Tony,
Yeah, I'm not keen to clutter the general echo with news bulletins, and there V>enough from around the world for them to have their own echo. Stay tuned V>(pardon the pun) for an announcement. ;)
Like when someone says "Pardon Me", I reply "I'm not the president or
the governor". <G>
I saw that one on DOVEnet. We did away with band segments for the most part, V>back in 2005. 6m is one exception, because of the lower 2 MHz being secondar V>to broadcasting. It's only available to Advanced hams (our highest level), a V>the 80m DX window is another, I think.
There were comments on a D-Star Net last night about that...it's
probably a ploy by the rig manufacturers, so they can sell more
gear...and/or the ARRL, to get more members.
The FCC hasn't invited comments on it, and I'd be surprised if it went anywhere. When I took the U.S. General Class Exam in 2007, it was right
after a Question Pool had changed (over here, they change every 4
years), and I thought the exam "was a piece of cake".
In the U.S., there are only 500 kilohertz of spectrum that the General
Class hams can't access, in 80, 40, 20, and 15 meters...compared to what
the Amateur Extra Class hams have. But, there are only 4 real "reasons"
to upgrade to Amateur Extra in the U.S. and its territories:
1) Full amateur radio privileges, although you have to stay 3 kilohertz
away from the band edge, so any splatter, etc. doesn't take you "out of
band".
2) The shorter 2x1 or 1x2 callsigns...if you're lucky enough to get one.
I like my Novice style 2x3 call...even though it's a Vanity Callsign. I
know several Amateur Extra Class hams who have their Novice callsign,
with the only change when they upgraded to Technician. Years ago, the
Novice Class license was non-renewable, and only good for a year. You
had a year to upgrade, or you were out of amateur radio.
3) As a Volunteer Examiner (VE), you can give and grade ALL the exams (Technician, General, and Amateur Extra)...the General Class VE's can
ONLY give the General Class exam. However, with the rules change awhile
back, a U.S. ham who has let their license lapse (expired more than 2
years) has to take the Technician License to get back into amateur
radio...and it's the General Class VE that can give it.
4) Snob appeal (hi hi).
Daryl, WX1DER
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