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Author Topic: GENERAL ?  (Read 2274 times)

K1QQQ

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GENERAL ?
« on: August 15, 2019, 04:09:13 PM »

Wonder why the GENERAL thread is LOCKED ? !!

I wonder how many are still around that went through INCENTIVE LICENSING ? Amateur Radio lost allot of users of the hobby back then. It was the way it was done. (all GENERALS were demoted)

Otherwise I have thought about the Technician thing of present interest.

Hey..make the dying hobby more alive ?

Personally what I have observed 2019 with Technician I'd more beg for the CB craze to come back. I get slammed for some observances so I will not elaborate.

The present license that everyone should crave is the Technician. It is what is happening 2019 !!!

The GENERAL gives somebody just about anything they might want minus some little EXTRA segments. (of coarse the exotic DX might be there) Is the test that hard ?

I would think the EXTRAS would begin to get irked by the desire of a free ride. Why have any test at all ?
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AA4PB

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #1 on: August 15, 2019, 04:26:09 PM »

My cousin and I were Generals when Incentive Licensing went into effect. We both put in a little study and upgraded to Advanced. It gave us some nice QRM-free frequencies to work each other for a while. A couple of years later I upgraded to Extra so I could help out the local club with volunteer testing. I always felt that it did what it was designed to do - give people an "incentive" to upgrade.

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Bob  AA4PB
Garrisonville, VA

W6MK

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #2 on: August 15, 2019, 04:32:26 PM »

Wonder why the GENERAL thread is LOCKED ? !!

I suspect it has to do with the trolling aspect of the original poster. Seasonally he comes around with
similar posts, which like many if not most of his posts, get people wound up because they are both
repetitive and somewhat less than profound.

Incentive licensing has some good points. It encourages hams to develop a bit more depth of understanding
of principles. Not that it is any kind of barrier for people of average intelligence. I've read that 10 year-olds have passed the Extra exam. It really is not difficult. You can miss a lot of questions and still pass.
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K3UIM

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2019, 05:29:31 PM »

Wonder why the GENERAL thread is LOCKED ? !! I wonder how many are still around that went through INCENTIVE LICENSING ? Amateur Radio lost allot of users of the hobby back then. It was the way it was done. (all GENERALS were demoted)
I'm lucky that I can blame my ignorance on my old age, but  … Huh?? Demoted? To what? Am I still a General license holder? Not?? What am I? Aarrgghh!!
(Passed the code and theory in either 62 or 63.)
Charlie
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Charlie. K3UIM
Where you are: I was!
Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

K3UIM

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2019, 07:50:43 PM »

When I took the test, my only interest was to be able to create, modify or experiment with whatever unit I might be working on at the time and not be afraid of a multi antenna vehicle coming up my driveway with devastating news about illegal frequency intruding. I had no inclination to further advance my license, so I never did.

Looking back though, it seems like I may have lost some freq's since the 60's.

Hey! I'm still satisfied with what I have along those lines, although I'm a bit in the dark when it comes to digital circuitry. Being 85 years and aging as I speak, I don't believe I'll be doing much studying for any "updates" though! Blame me?? Hi.

Charlie

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Charlie. K3UIM
Where you are: I was!
Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

KA1VF

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2019, 09:23:27 AM »

 November of 1967 was the date that Incentive licensing took effect,
and prior to that date all General class had the same band and freq
privileges as an Extra class.


              73,
                   Bob
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N9FB

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #6 on: August 17, 2019, 08:43:08 AM »

not to open a can of worms, but there were earlier periods that complicates things.

In 1923, the Department of Commerce created a new top-level license, the Amateur Extra First Grade, that conveyed extra operating privileges. It required a more difficult written examination and a code test at twenty words per minute.

In 1933, the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) reorganized amateur operator licenses into Classes A, B and C.

Class A conveyed all amateur operating privileges, including certain reserved radiotelephone bands. Amateur Extra First Grade licensees and Amateur First Class licensees with "unlimited radiotelephone" endorsements were grandfathered into this class.

Class B licensees did not have the right to operate on the reserved radiotelephone bands. Amateur First Class licensees were grandfathered into this class.

Class C licensees had the same privileges as Class B licensees, but took their examinations from other licensees rather than from Commission field offices. Because examination requirements were somewhat stiffened, Temporary Amateur licensees were not grandfathered into this class but had to be licensed anew

Then in 1951, the FCC moved to restructure the existing three license classes (A, B, and C) into six new classes: Novice, Technician, General, Conditional, Advanced, and Amateur Extra. Each license class required two exams, one on theory and one on Morse code, and each license was valid for five years (except Novice). Until the advent of incentive licensing in the late 1960s, the Technician, Conditional and General classes shared the same written examination and the Conditional, General, Advanced and Amateur Extra classes shared the same operating privileges.

The Advanced class was earned after the General Class through passing the Element 4A theory exam. Class A operators were assigned Advanced Class licenses following the 1951 structure decision.[9] Although existing Advanced Class licenses continued to be renewed, new licenses were not issued in the period 1951–1967.

In 1964, the FCC and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) developed a program known as "Incentive Licensing," which rearranged the HF spectrum privileges. The General/Conditional and Advanced portions of the HF bands were reduced, with the spectrum reassigned to those in the Advanced and Amateur Extra classes. It was hoped that these special portions of the radio spectrum would provide an incentive for hams to increase their knowledge and skills, creating a larger pool of experts to lead the Space Age.[citation needed] It did not take effect until 1968.

I remember back in 1976, when i became a Novice, there were some senior Advanced Class hams who were still somewhat bitter over the fact that they had once been Amateur Extra First Grade licensees with some exclusive privileges back in the day, only to see Generals eventually be given full privileges in 1951, and then to have some of their phone frequency privileges taken away and given only to the new-fangled Extras in 1968... may not seem like a big deal to us today, but it clearly was to some of them ...

see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_licensing_in_the_United_States
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"When you throw dirt, you lose ground."

K6CPO

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2019, 03:39:37 PM »

I see no reason to change the licensing system.  It's just fine the way it is.

The current licensing system isn't the reason people don't upgrade or don't stay in the hobby.  That problem rests squarely on the shoulders of al of us.  Not enough is done to engage with people after they obtain their licenses and show them the myriad of things they can do in ham radio.  The ranks are full of bunch of old farts that are stuck in the 1950s and 60s and refuse to embrace new technologies and refuse to do any "Elmering."  And while we're at it, there's a word that ought to be dropped from our lexicon. It's outdated and likely doesn't mean a thing to newcomers.  If we were to start using the word "mentoring" like other programs aimed at youth, maybe the reception might be more favorable.
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K0UA

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #8 on: August 18, 2019, 05:48:34 PM »

I see no reason to change the licensing system.  It's just fine the way it is.

The current licensing system isn't the reason people don't upgrade or don't stay in the hobby.  That problem rests squarely on the shoulders of al of us.  Not enough is done to engage with people after they obtain their licenses and show them the myriad of things they can do in ham radio.  The ranks are full of bunch of old farts that are stuck in the 1950s and 60s and refuse to embrace new technologies and refuse to do any "Elmering."  And while we're at it, there's a word that ought to be dropped from our lexicon. It's outdated and likely doesn't mean a thing to newcomers.  If we were to start using the word "mentoring" like other programs aimed at youth, maybe the reception might be more favorable.

I believe you are right on target. 100% on target.
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73  James K0UA

K6CPO

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2019, 10:38:30 AM »

I see no reason to change the licensing system.  It's just fine the way it is.

The current licensing system isn't the reason people don't upgrade or don't stay in the hobby.  That problem rests squarely on the shoulders of al of us.  Not enough is done to engage with people after they obtain their licenses and show them the myriad of things they can do in ham radio.  The ranks are full of a bunch of old farts that are stuck in the 1950s and 60s and refuse to embrace new technologies and refuse to do any "Elmering."  And while we're at it, there's a word that ought to be dropped from our lexicon. It's outdated and likely doesn't mean a thing to newcomers.  If we were to start using the word "mentoring" like other programs aimed at youth, maybe the reception might be more favorable.

I believe you are right on target. 100% on target.

Thank you.  Too bad more hams don't see it that way.
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W6MK

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2019, 06:35:56 PM »

I see no reason to change the licensing system.

And while we're at it, there's a word that ought to be dropped from our lexicon. It's outdated and likely doesn't mean a thing to newcomers... programs aimed at youth, maybe the reception might be more favorable.

I would just add that if there is a good reason to change the licensing system, I'd be willing to entertain it. What I
have seen as justifications are not good reasons.

I became a ham before "elmer" became a part of the jargon. I think ham radio would benefit greatly from using more
generally-accepted language in everything we do. There's really no good reason for an SSB op to say "QSL" or "73s."
I think that using odd, confusing to outsiders, lingo is just tacky.
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KC8KTN

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #11 on: August 20, 2019, 06:44:59 PM »

Since everything it seems is done online. Why do they not devise a way to take tests online. We pay and buy almost everything online. I get my paycheck stubs online. A lot of my healthcare is done online.. Again why can not we take ham tests online. Everyone have a Blessed day and be safe.  God Bless all. 73s




« Last Edit: August 20, 2019, 06:54:56 PM by KC8KTN »
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N0YXB

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #12 on: August 20, 2019, 07:25:22 PM »

Why keep beating that poor dead horse? Probably for the same reason that one has to go to an authorized testing center to take FAA tests in person, verification of identity and the prevention of cheating.
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KC8KTN

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #13 on: August 20, 2019, 09:48:50 PM »

So now we are comparing flying an airplane to operating a radio...Wow.. Everyone have a Blessed day and be safe. 73s

No animals were hurt in comming up with this opinion... [ HORSES]....
« Last Edit: August 20, 2019, 09:55:16 PM by KC8KTN »
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W6MK

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RE: GENERAL ?
« Reply #14 on: August 21, 2019, 08:05:33 AM »

So now we are comparing flying an airplane to operating a radio

It ain't about flying, OM. It's about limiting the amount of cheating on tests.

What's your take on cheating?
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