Try to list the type of antenna,  you DX with?

From the 539  yahoo site, listed at the top,It was posted by Ten-tec John.

The 539 has 160m.

This should be good news for Flex users, any down side reported?

Try to remember Armature Radio, is just a Hobby. Govern by the FCC ,by the power granted it by the US Congress.
At this time the FCC has ask Congress for 350 MIL for its next Budget. Ask your self , have they did a good job Govern Armature
Radio? I think No, look at the QRM by disaffected  (Bad) Hams, look at the argument above about the advanced license holders, its normal for the FCC to advance a license holder, when his type of license is fazes out by the FCC. But never have they make him retest for the same license ,before testing for a new license class, advanced ticket holders should only need to test for the Extra

So what is the FCC doing to our Hobby, and why 350 M budget? I think all Ham license should be brought into the 21 Century.
Starting by bringing back the Novice as a new Basic license to support phone and data modes as well as FCC Reg's, and drop the enfaces on CW and the same for the Tech license holder The new Tech should mirror the General license ,with less band space. If a Tech wants more band space, he must test for a full General license?

If you should agree with some this, all you need to do Wright or email your Congress Person and Win their endorsement .On what should change in this Hobby. And they will confront the FCC for you? Note: this will cause all hell, to break loose at The FFC, and should be done by groups with the best interest for our Hobby!

Who Are you talking about, and to who? The topic is about being back the Novice License as a Basic  21 Century license, and that will cause changes to the Tech license? The OP is asking your opinion on this new Basic license ,and how it should effect the Tech license,if phone and data modes should be added to it (Tech) and how the Basic license should support this?

You will find it here,www.vertexstandard.com

May be they will now the new QRP is built?

If they don't make improvements to it, then they need to cut it's price?

I agree, the ZM-2 best for QRP and ZM-4 is best QRO , they are magic ? the ZM-4 is a UK kit

I think, one should look at the differences in knowledge, that must be displayed for any Ham license? Each license type should
 Be geared to promote a better understanding of this Hobby. From a basic or foundation license, were new hams should learn
All the basics of this hobby,from FCC Reg's to how set up a ham station,and operate it ,on all bands granted to it including SSB FM, data modes, CW ,Its normal with each license upgrade to increase the band allocation ,of the license holders. We have then, the  (Basic, not yet approved ) Tech, General, and Extra license. All is needed, is to increase band space with each type of license, from Basic to Extra. This understanding would bring our Hobby (Armature Radio) into the 21 Century. Once all is decide, you must send you NCVEC Partition to the FCC. But most important is to send copies to your US Congress persons, to Win their sponsorship. They will send your document to the FCC. The FCC must put a cover on your document, that will read,( "Congressional investigation" ), and this worries lots of FCC Bureaucrats .
They will have to report back to Congress , and Bureaucrats just don't want say" NO to Congress."
They know if Congress comes ,back and ask why not. They then know their Jobs ,Could be on the line. Note: Some Hobbyist, will want to Restrict Transmitting power, On the Basic and Tech bands? Others Poster have said, Only !50 watts , And I agree with them.

1# Yes ,we should bring back a new beginners license, and the privileges granted to it ,must be geared to the 21 Century, and support SSB, and Data modes as well as the VHF, UHF Skills.
2# yes, the technician should be made a more Ham centric license ( Small General Type), and privileges granted it must also be geared to this Century.
It should have phone and Data mode privileges ,on more than one band. This will position Technicians in the same category as other license Hams, If he wants more band space as a Full General license holder , then he must test for it.

   I think we should change the novice name to Basic?
   I think we should change the name technician to something ells, maybe Technical or Major license ? That could give us the Basic, Major, General, and Extra Ham licenses?

Ham radio is a hobby that lets you communicate with others, via radio transmitter , that is governed by the rules of FCC.
that was granted to it ,by the Congress of the USA , among other things the FCC is meant to promote this hobby, with operating
Skills by, testing the hobbits. To do this it now has asks for help from the hobbyist ,that now conduct its own testing for its members.

The FCC has removed the beginner Novice license ,And this topic is about braining it back, as a new basic License.
And deciding what privilege it should have. And also about making the Technician license a more voice and data centric  license, and what privilege should be granted or lost .( I think it should be the same as General, with less band space ?)

1# Do you think we should bring back a new Basic Beginners license , if you do then what knowledge should be displayed privileges and band space granted?
2# Do you think the Technician license which has been a beginners type license ,should be change into a type of small General license ,with less band space . If you do agree, what knowledge should be displayed and band space granted?

I think phone on 75m above 3950 is better than phone on 40m, on 75m you find Elmer's that will help new hams ,and  also the spirit of Ham Radio reside their. Some new hams have homework to do ,and others are getting of from work needs time with the family , before getting on the air.

You do know, that data/digital signals are the new CW?