Well?

Think about it - what exactly *should* an entry-level license do? If
it insures that newcomers know enough to keep out of trouble (on the
air, anyway,) gives them a sample of what amateur radio is about, and
inspires them to learn and do more with ham radio, isn't that just
about perfect?


An entry level license test should expect knowledge of how to know what
frequency
your transmitter is on, what mode, the subbands for which modes, how to
identify
RFI problems (harmonics), simple antennas, rules about IDing, no
business traffic,
operating (pick a frequency nobody else is using to call CQ, but once
you're done
it's not your frequency anymore), simple emergency traffic operations.



Current Element 2 is very VHF/UHF centric, and so are current Tech
Plus privs. The goal seems to be to strike more of a balance between
above and below 30 MHz privileges.

Aside from propagation, there's really little difference from HF and
VHF/UHF.
Questions like "Is 80m likely to have good propagation for DX during the
daytime?"
don't really address issues of safety and interference to other
services. A beginner
will soon learn on the air what times and bands make sense for DX
operations.



So change the question pool, but don't dumb it down


How do we define "dumbing it down"? If 35 questions are adequate for
all amateur VHF/UHF at full meat-cooking power, plus 200 watts on
parts of HF, shouldn't 25 be adequate for the limited privs
proposed for the Novice?

Number of questions, given all the time you want to finish the test, doesn't
make a test easy or hard. 5 tough questions is a lot harder to pass than
100 really easy questions.




How much is it reasonable to expect a newcomer to learn in order to be
turned loose with ~100 watts on parts of HF and ~25 watts on parts of
VHF/UHF?



5 wpm code test retained for Extra only


Predictably, I do have a problem with that.


Me too. Should be at least 13 and preferably 20 wpm. Sending and
receiving.


Won't happen


Probably not, but it's still a good idea.

Why, no otehr service uses code anymore, and more modern data
modes now exist. Yes, they require more advanced equipment, but
modern equipment is much more reliable than the vacuum tube stuff
we had 50 years ago. NASA's JPL doesn't use Morse code with
the Mars probes. And that's really hard DX to do.





Moreover, it can be now,
since it has not been required by the ITU for the last six months.



FCC will most probably just drop it completely.


I think they will too


Unfortunately

What does the FCC get out of requiring code, now that the treaty doesn't
require it anymore?






Existing Advanceds get free upgrade to Extra,


OK


Why OK? Why not simply carry the Advanceds as a separate class, as
has been done for the past 3 years and 9 months?


Can't stand loose ends


What's the problem? FCC kept the Advanced on the books from 1953 to
1967
even though no new ones were issued and the license conveyed no
additional
privileges at all.



Do those loose ends really cause any problems?

Not that I can see. But if there is a problem, well, let's call 4 years
of experience as an advanced the same as passing the old element 4B,
and make them extras.



Some phone below 7100? No? Why not?


That space is needed for CW and digital modes.


Better to keep those on the Novice freqs and refarm more useful
spectrum to phone


Why reward the most spectrum-inefficent modes? Why not digital voice?


Maybe designate some subbands for new and experimental modes as
primary, and allow older modes on a secondary basis. That is, you
have to accept interference from them, and not cause them interference.
And encourage new methods of modulating the RF carrier directly
instead of say 2m packet where everyone just injected the modem signal
into their FM voice mode rigs. Not efficient.



Old Novice subbands replaced by additional CW/data

Maybe we might want some Morse code beginner subbands where new users
can feel comfortable operating and not get blown away by experts. As an
informal gentlemen's agreement. Need not be much bandwidth, a few "CW
channels"
should be enough.





Novice power level set below that requiring RF exposure evaluation


OK


Agreed.

Used to be 75 watts input power. Make it the level that most
commercial yeacomwood trancievers produce "barefoot".




How would you feel if it were decided to give all existing hams except
Novices a free upgrade to Extra, then have just two classes -
"Limited" (new name for Novice) and "Full" (everybody else)?

73 de Jim, N2EY



I would be OK with that only if the Techs got only a limited licence.

Then that'd be 3 classes then.




Why would Techs be singled out for a limited license? They have full
privs above 50 MHz.



I
would have no problem with giving Generals a full licence.



By your reasoning, there's no reason to have the Extra, then. Nor its
test.

Used to be the extra only gave you a shorter callsign (if avaliable) and
bragging rights.






Techs with old Element 3 (licensed before March 21, 1987) can get a
General
license *today* with no additional testing. Just show up at a VE
session with
proof of such license, fill out the 605 and pay the VE fee. Instant
General.
And if such a ham can pass the Extra written (might as well try, the
same
VE fee buys that test too), they get an Extra.

That's what I did. I did study for it, though. Wanted to "lock in" my
element 3
and element 1 anyway (so I wouldn't need to worry about holding onto old
copies of my tech license) and also might as well go for the whole
enchallida
while I was at it. Though that enchallida doesn't have a 20WPM topping...


Been that way since April 15, 2000.

73 de Jim, N2EY