Bill Sohl wrote:

"Radio Amateur KC2HMZ" wrote


An amateur radio license is a document awarded at the *beginning* of
one's participation in the hobby for the purpose of granting operating
privileges and to certify that the recipient has demonstrated entry
level knowledge at the class of license thus received.

And since the Extra class license is awarded to illiterates today, your point is at
least partly
valid. In past times the Extra class license wasn't issued to people whom the FCC
wasn't
pretty sure had the knowledge and ability to function at the top level of ham radio.
The Extra class license, at its inception, was never intended to be a entry level
license
at all. That you "modernists" conclude otherwise serves to confirm just how far the
"dumbing down" of the ARS has gone.



It won't get
you a job bagging groceries.

And definitely that was not always the case. I've landed a couple jobs in
electronics on
the strength of my ham ticket, and later partially so, since by that time I also held
a commercial
license. But knowledgble administraters used to consider a ham to be knowledgable in
electronics.; Again, that it isn't so these days speaks to just how far toward CB the
ARS has slid. Youi never saw
CBers beiong viewed as technically competent because of their participation in
ratchetjawing.
Sure looks like the same applies to today's voice-only hams!


As for the accomplishments, those come
afterward when you actually start to make use of the privileges the
license conveys by putting Qs in your logbook.

Ah, yes, technical stuff all! Sure that makes all the difference in the world, fill
that log and
become an "experienced" ham, for whatever good it will do you!



It is not, and is not
intended to be, comparable to a college degree...no matter how much
some people would like it to be so.

Agree again.

That's no surprise