I waited until i got my extra ticket to complain about the gatekeeping that is the US ham license structure and tests. I knew if i didn't, it would sound like sour grapes. But i got it, so here goes! I, like the guy who wrote the letter, really only wanted to know the operating rules and guidlines. I know them now and can reference the material if needed. I, like you Mike, am uninterested in logic gates and the things that make computers go "Bing!" Those that are interested in that stuff, will still be interested in that stuff regardless if there are test questions about it. Are there valuable questions on the exams? No doubt. But there are a LOT of pure gatekeeping questions on the exams as well. Manny of which do not make one a better operator. All this to say, i think testing is needed, we just need a realistic test pool for the people who want to learn how to get on the air, get acces to bands and frequency space, and follow the rules. If someone wants to build a radio, they can find that easy enough on the Internet. And maybe that is the heart of it; the testing scheme is antiquated given our access to information today.

@adv4n6

Ай бұрын

Exactly this!!

in the UK we have the view that an "amateur radio licence is a license to learn" you start of knowing just enough to be dangerous and pick things up as you go along.

@GunnyWombat

Ай бұрын

Foundation basically allows you to turn a radio on and put a ladder against a wall safely..

@RFPews

Ай бұрын

Same for a lot of folks in the US too. The guy who helped me had that mentality. Realistically unless you come from the industry side or EE background almost all of this will be overwhelming. And there is nothing wrong with being an appliance operator either. If that’s what someone’s wants to do. Memorize the answers and then just talk.

@Robbie-sk6vc

Ай бұрын

​@@RFPewsWhile I agree that it's really a license to learn, it's nice to talk with "radio folks" on the radio! At least learn a few things.

@RFPews

Ай бұрын

@@Robbie-sk6vc yeah I hear ya, but plenty of folks just don’t care about the inner workings. It’s in every hobby. I am a type that I go both feet and learn as much as possible. But not everyone is like that

@walterkeen5913

Ай бұрын

I wish the US would consider parts of the UKs (ofcom) structure, the first license you get (foundation) allows you access to HF with reduced power as I understand it. Working with youth none of them are impressed by vhf/uhf or dmr, the few that seem genuinely interested are interested in HF and our structure only gives them access to 10 meters, anl band that often has less than stellar results for signal propagation

all you have to do is go to a forum and read some of the questions that newbies to HF post, and you will soon see how many study questions and not the material. so, the reason to learn this material is so you can actually understand why things are going wrong, and have a starting point as to how you might fix your problems.

The questions that really get to me are the ones about vacuum tubes and older tech, most operators aren't going to need that information unless they just really want play with old radios

No matter how hard you try not to learn things in ham radio, it's impossible I learn something new almost every day. I love this hobby but sometimes I feel my head might explode. I am proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Girls like POTA too and it's one of my favorite ham radio things to do

regarding the information you have to learn for general and extra and the privileges that come with those tests... they don't line up to match. the things you have to learn to pass the higher level license exams don't reflect the additional privileges that come with them. You don't need a General or Extra license to build a radio. You don't need an extra license to operate a space telecommand station. You don't need a General license to talk to or through satellites. All that can be done with the tech license. The only thing the General and Extra licenses get you is more frequency, more power, and access to more vanity call signs. And none of the stuff you have to learn is relevant to those things. Why am I allowed to build a radio with just a technician license but there's little to no questions about that on the exam? Why can I use SSTV as a technician when there is nothing on the Tech exam about SSTV? I just feel like most of the questions on the Extra Exam are holdovers from days gone by when people actually built transceivers. Maybe the General isn't so bad, and I just don't remember it as well because it isn't as fresh on my mind as the extra. But I do feel like the licenses and exams need an overhaul. Not sure when was the last time that happened. But I don't think the licensing represents the way amateur radio functions in 2024. I'm never going to build a radio. And even if I did, it would be a kit where everything is conveniently supplied and I'm just assembling. And even then most of those are SDRs anyway. Very few people build their radios now. An incredibly small number of people need to know picofarads and micro henries in today's world.

@adv4n6

Ай бұрын

100% this.

Mike I am all those things you said "you're not": Electrician, Electronics tech (thanks to your taxpayer dollars and the US Navy), Computer Technician, Network Engineer, and yes, today, a salesperson. You hit the nail on the head about Amateur Radio. Its roots lie in experimentation. One of the coolest stories about radio experimentation is that of Hedy Lamarr, the movie actress who invented Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). She went from being a movie actress to becoming a real-life "Q" from the James Bond films. I don't think she was a licensed radio operator; however, the ARRL celebrates her nonetheless. Her story is key to understanding "why we have to know so much." However, in the grand scheme, it's not all that much; it's just the beginning. Amateur radio has always been about exploring what's possible, about making the impossible possible! There's a quote from the movie "The Imitation Game" that goes, “Sometimes it's the very people who no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine.” Look around the hobby; some of the most inspirational stories are found here! That is amateur radio! You also hit the mark regarding radio plans for those who simply want to chat ("rag chew"), with Citizen Band being one of them. Yes, sir, I am a licensed amateur radio operator, and yes, I do Citizens Band. The point is, at the heart of amateur radio is curious experimentation! If I can do this on HF, can I transmit analog video as well? Some amateur did. Can I transmit digital encoding over HF? Some amateur did. We can send emails over HF because some amateur said, "I CAN!" The goal is to empower people to realize that they can do it too! Okay, I did not mean to go full cheerleader, KO4AYE -73 kicking at the 20😊

Q2 reminded me a lot of myself when I was taking the license. I was saying those exact things, and the same things other commenters have said. And I still think a majority of the test material is outdated and irrelevant. But it is what it is, you have to do it to get the licenses. For me it was learn whatever would stick and memorize the rest, pass the tests and move on to real learning, learning by doing. As others have mentioned, it's 2024, we have a plethora of resources at our fingertips to learn the things we are interested in or working on in the moment. I did CB for many years and enjoyed it. I heard about digital modes on the ham bands, and as a tech nerd I wanted to play, so I got my license. Tech, then general the following weekend. Enjoyed that for a few months, got into contesting so I needed extra, studied a bit and took that test. I absolutely did not do any of it to learn how to make antennas, we have KZread for that. I did not do it to learn how to make amplifiers, I have a job to make money to buy amplifiers. We all have a need and a direction in this hobby, what that is dictates what you'll learn. But....that's just my 2 picofarads!

My take on why we need to learn this stuff: 1. amateur equipment has the ability to cause big problems (RFI, QRM) so we need a baseline understanding of what NOT to do and why. (you covered that) HF can reach across borders so ITU member countries are required to exercise a level of control over their own licensees. 2. licensing is an administrative burden - we can't have an "infinite number of license classes" because it would just be a nightmare to manage. (different tests, band and power restrictions etc) Some countries are even more stringent than the USA. (Sweden: one license similar to US Amateur Extra, arguably even harder)

I really liked your video!! After getting my technician license, I also initially wondered the reason you can run 50w UHF on GMRS without an exam/license whereas another portions of the UHF band requires an exam. Then I started looking at the radio equipment itself and immediately realized the difference. Basically with GMRS the available frequencies are locked down to comply with the GMRS specs. But there's no lock down to specific channels with amateur radio. You have to know what frequencies you can talk on and those you can't. If you locked down Amateur radio to only specific channels, you'd basically have GMRS. Also, GMRS is just UHF, so your transmissions distances will be less than VHF freqs. No need to really get into understanding antennas, propagation, etc. So you are correct, if a person just wants to reach out on radio, GMRS is available, and it should be expanded as demand requires. If you want to communicate longer distances, than you should really understand radio technology and antennas, hence the exam requirement.

Love ya man BUT..... Gotta agree with Q2... Zero reason to know all the crub just to talk. HEAR ME OUT.. Back in my day, yes, you could goto radio shack, frys, or a raw electric supply shop. But now they are gone. Radios are more than affordable, and tech is now replace vs repair. The new gens, don't know "repair" they buy, Google how to use and move on. If they want to try something new, they watch you or other SME YT channels. Zero reason to know the general and extra content when we have social media and Google. --- I will never need nor use a Smith chart... ever... like OP I buy antennas, use a rig expert, and search YT on how to tune cause you've gotta video about it. The test should be more over real use, when to use a filter., notch, buttons and settings on a radio, ft8, aprs, coax runs, stuff thst one would "need" to know about a radio. I dont care how it works, just test me on the set up, tuning and such. 73's!

On learning all that... stuff. Amateur radio is like any institution. Just like getting a diploma in school, you gotta jump through the hoops to get your ticket. It's a license to learn. The journey, in my opinion, is worth it. I did not commit everything to long term memory, and to be honest, I am not smart enough to learn transistor and heterodyne theory. But I took what I wanted from the course, and I loved learning what I wanted to learn. Enjoy the journey. Instant gratification isn't all it cracked up to be.

Not many people are willing to admit it, but part of the reason you have to learn a decent amount of material and theory is to ensure that those who pass and get their licence are serious enough and invested enough in and about the hobby. Is this gate keeping? Technically yes, but so is paying $ for a GMRS licence. Any licence is gate keeping. It’s the degree of gate keeping that differs between hobbies.

One thing I like about coax strippers when I used to install cable tv I learned a few tricks, but I still struggle learning about antennas.

Gotcha beat. I still have a roll of Kester that I bought from Allied Signal back in ~ 1962. A spool of solder goes a LONG way (unless you do soldering as a profession)

@1shARyn3

Ай бұрын

That should have said "Allied Radio" not Allied Signal

I am with you Mike Good advise

The soldering Guru ! many thanks

In Brazil’s the focus of the ham test is very different from North America. There ethics appears all over the tests, it’s the main focus of the tests. Being licensed in both countries I think brazils approach is better. Another thing I noticed is that there most of the hams do really understand antennas and most are able to build and have built almost all type os antennas. From dipoles to multiband cubical quad (common there). The same apply to most of the countries in SA. Thus, I believe that forcing people to study a certain subject doesn’t necessarily get them to learn, it actually creates aversion to the subject. Regarding ltow, I think ppl should relax and give ARRL the time they need. The service is free and also they need to find the flaw in the system first otherwise it will just be hacked again. 73!

Good video info. Stay positive

To your second person's question, I just upgraded to General a couple of weeks ago. To be completely honest, I only studied about half the material and still passed with a 30 out of 35 correct. I have no interest in digital, RTTY, FT8, or anything of the sort right now, just voice. I got the bug to upgrade a year or two ago when I had made a couple of DX contacts on 10 meter, and knew if I wanted to contact more people, I would need to upgrade. Someday I may take interest in CW or the other modes, but for now I'm happy just talking on the radio. 73's W0VIV

Here in the UK the justification for amateur radio even existing was the self training in radio communications. So if you are not interested in self training you have no justification to hold an amateur radio licence. That requirement may now be out of date as the radio spectrum isn't quite the precious resource it once was. It is now debatable how free and open the use of transmitters should be. As our host points out, there is equipment and frequencies that do not require technical examination so maybe ham radio is justified in keeping a technical knowledge requirement.

Love the shirt brother. I felt the same about computers when getting my basic Cert, then the net + the interest grows, then Security+ and then the Microsoft server... the knowledge is endless with all kinds of paths to take on the way. Ham Certs are similar but less intrusive. The term know your friends, but keep your enemies closer comes to mind.

Things for which one works tend to be more appreciated than those that are free.

Well said. Patience is a virtue and so rare these days.

It’s like going for a jet ski license "boat" for lake wini,why the hell do you need to know the rules of salt water bro

@georgebodley8068

Ай бұрын

To operate correctly and follow the rules of operating bro.

@single_cam9199

Ай бұрын

Did no man ever

@hamradiotube

Ай бұрын

Have you seen how reckless jet ski operators are??

@utvc3687

Ай бұрын

You cannot drive a person to death on the radio right?

@Pahrump

Ай бұрын

Being uninformed you can F it up for everyone. We don't want that. It's not cb radio​@@utvc3687

Some people forget that "transparency" doesn't mean providing "ANY" info as soon as possible... When a company is hacked or has a data/network breach, the company & otherwise cyber security companies and law enforcement need to collect forensic data about what happened. They need to piece this all together to find out what happened, the extent of the damage and hot to recovery from the event as a whole... BE PATIENT.... 73.

@N2YTA

Ай бұрын

Absolutely

I’m a Civil Engineer and I have learned a lot about what I should have paid attention to in high school and college. Learning the “Art of Radio” is a challenge.

3 great answers

Hearing older hams preach, carry a paper backup is something I can clearly see it's important to log contacts manually in a composition book.

I just spent 5 days trying to get my IC-705 to talk to my mac over USB. At the end of it, tho wireless was easy, the USB issue turned out to be my USB cable was a charge cable only - no data lines. So I learned something every day for 5 days solid. But wait! there's more... I still have to get it working with wsjt-x over wireless on the mac. So that's at least another 5 days or learning something new every day. So, why exactly we have to learn so much just to do ham radio, I don't know. I only know that we have to, and the fun never stops!

@dorvinion

Ай бұрын

Pro-Tip Wrap your USB cable through a toroid a few times. (Use a data capable cable of course) When I got my 705 I had little trouble getting cat or digital modes to appear to work (Linux).I could control the radio but every time I tried to engage an external tuner or transmit, the radio would lock up and continue transmitting until I turned it off. Five wraps of the USB cable through a toroid and 100% of my USB problems disappeared. Using it wirelessly 'works' but wired seems (in my experience) to result in better digital performance. If you still want to work FT8 wirelessly you may want to check out WFView to act as the 'middleman' between the radio and WSJTX.

@lstavenhagen

Ай бұрын

@@dorvinion Yep, that's exactly what mine is doing - locking in transmit and comm errors and I have to power cycle the rig. It works fine on a dummy load of course.... I'll try the choke method for sure. Tnx es 73, AI5QA

@JohnHaworth

Ай бұрын

Had the same issue. Marked all my charge-only USB cables with red electrical tape to not use them for data needs.....de NU8M

@pale_2111

Ай бұрын

Use a mix 31 or 43 torid. Don't use the clip on beads or a higher mix. The higher mix will work on VHF/UHF, but on HF, they completely choke out the usb cabale and make the computer not see the radio. I learned that the hard way.

@lstavenhagen

Ай бұрын

@@pale_2111 Yeah I tried it on a 240-43 core, but it didn't make any difference. Even with windings halfway around it. I just have too much RF in the shack. I went with a commercial app (SDR Control) so I could go wifi, and it works fine now.

New solder irons need to be tinned. KZread has good videos on the tining process.

Mike, I look forward to your Mailbag Monday videos. This one had three interesting subjects. First, I’m pretty good at soldering and as you pointed out, keep the iron hot and the tip clean. As for the second topic, the student doesn’t get to decide what the curriculum should be. In my seven+ decades I’ve found use for things I learned many years before. More knowledge is always better. For the last topic, I completely agree. It’s ham radio, we do it for fun. Everybody get a grip. The ARRL will get this all sorted out. They were attacked, it happens. They say they took LoTW down to keep the data safe. I have no reason to not believe them (BTW, I don’t use LoTW, I use QRZ) . . Mike keep up the good work. I hope to work you on the air!

The guy in the letter said "I have absolutely no interest in learning how to build antennas," but then goes on to say that he built two that didn't work very well. It kinda sounds like his disinterest came as a result of failure- especially noting that he purchased a working example of one of the antennas that he built. My advice to all new licensees would be to start with the easiest possible antenna that you can build- a simple dipole. As long as you get the formula right, a dipole is likely going to work right out of the gate. Nothing puts people off of building antennas than having your first two attempts fail. Total failure likely isn't going to happen with a simple dipole. If you're a Technician primarily interested in HF phone, cut a dipole for 28.400MHz and it will cover your phone allocation on 10 meters. If you're interested in HF CW, cut a dipole for 7.075 MHz for your allocation on 40 meters. Those would likely be the most populous places on HF a Technician could start right now. A dipole can even be effective on 2 meters, especially if you know where your repeaters are and broadside the antenna in the direction of the repeaters. My point is, building the most simplest antenna for the most popular bands in your allocation is the key to success and triggering an excitement for homebrew antennas, ESPECIALLY when you don't have anything resembling an antenna analyzer outside of the radio's SWR meter. I started off as a General (which gave me a little more allocation), but spent my entire first year working the world on a the first antenna I ever built- a 40 meter dipole cut for the center of the General phone allocation (7.2375 MHz).

It weeds out the idiots.

I passed my amateur extra class two Fridays ago waiting for the FCC to upgrade

@dorvinion

Ай бұрын

Four weeks for me, basically the very day they were being attacked. Certificate means we can operate with our new privileges until they get caught up.

Thanks for covering the LoTW issue. I understand why they are a little hush hush about it, but there should be an active discussion about it from the community.

That Flint, MI comment was savage! I wonder how many people got their feelings all twisted up when you said ham radio contacts mean nothing. To someone outside of the hobby you are spot on with that comment though. Really about the only time hams get recognition from outside of the hobby is emergency response situations where a ham radio operator saves a life. About the only other time ham radio gets a spotlight in the news is during the days and weeks leading up to Field Day when clubs work with their local news outlets to let the general public know about their planned Field Day activities.

@hamradiotube

Ай бұрын

There's one guy in the comments already who got butt hurt by that comment about the contacts! Pretty funny.

@DarkShadowCustoms

Ай бұрын

@@hamradiotube figures there would be at least one. Most of my congratulations for making contacts has come from within the ham community. My family and friends not involved in the hobby have congratulated me and many are impressed with the distances I have been able to make contacts with just 20 watts and some wire.

" It also makes time travel possible " LOL. !!

Great Vid! I agree 100% we all have access to our log contacts. When LOTW resumes we can reupload if needed, or partial upload. Just keep working them contacts regardless. 73 de KI4CYB

Mike, congratulations for explaining in simple terms what many fail to understand, the basis and purpose of Amateur Radio clearly established in Part 97's , amateur radio five basic principles.

Thank God another Extra who sucks at math! I feel your pain!

I have my General. But I’m going to tell you right now, the test is ridiculous for literally talking on the radio. 90% you will never use. It really should come down to rules and regulations. Maybe a tad more but that is it.

Re: #2, why do we have to know all this stuff, "you took the words right out of my mouth" as the (I think Meat Loaf?) song goes. Good answer. I'm currently studying for my upgrade to general in the Philippines (actually, I'm watching your videos and playing radio instead of studying as I should be doing) and was kind of wondering the same thing: why do I need to know about PIN diodes, PNP and NPN transistors, different types of vacuum tubes, etc. but I've been learning it because I want to pass and gain a lot more HF privileges than I have now (40, 15 and 10 meters only.) Some of the questions are actually relevant, like how to find the resonant frequency of a series or parallel LC circuit (which is basically what an antenna is) given the values of capacitance and inductance, though in real life I would use my NanoVNA for that. I think I'll probably pass if I keep reviewing the material every few days so it's fresh in my mind. 73 de DW7GDL.

why study question.....On a global scale there will always be those who are just flat out "Lazy". Oh and by the way when studying for my Extra Class License it took me over 9 months studying for 2 or 3 hours every single night before i felt enough knowledge learned to take the written test. N5LRZ

Waiting for someone to do the whole comparison with airplane/firearms licences trope

Ham radio is about experimentation for those who want that. That is going to change like it or not(Just like the requirement for Morse Code). If you want to do that then have fun but for those who do not want to experiment and only want use the airwaves to talk then they must be accepted for that. I have heard the phrase "HAM lifestyle" and I have seen it but there is a new group of radio users who are not interested in the lifestyle(at least not now) and that must be okay. Everyone however should follow the rules about which bands they can use and which they can't. If anyone does not like that then they should petition the FCC for a change (good luck on that). :)

Sorry if it's already been said....but you do need algebra. Ohm's Law and Power ratings.

Good to know a little theory but the regs might be important. Besides if you need to know something just look it up online. Times are changing and so must ham radio. Young minds, fresh ideas be tolerant (Star Trek III).

You're missing the whole point about people's gripe with what's going on with the ARRL- their being unprepared for such an attack and their turtle pace in resolving the issue. How many other corporate level entities that have been cyber attacked have you seen take so long to bounce back? Maybe if their sites and services didn't resemble a Angelfire or Geocities page from the late 90's people wouldn't be complaining.

Today to just talk, more radio proceedures and ethics should be on the tests and less technical electronics building questions. The ARRL, from what I’ve read about all of their issues, needs revamped from the top down to be relevant.

Amateur radio especially HF is not plug and play so one must know what they are doing or where to go to find out, hence the testing protocol.

Computers are useful, but can sure be a pain in the ass at times...

Putting a splitter on an unknowingly powered coax is quite the sight

Be sure that you DO NOT USE acid corer solder (intended for plumbing) NOR plumbing flux.

It’s the same as you don’t get your driver license and allow you to go drive semi’s or pilot planes etc.

@adv4n6

Ай бұрын

Not even a little bit close to similar.

I would like it to be like taking your driving license. You don’t have to know how to build a car to get one.

Back when I taught ham classes I got the question about learning so much stuff quite often. Like you emphasized, I said that the government is giving you a licence to operate an experimental radio station at significant power levels. They want to know that you can do that safely and without harming you or your neighbours. Good episode today Mike.

it would be nice if rhe question pool was smaller and more concise to making good operators

My ham radio contacts mean everything to me my life has collapsed not being able to confirm my nvis contact

The way to get good at soldering, is to have a go at soldering, it's more of an art than a science, but practice makes perfect, ish. Amateur radio licences are extraordinary permissions to experiment with amazing technology, To have access to do this you need to show that you are up to the job, so there is an exam. It's a tiered system, start at the beginning, work your way up. The more you do, the more you learn. Part of learning is making mistakes. Your first antenna may not work, make another, work out what you did wrong. Learn and improve. I bet those guys at ARRL are having a dreadful time, cut them some slack. Lots of slack.

I like 63/37 solder.

@hamradiotube

Ай бұрын

69/31 is good too! 🤣

@Philip-KA4KOE

Ай бұрын

​@@hamradiotubebeat me to it...

Mike, I think your response to the question of "Why can't there be a classification of license for people who just want to talk on the radio?" was excellent. At times I've also had similar sentiments, wondering why I need to know all this stuff that I'll probably never need. Then I remind myself that as licensed amateurs, we're given the freedom to build our own transmitters and use them in the hobby, as long as they meet the FCC requirements. Most won't bother, or don't have the skill or depth of knowledge to build their own equipment, but we're given that freedom to do so. You can use CB/FRS/GMRS/MURS with zero technical knowledge of the service, but you also can't legally build and use your own equipment for those services. 👍

He would really have issues if the CW requirement was there. I had to learn it for my Novice and General. They dropped it by the time I went Extra. He should remain a tech or go to CB 😞 Thanks. Bob WB6TIS

Lmao Flint Michigan 😂😂

Fish or cut bait

Unpopular opinion but long and short: in the modern era, you really dont need to know all that shit. Period. There is no reason that a tech cant talk on all bands. It is tomfoolery of the highest order, and the more people try to justify it as if or as though its some end all be all simply perpetuates the madness. The test should be the band plan, regulations, etc. other than that, its simply rote memorization for the purpose of...nothing more than rote memorization. Its 2024, I have the internet, calculators, books and all kinds of resources...theres really no use for an exam about hertz and ohms and all that other crap...nothing we are doing requires that I have memorized the calculation to convert whatever to who gives a damn. I go buy a rig, buy an antenna and off I go...I have neither the time nor desire to experiment...the notion that you need a license to experiment in any event is just wild. The license system is in sore need of being re-vamped.

That is a question that many of us share. For instance, if and when I ever decide to use satellites for ham radio, I'll research it and learn all there is to know at that time. Why put all that information into the question pool for the Extra exam just for me to forget most of it within a few short months? An introduction to the basics would have been all that was needed IMO. That is one example. Why not test Morse? Because someone will learn it if, and when they are ready to use it. Right? My 2 cents on the topic. Cheers! de: WN7D

Is WSPR Net down? All I'm getting is error messages. I can't get a new account and have sent several emails but no response.

Ok, I'm a Ham from The EU (so bare that in mind) and we also have to learn a lot about electronics. For me it was fun since I like it but one guy asked the very same question: "why do I need to know this stuff? I'm not an EE! I just want to make contacts!". The person from the club that was giving a presentation said: "You have to know this since License gives you the right to transmit on a self made equipment. It's like in (our)DMV. You don't need to be a car mechanic but you have to know how to check the level of fluids and point the main parts under the hood".

While I appreciate the sentiment, I've been a licensed Amateur for nearly 20 years and have yet to see a single instance of the ARRL "defending our spectrum." Nor does the ARRL lobby successfully on our behalf. Heck, they don't even have an office in Washington, DC. I'd support an ARRL that actually did what the marketing schtick says they do -- but they don't, and have not. What did it take to get the 300-baud data rate lifted on HF? -- was it tireless lobbying on the ARRL's part? No -- it was a member of Congress confronting a FCC exec on behalf of their constituents and shaming them into taking action. When I was licensed back in 2007, the big issue was PRB-1 and HOAs dictating what hams could do on their own property. Guess what? Due to the 'tireless efforts' of the ARRL, exactly nothing has been done on this issue in 17 years. And, on the fact that the ARRL got pwned? --look at their list of officers. Conspicuous by it's absence is any officer associated with IT or Network Security. C'mon - it's a *corporation* that has a President, a CEO, *two* Vice-Presidents.....but no CISO? HELLO?? 1985 is calling...they want their org chart back. It's not that people either like or dislike what the ARRL does. Rather, it's the fact that the ARRL does *nothing* (except collect membership dues) that causes people like me to say that it's time the board disbanded the organization, sold the assets, and perhaps a group that wanted to do the work could get a word in edge-wise and actually put some runs on the board for Amateurs in the US. To put it bluntly, the ARRL is a frickin' embarrassment to US Amateurs, with their constant drama, their self-serving attitude, and (from recent accounts) their hostile work environment. Rather than saying, "...but, it's all we've got, so let's support them." -- ARRL members *should* be saying, "We deserve better."

I am 71 YRS OLD I have tried to learn his for my tech license I can not remember any of this crap I don't want to. I have my gmrs license put no one is on gmrs and I monitor the ham side nobody goes by these terms I've learned 73 I am venting I'm going to try again to study for the test but I'm old and hopeless never did like taking tests

What the flux!?

Years ago I once heard a young man (I think it was a young man) say "its not fair that I have to learn to swim, fire a gun, jump out of an airplane, disarm bombs, crawl through mud, swim in cold water, stay awake for several days straight, etc. to be a Navy Seal when all I really want to do is just tell my friends I am a Navy Seal." Well...

All that flux talk is just plain flux’ed up. 😂

International Treaties...

What do i think? You completely missed the root of that guy's question, went completely over your head.

@hamradiotube

Ай бұрын

Ok

Simple answer Amateur radio ain't cb ,any fool can obtain a cb licence and operate poorly , however in Amateur radio a proper education in procedures and correct operatin practices is a must .

@BigJohnsHamShack

Ай бұрын

You don't need a license for CB operation. Just sayin... Reagan signed a bill in 1982 allowing the FCC to drop licensing requirements for Citizens Band radio. Little history lesson. Not really relevant just knowledge I felt like sharing. 😂

@georgebodley8068

Ай бұрын

@@BigJohnsHamShack you do in the uk just saying .

@BigJohnsHamShack

Ай бұрын

@@georgebodley8068 all of a sudden 1776 makes better sense.

@GunnyWombat

Ай бұрын

@@georgebodley8068 no you dont. UK CB has been licence free since 2006.

@georgebodley8068

Ай бұрын

@@GunnyWombat which proves my point about correct education in amateur radio as opposed to poor operating on cb btw i wasn't aware of ofcom changes to cb licenced regarding not needing one ,but then again we do t want to see amateur radii descending into the very poor practices of cb.

Why do we need to learn all that stuff? For some reason that 40 year old guy I drove by with the flat tire, waiting for someone to change it, came immediately to mind. Sure, he can drive. But he can't really operate his car all by himself because he doesn't understand how to fix it by himself, even at a very basic level. Radio is a lot like that car.

@hamradiotube

Ай бұрын

That's pretty sad if you can't change a tire.

Calling BS on needing all the theory. You can drive a car or sail a boat without understanding internal combustion or fluid dynamics. More government regulations driven by the narcissist in the hobby. Sad hams

@hamradiotube

Ай бұрын

Yes, you will be included in my next sad hams video.

@VeteranOfSojuWars

Ай бұрын

CB, FRS, GMRS or Business LMR would certainly be a better fit for those just wanting to press a push to talk without learning anything. And there's nothing wrong with that. It has far less to do with gov't regulations being supported by narcissists and more with the concept of wanting to grow a culture and community of competent communicators and subject matter experts in the many facets of amateur radio.

I think the guy is lazy and doesn’t want to earn anything.

A contact means "nothing"? Really? Then why are you licensed? Too bad.

@hamradiotube

Ай бұрын

I like to make contacts.

@dorvinion

Ай бұрын

Yes really Nothing inherently wrong with enjoying something strictly because you enjoy it, but the things that mean something are the things we do for others.

Why get a license? Because it's international treaty that requires it. Its a license to learn. Your antennas didn't work? Do you know why? That's part of why we learn it too! At least you have some basic knowledge, that's a good place to start. Don't like that? Find an easier hobby!

I do believe it is important to learn about tiers on the classes, I rather struggle taking general etc. I taken the technician exam multiple times till I passed but I do know it's important. I want to get my general and extra even if I dont home bree but it would be nice to learn all I can and get all 3 licenses so I can play with all of the bands. 73 Kq4hcu