In article , "Dee D. Flint"
writes:

"N2EY" wrote in message
...

However, I think that one of the problems today is that the entry-level
license
is too VHF/UHF/voice/applicane operator-centric.
The entry level license should offer a wide selection of bands and modes,
rather than what we have now where newcomers get all of VHF/UHF but no HF.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Newcomers with any gumption can have some HF if they choose to pass the
code.

Well, I dunno if I'd call it "gumption". But yes, there's nothing that
*prevents*
a raw newcomer from getting an HF ham license "right out of the box".

Tech study guide and test does include some very basic questions on
HF propagation, procedures, rules, etc. Unfortunately too many instructors
ignore the HF side of things and don't bother to give much encouragement to
go after the code so then the students end up on VHF/UHF only. My
instructor, many moons ago, really emphasized going for the "complete" Tech
license (Novice written + Tech written + code). I'm glad he did.

Me too!

But even though it *can* be done, the license structure works against it. This
isn't a new thing - way back in the bad old days, one would sometimes hear of a
new ham going straight to General rather than mucking around with Novice. But
those
folks were very rare.

If you look at the "new licenses" listings at

http://www.ah0a.org

you'll see that each month a few new hams each month bypass Tech and go for
General or even Extra "right out of the box". But they are only a few, compared
to the thousands who start with Tech.

As you noted in another post, a multistep license is needed because most people
find a stepwise approach more doable and less intimidating than a one-shot
comprehensive exam. So most folks will take the upgrades in steps. The current
system actually pushes newcomers *away* from Morse and HF use by putting those
things father away.

The new ham who goes for Tech-with-HF finds that s/he has a mountain of VHF/UHF
privileges but only a tiny bit of HF. And while there are some HF questions in
the Tech pool, the focus is primarily on VHF/UHF - which it has to be, in order
to match the privileges.

IOW, to be blunt, the current license structure tends to make HF and Morse look
harder than they are, and to nudge newbies into getting on the local repeaters
rather than HF Morse. (Which *appears* easier to most newcomer - buying an HT
and taking it "out of the box* or learning Morse, putting up an antenna,
assembling an HF station with all the needed stuff and getting on 80/40 CW?)

73 de Jim, N2EY