[Boatanchors] The ARRL's next move

Glenn Little WB4UIV glennmaillist at bellsouth.net
Thu Mar 1 23:22:08 EST 2018


I have to agree.
A license to use federally controlled frequencies has to be earned, not 
given.
No where in the rules is the word "hobby" used.
Amateur radio is a service.


    §97.1   Basis and purpose.

The rules and regulations in this part are designed to provide an 
amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the 
following principles:

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to 
the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, 
particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to 
contribute to the advancement of the radio art.

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules 
which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and 
technical phases of the art.

(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service 
of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.

(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to 
enhance international goodwill.

These new "hams" went to a two day class and on the second day they were 
given the test before they could forget enough answers to not pass the test.

The VECs are encouraged to randomize the answers within the questions.
If the test were properly prepared, in a class of 15 people, each could 
be given a test with all of the questions the same, but, not in the same 
order and with all of the answers randomized. With this no two tests in 
the room would be the same. It would make it impossible for the test 
teacher to say that answer a is correct for the question that deals with 
xyz. The VECs will not do this because it makes their job "too hard".

I was a Master Training Specialist in the Navy. This is the way that we 
gave tests. The fastest way for me to get to see the CO was to teach a 
test. I refuse to teach a licensing course for this reason. I refuse to 
teach a test.

Just my thoughts on this disaster.

The bar is too high, so, rather than increase the knowledge level, lower 
the bar.

See you in the microwave spectrum away from the kids and lids.

73
Glenn
WB4UIV

On 3/1/2018 3:33 PM, Hal Dale wrote:
> I'll go with that to Jim.....ARRL has lost touch....Hal/WB4AEG
>
>
>
>
> ---- On Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:26:46 -0500 Jim <Jbrannig at verizon.net> wrote ----
>
>
>
>
> If "Curmudgeon" is current speak for one who thinks things should be earned
>
> Count me in...
>
>
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: Michael Clarson
>
> Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2018 2:15 PM
>
> To: Mark K3MSB
>
> Cc: Boatanchors List
>
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] The ARRL's next move
>
>
>
> Geez, Mark. Curmudgeon much? Perhaps, just some of those 378,000
>
> techs, the tech license meets their needs. Some get their licenses and
>
> never get on the air. Others want to get on the air, but get no help
>
> from the locals because they have no interest in CW -- don't want to
>
> become "real" hams. Perhaps being able to do more with their licence
>
> will spur them on to bigger and better things for themselves and the
>
> hobby. Sure the old tests were harder, but they were just the
>
> beginning of what you can learn and do with the hobby, that is, unless
>
> all you want to do is buy a rig and collect DX entities on CW. --Mike,
>
> WV2ZOW
>
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 1, 2018 at 1:49 PM, Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi Bob
>
> >
>
> > 95%+ Of my operating is CW; all my DX awards and operating event awards
>
> > are CW, and I’ve been called upon as a CW “ringer” by various clubs in the
>
> > local area for contesting. So, CW is a passion of mine.
>
> >
>
> > That being said I have to disagree with you about your comment on CW.
>
> >
>
> > When the CW requirement was in effect is served two purposes. The first
>
> > was that it was necessary for emergency communications, and the second
>
> > was
>
> > that it acted as a gate-keeper; you had to exert effort to learn the code
>
> > to join the “club”.
>
> >
>
> > Today CW is not required for emergency communications not is it mainstream
>
> > like it was in yesteryear. With the removal of the requirement, the gate
>
> > also went away.
>
> >
>
> > Couple that with public posting of all the exact test questions and
>
> > answers
>
> > and you have no gate through which anyone has to pass to get a license.
>
> > No effort needs to be exerted; just memorize your way to a license.
>
> > In yesteryear, those that “could” earned a ham ticket; those that
>
> > “couldn’t” didn’t (or went into CB). The technical bias level within the
>
> > amateur community was high. Today, those that “can’t” just memorize
>
> > some
>
> > more and eventually get their ham ticket. We all know what that does to
>
> > the overall technical level.
>
> >
>
> > Combine that with the “entitlement” society we’ve become and it would just
>
> > be “unfair” if little Johnny failed to get his ticket. It might hurt his
>
> > self-esteem.
>
> >
>
> > The solution is not to make the exams so hard that you need an EE degree
>
> > to
>
> > pass, but rather to ensure people that want them have to earn them. I’m
>
> > not sure what the “correct” answer is, but not publishing the exact
>
> > questions and answer would be a good step. That’s not going to happen.
>
> >
>
> > From ARLB007 from the ARRL today, they say 378,000 of the licensed
>
> > amateurs
>
> > are Technician level, which is more than half of all licenses. What the
>
> > heck does that say? 50%+ of current hams can’t pass the General exam?
>
> > Won’t take the time to do so? Or Both?
>
> >
>
> > “…that had taught him something about human nature, that challenge and
>
> > difficulty mattered less to the great majority than accomplishment and
>
> > gain….” Greg Bear “Eternity”.
>
> >
>
> > 73 Mark K3MSB
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > On Mar 1, 2018 11:48 AM, "K5MYJ" <macklinbob at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
>
> >> BTW:
>
> >>
>
> >> There is no requirement for tech to pass any kind of CW test before
>
> >> trying
>
> >> it.
>
> >>
>
> >> They should fix that.
>
> >>
>
> >> Bob Macklin
>
> >> K5MYJ
>
> >> Seattle, Wa.
>
> >> "Real Radios Glow In The Dark"
>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark K3MSB" <mark.k3msb at gmail.com>
>
> >> To: "Rob Atkinson" <ranchorobbo at gmail.com>
>
> >> Cc: "Boatanchors List" <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
>
> >> Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2018 4:47 AM
>
> >> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] The ARRL's next move
>
> >>
>
> >>
>
> >> Why not just upgrade to General?
>
> >>>
>
> >>> Oh, sorry, stupid question……. It’s early morning and I haven’t had my
>
> >>> first
>
> >>> cup of coffee…..
>
> >>>
>
> >>> A year or so ago when the ARRL had their parks on the air program
>
> >>> running,
>
> >>> a local club from the Harrisburg PA area activated a tunnel that was
>
> >>> somehow associated with the PA Turnpike or the old Pennsylvania Rail
>
> >>> Road.
>
> >>> I noticed they had no CW listed so I sent the club an email saying I’d
>
> >>> be
>
> >>> willing to go along to do CW. I said I’d bring my own radio, antennas
>
> >>> etc.
>
> >>>
>
> >>> I was told "No! The reason: the public coming to the site would not
>
> >>> know
>
> >>> what CW was!
>
> >>>
>
> >>> 73 Mark K3MSB
>
> >>>
>
> >>>
>
> >>> On Mar 1, 2018 5:43 AM, "Rob Atkinson" <ranchorobbo at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>>
>
> >>> It's kind of interesting that nothing is done to foster CW operation
>
> >>>> in this petition.
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>> Rob
>
> >>>> K5UJ
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>> On Wed, Feb 28, 2018 at 8:38 PM, Randy Berry <randyn3lrx at gmail.com>
>
> >>>> wrote:
>
> >>>> > Phone privies for Techs on more HF bands along with some digital
>
> >>>> privies..
>
> >>>> >
>
> >>>> > http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-requests-expanded-hf-
>
> >>>> privileges-for-technician-licensees
>
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>
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>
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>
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>
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>
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>
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-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn Little                ARRL Technical Specialist   QCWA  LM 28417
Amateur Callsign:  WB4UIV            wb4uiv at arrl.net    AMSAT LM 2178
QTH:  Goose Creek, SC USA (EM92xx)  USSVI LM   NRA LM   SBE ARRL TAPR
"It is not the class of license that the Amateur holds but the class
of the Amateur that holds the license"



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