JJ wrote in :
Dick Carroll wrote:
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!
So are you suggesting that the ham tests should be upgraded to
include chip design and surface mount technology? Those are the
technical skills required today.
Not a bad idea. Let's do it!
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