N2EY:

Yes, your list there shows how quite insane FCC licensing has been,
however, the arrl has to bear a lot of this blame also, they used
political pressures for their personal gains.

The longest journey begins but with the first step, there are many
necessary steps now to bring amateur radio back in line with sanity...

John

On Thu, 04 Aug 2005 13:50:13 -0700, N2EY wrote:


wrote:
Perhaps someone can clear up one issue for me.....why do we take a
morse code test to gain access to phone portions of the bands? It has
never made sense to me that you had to pass a code test to operate HF
phone.....

For the same reasons that you take tests which include questions on
homebrewing to use manufactured radio sets.

For the same reasons that you take tests which include questions on
voice modes to use Morse Code and data modes.

For the same reasons that you take tests which include questions on the
limits of VHF/UHF ham bands to operate on the HF/MF ham bands.

For the same reasons that you take tests which include questions on RF
exposure and electrical safety to use low power battery-operated rigs.

For the same reasons that you take tests which include questions on
transistors and ICs to use vacuum tube rigs.

Etc.

Suppose someone wanted to operate a low-power Morse Code amateur radio
transceiver on 7020 kHz. Just a simple 50 watt transceiver and dipole
antenna, with key and speaker.

To operate legally, such a person would need an Extra class license,
which requires passing tests that include all sorts of stuff that is
unnecessary for the legal and correct operation of the above station.


73 de Jim, N2EY