Not to stir anything up, but since 2018 when I got my General license, I’ve been questioning ARRL band restrictions to myself…
Stop right there!
They're not "ARRL band restrictions".
They're FCC regulations. They're in Part 97.
If you don't understand the difference, you REALLY need to do some more learning about how Amateur Radio works.
Have I considered passing the Extra exam? Yes. And decided against it - it is too “technical” and has nothing to do with my ability to operate a radio station in CW/SSB/Digital modes.
Do it anyway. It's just one multiple choice test. You only need 74% to pass. It's very basic stuff to anyone who really understands radio.
I got my Extra in 1970 at the age of 16, in the summer between 10th and 11th grades, with no Elmer other than books and no formal training in radio or electronics. Passed on the first try.
In fact, I see very little benefit of using those 25KHz “elite slots” except during contests, which is another loaded question - why not allow everyone to use them during contests?
Because FCC doesn't think that's a good idea.
If it does anything at all, it’s discriminating 80% of USA contest participants and puts them at a disadvantage, because most of other countries don’t have that restriction!
80%? How do you figure that?
Here are the numbers of US hams
on October 6, 2021:
Novice: 6,960 (0.9%)
Technician 397,108 (50.9%)
Technician Plus 0 (0.0%)
General 185,726 (23.8%)
Advanced 36,426 (4.7%)
Extra 154,022 (19.7%)
Total 780,242
Extras make up just about 20% of all US amateurs....BUT....
Most US hams who are active on HF are Generals, Advanceds, or Extras. Out of those, Extras are nearly 40%.
How many Novices or Technicians do you encounter in contests?
The vast majority of serious contesters I know have their Extras.
Outside contesting, I have little or no use for those slots. Since 2018, I’ve got my DXCC, WAZ, WAS, WPX and a bunch of other awards, standing at 183+ DXCC countries confirmed, and 197+ for R-150-S..
That's great! So why not get an Extra?
First, I thought these restrictions protect “good hams” from “bad hams” or LIDs, but that’s hardly the case… I’ve heard and seen quite a few “yahoos” from both ends of the pond in the “protected areas”.
That's not the purpose of those regulations, and never was.
And - very few build their own equipment these days - not that anything is wrong with that - but what in the world (where nobody else has this rule) does that have to do with operating a radio station?
Everything. And some of us DO build our own gear. Check out my station over on QRZ.COM. I've got WAS, DXCC, and 119 entities confirmed with that setup. 100 watts, CW only, 80/40/20, wire antenna at 40 feet on a small suburban lot.
Since when ham radio is about y’all’s college-level knowledge of the laws of physics and math?
Nothing in any of the US license tests is anywhere close to college-level knowledge. Heck, it's barely high school level, if that.
Plenty of teenagers have earned Extra in high school and middle school. In the 1990s, an 8 year old in the third grade earned the Extra. Passed all 5 written tests required and 20 wpm code. Not all at the same time, but earned the license and used it. Good operator too.
I mean no disrespect to the Experts - y’all have your special cool call signs - is it not enough?
I've had this callsign since 1977. It's not a vanity call; it was sequentially issued.
Do you really enjoy CQ-ing where 80% can’t answer your call?
80% of whom?
Or do you really feel like winners in contests knowing that majority of Contesters couldn’t use that first 25KHz where you made half of your “multipliers”?
How do you know where I made my Qs during contests?
So my solution would be - mandatory CW exam with General license, no restrictions for CW but you can keep those “SSB heavens”, we don’t need them.
Not going to happen. The code tests went away 14 years ago and you'll have a very hard time convincing FCC to bring them back. They're history. GONE.
Personally, I’m just too old for all the theoretical physics and math questions, but I can still send/receive CW at 25-35 WPM, build my own antennas, operate radio equipment and tune my PC for digital modes… if that counts for nothing, then what does?
Too old? I'm 6 years older than you. The Extra is basic stuff.
[Quote
All the knowledge of radio physics does not make one a good radio operator if all he/she can do is chat in SSB about weather all day long - or am I wrong?
[/quote]
You're wrong.
If you want the privileges, pass the test. It's one multiple choice test!