HF Ham Band Listening To Become Ham Band Transmitting 4U?

[ReceiverBeaver]

Hey gang,

Decided to post this info as no one else has so far. For those of you who don't necessarily follow ham radio news, the FCC has issued their long awaited NPRM regaurding impending changes to the Amatuer Radio Service. Appears to be a done deal that the morse code requirement to obtain HF voice privilages is definately going to be dropped and the action is being somewhat fast-tracked even. This is a long-awaited development since IRC 2003 conference where the morse requirement was dropped on the international level.

The FCC has condensed the nearly 20 petitions for ham radio changes into only one of their own, will take public comments for 75 days then deliberate for 65 more, then handing down their ruling very shortly afterward.

The FCC in their statement is apparently only considering the dropping of the morse requirement as the ONLY change they're going to make at this time despite many other various change-proposals also being fronted by the ARRL and other petitioners.

It has been thought, particularly via the ARRL proposal that 5 words per minute morse would be retained for the Extra Class license, but the FCC has nixed that instead indicating the dropping of the morse requirement altogether for ALL classes.

So it also appears that current Technician Class operators will NOT be grandfathered up as Generals and will have to take the General written test to become a General, this still is no big deal as the test is easy and as with all current ham tests, you get the questions and answers to study with. The test(s) usually only costs around $5-6 bucks charged by the local VE testers and are good for 10 years with free renewals after that.

SO, the "big show", the world-wide HF bands (found between 1.8 & 30mhz) will by this fall-winter be within easy reach of everyone merely by the taking of relatively easy written tests (2) [tech & general].

I've been a no-code technician for 11+ years waiting for this very event. I've held out on principle as the morse requirement has for decades made no logical sense as to being a requirement to obtain HF VOICE privilages.

So there's no better time than now to go ham. If you're not a ham already, go ahead and go for that easy Technician license and be studying for the General written too or just wait and see the final changes....you can't really tell, the FCC just might decide to dump the Tech Class after all and grandfather the Tech's to General.

To read the full FCC news release goto arrl.net, qrz.com or fcc.gov

73 and will be looking forward to catching some of you HF this winter !!!

 

[jay427]

The cost of testing with a ARRL VE team is now $14.00, it has gone up a little, still a good bang for the buck.

I have been doing VE testing for the past 4-5years and will have to say if this change passes it will bring a lot of people into the hobby. I see so many people come in for the no-code-tech test and stop there.

Although I had to do the 21wpm code test for my extra and I do the VE testing thing I do believe this will be a good thing for the hobby. The code scares many good operators away.

What does seem funny though is the people who say they don't want to lean the code find themselves wanting to know what the CW Operators are talking about and they go on to lean the code anyway, we are naturally a curious people.

If for some reason this does not pass, go on and take a week or two and learn the 5wpm, its no big deal. All you need is one minute of solid copy, that’s just 25 characters in a row.

The magic of HF is still what makes the hobby fun for myself; there are so many things to do in Ham Radio it can take a lifetime to get to them all.

Jay, n0mdf

 

[USAPatriot]

There's a reason for actually knowing this stuff. Those that don't understand why might just as well take up CB

 

[K2KOH]

There's a reason for actually knowing this stuff. Those that don't understand why might just as well take up CB

And the reason is?

Kieran
N2MWE

 

[loumaag]

...So it also appears that current Technician Class operators will NOT be grandfathered up as Generals and will have to take the General written test to become a General, this still is no big deal as the test is easy and as with all current ham tests, you get the questions and answers to study with....

There is a good reason for this. There is a lot more to the general class test than what is in the technician test. Not that it is that hard, but there is considerably more knowledge needed than for a tech test.

I've been a no-code technician for 11+ years waiting for this very event. I've held out on principle as the morse requirement has for decades made no logical sense as to being a requirement to obtain HF VOICE privilages.

If wasn't just HF Voice privilages, it was for any HF Privilages. Even Tech+ licensees only gained Voice on a limited part of the 10 Meter band. All other HF spectrum they picked up was for code only. I am happy you stood on your priniciple, but it really was a poor prinicple to stand on, kind of like cutting your nose off to spite your face.

Now, before you think I am a guy who believes code proficiency is necessary, I am not. I may be the poorest code copier that ever held an advanced ticket, but at least I have been talking all over the world for a bunch of years and still communicating with my neighbors (including the Techs) on the VHF/UHF bands.

 

[jhooten]

Now, before you think I am a guy who believes code proficiency is necessary, I am not. I may be the poorest code copier that ever held an advanced ticket, but at least I have been talking all over the world for a bunch of years and still communicating with my neighbors (including the Techs) on the VHF/UHF bands.

You can have the title to poorest advanced code copier. I claim the same for the extra class. Oh and I too talk to techs every day. My wife and son are both techs. And she is still mad at me for not telling her if she just waited a month she could have taken the test for the new no code tech.

 

[K2KOH]

In truth, I'm glad the code is out the window as a requirement. I do enjoy it on the bands, and I sincerely hope ARRL continues to make sure there are sub bands for CW only. For those who might think the hobby is being dumbed down, try the Extra exam. It sure ain't being dumbed down...

 

[loumaag]

... For those who might think the hobby is being dumbed down, try the Extra exam. It sure ain't being dumbed down...

I already did, when it was the Advanced exam. :roll:

 

[Otto]

There's a reason for actually knowing this stuff. Those that don't understand why might just as well take up CB

And it is bad attitudes like yours that keep people from wanting to enter the hobby.
CW is just a MODE that is outdated. Yes it still is useful, but to make it a requirement in ONLY the USA is a liitle shortsighted...

I applaud the FCC for getting on the same page as the rest of the world.

(remember, most other countries have already dropped the req. so you will be talking with international operators that never had to take any code test.)

 

[RyltnVFD]

I already did, when it was the Advanced exam. :roll:

Ba-Zing!

Hey lou, what's your callsign?

KC8ODJ here.

 

[loumaag]

Hey lou, what's your callsign?

See your PM.

 

[wesct]

hopefully. the fcc will change someting, now that the hobby is dying. there has been layoffs and staff changes at the arrl and if the ham population doesnt change, you will see the league go downhill further. they are hurting- no doubt about it.

so if your not a member of the arrl, now is the time to join!

wesct

 

[jhooten]

so if your not a member of the arrl, now is the time to join!

wesct

Both the wife and I signed up at the league booth at the Austin Summerfest.

 

[Buckskinner33]

I guess the next problem is going to be where do voice privlages begin and where does code end on the band plans? I can hear fights start to begin on the air now.

 

[USAPatriot]

And it is bad attitudes like yours that keep people from wanting to enter the hobby.
CW is just a MODE that is outdated. Yes it still is useful, but to make it a requirement in ONLY the USA is a liitle shortsighted...

I applaud the FCC for getting on the same page as the rest of the world.

(remember, most other countries have already dropped the req. so you will be talking with international operators that never had to take any code test.)

There's a teeny problem with YOUR attitude, I'd say...not to mention your logic skills. When voice won't work, code may. Code carries no accent. It neither yells too loud nor speaks too softly. Knowing code isn't a matter of simply wanting to chit chat with it. Code is useful for emergencies when power consumption problems may be critical as well as emotional upheavals going on. So what is shortsighted is eliminating a requirement that has saved many thousands of lives over the years.

Wanting to enter the hobby and being technically able to are two different things. Hey, we can't all be doctors and I don't get my panties in a bunch over not being one. So why are yours all wdded up about having to show us all you're competent to do more than just shoot the breeze? There's cell phones for that...

 

[Pro-95]

I'd say where I stand but then my avatar pretty much sums it up.

Personally I think eliminating the requirement all together is a sad sad day. Element 1 is a rite of passage.

But that's just my humble opinion.

And no, I haven't passed Element 1 yet. I am just waiting for test day. Yes, I've already passed Element 2 & Element 3. I have however have had several long QSO's using code and to date a tad over an hour is my longest.

My last comment is this. If you think the code requirement is actually stopping people from getting into the hobby, I think you may be sadly mistaken. More than likely it is infghting of old school build it yourself hams vs appliance operators and then there is the cost.

 

[loumaag]

Hey Mike,

Weather has precluded my getting on the roof to take down the antennas yet. Is there still a chance? :lol:

 

[Pro-95]

20 DAYS!

Then I'll meet you on 40.

 

[USAPatriot]

I'd say where I stand but then my avatar pretty much sums it up.

Personally I think eliminating the requirement all together is a sad sad day. Element 1 is a rite of passage.

But that's just my humble opinion.

And no, I haven't passed Element 1 yet. I am just waiting for test day. Yes, I've already passed Element 2 & Element 3. I have however have had several long QSO's using code and to date a tad over an hour is my longest.

My last comment is this. If you think the code requirement is actually stopping people from getting into the hobby, I think you may be sadly mistaken. More than likely it is infghting of old school build it yourself hams vs appliance operators and then there is the cost.

Appliance operators. Aptly put, in my view. It takes absolutely no skill or brains to key a mike and speak in one's native language. Code takes effort and commitment, both of which are traits our youngsters have failed to acknowledge as neccessary to success in anything. -Rod-

 

[wesct]

Both the wife and I signed up at the league booth at the Austin Summerfest.

fantastic!

as far as cw goes, i am a no code tech- the fastest growing class in amateur radio history.
i have nothing against cw. i can pick up a few letters here and there.
but that doesnt mean i am not a ham. i have built many things in my time. and i maintain a repeater on 220 mhz. i volunteer for emergency management in my town. i volunteer for the red cross. i was a president of a local club. amd i just finished helping out solving a interference issue with a repeater club about 50 miles from where i live.
i dont have the time that i used to have, but i try to do what i can to help out.

wesct