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Author Topic: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees  (Read 12929 times)

K4EMF

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #45 on: April 26, 2019, 07:35:47 AM »

At the risk of making things worse.  I only meant I don't think the ARRL should be so obsessed with membership at all costs that they contribute to watering down the quality of Ham Operators for the sake of quantity of operators.   I did not mean to imply they were all bad all the time or have not done a great service for our hobby in the past.
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K1VSK

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #46 on: April 26, 2019, 07:48:22 AM »

At the risk of making things worse.  I only meant I don't think the ARRL should be so obsessed with membership at all costs that they contribute to watering down the quality of Ham Operators for the sake of quantity of operators.   I did not mean to imply they were all bad all the time or have not done a great service for our hobby in the past.
its always been quantity over quality. Quality doesn’t increase revenue
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W6BP

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #47 on: April 26, 2019, 01:30:56 PM »

There are over 750,000 licensed amateur radio operators, but currently only 1,162 comments about RM-11828 on the FCC web site. Even fewer, when you consider that some hams mistakenly posted comments for other RMs to the RM-11828 comment list. I hope everyone who posted here took the time to send the FCC their opinions.
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W9IQ

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #48 on: April 27, 2019, 04:06:50 AM »

At the risk of making things worse.  I only meant I don't think the ARRL should be so obsessed with membership at all costs that they contribute to watering down the quality of Ham Operators for the sake of quantity of operators.   I did not mean to imply they were all bad all the time or have not done a great service for our hobby in the past.
its always been quantity over quality. Quality doesn’t increase revenue

That must be an introspective analysis or an attempt at self deprecating humor because it is not at all reflective of the mission or activities of the ARRL. Consider the following sampling of "quality" improvement activities of the ARRL:

Books

The ARRL is a prolific publisher of high quality books designed to educate the amateur on all facets of technology, operating, propagation, station building, and licensing. The ARRL Handbook and the ARRL Antenna Book are the industry standards for reference material.

Periodicals

The ARRL publishes three magazines - QST, QEX, and NCJ all of which are designed to educate and inform. QST magazine is the most widely read and cited magazine in the industry.

Teacher Education

The ARRL developed and delivers an education outreach project to introduce teachers to Amateur Radio as an instructional resource and to provide an educationally sound curriculum focused on wireless communications.

Operating Events

The ARRL sponsors dozens of on the air contests and operating events designed to get hams on the air and to sharpen operating skills. The highly popular annual ARRL Field Day, for example, promotes public awareness,  provides camaraderie, and enhances field deployment readiness.

Technical Resources

The ARRL maintains a network of volunteer, appointed technical resources in each district to assist the average ham with technical questions and challenges and to provide educational seminars for ham radio clubs and events. In that role I have given scores of lectures on technical topics in order to enhance the technical acumen and skills of the hams in my and my neighboring district as well as resolving RFI issues for hams and government agencies.

Legal Defense

The ARRL has been a tireless advocate and resource to help protect the rights of hams to install and operate the antenna systems necessary for our hobby. The recent favorable NJ Supreme Court decision is an excellent example of bringing these resources to bear for the general good of our hobby. Without these efforts on behalf of the ARRL, our capabilities would be severely diminished in many municipalities.

Spectrum

The ARRL is the leading funding source and advocate for maintaining our existing allocations and the acquisition of our new allocations. Their work on a global scale is unequaled by any other ham radio member society or individual.

Scholarships

More than 90 scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 are awarded through the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program.


The list goes on but this sampling demonstrates that clearly the ARRL is not all about "quantity over quality" or "membership at all costs". Most hams entering this hobby are in every sense of the word novices from both a technical and an operating practices perspective. The ARRL has clearly positioned itself to not only attract these perspective hams into the hobby but to help these neophytes broaden their horizons and gain the skills necessary to fully enjoy their chosen aspects of the hobby with the bulk of the ARRL activity focused on the latter.

You don't need to agree with every position of the ARRL but it is clear, on the balance, that the ARRL plays a vital and central role in keeping our hobby visible, relevant, and moving forward. Amazingly, you do not even need to be a member of the ARRL to benefit from many of their services and offerings.

- Glenn W9IQ
« Last Edit: April 27, 2019, 04:11:12 AM by W9IQ »
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

KB9BVN

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #49 on: May 06, 2019, 07:48:51 AM »

Extra and General class hams, make a pledge this year to invite a few Technicians to your Field Day operation so they can experience HF goodness and then maybe get the INCENTIVE to upgrade to General so they can enjoy HF all the time. 

Technicians, Field Day is in June.  It's the most fun you can have while still fully clothed.  Go find a club, or group that is doing a FD operation and JOIN THEM.  Insist they allow you to work some HF so you can experience the joy of HF and get motivated enough to study for and pass the General exam.  You only need 26 out of 25 questions correct.

Good luck!

Just say HELL NO to RM-11828

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W9IQ

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #50 on: May 06, 2019, 08:51:01 AM »

You only need 26 out of 25 questions correct.

Wow, that test has gotten a lot harder since I took it! I may have to amend my teaching materials...

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

KB9BVN

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #51 on: May 06, 2019, 09:02:41 AM »

You only need 26 out of 25 questions correct.

Wow, that test has gotten a lot harder since I took it! I may have to amend my teaching materials...

- Glenn W9IQ

Oooops....color me red in the face,,,,

26 out of 35

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MACGUFFIN

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #52 on: May 21, 2019, 08:44:07 AM »

I am so confused.  OK, more than half the amateur population is still Technician.  And the problem is that techs are not upgrading.  So, why are we increasing privileges to make it more attractive to stay a Tech?

Why make it more attractive to stay a Tech?  Because there is another option besides upgrading, they might leave.  If we can't keep people interested in staying then they won't be around long enough to bother upgrading.
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MACGUFFIN

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #53 on: May 21, 2019, 08:52:24 AM »

The Tech today can do the same as many if not MOST Novices did in the 50-60's.....buy something that covers all bands so he can listen which many already do based on the complaining from them that 10M is dead.

If he doesnt want to invest in a IC-7300 or something equally inexpensive there are plenty of less expensive older rigs available for listening and using to transmit when the General or higher is passed.

So, we have a half million licensed Techs all listening to dead air?  How is this supposed to encourage them to upgrade?  Maybe if we give them some ability to transmit on these bands then they can add to the activity and encourage each other to upgrade.

There is absolutely NO REASON to give away the store without an upgrade.

We are talking about 200 watts maximum on portions of four HF bands, that's far from "giving away the store". 
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MACGUFFIN

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #54 on: May 21, 2019, 08:55:53 AM »

Unfortunately money talks, and the ARRL and radio manufacturers want more of it.

So you would prefer that people not buy radios to talk on HF?  I don't follow.
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K3UIM

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #55 on: May 21, 2019, 09:26:52 AM »

I am so confused.  OK, more than half the amateur population is still Technician.  And the problem is that techs are not upgrading.  So, why are we increasing privileges to make it more attractive to stay a Tech?

Why make it more attractive to stay a Tech?  Because there is another option besides upgrading, they might leave.  If we can't keep people interested in staying then they won't be around long enough to bother upgrading.
And if that doesn't work, issue them an Access Card so they can buy higher powered rigs. We'll be swamped! LOL
Charlie, K3UIM
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Charlie. K3UIM
Where you are: I was!
Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

MACGUFFIN

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #56 on: May 21, 2019, 11:09:40 AM »

I am so confused.  OK, more than half the amateur population is still Technician.  And the problem is that techs are not upgrading.  So, why are we increasing privileges to make it more attractive to stay a Tech?

Why make it more attractive to stay a Tech?  Because there is another option besides upgrading, they might leave.  If we can't keep people interested in staying then they won't be around long enough to bother upgrading.
And if that doesn't work, issue them an Access Card so they can buy higher powered rigs. We'll be swamped! LOL
Charlie, K3UIM


Right, it must only be about selling more radios because if it was about anything else then you would not have an argument.
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KB9BVN

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #57 on: June 18, 2019, 11:16:35 AM »

If you can't pass the General exam, you must be brain dead.

10 yr old kids pass it every week.

Stop whining and just study.

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KI5EMO

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #58 on: July 09, 2019, 03:22:09 PM »

As a brand new technician, I can tell you I did not take the test because of the bands or modes I would be able to communicate on. At the point I decided to take the test I had no clue what I would or would not be able to use, not use. Making more privileges available to Technicians will not draw more people to the hobby.

In order to "study" for the test I took practice tests one after another for about 3 weeks. Over time I saw all of the questions enough times to memorize the answers. When I took the actual test I missed 1 question (I have no idea which one). They asked immediately if I wanted to take the General test. I declined knowing that being able to memorize answers did not mean I was able to properly communicate on a radio. I will stay a Technician until I feel comfortable that I have gained as much knowledge as I reasonably can, then I'll upgrade again. The point being the test isn't that hard and the fact that my studying for the Technician's test should enable me to pass the General test as well tells me the General test probably isn't that hard either.

On the day of testing we were given ARRL brochures and asked to fill out a form providing contact info to the ARRL. Since then I have received emails and snail mail from then asking me to join. No doubt their research shows new ham operators as the leading source of new members. More members = more $$, plain and simple. At least in their eyes. Again, I do not believe their proposed changes will generate the rush to become ham radio technicians that they think it will.

73

KI5EMO
Paul
I do agree 100% with the person above who stated that in this day of "entitlement" a lot of younger folks may not want to take the test if they have to work very hard for it.
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KI5EMO
Paul

KZ4ZK

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #59 on: August 09, 2019, 10:24:11 AM »

I know a female who holds an Extra Class license and has no idea of the repeater concept......If I was a little younger and my memory was a little better, memorizing questions and answers would be pretty easy but ham radio never was about memorizing questions and answers. I am currently enrolled in an Extra Class class that teaches the substance of the exam. Hopefully after this 10 day class I'll be able to pass the test but if not.....I'll study some more and try again until I do pass. That's the way it should be done.....(rant over).

Smiley-KZ4ZK
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