[UK-CONTEST] Licensed at 17 OM!

[Ken Eastty]

Licensed at 17? Almost an OM! Like many of my friends I was licensed at 
14 (Thanks to Jim '3AYZ - SK). We all took the full written C&G RAE & 
passed the 12WPM Morse test. Today's youngsters are supposed to be so 
much better educated therefore I wonder why we insult them by requiring 
them to go through the three tier exam system. I'm sure that most of 
them would be able to pass the 'full RAE'. (The same applies to a lot of 
people who decide to take up the hobby after retirement).
At least back then you could run 10W (DC I/P) on 160m without being 
overwhelmed by others running kW's (well perhaps there were one or two 
who used 813's in the PA....).

73...

Ken

G3LVP

>
> During one of this months contests I was called by an M6. He sounded
> a bit young so I asked if he would mind me knowing how old he was. He
> came back with  10 years old! I remember being an SWL at 13 and
> getting my call at 17! If our  current system of contest can
> encourage youngsters off the play station and onto  an amateur radio
> station. Then it can be nothing but good. The reason is simple  such
> folks are our engineers etc of the future. All power to the clubs
> that are  getting grass root numbers up!
>
> Reg G8VHI