In article , Alun
writes:

However, ham radio is not a job or a vocation, just a hobby.

For many hams that's true.

But does that mean there should be no standards or requirements to join?

I welcome the
unmotivated as much as I would welcome anyone else. Why shouldn't they
have fun too?

OK, fine.

What do you think of this idea, Alun:

Require all new hams to pass the Extra written in 10 years or less or they get
tossed off the amateur bands.

Is that a good idea or a bad idea?

If someone wants HF and doesn't want to learn code, why
should they bother to study for a VHF and above licence, when they could
be scuba diving or building model railroads or what have you? (Not hobbies
of mine, personally, but whatever turns you on). I know this is sacrilege
to true beleivers, but so what?

OK, fine.

If someone wants to operate radios rather than build them, why must they learn
a lot of theory stuff that they are not interested in? To suit someone else's
idea of what amateur radio should be?

Why is a Technician Plus class licensee qualified to do anything allowed by the
rules on 2 meters, but not on 20 meters? What special knowledge is imparted by
the General and Extra class written tests?

The notion that only hams should decide the future of ham radio is just
that, a notion. I can absolutely guarantee that it is not a point of view
shared by the FCC, and it makes little sense to me either. At the very
least all prospective hams have a vested interest, irregardless of the
reasons they don't have a licence, reasonable or otherwise. I'm sure the
FCC would cast their net a lot wider than that.

Actually the FCC won't cast their net at all. They don't do polls or surveys -
just comments, petitions and proposals.

How many comments did the last restructuring get - 2500? Almost all of them
were from already-licensed hams. Less than 1/2 of 1%, too.

73 de Jim, N2EY

"N2EY" wrote

What special knowledge is imparted by
the General and Extra class written tests?

The tests aren't designed to 'impart' knowledge. They are designed to
determine if an applicant meets some predetermined minimum qualifications
for the level of license being sought. (I'd have thought you knew that.)



What do you think of this idea, Alun:

Require all new hams to pass the Extra written in 10
years or less or they get tossed off the amateur bands.

I don't know what Alun thinks, but I think it is a superb idea. In fact,
I've suggested it to the regulators.

73, de Hans, K0HB

(N2EY) wrote in
:

In article , Alun
writes:

However, ham radio is not a job or a vocation, just a hobby.

For many hams that's true.

But does that mean there should be no standards or requirements to
join?


Not atall. I think the current theory tests are reasonable

I welcome the
unmotivated as much as I would welcome anyone else. Why shouldn't they
have fun too?

OK, fine.

What do you think of this idea, Alun:

Require all new hams to pass the Extra written in 10 years or less or
they get tossed off the amateur bands.

Is that a good idea or a bad idea?

It's a pretty silly idea. If we can let someone on the air with a Tech
licence today, then why not 11 years later? Time limitations have always
been artificial. I may think it's a waste if someone stays a Tech for
decades. I will almost certainly encourage them to upgrade, but I don't
think their licence should be cancelled.


If someone wants HF and doesn't want to learn code, why
should they bother to study for a VHF and above licence, when they
could be scuba diving or building model railroads or what have you?
(Not hobbies of mine, personally, but whatever turns you on). I know
this is sacrilege to true beleivers, but so what?

OK, fine.

If someone wants to operate radios rather than build them, why must
they learn a lot of theory stuff that they are not interested in? To
suit someone else's idea of what amateur radio should be?


They can actually do that on CB, FRS, etc. I have no problem with that. Of
course, there are tight limitations on what they can do, designed to
ensure that they are harmless with their lack of knowledge, and
unfortunately often ignored on 27 MHz.

Why is a Technician Plus class licensee qualified to do anything
allowed by the rules on 2 meters, but not on 20 meters?

Because they know a bit less, and their signals will mostly only be heard
locally, hence limiting the potential effects. Granted that the additional
privileges of the Tech+ are not entirely consistent with that theory.

What special
knowledge is imparted by the General and Extra class written tests?

The General doesn't impart much in that way. The Extra does, however
require a better knowledge of radio theory.

I'm not sure that the present licence classes are very well tailored, but
politically it could be hard to change.

Personally, I'm in favour of a two tier system, where those who pass the
easier test stay above 30 MHz, or at least above 28 and maybe with access
to 1.8, but I don't actually think it's going to happen quite like that.
Too much inertia.


The notion that only hams should decide the future of ham radio is just
that, a notion. I can absolutely guarantee that it is not a point of
view shared by the FCC, and it makes little sense to me either. At the
very least all prospective hams have a vested interest, irregardless of
the reasons they don't have a licence, reasonable or otherwise. I'm
sure the FCC would cast their net a lot wider than that.

Actually the FCC won't cast their net at all. They don't do polls or
surveys - just comments, petitions and proposals.


Agreed

I was just commenting why I don't think a 'hams only' poll is the right
idea

How many comments did the last restructuring get - 2500? Almost all of
them were from already-licensed hams. Less than 1/2 of 1%, too.

73 de Jim, N2EY


It is, however, important that others could file a comment if they wanted
to.

73 de Alun, N3KIP

"N2EY" wrote in message
...
In article , Alun
Actually the FCC won't cast their net at all. They don't do polls or
surveys -
just comments, petitions and proposals.

How many comments did the last restructuring get - 2500? Almost all of
them
were from already-licensed hams. Less than 1/2 of 1%, too.

Actually one could consider the opportunity to post comments as functionally
equivalent to a poll. Anyone can file a comment, licensed or not, citizen
or not. That's as democratic as it gets.

All interested persons have the opportunity to know that these issues are up
for comment since they are listed on publicly available government pages.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE