[Qcwa] Amateur Radio in 2035

[Phil Temples]

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No one seems interested in starting the "futuristic" thread I proposed
<sigh>.  No matterI'll start it. Perhaps my comments will get some
other opinions percolating.

The Amateur Radio Service of 2035 will not be too dissimilar from the
Amateur Radio Service of today. I think we'll find less emphasis on home
brewing and original construction. Instead, there will be more "systems
integration" and certainly more use of the digital modes. We'll see a
huge interest in linking our communications capabilities to the
internet, and in setting up private intranets on what microwave
frequencies we have left (e.g., 802.11). We'll become comfortable with
methods of communications that do not involve traditional ham radio -
like the later generations of IRLP and EchoLink to come. Who knows?
Perhaps, radio-based, distributed databases of accumulated ham
knowledge? Certainly, emergency communications will continue to play a
dominant role in justifying the existence of our hobby-service.

What about Morse code? We'll have a large, dedicated cadre of Morse code
enthusiasts.  Organizations like the ARRL, FISTS and others will
continue to sponsor popular contests and operating events for that mode.
Morse code will live on, and many will continue to use the mode because
it's simply fun.

I believe that _big_ changes will come about in our licensing structure.
Instead of the current Technician, General, and Extra classes, we will,
instead, have one single class of license  possibly two: Beginner and
Advanced. Morse code will not be a determining factor in earning a
license any more than, say, satellite communications or internet linking.

But, how will we measure one's abilities and proficiencies in the hobby,
you ask?  Here's what I think will happen: the ARRL and other non-profit
organizations (QCWA?) will sign on as "Certification Coordinators." (In
fact, this could be "pushed down" to the ARRL Affiliated Club/Special
Service Club level.) These CCs will sponsor continuing education and
qualification exams to test skills and knowledge of all manner of
topics: emergency communications, Morse code, DX, contesting, internet
linking/computer skills, antenna design, mountain topping, weak signal
modes, etc., etc.  You'll earn a nice certificate, along with "stickers"
that you can affix to your generic ham license proclaiming your
specialized skills and accomplishments.  And, the "step up" from a
Beginner to Advanced class of license will hinge on demonstrating
proficiency in topics drawn from a number of requisite home-study
categories. Such a system will be MUCH, MUCH more meaningful than the
current Extra class, in my humble opinion.

<OPINION> I find it fascinating that each generation of established
amateurs proclaims loudly, "The hobby is 'dumbing down.'" Or, "Ham radio
is going to hell in a hand basket." Personally, I'm gonna scream if I
hear one more old timer repeat this tired mantra at a club meeting or on
a mailing list.  If you ask most old timers who were licensed as
teenagers, they will (if they're being honest) admit that they didn't
know "beans" when they passed that difficult technical exam in front of
the FCC examiner. I too, fall into this category: This frightened
14-year-old was armed with little more than a basic knowledge of Ohm's
law, rules and regulations  and a LOT of memorized stuff about circuits
and oscillators  when he appeared before the Friendly Candy Company in
Chicago many years ago.

When you stop and think about it, what IS the real purpose of being
examined for an Amateur Radio license? Is it to ensure that one values
their ticket and the institution of Amateur Radio? Or, to prove that one
 already "knows it all"? I think not. I would submit that an amateur
exam ensures that one has a working knowledge of the hobby to the extent
that he or she will not commit some grievous error. The rest: the good
manners, the socialization, the learning, the instilling of the desire
to serve   these things are up to the rest of us and our communities -
not the FCC.  </OPINION>


73,

Phil Temples, K9HI

- --
Phil Temples <phil@temples.com>

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