Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 ... 8   Go Down

Author Topic: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?  (Read 2383 times)

K7TAR

  • Posts: 18
    • HomeURL
General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« on: October 13, 2021, 08:39:47 PM »

Not to stir anything up, but since 2018 when I got my General license, I’ve been questioning ARRL band restrictions to myself… 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. 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? 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!

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..

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”. 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? Since when ham radio is about y’all’s college-level knowledge of the laws of physics and math?

I mean no disrespect to the Experts - y’all have your special cool call signs - is it not enough? Do you really enjoy CQ-ing where 80% can’t answer your call? 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”?

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. 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? 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?
« Last Edit: October 13, 2021, 09:02:25 PM by K7TAR »
Logged

K1FBI

  • Member
  • Posts: 1475
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2021, 09:45:34 PM »

Not to stir anything up, but since 2018 when I got my General license, I’ve been questioning ARRL band restrictions to myself… 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. 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? 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!

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..

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”. 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? Since when ham radio is about y’all’s college-level knowledge of the laws of physics and math?

I mean no disrespect to the Experts - y’all have your special cool call signs - is it not enough? Do you really enjoy CQ-ing where 80% can’t answer your call? 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”?

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. 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? 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?

You are wrong and if you have to ask why, you are really wrong.
Logged

K7TAR

  • Posts: 18
    • HomeURL
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2021, 10:08:42 PM »

Thanks… I’ve been wrong before, that’s no surprise - but can you elaborate? I don’t “have to ask”, I’m fine either way - but you must know something I don’t, so please do share and enlighten me… please!

According to QRZ.COM you made 51 QSOs since 2018 in SSB… while that may not mean anything, I made over 5400 - so please, do tell me why I’m “really” wrong.
« Last Edit: October 13, 2021, 10:28:23 PM by K7TAR »
Logged

KC0W

  • Member
  • Posts: 1542
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2021, 02:09:35 AM »

 Welcome to a society where people want something without having to work for it...........Passing the Extra exam has NEVER been easier. 

                                                    Tom KH0/KC0W
Logged

AE5SB

  • Member
  • Posts: 67
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2021, 02:17:23 AM »

Sir
The extra band space are for people who go the extra mile to a higher class of license.
And as Tom said "Passing the Extra exam has NEVER been easier. "
For willing to do a little work
Logged

KT4WO

  • Member
  • Posts: 425
    • homeURL
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2021, 02:43:55 AM »

I WANT SOMETHING FOR NOTHING!!!
Give me, Give me, Give me!!!

"For willing to do a little work"
And there is the issue!

"it is too “technical”
Uhhhh.... this is a "technical" hobby!?!?!!!

I have NO problem with a no-code license(I came in as a no-code tech in 1991)
 and I hated CW(but did it) but it should STILL be required, at LEAST for the Extra.

(13WPM Extra)
Logged

KO4DNI

  • Posts: 7
    • HomeURL
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2021, 03:47:39 AM »

Testing for extra November 6th. Getting away from the contest section of the bands will be the biggest benefit.
Logged

GRUMPY2021

  • Posts: 280
    • HomeURL
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2021, 04:26:46 AM »

"Not to stir anything up, but"....  STOP reading right there.  Why?  Using the word ‘but’ in the middle of a sentence negates everything that came before it.   That's clearly all you're trying to do.   I highly doubt the FCC or ARRL will listen to a word you say so your 403 words is a complete waste of everyone's time.   



Logged

K1FBI

  • Member
  • Posts: 1475
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2021, 04:45:53 AM »

Thanks… I’ve been wrong before, that’s no surprise - but can you elaborate? I don’t “have to ask”, I’m fine either way - but you must know something I don’t, so please do share and enlighten me… please!

According to QRZ.COM you made 51 QSOs since 2018 in SSB… while that may not mean anything, I made over 5400 - so please, do tell me why I’m “really” wrong.
You aren't the best detective. If you were you'd know my history with the Zed and that I deleted all my calls when they gave me a vacation. I would have zero listed if they didn't permanently ban my account access, before I could delete them all.

If you want to know my activity you need to go to LoTW to see a small portion of it.
 I have been a ham since '98 and while that is still fairly new, I can guarantee I made more than 235 calls a year to surpass your 5400 total. That and $2 will buy me a decent cup of coffee.

Carry on and if you want more spectrum do it the respectable way and EARN IT!

No participation trophies...

P.S Everything after "but" is B.S. so keep stirring but you're not fooling anyone about your intentions.

« Last Edit: October 14, 2021, 04:50:43 AM by K1FBI »
Logged

N2EY

  • Member
  • Posts: 5698
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2021, 05:27:42 AM »

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.

Quote
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.

Quote
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.

Quote
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.

Quote
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?

Quote
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.

Quote
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.

Quote
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.

Quote
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.

Quote
Do you really enjoy CQ-ing where 80% can’t answer your call?

80% of whom?


Quote
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?

Quote
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.

Quote
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!
« Last Edit: October 14, 2021, 05:33:03 AM by N2EY »
Logged

WA1UIL

  • Member
  • Posts: 42
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2021, 05:58:58 AM »

Since even 7 yr olds pass the Extra exam and the actual answers are published common knowledge,just how easy do you want it to be???  Maybe VE's should start handing out Participation Trophy's to those who don't pass???
Logged

K3UIM

  • Member
  • Posts: 2145
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2021, 06:40:34 AM »

I'm thinking that we have entered into the "entitlement generation"! Gone are the days when we were willing to tax our gray matter to obtain a lofty goal. The reasoning being, IMMHO, if we wait, the government will give it to us, so why bother working for it! The story of the grasshopper and the ant comes to mind. I'm afraid that if a poll were to be taken it would find that there would be a close balance between the working force and the government 'teaters'. ... But, I may be wrong??
Charlie
Logged
Charlie. K3UIM
Where you are: I was!
Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

KD2HCU

  • Posts: 61
    • HomeURL
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #12 on: October 14, 2021, 06:57:07 AM »

I've got my general and am happy with the bandwidth allowed, only problem is having to look at the chart to see where I can operate (can't seem to memorize that).  If I want an Extra, I'll take the test.  If all I wanted to do was chat on vhf/uhf I'd have stayed a tech.
Logged

K7TAR

  • Posts: 18
    • HomeURL
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #13 on: October 14, 2021, 09:07:02 AM »

Thanks and apologies if my questions upset anyone.  I got my answers :)
« Last Edit: October 14, 2021, 09:09:29 AM by K7TAR »
Logged

KS2G

  • Member
  • Posts: 1171
Re: General license band restrictions - why do we need them?
« Reply #14 on: October 19, 2021, 05:40:57 PM »

I’ve been questioning ARRL band restrictions...

Let's start with the fact that they not "ARRL band restrictions".
They're FCC regulations.
To find out why they're there ---whether you like what you find our not-- go to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_licensing_in_the_United_States#Incentive_licensing
Scroll down to section 3.4 "Incentive Licensing" and start reading from there.
 ;)
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 ... 8   Go Up