Technician privileges

[mmckenna]

Well, as a newly minted Technician class ham, I realize my opinion might not carry a lot of weight for some folks - that said -

Your technician license is just as valid and important as anyone else's technician license, doesn't matter when it was issued.
The question pool has evolved over the years. It was not chosen at random and it wasn't chosen by people that were not familiar with amateur radio. The old timers that love to complain tested on relevant subject matter for their time. Just like now. The tests have not really gotten any easier. I helped my wife get hers a few years back. When I did my first test, there was still vacuum tube knowledge required. Subject matter was different, but the knowledge required was similar.

I have no problems with things the way they currently are. I see the classes as nothing more than regulating the public behavior of those license holders on the public airwaves. Like a drivers license - you need to prove you can safely and responsibly operate on the public airways. The more skilled you are - the more interaction you are allowed - hence the need for classes. I agree with the FCC raison d'etre for the amateur service - advancing skills in the radio arts.

Yes. And that's sort of what the ham licenses do. Sort of set you up with a bit of knowledge so as you are not a liability and probably not going to hurt yourself or someone else (no guarantee, though).
Personally, what I'd like to see, since all the old timers like to claim the tests suddenly got easier them moment after they tested, and along the same lines as a drivers license, would be periodic retesting. Lets face it, we forget things as we get older, I know I do. Since some older hams like to think the tests are there to keep us all safe and following the rules, maybe it would be a really good idea to periodically retest, just to make sure hams are keeping up their knowledge, and keeping up with the changes in the FCC rules. Of course the tests would need to involve current technology and subject matter, like the drivers test. I'm sure someone won't like that….

More than anything, I have the utmost respect those who who have humility and choose to mentor others. I do not see it as a priesthood of individuals involved in arcane arts. In my career, I've always helped other professionals in areas where they weren't familiarized as I was with a specific subject matter - there's no such thing as a stupid question. Made a lot of friends that way. I've also encountered those who expect to be treated as one of the exalted - I hope not to encounter too many of those in my ham travails.

And that's what is important. However not all hams are good at mentoring others. Some like to incessantly complain. I've heard a few hams really lay it on thick and make the hobby look bad and actively tear down new hams. The guy that did my wife's test was one of those. He complained the whole time, insulted a few people and even demeaned his wife who was helping him with the testing. My wife was pretty pissed off after listening to that guy. Of course he made sure everyone knew he was an extra. That guy was a VE and a total dirt bag.

 

[SuperG900]

I helped my wife get hers a few years back. When I did my first test, there was still vacuum tube knowledge required. Subject matter was different, but the knowledge required was similar.

Yep. When I was twenty, I took the Licensed Station Engineer test (not sure the exact title) twice. Failed both times. Of course, I was only into my second year of electronic technology - Jr. college and didn't study quite enough. But we really didn't cover tubes but in one semester where we built a 5watt audio amp. The License test though had exotic RF amplifiers, filter circuits, Klystrons, TWT's - and jeez-louise that's a lot for a 20 year old to work at a TV station. I blame youth, and the fact that study class could have used some actual usable transmitter theory. I made up for it in the Army.

Personally, what I'd like to see, since all the old timers like to claim the tests suddenly got easier them moment after they tested, and along the same lines as a drivers license, would be periodic retesting.

It'd be hard to argue with that logic - that'd make 'em stop and think about it for a minute. Yep - interesting to see the questions on digital techniques, doing FSK and or phase modulation, notes on modern ham data techniques like PSK31, every day computer knowledge, and so on. So yeah - I think the greybeards ought to consider that as much as some things stay the same - some also change. Time marches on. Incessantly.

Speaking of testing - now that I'm studying for the General class license in my spare time - I've been "re-introduced" to so many things that I have forgotten over the years. After the Army - I taught myself C programming and built a career from there. 'C' was still a "new-ish" endeavor at the time in the early 80's and I had to go up up against EE's (who had themselves maybe a one semester class in programming). Although I worked with radio's often - the downside was that I was neglecting ac theory as all my focus was on programming and digital demodulation for ISM stuff. So I went a bit stale on radio side. It's like getting smacked in the face...

(These days the EE's kind of specialize - one may do digital circuits ala FPGA, one might do general embedded code, another does analog circuits, one might be a DSP guy, one might do ASICs. Not many jack-of-all trades guys anymore. I was lucky to get into DSP programming just before they exploded in popularity due to smartphones bankrolling everything. I insisted on using a vendor's GUI-based compiler for my projects - (I just didn't have time to write constantly changing makefiles like those guys) - product was so good TI went and bought them out and brought them in house and made the product their flagship suite. (I look back at those guys and days and think, yeah, and y'all gave me grief for buying unapproved development SW...)

And that's what is important. However not all hams are good at mentoring others. Some like to incessantly complain.

People are people. I like the nice ones.


On the test for Technician I missed just one question. One I do know the answer to without any effort - UHF is 300 to 3GHz. Dyslexia and nervousness made me choose the the wrong answer. I saw 300Mhz to 3000Mhz - but I suspect I quick glanced-again at the test question, and selected the wrong 300-3000. Easy to do if you have dyslexia like I do. It's my lot in life - never first place.

 

[bill4long]

At the end of day, I still luv hamateur radio

 

[JerryX]

Good point. But it also fixes the stigma that a new Tech doesn't know anything. I've discovered that regardless of license class, the current testing doesn't really prepare anyone for much in the way of radio. It's a very glossed over introduction that proves (usually) that someone can memorize multiple choice questions with enough correct responses to hit the 70% mark.

I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone who memorizes just enough to pass the tests. There's no excuse for that. There's plenty of information out there in the form of books and websites where anyone can actually learn something rather than just engage in rote memorization. Unfortunately, we live in a society that demands instant gratification and looks down on having to actually learn anything. It's not just a hobbies like ham radio either--just take a look at what it takes to get a driver's license in the US versus Germany, for example.

To all the whining crybaby Techs out there: if you want to operate on HF phone, study the material and pass the General exam. It's literally so simple that kids less than ten years old have done it.

 

[mmckenna]

I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone who memorizes just enough to pass the tests. There's no excuse for that. There's plenty of information out there in the form of books and websites where anyone can actually learn something rather than just engage in rote memorization. Unfortunately, we live in a society that demands instant gratification and looks down on having to actually learn anything. It's not just a hobbies like ham radio either--just take a look at what it takes to get a driver's license in the US versus Germany, for example.

Yeah, I mostly agree with you, however I still think multi-tiered licensing is sort of pointless. But people do like to divide up into classes and look down on others.

As with drivers licenses...
Years ago I had to get a commercial drivers license for some work stuff. The CDL written test and practical test is what I think the standard drivers license test should be. I had to back into a loading dock. I had to know bridge clearances. I had to do vehicle checks. I had to pass a medical exam every two years.

I think amateur radio could do something similar-ish. Make the current tech test a bigger challenge, then open up the entire radio service to everyone. Different people will gravitate to the aspects of the hobby they like.

I agree, General test was easy, and with a little studying and knowledge, most could easily pass it.


What I'm seeing on the 'instant gratification' side of things….
The off road/overlanding crowd have discovered amateur radio and many of them have installed VHF/UHF radios in their rigs for various reasons. That's a good thing, more hams means a better hobby. But from some of the stuff I've read, it really is do the minimum to pass the test, then buy a radio and be done with it. There isn't a lot of knowledge in that. And many of them rely on it as a way to get help in an emergency, when there are better tools for the job.

 

[JerryX]

I had to know bridge clearances.

Then how do you explain this?

 

[belvdr]

Then how do you explain this?

Ha! It's crazy how many people hit that.

My 2 cents: It's one thing to take the test and pass. It's another thing to actually apply that knowledge. That logic works in all sorts of areas.

 

[mmckenna]

Then how do you explain this?

Rental trucks under 26,000lbs gvwr weight don't require CDL's. Watching someone who normally drives a Honda Civic suddenly think they are a truck driver is about as much fun as going to the launch ramp and watch people trying to back up their SUV with boat trailer. Pure entertainment!

 

[mmckenna]

My 2 cents: It's one thing to take the test and pass. It's another thing to actually apply that knowledge. That logic works in all sorts of areas.

I see your 2¢ and raise you a nickel.
A lot of people go to college and pass the tests, yet they don't seem to learn anything.

 

[WB9YBM]

One license, one set of privileges. Doesn't make sense to have 3 different license classes. The only people who ever complain about such a proposal are the crusy old extras who walked uphill in the snow both ways to take their test at the FCC Field Office.

I can see two license classes: an easy one with limited privileges so people can get their feet wet, see if they like it before they invest time & effort for a "full-blown" license (having only the "full blown" license might scare off some people, which would be counter-productive). I think it might be Canada (and someone please correct me if it's different country I'm trying to think of) where the introductory license lets the licensee use 50MHz and up, and once they get experience and decide if they like it, they can get the second license that let's them use everything else. Sounds like an interesting approach...

 

[MUTNAV]

Yeah, I mostly agree with you, however I still think multi-tiered licensing is sort of pointless. But people do like to divide up into classes and look down on others.

As with drivers licenses...
Years ago I had to get a commercial drivers license for some work stuff. The CDL written test and practical test is what I think the standard drivers license test should be. I had to back into a loading dock. I had to know bridge clearances. I had to do vehicle checks. I had to pass a medical exam every two years.

I think amateur radio could do something similar-ish. Make the current tech test a bigger challenge, then open up the entire radio service to everyone. Different people will gravitate to the aspects of the hobby they like.

I agree, General test was easy, and with a little studying and knowledge, most could easily pass it.


the job.

If I remember right, (back to the CDL thing), there are different endorsements to drive refrigerated, or double, trailers etc.

Didn't all of us have this discussion with Laur-i-Coyote when she was around?



Thanks
Joel

 

[mmckenna]

Didn't all of us have this discussion with Laur-i-Coyote when she was around?

Yep, and I'll bet you a cup of coffee and a doughnut that we'll have the exact same conversation around this time next year. It's sort of like the flu, it rears its ugly head about the same time.

 

[mmckenna]

If I remember right, (back to the CDL thing), there are different endorsements to drive refrigerated, or double, trailers etc.

Yeah, there are 'endorsements': Air Brakes, Hazardous Materials, Passengers, etc.
So, two levels of ham licenses, entry and "you probably are not going to kill someone" levels.
And if we want endorsements, I recommend:
-Anything over 250 watts.
-Strobe lights on the mobile endorsement. (includes gold ham radio badge and high viz vest)

 

[MUTNAV]

That's kind of funny, I wonder if we should all go back and get our best posts so we can use them again.

I still like my idea of a merit badge incentive system, (earn a merit badge after a test) for space ops, H.F. antenna design, Straight Key, Digital Modes, DXCC, morse code speed, etc, Then after operating the merit badged mode, you can have a little red perimetier on the badge.

Who wants a certificate for something, can't wear a certificate on your vest or hat.

Thanks
Joel

 

[MUTNAV]

And if we want endorsements, I recommend:
-Anything over 250 watts.
-Strobe lights on the mobile endorsement. (includes gold ham radio badge and high viz vest)

How about a limiter for appliance operator only? You can't build your own equipment without the right badge.

Thanks
Joel

 

[mmckenna]

Oh, we could have SOOOO much fun with ham radio merit badges….

 

[Kfred]

any classes i have attended in the past 10 years or so have pushed inclusion rather than exclusion. I am told if we do not accept workers that are considered sub standard by certain tests that the amount of applicants and number of viable employees will decrease to un-useable levels. and diversity goals will not be met. I have a comment on CDL testing, if it were easy people and property would be damaged., and some are. how ever if ham tests are easy who gets hurt.

 

[mmckenna]

how ever if ham tests are easy who gets hurt.

That's a good point.

For most hams, no one.
For those running really high power, microwave, or doing things that result in interference to public safety systems, there's always a chance.

Which is one of the reasons I think there needs to be more required understanding of the Part 97 rules, including making it clear that a ham radio license ONLY allows you to transmit on ham radio frequencies.

 

[MUTNAV]

and some are. how ever if ham tests are easy who gets hurt.

The guy walking on the sidewalk into the field of a tuned loop antenna that had been attached ot the top of a mailbox connected to a 1500 W amp.
Thanks
Joel

 

[russbrill]

It doesn't matter to me personally, but I just wonder how "welcome" a Technician class operator would be on the already crowded 40 and 80 meter General portion bands. To be frank, the General portion of 80 unfortunately can be rather unreasonable as it is, taking another bite of their spectrum for the entry class license I think would go over like a led balloon. In the case of 15 meters, however, I can't see that as being an issue, at least not with our current solar cycle condition.

CROWDED??? I hear more activity on 11-Meters when the skip is in