UHF separation. Why limit band privs? Just limit power based upon safety reasons. How about this: Three classes of license - call them Third, Second and First for discussion's sake. How about two? Thirds have a simple written test and get to use a few modes (CW, SSB/FM phone, some data) on parts of all bands. On all parts of all bands. Power limit is below that requiring RF survey. Callsigns are six characters, and Thirds can't be repeater control ops or VEs. Fair enuf. But call it "limited." Seconds have more modes, more space on the bands, and more power. Callsigns are five or six characters. Seconds can be repeater control ops and VEs. One year experience as a Third required. Superfluous license class. Firsts have all privs, callsigns with four, five or six characters, etc. One year experience as a Second required. Two years as "limited" required. You get the general idea. Yup. 1. FCC remains under a congressional mandate to simplify regulations. The easiest system for FCC to administer would be exactly what I have outlined - either you have HF privileges or you don't. But is that what's best for the ARS? I don't think so. Two licenses are simple enough. All band/mode privs for both, with the distinctions being power, ability to operate automated or remote transmitters, and VE positions. Personally, I'd like to see the FCC write TOWER priveleges into the license as well. 2. Reading between the lines on the FCC's R&O WRT the last restructuring of amateur license classes leads me to believe that the commission would have preferred to do this in the first place but its hands were tied by the international requirement that WRC just removed. Absent that requirement now, FCC will be free to do what I think it would have preferred to do four years ago. I think what FCC wanted several years back was pretty close to what they actually did - 3 classes of license, minimal or zero code testing. No medical waivers. Less written testing, too. They chose 6 classes of licenses. They neglected to deal with the dangling Novice, Tech Plus, and Advanced issues. 73 de Jim, N2EY 73, Brian I'd like to see what the CEPT do at the end of this month in their meeting. At present they have two classes : Class 1 (full privileges, requires full theory test and 5wpm, recently reduced from 12wpm) and Class 2 (144 MHz +, reduced theory requirement, no code). It is not clear why Class 2 operators must stay above 144 MHz, as WARC '79 changed the lower limit for no-coders to 30 MHz, but I guess it is because of countries who had not implemented that at the time the areement was originally written. They could merge Class 1 and Class 2, but as there is supposed to be a difference in theory level, they may not. If they do merge them, as some rumours are suggesting, then Class 2s (such as both types of US Technician) would have full privileges including full HF access in every CEPT treaty country they visit. Clearly, though, the CEPT are going to abolish the code requirement for Class 1, whether or not they merge it with Class 2 or reduce the lower frequency for Class 2, and this will come about a month after when the ITU introduced the new s25 rules. This will have enourmous impact. All of a sudden, no-coders from all sorts of countries will be able to operate HF in other countries, if maybe not immediately in their own. Don't forget, in many countries no-coders have to take the full theory, so those will become Class 1 even if Techs are still Class 2! So many countries belong to the CEPT agreement that it will place a huge amount of pressure on individual countries to abolish code testing more quickly. In the interim, lots of no-coders would be able to operate HF only by going mobile and driving across a border! |
#6
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![]() "Alun Palmer" wrote in message ... I'd like to see what the CEPT do at the end of this month in their meeting. At present they have two classes : Class 1 (full privileges, requires full theory test and 5wpm, recently reduced from 12wpm) and Class 2 (144 MHz +, reduced theory requirement, no code). I believe that the only difference between CEPT Class 1 and Class 2 is the Morse requirement for Class 1 ... the written tests come from the "HAREC" standard ... and I *believe* that they are the same. So many countries belong to the CEPT agreement that it will place a huge amount of pressure on individual countries to abolish code testing more quickly. In the interim, lots of no-coders would be able to operate HF only by going mobile and driving across a border! Yes, ain't it *sweet*? :-) I expect the dominoes to fall quite rapidly. 73, -- Carl R. Stevenson - wk3c Grid Square FN20fm http://home.ptd.net/~wk3c ------------------------------------------------------ NCI-1052 Executive Director, No Code International Fellow, The Radio Club of America Senior Member, IEEE Member, IEEE Standards Association Chair, IEEE 802.18 Radio Regulatory Technical Advisory Group Member, Wi-Fi Alliance Spectrum Committee Co-Chair, Wi-Fi Alliance Legislative Committee Member, QCWA (31424) Member, ARRL Member, TAPR Member, The SETI League ------------------------------------------------------ Join No Code International! Hams for the 21st Century. Help assure the survival and prosperity of ham radio. http://www.nocode.org |
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