Hopefully, aspiring hams wish to partake of a hobby which is qualitatively different from making a cell phone call halfway around the world-which is what I assume you were referring to when you alluded to millennials being able to 'operate a two way radio and communicate throughout the world..."
While that is technically true, I've never really thought of "hf radio" as being the same thing as cellular phone communications, which of course are dependent on towers and wireline systems, etc., to get your call from point A to point B. Obviously HF is different in that the communication is entirely wireless, even over great distances. It is the magic of that technology and science that attracted me to radio in the first place. I would hope that new hams have that same desire, and don't merely wish for a cell phone on steroids. If they do, then they should have to learn the rudiments of HF theory, just like the rest of us did, to gain those privileges. I haven't really read the ARRL proposal yet. If the idea on the table is to let Techs have greater HF privileges without a commensurate increase in what someone currently has to learn to get a Tech license, then I would oppose. Privileges should be tied to demonstrated level of knowledge and competence. I was licensed as a kid in the early 70s, as a Novice. I learned code then. I then dropped out of the hobby for nearly 40 years. I came back a few years ago and passed the Tech test. I rapidly got bored with Tech privileges so I upgraded to General. I want more privileges so I am studying for the Extra exam as time permits. I have no problem with the fact that I don't currently have access to the bottom of the bands, where most of the really good DX hangs out. Those hams have demonstrated a higher level of knowledge and expertise than I have. When I am on a par with them, I will get their same privileges. That's the way world works. I'd like to see ham radio retain its unique characteristic as an HF radio service/hobby. I'm not particularly interested in it being invaded by the millenials' high tech toys. I am surrounded by such things at work and at home through kids. I want ham radio to be ham radio. That doesn't mean I am a luddite. Of course technology marches on and radios change and station capabilities change, but I want the essence of the hobby to remain the magic inherent in the possibility of talking to someone 7000 miles away through the physics of electromagnetic radiation, and the engineering behind our radios. And I think people should have to demonstrate some modest degree of actual interest in, and mastery of, the science and technology behind that to get a license. David WD5BZN From: BVARC [mailto:bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org] On Behalf Of NIzar Mullani via BVARC Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2018 9:22 AM To: 'BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB' Cc: NIzar Mullani Subject: Re: [BVARC] [tdxs-list] Expanding Privileges to End Amateur Radio TO ALL MY HAM FRIENDS - SOME DATA ON OUR HOBBY 1. The average age of most of the hams is over 65 years. 2. It is rare to see a millennial at our meetings. Where is the new generation of ham radio operators that is needed to keep the hobby going? 3. Our hobby does not actively go out and recruit new members to bring new blood into the hobby. Why not? 4. Ham radio technology has been surpassed by the digital revolution and wireless technologies. A millennial can operate a two way radio and communicate throughout the world without a license or restrictive requirements. But, we want to restrict that person from doing it on our frequencies. 5. Over 90% of the band space allocated to ham radio is not used. Yet, we argue about limiting the addition of new people into the hobby. Why not let the new people have access to it and expand the hobby? I recommend that we take a moment to reflect on how we enjoyed the hobby and the thrill of working on new radios when we were all young. Why do we want to restrict young people from experiencing that excitement? Let them in and let them bring their training in new technologies to transform our hobby to a new level. Nizar K0NM From: BVARC [mailto:bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org] On Behalf Of D. Howard Bingham via BVARC Sent: Thursday, March 1, 2018 6:19 AM To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Cc: D. Howard Bingham Subject: Re: [BVARC] [tdxs-list] Expanding Privileges to End Amateur Radio Techs still have ALL of 6m & a narrow segment of 10m to hone their skills. The problems I see, is LAX ENFORCEMENT caused by federal budget cuts at regulatory agencies such as the FCC. That's how CB got so bad, they dropped the licensing requirement, stopped enforcement & net result, is you have CB'rs who don't know any better. Not that there are a fair share of Generals and EXTRA'S that run off at the mouth with little regard of the rules. 73 Howard Bingham KE5APJ ================== On 2/28/2018 4:39 PM, Travis Burgess via BVARC wrote: As a no code general, I must fall into that invader category too. K5HTB ________________________________ From: BVARC <bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org><mailto:bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org> on behalf of Paul Noll via BVARC <bvarc@bvarc.org><mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org> Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 4:17 PM To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Cc: Paul Noll Subject: Re: [BVARC] [tdxs-list] Expanding Privileges to End Amateur Radio Wow, you sound like the technicians are invading "your" territory. You also sound like you have a problem with those who got their start in the CB bands over 30 years ago, like me. If the FCC makes this change then those bands would no longer be just "general band" anymore. I'm just a "TECHNICIAN" and have been for almost two years and can say that the changes will not stop me from getting my general but will get me experience in the bands before I leap off into the fray. I don't think it will cause any more problems than all ready exists. Enforcement of current rules is what is needed, not holding operators back because a few have no respect for the rules.. If you want amateur radio to grow and not continue it's decline among younger operators then more operators need to get with the program and welcome changes that hopefully will do just that. It's not your bands, it's our bands and I respectfully disagree with your statement. Paul On Feb 28, 2018 15:30, "gmuller885--- via BVARC" <bvarc@bvarc.org<mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>> wrote: To All I concur with Gary. We can not control the Techs that have invaded the General bad as it is. Gerald Muller K9GEM gmuller...@aol.com<mailto:gmuller...@aol.com> In a message dated 2/28/2018 2:59:48 PM Central Standard Time, tdxs-l...@tdxs.net<mailto:tdxs-l...@tdxs.net> writes: I say no. The Technician class in an entry point. If you have General class privileges on HF there is no intensive to continue learning about Amateur Radio. The Technician class is already inundated with with poor operators from the old Citizen Band radio service. Many of these operators need to be policed into better operating procedures but there there does not seem to be any recourse to do so. Allow these operators to flood over into the General Class operating prividlges will spell the end to Amateur Radio and doom our remaining bands to the same QRM as the old Citizen Band. ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees<http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-requests-expanded-hf-privileges-for-technician-licensees> ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the... The above is solely my opinion and does not represent that of the Texas DX Society or any of it's members. Gary D. Antley Possum Walk Texas DE KI5LR "It is better to have enemies than friends. At least you know they are out to get you." Gary David Antley ==
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