[Boatanchors] No code

[Gary]

I don't think that the novice license (which limited the operator to
small cw bands) helped much with operating procedures when he upgraded
to general. The phone bands were a whole new learning experience over
again. What the license is supposed to be is a certification that the
operator has some basic understanding of how to function on the bands.
He then progresses from there hopefully.

There are too many that think a ham license is some kind of merit badge
that must be fought long and hard for and that obtaining it
automatically makes someone some kind of radio expert.

I  would ask why not require all hams to have a 4 year EE degree? That
should keep most of the "undesirables" out.

Time in grade is no guarantee to produce proficient hams in any part of
the hobby. That is very evident by listening just a little on most
bands. Some of the old timers are just as bad in operating procedure and
knowledge as some of the newer ones.

Some of the CB jargon sounds pretty dumb to a ham but remember that some
of the ham jargon also sounds pretty dumb to an outsider too. It is all
what you get used to hearing.

I have had friends that would have liked to become hams but had no
interest in the code but they were well versed in electronics. Much more
than the average ham. They could have contributed greatly to the hobby.

I have also seen people that would have liked to become hams for the
communications aspect of the hobby but had little interest in the
electronics part. Actually there are a great number of those kind on the
air at this time.

We have to remember that ham radio is a very diverse hobby with diverse
people involved. They all contribute in one way or another to its well
being and growth.

I am not a contester but I don't advocate keeping out those that live
only for contesting and care little about other aspects of ham radio.

73
Gary  K4FMX


Bob Wilder wrote:
 >
 > I agree fully with what you said.  I was trying to play devils
 > advocate.  But I do belive that all hams should start at the entry level
 > license, wait a year for the next level.  Then wait a year for the final
 > level under a three level system. This would give the new ham means to
 > practice proper operation procedures.  Would prefer the old Class "B"
 > method of actual drawing and labeling drawing of specific circuits at
 > all levels instead of multiple choice.
 >
 >
 >
 > At 04:29 PM 7/21/2005 -0600, Ray Friess wrote:
 >
 >> I dont buy the numbers game as a reason to lower the standards.  If we
 >> are going to do that then lets just do away with EVERYTHING and we'll
 >> have all kinds of numbers ... and we'll sound JUST like the CB
 >> channels, and we'll have as much intelligence and courtesy as we find
 >> there.   But at least we'll have
 >> large numbers of hams....     I can just hear it now on 20 meters...
 >> BREAKER BREAKER GOOD BUDDY OVER THERE IN ENGLAND AND ITALY .....
 >> (beeep of the roger beep and LOTS of echo boards and other squealing
 >> and grunting sounds from the toy boards ... maybe the infamous "female
 >> orgasm sound effect" board the CBers like to install too)...
 >>
 >> Wouldnt you just love it?   BUT at least we'll have the numbers....
 >> and that's the MOST important thing.
 >>
 >>
 >>
 >>
 >> Bob Wilder wrote:
 >>
 >>> In the past couple of years I have worked several Novice and
 >>> Technician class stations on CW.  Granted they are slow but they are
 >>> accurate.  Most of the No Code license holders want to use CW if for
 >>> nothing more than they just wanted do it on their own.  It is just
 >>> like the days when I was Class "B" and finally got Advanced and when
 >>> I went onto 75 meters, I was scared to death that I would something
 >>> wrong.  We need numbers as only 0.224% of the US population are
 >>> licensed radio amateurs, or about 165,000 hams out of over
 >>> 296,000,000 in the US.
 >>>
 >>> Bob  Wilder
 >>> 6032 Idlemoore Court
 >>> Theodore, AL 36582-4117
 >>> 251-653-5274
 >>> Asst USAF State MARS Director- Alabama
 >>> Alabama State Training Director,AFA2HD
 >>>
 >>> All incoming and outgoing messages are
 >>> checked for virus using AVG version 7.0.323
 >>> and Virus database (475) 267.9.2/54 updated 07/21/2005
 >>>
 >>> Get your copy of this excellent virus checker at
 >>> http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php
 >>>
 >>
 >>
 >>
 >>
 >> --
 >> No virus found in this incoming message.
 >> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
 >> Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.9.2/54 - Release Date: 7/21/2005
 >
 >
 > Bob & Carole Wilder
 > 6032 Idlemoore Court
 > Theodore, AL 36582-4117
 > 251-653-5274
 > Asst USAF State MARS Director- Alabama
 > Alabama State Training Director,AFA2HD
 >
 > All incoming and outgoing messages are
 > checked for virus using AVG version 7.0.323
 > and Virus database (475) 267.9.2/54 updated 07/21/2005
 >
 > Get your copy of this excellent virus checker at
 > http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php
 >
 >