Technician privileges
- Thread starter ffejy13
- Start date
ecps92
Member
CW only, 47 CFR 97.307(f)(9)
Yep!
KD8DVR
Member
If they want more privileges, they can simply upgrade.
What the tech's have now, I and others had to pass 5 WPM to get. I remember how excited I was driving home from passing that test and actually doing 10 voice mobile. (it was about an hour drive and the band was pretty open). Immediately upon arriving home I fired up my Yaesu FT-901 DM and started doing some 40 meter CW, it opened up a new world for me that day. Not long after that I got a keyer that would work on my Drake TR-4 and really enjoyed that on CW also till my upgrade to general.
I realize the "in this day and age" thing holds some truth, but honestly as @KD8DVR said, upgrades to general it seems are pretty easy these days and it may give them incentive to do just that. I'll not get into the whole FT-8 thing if that's what someone likes to do, that's great just to "make a contact". I'm a little too old maybe not to have a little personal touch in the communications yet I guess. IF I was collecting wallpaper sure, or maybe you need those last few grid squares to get something, I get it. I have a close friend that does it and while I've sat there and watched, it just doesn't seem like it's for me. As always everyones mileage will vary.
I get it, and the General only requires passing a 35 multiple-choice question exam. Not difficult at all. It just struck me as odd to restrict Techs to a mode that is not required to be learned in order to obtain any of the three license classes. Of course, I do see the logic of it as an incentive to upgrade, as enhanced privileges are the only reason one would do so.
I'm on the same page as you as far as digital modes. I never had any real interest in them, not even packet. I've always preferred voice modes. And CW is still tried and true when it comes to getting messages through under very difficult conditions
Token
Member
It is all about incentive licensing, and a bit of inertia from regulation of the past. If you give them everything they want at the entry level, where is the incentive to upgrade?
The fact that Techs have anything on HF is counter to the original intent of the license. Tech was meant as an experimenters license, with only a limited set of frequencies available (originally they did NOT have all bands above 10 meters).
The experimenters path was Tech -> General -> Extra, while the communications path was Novice -> General -> Extra. Yes, I know I left Advanced out, as well as Conditional. Eventually they gave Techs all of the Novice privilege's also, since they passed the same test elements. What was eventually called "Tech Plus" was the only Tech path for decades before no-code Tech was a thing. But, when they got rid of the Novice path, they needed to set something up as the lowest, entry, license. And so they rolled Novice privilege's into Tech, even though they kept Novice as a differentiated and renewable license.
T!
I also think the HF CW privileges for Technician are a little odd, but for a different reason. I like how the Tech -> General steps you up from really entry level hardware (dual band HTs are pretty cheap these days!) to more advanced and expensive rigs and antenna setups.
But then as a Tech you get HF privs for CW, and... how is one supposed to exercise those again? Do I buy a multi-thousand-dollar HF rig so I can ignore 99% of its capabilities? One of the (also not cheap) CW-only or QRP rigs? I don't even live in a place where I can set up a transmit antenna for the HF bands. I'm never going to use those privileges as a Tech.
But then as a Tech you get HF privs for CW, and... how is one supposed to exercise those again? Do I buy a multi-thousand-dollar HF rig so I can ignore 99% of its capabilities? One of the (also not cheap) CW-only or QRP rigs? I don't even live in a place where I can set up a transmit antenna for the HF bands. I'm never going to use those privileges as a Tech.
Yes. That's how I did it. Spent 90% of my time on 10m and 10% on CW everywhere else. Had an absolute blast.
The current amateur radio incentive licensing model is an anachronism as far as I'm concerned. Having five license classes (three active) is counterproductive. I've held every license class, except Advanced, and I'm convinced the license structure needs to contract to help the hobby modernize.
I'd be in favor of two license classes:
- Restricted which would encompass current Novice and Technician privileges (plus full 10M privileges)
- Unrestricted which would encompass current General and above
Token
Member
I have also held all the license classes at one time or another, except Advanced. Novice, Technician/Technician Plus, Conditional, General, and Extra. How did I hold a Tech Plus if I once had Conditional (the existence and death of the Conditional license long predates the establishment of Tech Plus)? I did the Novice, Conditional, then General thing in the late 60's and early 70's. But life got in the way, I let my original General lapse and came back to the hobby as a 5 WPM Tech (later called Tech Plus), it was easier to retake the tests than find the proof needed to bypass the testing. Then General again, and Extra. I really did not want the Extra, but when they announced the Code requirement for Extra was being reduced I went ahead and got it before the change. Just because.
Warning, my opinion follows, and we all know what opinions are like...
I have no issue with the current 3 tiered system, but do believe it needs a bit of a revamp.
Techs need more HF voice, all of 10 meters (with the power limit), and a taste of 40 and 80 meter voice (again, with power limit), maybe a thin slice of 15 meters voice also. If they have CW on a band, why can't they have a little slice of voice in the same band? Also, why not HF digital modes in the allowed portions of the bands they already have CW access to. I mean they can legally operate CW on FT8 freqs, why not FT8?
Then the step up to the existing General with a touch of Advanced added (Adv freqs added to existing General freqs), this gets you full legal power on HF and a bit more of each band.
Then the step up to Extra, with the existing enhancements. All the freqs.
OK, why? Because it starts easy and small, but still gives everyone a taste and more to shoot for. Techs get to play with HF, even the digital modes, see if that is the thing for them or not. The foot in the door. Then the step up to General gets you a few more bands, a bit more spectrum in each band, and HF full legal limit power. Realistically this is 90+% of what anyone wants or needs. But dangle the Extra out there as one more step that you can take if you want to. It only gets you 250 kHz more spectrum, but to some people that is worth it (for me it is simply that the band edges are easier to remember if your memory is starting to slip).
Don't want to call them Tech, General, and Extra? OK, lets go back to calling them A, B, and C, or something equally benign.
T!
Would a person void of the mental acuity to pass the General test be beneficial to those that currently enjoy the hobby at that level and above? If a person is unable to memorize the answers at a minimum, to pass the General test, have they earned the privilege to operate as a licensed General, or even a portion of those privileges? What about restricting Technician to VHF/UHF? There is quite a bit to enjoy of the hobby on VHF/UHF alone.
If we’re going to open the door on changes due to skill set, perhaps amateurs should test again during renewal. Those with reduced mental acuity should have their license reduced. It is a privilege, not a right. That means even if one does not use digital modes, they’ll still be tested on it as they are now.
Before I spent money on an HF radio and antenna system, I passed the General exam. Radical!
Anyways, before we start making changes, I encourage my fellow amateurs to research what other countries are doing like England and Japan. Then take a look at Australia and Germany. Times change, so let’s start making alterations. Broken or not we’ll fix it.
If we’re going to open the door on changes due to skill set, perhaps amateurs should test again during renewal. Those with reduced mental acuity should have their license reduced. It is a privilege, not a right. That means even if one does not use digital modes, they’ll still be tested on it as they are now.
Before I spent money on an HF radio and antenna system, I passed the General exam. Radical!
Anyways, before we start making changes, I encourage my fellow amateurs to research what other countries are doing like England and Japan. Then take a look at Australia and Germany. Times change, so let’s start making alterations. Broken or not we’ll fix it.
Well, I'm just going to say that there are plenty of people who have the mental acuity and passed the General/Advanced/Extra exams and are not assets to the hobby. One only need listen to 14313, 80M at night, or 7200 at almost any time of day,
Memorizing answers to pass an exam does not mean that an individual will retain the material, much less develop it into a skill set.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Which makes the tiered licensing even more useless.
This isn't rocket surgery and it's not a PhD. It's a hobby for us dorks that like to play with radios. I'm not impressed by license class. I'm more impressed with someone that can install a radio using something other than bungee cords and magnets.
One can have a single tier license or a 5+ tier license, but what is solved? Once upon a time, Amateurs were mostly self policing - CW stayed in its' segment, voice in its' own, and data in their area. if someone 'stole' a SK call sign and began transmitting gibberish, nonsense, or profanities; the FCC heard about it and looked into it. Now, those behaviours are more prevalent and the FCC cares little to none. Now, many. Americans less tolerant of their responsibilities to the community and insist only on their rights.
As to mental acuity, there was one poor unfortunate Amateur with dementia that was a local net controller when I lived down south. She was a nice lady, but she could turn a 30 to 35 minute evening net into a 1+ hour long plodding mass of confusion. I've heard a lot of willful silly statements on the air, but she was the only person that I could identify with clinical dementia. Testing every 10 years may deny her and a few others a license, but public safety is not endangered [EMCOMM aside].
The FCC can reorganize licensing, but they sadly can't reorganize human psychology or sociology.
As to mental acuity, there was one poor unfortunate Amateur with dementia that was a local net controller when I lived down south. She was a nice lady, but she could turn a 30 to 35 minute evening net into a 1+ hour long plodding mass of confusion. I've heard a lot of willful silly statements on the air, but she was the only person that I could identify with clinical dementia. Testing every 10 years may deny her and a few others a license, but public safety is not endangered [EMCOMM aside].
The FCC can reorganize licensing, but they sadly can't reorganize human psychology or sociology.
Whatever happened to the Amateur Auxiliary? Volunteer members were tasked with monitoring the bands and sending notices to other operators for poor operating procedure, interference, and other violations. They attempted to resolve these issues through a "no fault" approach. In especially egregious cases, they were authorized to collect evidence and send it to the FCC.
I think the FCC has traditionally left amateurs to police the spectrum themselves. It's a low priority for the FCC, like CB, GMRS, etc.
I agree, society seems to be every person for themselves. It's not getting better, either.
It became the Volunteer Monitor program, a joint effort between the ARRL and the FCC. The program is managed by Riley Hollingsworth K4ZDH who is a retired lawyer from the FCC Enforcement Bureau. The VMs monitor the bands and gather information that is turned over to the FCC.
Here is the most recent VM report from the August 2025 QST. Note the number of advisories issued to Technician class operators for exceeding their privileges.
Here is the most recent VM report from the August 2025 QST. Note the number of advisories issued to Technician class operators for exceeding their privileges.
I think the Amateur Auxiliary was also a joint ARRL/FCC effort and functioned in almost the same way.
The number of Tech advisories is interesting. Seems to be too many for it to be unintentional, and those are just the ones that were "caught".
The number of Tech advisories is interesting. Seems to be too many for it to be unintentional, and those are just the ones that were "caught".
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