Over the past year or so, there has been talk about either petitioning the FCC for a new entry level license class or giving more privileges to Tech licensees. Apparently, the ARRL has decided on the latter.
In the latest ARRL Board meeting minutes, there was this nugget:
On the motion of Mr. Frenaye, seconded by Mr. Carlson, was unanimously VOTED that: Subject to final edits and approval by the Executive Committee, the Chief Executive Officer and the General Counsel are authorized and instructed to file with the FCC a Petition for Rule Making seeking enhancements to the operating privileges to be afforded to Technician Class licensees in the 80, 40 and 15-meter bands, prepared pursuant to the first and second reports to the Board by the Entry Level License Committee in January and July of 2017. It is further requested that a dialog be commenced with the National Council of Volunteer Exam Coordinators concerning the appropriate scope and comprehensiveness of the Technician Class exam relative to the operating privileges conveyed by that license class.
On reddit, one poster reported that one proposal would give Techs the following additional privileges:
- Digital (Same as General) 3525-3600 7025-7125 21025-21200
- Phone (Less than General) 3900-4000 7225-7300 21350-21450
I don’t know where he got this information.
There are some interesting comments in the reddit post, including:
- “In the UK. Our Foundation level license has access to all hf bands, but only at 10 watt and only on commercial equipment. It really does give starters the full feel of ham.”
- “I’m in favor of increasing interest in all parts of ham radio. However, I fear people experimenting without sufficient technical knowledge. We have enough people that do not understand why Boafengs don’t follow part 97 specifications. Bringing up this topic gets you called a hater and an elitist. I think sub $30 radios are great for the hobby, as long as they comply with rules. When you don’t have sufficient technical knowledge to understand the rules, I don’t want that person on HF. Where even a small spurious signal can really carry a great distance.”
- “If they do this, I think they need to beef up the tech exam, and any existing techs would need an endorsement to use those new privs. Is this something like the old ‘Tech Plus’?”
- “I’m in favor, but I think they’re missing a couple of smart moves. Instead of 40m digital, which is already a crowded segment, why not give them all of 30m? It already has a power limit, it has great propagation, it still maintains an incentive to upgrade, and as a bonus, we finally see 30m really get the activity it deserves.” [There were other commenters who were in favor of giving Techs more, if not full, privileges on 17m and 12m as well as 30m.]
To be honest, I’ve kind of lost interest in this topic. I’m not so sure that additional privileges is going to be a big spur to get Techs more involved in the hobby. Buying HF gear is an investment, and I’m not sure that a lot of Techs are going to make that investment if all they get are some additional HF privileges. After all, upgrading to General is really not that difficult (especially with my study guide!), and if they were really interested in operating these modes and frequencies, then they’d get their General Class tickets.
I think that Elmering—and provding a more welcoming environment for new hams—is more important than additional privileges, but of course, that’s harder to provide. That’s the real solution, though.
Bob K0NR says
I am still waiting for the results of actual research on this topic, instead of just surveys and opinions.
Dan KB6NU says
Research? You think they did any real research on this? And, even if they did, getting that information out of the ARRL would be next to impossible. In the past, I’ve asked for committee reports on different topics, but have been told that “they’re not for publication.”
Vance N3VEM says
I like the points you made in your last couple paragraphs – it’s very consistent with what you’ve written about the ARRL supporting local clubs. Directing energy in that direction would probably do more to attract new hams than constantly petitioning the FCC to fiddle with rules.
After all – I hear way more people say “Ham Radio; what’s that?” than I hear say “Ham Radio; I was gonna do that but there aren’t enough priveledges on HF”
Steve C - KE8HXM says
More bread and circuses? Being a new Technician, from my perspective, requesting the FCC allow more privileges across the band spectrum is attractive, but how does this attract new hams? I think that the Elmers in the clubs do more to bring in new operators than offering more of us a broader array of frequencies to experiment in.
I appreciate the ARRL recommending these expanded privileges, but in view of the recent turmoil within the upper echelon of the ARRL this seems almost like an offering to take people’s minds off that by putting this shiny object on display.
For the record, Elmers are the people who bring more of us new people into amateur radio than a package of HF privileges ever will. The actual work of introducing and encouraging new amateurs is one place that Elmers contribute the most, and without them this hobby would evaporate. We, (the new operators), need Elmering more than we need bandwidth, at least this is my own opinion.
Someday, those of us who are new at this will get the opportunity to pay it forward and Elmer the next generation of hams. I look forward to the day when it becomes my responsibility and honor to Elmer on my own some new amateur radio operator.
Dave New, N8SBE says
From my limited experience at Maker Faires, I found technical folks more interested in things like PSK31 and RTTY (the two prevalent HF digital modes at the time, if you don’t count CW) than SSB (maybe it was because it was difficult to hear SSB in the high audio noise environment that is typical of Maker Faires).
If we wish to attract folks from the Maker crowd, adding HF digital privileges to the Technician Class for the 80, 40, and 15 meter bands with an appropriate power level (25W?) would make sense to me. I’d even go so far as to suggest other bands (20 meters comes to mind) to sweeten the pot.
When I pointed out to Maker folks during our demos the various DX entities that were streaming across the screen, they were impressed with the idea that running only a few watts and a dipole or vertical antenna, they could contact those places and exchange information.
Even digital voice and digital slow scan were fascinating to the Maker crowd, but since those modes operate in the voice portion of the band, they are likely best reserved for the General Class and higher crowd.
Dave New, N8SBE says
Oh, and I do agree that Elmering is very important. I’ve managed to Elmer a few folks at work into getting their ham license, and it is true that they would likely never have bothered except I talked their ear off about ham radio, and pointed out that anyone who works with RF at their job owed it to themselves to get licensed, so they could experience the practical side of radio. Probably more pertinent to UHF and higher frequencies, nevertheless it is very educational to experience first hand multi-path, absorption, and diffraction effects.
KB5ZCS says
I have had a Tech license for 28 years now and love it. I know one ham that told me one day that he would shoot himself if he couldn’t upgrade. He said that there is nothing to do at that class. Well, for me I have done a whole lot. By the way, this guy had just upgraded to General, and get this, he was asking me and other Techs questions about ham radio. For example, he asked me how to use a new Icom radio he got. I told him to go read the manual, Mr.General class! Anyway, my point is that I have, over the years met Generals and Extras that really don’t know any thing about ham radio. Maybe those tests need to be harder or be changed ……