There is a place for operators who simply want to buy a HF rig, a $100 pre-built vertical, and get on the air. And I personally don't care whether or not that person can calculate the voltage at Point D in an audio amplifier circuit. Don't care in the slightest.
I agree, there should be a place for people like that. There should be, and there is, even though amateur radio is inherently a technical hobby. Even those with zero technical ability are using the technology developed by others.
The majority of the questions we ask on the test damn near require an EE degree to truly understand.
And it would take a PhD in Quantum Physics and another in Mathematics to truly understand what's happening inside your cellphone, what with the precision timing and frequency references required, and the encryption algorithms at work. But it doesn't take an EE to understand the basic algebra in Ohm's Law, or to have a superficial understanding of electricity. And some understanding is required to fully utilize the amateur service in the way it is intended.
We ask questions that go WAY beyond simple technical skill.
I'm not trying to be flip, but... so what? One of the stated purposes of the service is to develop technical skills. No matter how you look at it, this is a specialized activity with limited appeal. One purpose not stated or intended is to have unlimited appeal to all segments of the population.
I'm okay with that too, except that we tie operating privileges into that additional expertise. We are still saying that if you want all the operating privileges on the bands, you need to be some technical elite. And that's the wrong attitude, IMO.
I guess I don't understand why this is a problem? With very modest technical understanding, one gets to operate in portions of every single amateur band. There exists an easy entry level for those wanting simple channelized local communications. There's nothing to adjust on the radio, and of one sticks with true amateur gear, almost no potential to interfere outside the band edges.
HF carries greater responsibility. The interference potential is greater, as there are various regions around the world with different band edges. One must know one's equipment, and ones ITU region, to avoid making even stock amateur gear potentially violate the band edges and interfere with another service. Some bands are shared with other services.
There are pragmatic reasons why the various license classes evolved, many of which still exist, enshrined in international law.
Why would you have to be a technical elite to operate HF, for example, vs. VHF, UHF, Satellite Ops, etc.? Doesn't make a lot of sense...
...Why?
A few examples of why technical and regulatory knowledge is required...
160 meters, shared with radiolocation.
60 meters is shared with other services. Strict ERP limitations are in place, requiring the ability to calculate ERP from TX power and antenna gain.
7200-7300 shared with broadcasting. 7.0 - 7.3 is not fully available to amateurs in all regions. A US amateur in international waters in ITU region 1 is not allowed 7.2 - 7.3 MHz, for example. Lower portions of 40 meters are internationally allocated to CW only.
30 meters is shared spectrum. No voice.
Some of the upper HF bands have beacon subbands codified into the allocations.
Propagation conditions that constantly vary, influencing required frequencies and power levels. "Skip zones" can be areas where participants in a QSO may not be heard to a specific operator, and one can come up on what appears to be a clear frequency, call CQ, and completely wipe out a QSO elsewhere.
Radios are necessarily more complex, and can require technical skill to properly operate. High power requires dangerous voltages and currents. Tube amplifiers require manual adjustment, requiring understanding of vacuum tube principles.
So, that's just off the top of my head. The point being, operating HF is somewhat more involved than selecting a memory channel in a radio, and pushing the PTT button. If one is to be effective on HF, one must have knowledge of propagation, and some familiarity with different international regulations.
Extra - Nothing additional except bragging rights that you're some sort of electronics elitist.
Your use of the word "elitist" denotes some sort of emotional involvement, IMO. I'm curious why you choose to use it in this context? In my mind, the term "elite" denotes something that is unattainable by most, or represents class conflict. In reality, the Extra class license is quite attainable by anyone suitably interested in the material. Those who are not, are unlikely to be attracted to the modest increase in privileges, typically the CW only lower 25 KHz of the non-WARC bands, plus a sliver of 75 and 20 meters.
But this brings me full circle, with Amateur radio being an inherently technical endeavor. Why not a few extra slivers for those who are inherently technical? Look at the ARRL bandplans and see where the HF amateur spectrum is REALLY locked up. It's not with the Extras, it's with the Advanced, a class of license that isn't even being issued anymore.
THAT is a better fit for the term "elite".
My suggestion of any re-write of amateur privileges would be more like this:
Technican - Unchanged.
General - Merge with Advanced privileges, keep the General test.
Extra - Unchanged.
) with some interesting guests and topics to listen to.
