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Author Topic: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?  (Read 2390 times)

K6CPO

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #15 on: July 12, 2019, 04:15:42 PM »

What's wrong with the licensing system as it exists now?
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K0UA

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #16 on: July 12, 2019, 07:53:31 PM »

What's wrong with the licensing system as it exists now?

NOT a thing.. 
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73  James K0UA

K6CPO

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #17 on: July 13, 2019, 01:23:02 PM »

What's wrong with the licensing system as it exists now?

NOT a thing.. 

Exactly my point...
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W4JCK

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #18 on: July 17, 2019, 10:52:52 AM »

Yeah, I don't think there will ever be a thing like the old Novice license again.  For those of us who came up that way, it was a beneficial, if not always "fun" experience. I got mine when it was still a two year license - but unlike the initial versions, mine was renewable.  Those older tickets expired and you had to start all over - jeez.
It was a generational thing then.  You didn't have a casual interest in ham radio.  You wanted a license and you made a commitment - you had too or it wasn't going to happen.

I can say that I learned a great deal and garnered valuable experience from being a Novice.  Image all the Novices in the US crammed into two 50kHz segments - one on 80m and one on 40m at night.  You learned how to squeeze every bit of performance out of whatever equipment and antenna you had in order to make those canned CW contacts.  You discovered the joy that a 500Hz Collins mechanical filter could bring.  Understanding propagation was key to making the most of your operation time.  The list goes on.  You learned and studied or you just floundered.  No, not a great reason to bring the license back, but more of a snapshot of the time.  Self-reliance.

if you want a dose of nostalgia, take a look at what our brethren in the UK go through for a license.

The license  structure today seems to fit the environment we live in.  All of us "antiques" can continue to answer the questions we see posted here from newly minted Extras like "How do I hook up these red and black wires?"

Carry on.
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K0UA

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #19 on: July 18, 2019, 05:28:48 AM »

Yeah, I don't think there will ever be a thing like the old Novice license again.  For those of us who came up that way, it was a beneficial, if not always "fun" experience. I got mine when it was still a two year license - but unlike the initial versions, mine was renewable.  Those older tickets expired and you had to start all over - jeez.
It was a generational thing then.  You didn't have a casual interest in ham radio.  You wanted a license and you made a commitment - you had too or it wasn't going to happen.

I can say that I learned a great deal and garnered valuable experience from being a Novice.  Image all the Novices in the US crammed into two 50kHz segments - one on 80m and one on 40m at night.  You learned how to squeeze every bit of performance out of whatever equipment and antenna you had in order to make those canned CW contacts.  You discovered the joy that a 500Hz Collins mechanical filter could bring.  Understanding propagation was key to making the most of your operation time.  The list goes on.  You learned and studied or you just floundered.  No, not a great reason to bring the license back, but more of a snapshot of the time.  Self-reliance.

if you want a dose of nostalgia, take a look at what our brethren in the UK go through for a license.

The license  structure today seems to fit the environment we live in.  All of us "antiques" can continue to answer the questions we see posted here from newly minted Extras like "How do I hook up these red and black wires?"

Carry on.


There is much wisdom in the above post...
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73  James K0UA

K6BRN

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #20 on: July 18, 2019, 05:44:52 AM »

Well....   How DO you hook up the red and black wires?

:)
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N9AOP

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #21 on: July 18, 2019, 09:44:39 AM »

A while back I was watching a radio tech wiring up a Federal siren controller and he was using all black wires.  I asked him why and he said that the black spool was the closest to him.  I asked him what about the next guy that has to work on this installation and he said 'everybody knows where all the wires belong'.
Art
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K1VSK

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #22 on: July 18, 2019, 09:51:52 AM »

It would be interesting to see if the current crop of Extras could pass the old Novice exam requirements.
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SOFAR

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #23 on: July 18, 2019, 10:07:50 AM »

It would be interesting to see if the current crop of Extras could pass the old Novice exam requirements.

How about you put some effort into upgrading to Extra?

Interesting how the chronic complainers, can point fingers, yet always have excuses for their own shortcomings. Lack of drive.
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K1VSK

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #24 on: July 18, 2019, 10:48:07 AM »

It would be interesting to see if the current crop of Extras could pass the old Novice exam requirements.

How about you put some effort into upgrading to Extra?

Interesting how the chronic complainers, can point fingers, yet always have excuses for their own shortcomings. Lack of drive.

Good example of attacking the messenger when you can’t contradict the message.

Not that it should matter but I was in no way complaining but simply stating a point - guess I struck a nerve with you.

I can easily pass the Extra exam but as it serves no purpose to me, it isn’t worth my  time driving to a VE test session. And it certainly proves nothing. 
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K4EMF

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #25 on: July 18, 2019, 02:27:30 PM »

It would be interesting to see if the current crop of Extras could pass the old Novice exam requirements.

I've done the old Novice and now have a new extra.  I could do Novice again now, if only just. 
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W6WF

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #26 on: August 09, 2019, 07:49:26 AM »

I earned my novice license back in 1960....A military career delayed my upgrading to Extra shortly after retirement. I really have no problem with current licensing BUT wonder if we might add an additional class. "Communicator".  My wife recently studied for her Tech license and while assisting her I kept hearing her say "Why do I need to know what a cold solder joint looks like" I will never crack open a radio nor am I interested or will I ever repair one.  I just want to communicate with the rest of the world and do emergency communications work. Strange thing she really likes CW.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I took the new Tech test on line and failed it. I admit VHF/UHF etc has left me behind.

Now the trend is to complain about FT-8 and I can remember the days when there was AM vs SSB debate.

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KZ4ZK

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #27 on: August 09, 2019, 10:06:38 AM »

Licenses don't mean what they used to.....I know of an Extra Class license holder who doesn't have the slightest idea of the repeater concept. That's sad.....
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KB2FCV

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #28 on: August 15, 2019, 09:00:58 AM »

The current Technician class has the HF privileges of the Novice class - CW on 80,40,15 + CW & Phone (And digital?) on 10m. Your step daughter can get her Tech, learn CW (or not & stay on 10m.. which is kinda so-so at this current point in the solar cycle) and get on HF.

I too started with my Novice in the late 80's and I think it was nice getting on HF first.. but the current Tech can get on HF right away.

I don't see any reason to change / add a Novice class. I don't see the license classes / exams reverting back to the way it was.
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NO2A

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RE: Is It Time to Bring Back the Novice License Class?
« Reply #29 on: August 15, 2019, 10:19:47 AM »

My VE team routinely has high school (and some younger) students pass the General class exam.
Especially nowadays the General class has so much more hf spectrum privileges then ever before. If, you're seriously interested in Amateur Radio. When you tune across the Novice part of the bands, how much activity do you hear? Maybe some QRP on those calling frequencies, but how much else? I always loved cw but I don't see any demand for a new Novice class.
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