Thesis ONE

I am an OLDER Amateur and the long term prognosis of AR worries me.
I am NOT having a temper tantrum about the FCC doing away with the CW
testing requirement.

This is a major change, but I think major changes are needed.
Change is upsetting to some people, but things that don't change are DEAD.

What further changes are needed???


Thesis TWO

--------AR has not kept up with changing technology-------------
In WWI and WWII CW was state of the art. NOT so today.
Today Having an EXTRA or a 25 wpm certificate does not give you a better
insight into, or better operating technique in today's radio communications
systems.
.

Thesis Three
Any how, when I got into AR in the early 80's after a long period as a SWL
and CBer, there were a lot of guys my age ( relative youngsters, age 25-30)
just coming into AR.
I am just not seeing youngsters coming in today.

THIS WORRIES ME.

What can be done to bring new young blood into AR?



Thesis FOUR

I have spent most of my adult life dealing with VHF, UHF and now 800MHz
trunking systems.
CW to me isn't bad, its just not germane to my day to day existence.

I am an amateur who likes fiddling with things.
Not so much operating, as asking questions like: can I take those VHF-LO
whips that are already on those trucks cut hem down a little bit, and turn
them into 5/8 wave antennae for the new VHF HI system? That sure would save
a lot of work drilling and installing new antennae.


Computers are the thing now, and the RF parts of their communication systems
are what is important now in radio.
I don' think we should kill off or stop using CW or SSB, nor do I think we
should allow robot stations using various protocols to spread everywhere.
To paraphrase Ecclesiastes: To every emission type there is some spectrum, A
band for Cw, a band for SSB, a band for PSK-31, etc.

Moderation in all things, and emission types..



Thesis FIVE

The recent FCC ruling on CW and the changes in various HF emissions
authorizations are part of what I see as a slow but continuous movement
toward an AR licensing system that will only have two licenses.
Class A will be what used to be EXTRA, Advanced, and General, who will be
allowed to use all authorized bandwidths, emissions and frequencies.
Class B will be Techs, Tech Plus, and the old Novices who will be restricted
to frequencies above 30 or 50 MHZ, and they will be appliance operators not
allowed to adjust or repair their equipment.

Take a look at CEPT 1 and CEPT 2.

I think this is going to happen no matter what AR licensees have to say
about it, because the FCC is just not interested in AR.
AR is just not on their radar screens because the commissioners are from the
DC chattering classes have little or no personal technical expertise.
AR just cannot compete with the hordes of lobbyists and lawyers from the
various Telecommunications interest groups like the CTIA, the FCC Bar, NAB,
BPL operators,ATT, the various baby bells etc.
NO lobbyists = NO clout at the FCC

What can AR do to have some say about further changes mandated at the FCC?

Thesis SIX

When I got interested in radio 35+ years ago, it seemed to me that there
were several (non exclusive) "types"
1) talkers "ragchewers"
2) international goodwillers " Hey I just talked to a guy in Paraguay"
3)fiddlers "hey what happens if I put an extra capacitor in this power
supply I just built"
4) public service guys " I wonder if I could be the Eastern net control of
the TCC tonight after I clear the Races net?"

It seems to me that the international goodwill types have all gone away to
the internet.
And the fiddlers are fiddling around less and less because modern day
equipment to too small and complicated to work on at home, so they've gone
off into programming or computer building.

It appears to me that AR radiolicensees are devolving into two groups:
VHF public service/talkers
and
A declining number of fiddlers.

Is this good for AR?


If you want you can reply with your thoughts on any or all of these points.
Lets keep this a genteel discussion.
Amateur radio has several long term problems.
Flame wars will not help solve them.

Dan Yemiola
AI8O