Technician privileges

[buddrousa]

If you want NEWBIES then get out and PROMOTE the hobby.
Go to Walmart setup tables go to other places and setup.
Get them interested and teach them just do not hand out licensee like toilet paper because that what it will be worth.

 

[WB9YBM]

Technicians already have HF privileges. When that started it was to give incentive to get a higher class license to have more HF privileges, "Incentive Licensing" it was called. Looks like some techs require more incentive than others. Or maybe just looking for a free ride? Quit whinning and study!

corollary: if you want a free ride, get a CB (or FRS, or GMRS, etc.)

 

[WB9YBM]

If you want NEWBIES then get out and PROMOTE the hobby.
Go to Walmart setup tables go to other places and setup.
Get them interested and teach them just do not hand out licensee like toilet paper because that what it will be worth.

An additional method of promoting amateur radio: hams (when not limited by COVID restrictions) gather at various places every June for "Field Day" where they demonstrate their emergency preparedness operations. Great place to get not only a first-hand glimpse of what's going on, but a good informational resource as well.

 

[alcahuete]

If you want NEWBIES then get out and PROMOTE the hobby.
Go to Walmart setup tables go to other places and setup.
Get them interested and teach them just do not hand out licensee like toilet paper because that what it will be worth.

I do ALL THE TIME, thank you. You apparently missed my point entirely, but that's okay.

 

[buddrousa]

The point most hams here have is if someone wants more they need to earn it.

 

[alcahuete]

The point most hams here have is if someone wants more they need to earn it.

They would. They earn it by passing the initial test.

 

[mmckenna]

The point most hams here have is if someone wants more they need to earn it.

Maybe, that is the way most things tend to work in life.

However, it's a hobby, not rocket surgery. Unlikely anyone is going to die if a technician operates voice on 20 meters.

 

[spanky15805]

"not rocket surgery"

Made me think of molecular genetics meets air traffic control. What type of monster would that be?

 

[mmckenna]

"not rocket surgery"

Made me think of molecular genetics meets air traffic control. What type of monster would that be?

Well, it sounds a bit better than Brain Science.

 

[WB9YBM]

They would. They earn it by passing the initial test.

...and if they want to earn upgraded privileges then (by the same reasoning) they should have to pass the appropriate upgrade test.

 

[reedeb]

I became a No Code Tech back in 1995. Then I heard others saying No Coders weren't REAL Hams. and all that garbage. I spent a lot of time helping my County EMA with hurricane, flooding, even an Ice storm in 1998. Is this going to be back to the 90's with the No Coders? IF they allow Techs on HF and they make a mistake tell them it and let them learn like us newbies back then did.

 

[alcahuete]

...and if they want to earn upgraded privileges then (by the same reasoning) they should have to pass the appropriate upgrade test.

Well...right, if you agree with how the current privileges are set up. I personally do not. As has been mentioned, it is supposed to be incentive licensing. Giving only CW privileges, and 10m privileges is great if this was 1920. How is that an incentive to get people to upgrade to General or higher? Allow techs. voice privileges on HF and call it a day. There's absolutely no reason not to, except you want to limit people, simply for the sake of limiting people. Makes no sense.

 

[K9DWB]

...
IF they allow Techs on HF and they make a mistake tell them it and let them learn like us newbies back then did.

Hmm that sounds like learning. But hey, what do I know.

 

[buddrousa]

If they do not want it fine.
If they want it STUDY and PASS.
Do not just hand out PRIVALIGES to people that DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE OR NOT ALLOUD TO DO.
If they no not know the Rules or understand the rules they do not deserve the Privileges that come with responsibility.

 

[mmckenna]

If they no not know the Rules or understand the rules they do not deserve the Privileges that come with responsibility.

There's only one set of Part 97 rules, and the same rules apply to all amateurs. The difference is the frequency privileges.

As for the rules, the tests have always been very light on Part 97 knowledge. I'd like to see that change. Issue I've run into in the ham community is that most amateurs know very little about the rules. There is a lot of bad info shared on line, and *gasp* the ARRL doesn't make the rules.

 

[buddrousa]

Sir I never said ARRL made the rules. But I stand my ground if they do not know or care they have no business using the equipment.
We need to do away with the participation trophy way of life.
The participation trophy is not satisfying to players as it diminishes the pride in winning. Winning means willing to go longer, work harder and give more than anyone else. In fact, losing is also good as it teaches you that you sometimes need to work harder to achieve your goals.

 

[mmckenna]

Sir I never said ARRL made the rules.

Didn't mean to imply you did. But some hams do think the ARRL makes the rules. And sometimes it feels like the ARRL thinks that too.

But I stand my ground if they do not know or care they have no business using the equipment.

I wholeheartedly agree with you. I think the amateur radio licenses need to be a bit harder to get. Like I said, the current tests are very light on Part 97 rules. I still think there needs to be one license, and the test needs to be harder than it is. Not to keep people out of the hobby, but to make sure that those who do join know what they are doing.

We need to do away with the participation trophy way of life.
The participation trophy is not satisfying to players as it diminishes the pride in winning. Winning means willing to go longer, work harder and give more than anyone else. In fact, losing is also good as it teaches you that you sometimes need to work harder to achieve your goals.

Not sure where the participation trophy thing came from.
I sort of get it, maybe. But I've been a ham for a long time and one thing I've noticed is that many hams think that the minute they took their license test, everyone else after that had it easy. Been the same thing in every job and every industry I have worked in. New guys "have it easy", and the older guys are the only ones that are worthy. Doesn't accomplish anything, and hams should all be helping each other, not holding others to some imaginary standard.

Truth is, the tests haven't really become any easier. It's the technology that has changed. My grandfather was a ham back in the 30's and he built his own 20 meter radio from scratch. He didn't look down on me because I purchased my first radio, and I didn't look down on him because he didn't know how to do packet radio. Different eras, different technology, still amateur radio. Truth was, we learned a lot from each other.

 

[buddrousa]

I understand but I have seen people say ham should be like cb no test and free that was were the other cam from not you. I look at it this way there should not be just 1 Medical License either
First Responder
EMT B
AEMT
EMT P or Paramedic
These test are more advanced and harder than before

 

[bill4long]

They would. They earn it by passing the initial test.

Whether the licensing and privileges get changed or not in the future, is a debatable subject (obviously), but the fact remains: the General and Extra tests are available today for anyone wanting to get those privileges now.

 

[bill4long]

How is that an incentive to get people to upgrade to General or higher? Allow techs. voice privileges on HF and call it a day.

Some might say it makes no sense to whine about the current licensing scheme, when the current General test is so easy to pass. I've been a ham for 39 years, and I've yet to run across any Tech who actually wanted to get on HF (beyond 10m), and complain about the General test being too much of a barrier.

There's absolutely no reason not to, except you want to limit people, simply for the sake of limiting people. Makes no sense.

Some might say that there it makes good sense: the operators on HF don't want people down there who are unwilling to do some study and pass the General test. It's not merely about "limiting people." It's about limiting certain kinds of people who whine about studying for and taking rather easy tests. "If you can't do a little study and take the General test, yeah, we don't want you here." You may not like it, but it's perfectly sensible from the point of view of the current Generals and above.