[CW] ARRL MUST GET BETTER

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/6/05 2:13:50 PM Eastern Standard Time, n1ea at arrl.net 
writes:


> I don't like the content of "QST", I'd rather get "QEX" than "QST".
> 
> The technical content of "QST" has gone from "some extremely challenging", 
> to some "quite easy" to articles which are written at 6th grade level.

Has it really changed that much - or has your knowledge grown to the point 
that what was once challenging is now simple?
> 
> I enjoyed the section news and would often read about other sections as well 
> 
> as my own.  I'd look at the Brass Pounders League (BPL) scores and try to 
> remember the callsigns.
> 

Me too.


> I depended upon at least one article a month as something that would 
> introduce a new technical concept to me.
> 

> Remember "QST Extra" - those were interesting articles.
> 
They eventually caused the creation of QEX. 

Oddly enough, in other quarters you will hear complaints that QST is/was "too 
technical" and "trying to force new stuff down our throats" and such.

> "QST" now seems to have grown quite thin, especially if you discard the 
> advertising.
> 

Compare an old and a new QST and you'll see the percentage devoted to 
advertising hasn't changed much, if at all. What *has* changed is the use of color, 
which makes the ads more eye-grabbing. Allegedly.

> I've read "QEX" and I like it very much - I'd like to see that in "QST" but 
> 
> I grow increasingly annoyed by an ARRL that is selling everything a la 
> carte.
> 
> In the "old" days, you could buy ONE book - a license manual for Novice, 
> Technician, General, Advanced and Extra - plus it would have the latest FCC 
> and ITU rules and regulations.

The License Manuals I have (various issues from 1948 to 1971) did not have 
ITU regs for the ARS, only FCC. 

> 
> Now to get the same information, you have to buy multiple books at a 
> multiple price tag.
> 

Not the same information. What you got in the old days was:

- Explanation of the license structure, rules, privs and requirements.

- FCC rules & regs for the ARS

- Schedule of FCC exam points and how to apply for a license.

- Study guides ranging from about 3 pages (Novice) to about 16 pages (Extra) 
on the subject material covered in the written exams. These were in essay 
format, and were not the exact questions on the test. Answers were rarely more 
than a paragraph. 

What you get today in the study guide is the complete question pool for the 
license class, with each question worked out. 

IOW, the old LM simply showed you the subject area, and was not meant to be a 
stand-alone study guide. (Yes, some folks in the old days memorized the LM 
and passed, but in my experience they had the hardest time getting a station 
working and on the air).

The new license books are stand-alone study guides.

73 de Jim, N2EY