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# of New Hams since Dropping of Code

Sonwatcher

Active Member
Apr 6, 2005
3,413
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Colorado
There has been much speculation of how dropping the Morse Code testing would influence the increase of new Hams . The ARRL just released its calculations of NEW Amateurs since the dropping of Code testing in Feb. 2007. These are NEW Hams not upgrades-

New Amateur Totals
2006 through November 2008
-----------------------------------
Month 2006 2007 2008
-----------------------------------
Jan 1274 1647 1755
Feb 1605 2435 2998
Mar 2531 3478 2816
Apr 1728 2673 3090
May 2283 2607 2562
Jun 1967 2281 2402
Jul 1401 1786 2077
Aug 1623 2183 2084
Sep 1357 1462 1763
Oct 1781 2109 2303
Nov 1993 2132 2197
Dec 1569 1935 2019
-----------------------------------
Totals: 21,112 26,728 28,066
-------------------------------

Upgrades also rose in percentage-

the number of General and Extra class upgrades is also
on the rise. "When looking at 2006 totals," she said, "we see that
upgrade applications for 2007 were up 286 percent; in 2008, they were up
146 percent over 2006. Requests for new club licenses also remain
strong. In 2008, we had 671 applications for club licenses come in,
while in 2007, there were 506 applications. That's an increase of 133
percent."
 

Since digital modes are out there, this code deal was an impediment to get new Hams. Best thing that they have done so far, is to get rid of the code requirement. Not that code is a bad thing, many really enjoy it - I can understand that. But it is a bit old-school - since computers are so cheap, available, and relatively fast and relative easy to hook up and run with an HF radio. As well as bringing many new options to radios that were unheard of fifty years ago. Should they make it mandatory to test for computer skills on a HF radio? No; just let more people get on and obey the rules. And be another effective set of eyes, ears, and mouths.
I'm glad that it has become a LITTLE easier to become a Ham.
It was quite difficult before, as well as forboding.
"Making up for lost time this change has done" ('Yoda')
lol!
 
Last edited:
A couple of more observations of note:
The electronics side of the General exam is anything but easy. I want to operate a radio; not become a repair man for the thing if it needs repairs. Besides, if an emergency were real and the radio took a dump; where could I get parts then?!? Understanding BASIC circuits and electrical theory is more than enough. Building a Pi network is simple enough and has value in knowing why. But I don't want to buy and use an EXPENSIVE O-scope to add to the list of things that I already need to be effective. Lets see: an inexpensive HF radio, decent power supply, two EXPENSIVE antennas, a tuner, expensive coax, towers aren't cheap, a desk mic means more, an 'optional' amp($$$!!!), and a field strength(a 'must') meter. That's $2500 - at least - and it goes up from there. Just to provide some trigger time on a phone, rtty, CW? This government benefits from the Ham operator, and we pay for that privilege. Making more Hams is in the best interest of the gov't' so it's high time they allowed more to make the gear cheaper and more available. The Gov't/FCC needs to give CB back to the citizen, and THEN they have taken care of business, as they should - IMO...
Thanks!
 
I would like to be a Ham but I took the last test im gonna take when I took the National Boards For Funeral Service..:w00t:(y):tongue:
 
I thought it was very easy.

Much easier than the novice stuff I tried to learn in the late 70's.


I guess it was all easy, since the only easy day was yesterday and I have my license. But my easy i"m sure is different from your easy. Calc based Physics was easy and that was in 9th grade and I got an A for the year.:D
 
I thought the Advanced test was a copper-clad b*tch. Much harder than the Extra.

At any rate. Where are all these new hams, anyway?

4 mainline 2-meter repeaters in the area are still as quiet as a stone. And I can still find a slot to work voice on 80 meters in the evening...
 

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