At the core, we are talking about two basic issues here....1. Should the FCC do this restructuring to eliminate the CW requirement for HF priveledges, and 2. If they do, will band crowding become a worse issue.



1. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what we think. The ITU has said it isn't required anymore by international law. IThe FCC doesn't have to drop it, but expect them to follow the ITU's lead on this. Other countries have/are dropping the requirement, so the U.S. isn't exactly forging into uncharted territory here. It's not that CW is any more of an outdated form of communication that AM or SSB, rather the ITU has said in essence that it is an outdated requirement for HF. There's a subtle difference there. We can all expressed what our opinion on the subject, but the ITU has set the standard.



2. It may very well cause more band crowding. So what. Making the requirement harder than the ITU says it needs to be to use HF only to prevent more people on the band is a LAME idea. That would be like saying traffic in L.A. is a bad problem. So to ease traffic, we should have a driver's license test that requires you to know how to do a valve job on your favorite engine if you want the priveledge to drive on the freeway. That would certainly ease some freeway congestion. But whether or not you know how to do a valve job has NOTHING to do with the cause of the traffic congestion, so it should have NOTHING to do with the solution. Doc is right: Band crowding is more a function of population density than anything else. However it also has a lot to do with the fact there is a disproportionate allocation on many bands for CW only use when you compare the number of people CW'ing to the number of people that wish to voice. We can't do anything abou the population. However, a restructuring of the band allocation that is more in line with the number of users is entirely an appropriate step at solving the crowding issue.







Moleculo


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I can't really see if becoming too crowded on the band. The new rule allows for a 25 question exam. The tech now is only 35 and not terribly difficult if you study a bit, or practice the online test enough. People aren't jumping into the tech priviledges, at least not here. Like Jeff mentioned, I've monitored 10, 12, 15 even 20 and have heard very little activity. 20 had a few spots, but 10 and 12 was dead. That's quite a bit of band space not being used, again, in my area.

I've talked to quite a few of the locals here about getting into tech priviledges so we could do 2m simplex. None were interested. Now if it were a no test and just fill out a form and send to the fcc like the old cb days, then I think that would be a different story. But they're perfectly happy with the 11m area and really the 40 channel cb spots. So I wouldn't think it would be anymore than were already thinking of getting into the ham areas. The techs in this area and good operators and run real good equipment, they're just cold and closed. I've never heard any attempt to disrupt the freq or cause disturbance to others.




Jerry

CDX-350

2AK3350

RL39</p>

Doc,

Thanks for your response. That was my point exactly. I have heard so much about ham going to the dogs with no-code people coming into HF because they are looked at as glorified cber's in a lot of peoples eyes but I just don't see that when I listen to 2 meters. I can reach a very large amount of repeaters in my state and do not hear the theory present. I do hear of general and extra's acting like that. It is not to say Techs don't but just an observation about the theory of no code people bringing ham down I have not seen the proof of this in my neck of the woods. I think in general people that take the time to get into the hobby seem to have a lot more respect for the opportunity and privaledge. But as you say there are those throughout the hobby that do the opposite , code and no-code.








God bless you all !



CDX-897

OT-897

WV-897

CM-2368

American Kangaroo-1897</p>

__________________


I type slow for those that don't like to read fast

this is a great debate,,, the issue with "snobs" on ham bands,,,ive heard them as well BUT this is a great opportunity for us as radio operators to form our own group on the ham bands when 11 meter is dead another band may be open and we would be talking to each other from the forum and CHANGE THE WAY THINGS WERE TO THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE and enjoy our hobby



<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin">


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My view on over crowding.... <span style="font-size:large;">IF</span> the bands do become crowded for a while it will only help us knock down <span style="font-size:large;">BPL</span> by causing more interference. If BPL becomes a problem in my area I plan on pointing my beam towards the power lines and cranking up the amp.(legal limit of coarse <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"> ) I know I'm not the only one who would do so.<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":p">


73, Mike KD5VHF@hotmail.com</p>

If you go to eham.com and click on the ARRL article there are a lot of comments being made. Some are quite thought prevoking and some others are just plain prevoking<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D">








God bless you all !



CDX-897

OT-897

WV-897

CM-2368

American Kangaroo-1897</p>

__________________


I type slow for those that don't like to read fast

Good points Dave. If folks will remember <span style="color:blue;font-size:large;">one thing</span>...It dosen't matter how young or old, what class license or how long they have been licensed,<span style="color:maroon;font-size:large;">A good operator will attract other good operators</span>. I don't think the bands will become over crowded but I do see them getting very busy for a short time. A lot of the folks I've talked to don't have any interests in working HF. It's hard for me to understand that. At the same time, it helps me understand how some folks feel about working CW. What ever "floats your boat" . Amateur radio offers lots of different "floats" for your boat.


73, Mike KD5VHF@ARRL.net</p>

Very well put Dave and Mike! I couldn't agree more!


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