[UK-CONTEST] Licence changes

[David Ferrington]

As a recently passed Advanced licensee who only took their Foundation in
2003, let me assure you that I believe the limited number of people who pass
the advanced licence exam is more about having the time to study and the
knowledge to pass the exam than it is about not bothering to go that far -
IMHO

I am not aware of the foundation licence being changed to allow more that
10W - is that the case?
I'm also not aware of Foundation licensees being able to run special event
stations (with call sign), operate oversees through CERT, operate marine
mobile, supervise non licensed interested parties (I'm a scout leader and
run JOTA) etc.

Have I missed something here?

I do agree there has to be an incentive to upgrade and 'probably' the will
of a person to do and prove they can do, their best, may not be enough -
i.e. achievement for achievements sake is not enough.

I would also say that we most certainly do need children and any other
individual who shows and interest - if they really don't care for radio and
just did it as a fun thing to do, they will stop after a while, but unless
we encourage all, you won't have to worry about people ringing you to have a
QSO (do they really do that?) - in 30 years time, there won't be anyone to
QSO with!


On 13/7/06 11:14 pm, "uk-contest-request at contesting.com"
> Colin,
> 
>>> 1. There has to be an incentive to upgrade otherwise the scheme is a
>>> mockery which currently it is.
>>>  
>>> 
>> That is not the view of Ofcom or the RSGB
> 
> I'm sorry, but any scheme that (will shortly) allocate top band to 10GHz
> to the candidate for life with any power he sees fit to use for knowing
> that using a transmitter does not affect local rainfall or the middle
> wire in a plug is earth is a sham, a disgrace and a mockery of the
> entire service. The miniscule number who have upgraded to "advanced"
> from foundation says more than I ever could and surely illustrates how
> great a mockery this scheme is.
> 
>> and I categorically refute
>> your earlier assertion that "thousands" of radio amateurs have written
>> to both Ofcom and RSGB to complain.
> 
> These were the words of one of Ofcoms local officials, not mine. I know
> of those who have written many times to Potters Bar and got no response
> who in desperation sent registered letters and still got no response.
> 
>> Indeed, given the usual apathetic
>> response which radio amateurs are renown for I would think that numbers
>> in three figures would even be a gross exageration.
> 
> Well let's just end the speculation, you've obviously got a line to
> council and the GM ask them for the facts.
> 
>>> 2. Spectrum space as opposed to power should be used as an incentive to
>>> upgrade. A power limit is unenforcable, breeches are just about
>>> impossible to prove whereas it is easy to prove one has been operating
>>> where they shouldn't be.
>>>  
>>> 
>> This was the original proposal as proposed by the then RSGB HF Committee
>> and endorsed by the RSGB Board at the time.   Unfortunately this was not
>> the view of the then RA and it is not the current view of Ofcom.
> 
> I don't buy that. You can go and ask for virtually anything to be given
> for free in the FL and it is given, yet such a resonable and sensible
> request is refused? Why?
> 
>>> 3. There should be a time limit, if the entry level has to be dumbed
>>> down to such a level that 7 year old children, cb'ers of 25 years
>>> standing and more, the educationally subnormal, the winos and pushers
>>> can gain a licence there has to be a mechanism to ensure that those
>>> unwilling or unable to upgrade are removed. This is not multiband CB or
>>> a CB substitute, the RSGB would do well to remember that. Neither is it
>>> their own personal cash cow. The FL is essentially a provisional
>>> licence, a provisional driving licence is not granted for life and
>>> neither would we expect it to be and it should be the same with the FL.
> 
>> Most of us are familiar with your anti RSGB views both on the Northern
>> Ireland and the UK Radio Amateur reflectors so I am taking that into
>> consideration.
> 
> I am not anti RSGB. I am an RSGB member. I want the RSGB to fairly and
> accurately represent the views of its members, something it most
> assuredly is not doing now. Is that too much to ask?
> 
>> As various contributors have already opinioned everyone
>> is entitled to their opinion however it appears to be an obsession with
>> you and everything that happens that is contrary to your personal view
>> would appear to be the fault of the RSGB.
> 
> Sorry you feel like and I'm sorry you've such a warped perception of me
> and my views. It just seemed so trivial to me that people were arguing
> about /A and /P suffixes at a time when things are so bad here that I
> get phoned up by people to have a qso on 2m lest they get cornered by
> one of educationally subnormal If they put out a call on the repeater!
> I'm not joking, we have on the bands here those who were educated at
> special institutions and who travelled there on special buses - such is
> the scale of the dumbing down. How are we going to attract people into
> the hobby when they listen to 2m and all they hear is rubbish from fools
> they wouldn't talk to in the street?
> 
>> When the Foundation licence was first introduced it was agreed that the
>> development would be looked at three or four years into the programme.
> 
> And here we are now and more is being given away for nothing at the
> request of the RSGB.
> 
>> Unfortunately when this was agreed the concept of Ofcom was not even
>> thought of and the resulting transition between the RA and Ofcom put
>> such a review on hold.   I can tell you however that such a review is
>> now moving towards the top of the priorities list and the Society has
>> recently carried out a survey amongst Foundation Licence holders which
>> will be used as part of this review.
> 
> Well that's very nice, how about carrying out a review amongst the
> ordinary rank and file and listening to their opinion? Would that be too
> much to ask? But you know as well as I do that the rank and file will
> not be consulted because their views are already well known.
> 
>> As this survey has only just been
>> completed the results are still to be analysed however I'm sure we all
>> look forward to the statistics it provides.
> 
> Sure we can all hazard a reasonable guess as to what it will say!
> 
>>> 4. There should be an age limit. 7 year old children do not belong on
>>> the amateur bands. They belong on CB, PMR 446, cell phones or an Xbox.
>>> I'd suggest 12 years of age as at about this age they'd be starting to
>>> cover Ohms law and such in school.
>>>  
>>> 
>> I believe this was as a result of representations from the
>> educationalists within the hobby.   I'm sure this will be taken on board
>> as part of the review.   That said the lack of age limit seems to work
>> quite well in the US and there are certainly some good and keen 10 year
>> old operators who should be encouraged and not put down.   If they can
>> manage amateur radio without affecting their school work then good luck
>> to them.
> 
> Let me put it to you another way, if the exam was pitched at a
> reasonable level there wouldn't be any 7 year old M3's or those with the
> mental age of 7 year olds on the bands. We need young people yes, we do
> not need children.
> 
>>> 5. Examinations should be taken out of the hands of clubs as cheating is
>>> rife.
>>>  
>>> 
>> 
>> With only one proven exception there is no evidence that such activity
>> exists.   If you have proof then please let the General Manager know,
>> member or not.
> 
> Jeez, there are none so blind as those who will not see! Over here we
> have had a club chairman who is also a course tutor and a DRM read the
> entire exam AND answers to his students because and I quote "I had to
> they could hardly read Frank" this is well known locally. Do you really
> expect me to report anything to a General Manager who when asked in
> Belfast what was being done to address the problem of MI3's greatly
> exceeding the 10w power limit replied, "Who cares?" I think not. How is
> it possible for one retarded candidate who was scoring no more than 20%
> in his mocks at one club to switch clubs and turn up a pass in 3 weeks
> at the last RAE? It isn't! I could go on and on but I won't. You know as
> I do that by far the greatest majority of UK amateurs neither approve of
> this scheme or wanted it in the first place.
> 
>>> BTW, I do appreciate your hard work.
>>>  
>>> 
>> I thank you for that.
> 
> Credit where it's due :)
> 
> I'll take any further postings off list Colin as it's not fair to the
> rest of the members to be reading a licensing debate when they expect to
> be talking contests!
> 
> 73, Frank GI4NKB

-- 
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