Nobody has anything yet - the R&O hasn't been released yet, just the press release saying they WILL release it - so no one really knows all the details. And it has to be officially published in the Federal Register, then we wait another 30 days. We're talking mid to late January here, not tomorrow.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, here's the gist (from memory, so some details may be a little off, but I did look it all up last night).
1. The Omnibus changed the band plan - Novice bands went away and the Phone portions of those bands moved down varying amounts. Because of that, Tech+ lost privileges, so....
2. The FCC also in the Omnibus gave Tech+ privileges in the General portions of the CW/data sub-bands ONLY. That means, TODAY (as of the Omnibus which went into effect Thursday night at 11pm local) have:
CW/data on 80m from 3525-3600
CW/data on 40m from 7025 to 7125
CW/data on 15m from 21,025 to 21,200
CW/data on 10m from 28.000 (instead of 28.100) - 28.300 and SSB phone on 28.300 to 28.500 - except for the addition of 28.000 to 28.100, this is what Tech+ had already on 10 meters.
Note that Tech+ under the Omnibus get NO phone privileges, only code and digital, and then only on the bands they already had (no 160, 60, 30, 20, 17 or 12m for example).
Now, with the dropping of code, the press release says Techs and Tech+s will be treated the same - no details, but that should mean that no-code techs will get exactly what Tech+s have now under the omnibus - but that means the only phone is on 10m from 28.3 to 28.5 - and 10m is dead most of the time right now due to the bottom the sunspot cycle.
On the upgrade path, though - the General test is 35 multiple choice questions. Practice tests are available at qrz.com and the question pool is available from the FCC and ARRL websites, among others. Note though that the question pool committee frequently updates questions when things change - they just dropped a bunch of questions about band edges and privileges from the General test because those edges just "moved" with the omnibus - new questions will be coming soon, I'd imagine. That means make sure whatever pool you use is UP TO DATE!
Finally, I don't recommend studying "just" the pool. There's only 35 questions on the test, but nearly 600 they get to pick from in the pool. You'll only get one question on band plan privileges anyway, and since they're changing, just blow that one off and get a 34/35 on the test. But learn the THEORY and all those technical questions on electronics, antennas, and propagation (the things you REALLY use on the air and setting up your station) are second nature, no matter how the change up the question pool or which ones they pick.
For a book (for now) get a General Class License Manual from the ARRL - they're available online from them (
www.arrl.org or at Amazon). I'll be doing a bulk order (discount prices) when we do the class. Also, the class is recommended - I'll be teaching it, and I've been doing this stuff for years, so I can give you real world applications for the theory, and "hands on" examples of how this stuff works.
Now for the when - I won't start a class during the holidays - too many people would miss a session traveling or whatever. Beyond that, it takes about 12-15 hours to cover the material, so I'd recommend 6 two hour sessions (maybe 7). If we do it once a week, that means mid-Feb. before we'd finish. I can possibly do two sessions a week, but you all have to study on your own, too - so take that into account.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are out - Club night and church, but I can do Monday or Thursday evenings, or Saturdays. If we do Saturday, I could possibly extend the sessions to 3 or 3.5 hours, and finish by the time the FCC rule change goes into effect, but be prepared for "brain overflow" - you WILL have to study to get through that version. I can even do the whole thing in two Saturdays (6-8 hours per) but I'd only recommend that for people with strong science backgrounds. I've done it like that for engineering students and the meteorologists at NWS, but if you don't remember your high school physics and understand electricity that will be a challenge.
So, who's up for the class (expect about a $20 fee, book included - but I have to check my price for the book) and what days?
Choices are:
Monday for 6 weeks starting 1/8
Monday & Thursday for 3 weeks starting 1/8
Thursday for 6 weeks starting 1/8
Saturday for 6 weeks starting 1/6 - 9am to noon
Saturday for 4 weeks starting 1/6 - 8am to 12:30 or 1pm
Saturday for 2 weeks starting 1/6 - 8am to 4pm
(weeknight classes would all be 6:30 to 8:30, with the possibility that some sessions might run over until around 9, depending)
And CW isn't going away, just the testing requirement for it. I'll still use it, because it works when other modes don't (it's great for weak signals). We'll have to talk to Gene about continuing the practice nets. Just because it isn't required doesn't mean you won't want it - I haven't been able to hear the DXpedition to Lakasweep (sp) Island on phone yet, but I have on CW.
