[UK-CONTEST] UK/US licensing (Off Topic)

[Ed -- GW3SQX]

Re: UK/US licensing

Having been involved to an extent in the creation of the current licensing
system, I might be expected to defend it!  On the whole I do, although there
are undoubtedly ways it could be improved.

There seems to be an idea around that the present licensing scheme
was devised with little thought, which was definitely not the case.
The Novice licence of ten years ago, with its Morse and non-Morse versions,
was doomed because the privileges were out of kilter with the knowledge
required.  In any case, the Morse test was about to be abolished.
Setting up the new system took several years of hard work, initiated mainly
by G3BJ and G3PJT.  The City and Guilds were about to pull out of the RAE,
so the RSGB stepped in (nobody else volunteered).

As has been stated, the current system does focus on access for ordinary
candidates, but the so-called barriers against the knowledgeable are there
for a good reason, and are pretty low as barriers go.  The way in which
many of us entered the hobby (get a receiver, become an SWL, study/RAE
course, exam) was no longer being followed.  Generally, any member
of the public who had heard of Amateur Radio -- and there were very
few in the 1990s -- would go straight on to an RAE course, and then
get a Class B licence, with a shack-on-a-belt.  It was thought that a
compulsory practical element must be introduced into the system,
including some HF operation, to illustrate what the majority of us do.

There have been comments about the "ridiculous" situation of a guy from
the States who wishes to get a UK call, having to take the Foundation
course, then the Intermediate course followed by the Full course.
I suppose it would be "laughable" if it were true, but the US guy
only has to do the exams, not take the course (why should he?)
The two lower exams require practical work, some of which would
be straightforward for anyone who has ever been on the air or
constructed anything (not required in the US scheme), so this looks
reasonable to me.

It seems to be thought that  if the RSGB is involved in the system, it must
have become over-bureaucratic, top heavy and tedious.  The RSGB
(or the RCF, to be precise) is involved for reasons already mentioned,
but I could guarantee that if another organisation wanted to deal with
the examinations, as well as the bureaucracy of Ofcom, the RSGB
would drop it tomorrow.  If you want to see the way our system is
developing (not really tedious at all), and to learn about those who
run it, look at the archives of the "RSGB Tutors" reflector.

Apparently there is an opinion that any Amateur who has passed the test in
their own Country should be able to apply for a UK call without further
test and receive a UK call.  Why?  -- the system operates generally on a
reciprocal basis -- unless the other administration accepts UK licences, the
UK will not accept theirs.  This seems fair to me.

Some think that it is an advantage of the US system to be able to take all
three exams in one examination session, going from Nothing to Extra in
two hours.  While I have great respect for the American system (which
I have some experience of) I don't see why that is so desirable.
It's not unknown for people to memorise published answers from examination
pools, with no real understanding of the subject at all.  It's also normal
for new US licensees to have no knowledge whatsoever of (for example)
soldering a plug, doing some construction, or tuning SSB, to mention just
some of the things we now require candidates in the UK to do.

As I've said, our system isn't perfect, but I can't see the point of
criticism not based on fact, and without constructive ideas for improvement.

73,

Ed, GW3SQX (N0ED)