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#3
July 7th 03, 07:19 PM
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N2EY wrote: In article , (Steve Robeson, K4CAP) writes: Once the official FCC changes are made, by whatever method, I wonder how long it will take the unlicensed to become licensed...Now that there's NO excuse remaining? There's always an excuse, Steve. Here are some predictions for ya: The dropping of the code test will not be accompanied by a significant change in the written exams. Too bad. I'd like to see the exam restructured The dropping of the code test will not be accompanied by a significant, sustained increase in growth rate of the ARS. There may be a short term surge, and lots of upgrades, but total numbers will not skyrocket. Agreed. The dropping of the code test will not be accompanied by a significant change in the modes and technologies used by hams. There will not be a technorevolution, nor big increases in experimentation or homebrewing. Just more of the same of what has been going on. Agreed. I'd like to hear just what sort of technorevolution some people were expecting. Do people who do not have the time to take the morse code test have the time to invent new modes? Do they have time to invent digital voice modes that take up bandwidth than ssb? Let's see what happens in the UK. RSGB and RA have been pushing to drop the code test for a long time. Maybe they won't be disappointed. Just wondering. Don't hold yer breath. The usual bureaucratic delay will slow things down here in the USA. And remember, those who get the licenses after the change will be raw, inexperienced newcomers, who will need our help and guidance as they are welcomed into the ARS. And there you have one of the more interesting dilemmas to the ARS. Is a brand new Extra, who has never been on HF, even accept Elmering? Or will they insist that the conventions that have been developed over the years are not applicable to them. This is not as far-fetched as it may seem. I tried to help out a new Extra in a contest once. I knew he did not have any HF experience at all, yet he wanted a bare minimum of help. After showing him where the PTT was, and how to change bands, I started to explain the structure of a contest QSO. He interrupted me after the first sentence with a "not to be rude, but I'll take over now". I came back the next morning and saw the results of his work. Six QSO's! He was woring at the rate of 1 QSO per hour under *good* band conditions! Even in my own experience, I know that I had my extra before I should have. I went from General to Extra in a little over 6 months. I would propose that there be at least a year wait before upgrading to Extra. Ya just can't gain enough operating knowledge in less time. |
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