AmateurRadio.com

I see no problem with the Tech’s getting access to some hf freq’s. I think that Tech’s getting just data modes would be more of an incentive to upgrade than it would be by giving them voice too. Data would be a teaser. Getting voice too they may be satisfied enough and not upgrade. Again I don’t see how it would hurt by Tech’s gaining hf access.

PS…..I don’t say they have to because I had too. That’s so lame and stingy.

Extra/old 20 wpm N8WAC

Interesting and reasoned discussion, Tomas. I think the idea is to get more techs interested in upgrading to general, and as a side effect expand the ham base with younger people. Perhaps that will work, though they still would need HF equipment and perhaps mentors to make the jump. I agree there will be people who are understandably opposed as it does relax the entry requirements, which have been easing for a long time. On the other hand, technologies and interests do change, and organizations that don’t adjust will become increasingly irrelevant. It’s a fine line, but this seems to be one attempt to keep the hobby viable, and that is something to seriously consider.

I’m in favor of the proposal. Digital modes are the present and future of the hobby. There will always be a place for traditional modes like phone and CW but this should whet the appetites of new hams for more. The General isn’t that difficult, and should carry more privileges.

73/Bob (Extra since 1975)

I don’t agree with their logic. If you give them this there is no reason for them to upgrade. Because most of the younger people are really into radio like they use to be. Being a VE I’ve talked many of them and they still seem to think that a cell phone is better than Ham radio. And Digital modes (D-Star, Fusion, DMR)are better than HF. And I don’t think that it’s fair to the Hams who have studied to upgrade to the General and Extra level. I just don’t understand this just give it to people. No more earn it first.

I have to agree with W1ASA. The purpose behind incentive licensing was to hold the carrot out there to encourage advancement through learning. Open up the bands and there won’t be much incentive to have anything other than a Technician license.

I say no to the petition. I remember incentive licensing in the 1960s which ARRL supported that divided up the hf bands between extra, advanced and generals in an effort to spur “upgrades”. It did not work then and ARRL lost a lot of members due to hard feelings. The current petition will be a gift to Technicians with no incentive to upgrade. I say don’t do this, but if you must, put a one year time limit on the “gift”. If no upgrade to General or Extra, the the new bands go away.
History of licensing actions by FCC:
1912 radio act of 1912 created first and second grade amateur licenses
1951 fcc license structure decision – six classes of licenses created
1964 incentive licensing
1987 novice enhancement. novice and tech granted limited voice on 10 meters
1990 no Morse code for techs (above 30 MHZ)
2000 restructure – reduced to three classes -tech, general, extra. 5 wpm code for all.
2003 end of Morse code requirement
So, where are we today? Better because of the changes?
The old novice license had a time limit. Upgrade within the time limit or leave the hobby. That’s a strong incentive for one who wants to stay in amateur radio. If someone wants to remain a technician with tech privileges that’s fine. Don’t give away Gen and Extra assets to the techs without a requirement to earn them.

HF operation is not the great prize it once was, in the current technological context. Many new hams don’t find it compelling, even after they upgrade. It’s like offering a vegetarian a hamburger if they pass a test. I haven’t found the current Tech HF privileges to be particularly exciting. So I don’t think this proposal would achieve the desired effect.
Those here who want a “move up or move out” model are assuming that amateur radio is a hell of a lot more attractive to people than it actually is. Everyone that gets their licence is not “hooked for life”, and HF privileges won’t change that. We aren’t holding on to most of the new hams, except on paper. In fact, this idea that ham radio is some kind of exclusive club is exactly what repels new people. Exams don’t create good operators or good behaviour.

C’mon, write something. The written word is not dead.

I am NOT IN FAVOR of the ARRL proposal. Here’s why. The General test is not that hard, it is *not* a barrier to entry, and the topics learned while studying for that test include valuable lessons for the future HF operator. I also believe that people value things less that they did not work for themselves.

I know that ARRL is trying to prevent the extinction of our fine hobby, and I support that, but this is not the route. The problem is in mentoring — it’s easy to get a Tech license, but then, what’s a new tech to do? ARRL needs to focus on the community aspects of our hobby to reach and teach new hams, so they will discover the value of HF privileges, strive for, and attain that goal.

The problem is in keeping people in Amateur Radio. Many pass the tech test, only to grow bored or frustrated with amateur radio, and I attribute this to lack of mentoring. Giving away band privileges is not going to fix this.

I would have been a novice in elementary school if I hadn’t had to learn the code that I have never had an interest in using. The US was the last country on the planet to drop the code requirement, which was retained to keep the “unqualified” from becoming hams.
I have had a commercial radiotelephone license since the mid-70s, when I began a career in broadcast engineering and telecommunications.
I have never understood why both commercial and amateur licenses can be obtained by anyone who can memorize the question and answer pool, but lack even the basic understanding of the technology.
If it were up to me, there would be one amateur license just as there is one commercial drivers license, which I have held with tanker, doubles/triples, and hazmat endorsements since 1990. One would gain more access to spectrum as one demonstrated more hands-on functionality. A written test is irrelevant when didactic experience is required.

Great idea. HF is dead in more than one way. It is all About D-star and DMR. Who would want a big clunky radio and to have to put up an antenna when you can get on DMR or Dstar and get the same result. If they don’t give Techs HF privileges, HF will be completely dead before we know it and the radio companies will be gone. Except for maybe their commercial line. But Motorola owes that.

The comments about the techs being poor operators is crap. If it is in your area, why are you not becoming an Observer (I AM) and why aren’t you mentoirng them? This is the fix,not out here complaining. I send more bad poperator cards to Extras and Generals than techs. I have facts, not opinions.

I have a great idea. Eliminate the tech & General class licenses. Let’s have just the Extra class license. This way we will automatically eliminate the mentally challenged.

Or

Let’s make it the equivalent of CB. No License required . YES, That might jut do the trick.

“ How about ya skipland, this is the Gearjammer on 7.240 IM lookin for ya break break “

You jerks out there better get your head out of your ass and think long and hard about sponsoring your
BUDDIES that don’t have the ability to upgrade

I can’t support this proposal simply as an incentive to get techs interested in more expensive radios, Just like the no code push and the novice voice privileges on 10M back in the day. I believe this is just another attempt to sell more radios. There was no question pool at one time and you actually had to learn the theory and math involved with amateur radio. No voice privileges on any band was incentive enough for me to upgrade from novice to tech. No HF voice was my incentive to upgrade to general so I could talk on HF. the only incentive beyond that was a few extra frequencies and that wasn’t enough of a gain to make me want to do it other than my desire to learn more and improve on my skills. I passed 20wpm and my Advanced class exam and they did away with that class of license, that actually made me refuse to upgrade to Extra simply because one can never get the advanced license again so where was the incentive in that?
Testing is so much easier now than ever and if they want to upgrade to general the only thing stopping them is the lack of desire. Give everybody a participation trophy and nobody will work hard for the real deal. Same here, give privileges that are easily achievable to those who are not interested enough to study for and where is the reason to bother upgrading at all? If the simplicity of obtaining voice privileges now aren’t enough to lure them what makes you think giving them the reward without earning it is going to motivate them. It’s all about selling expensive radios to more people and nothing else. It won’t kill amateur radio either way but it will certainly do the opposite of what they claim it will, it won’t motivate them to upgrade any more than the system they have in place now. If you want them to upgrade drop the prices of your $2,000 radios to something average people can afford, that would really motivate them to upgrade.