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G4EBT > WIA 21.03.03 21:55l 149 Lines 6451 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 230837G4EBT
Read: DB0FHN GUEST DK3EL
Subj: Re: Foundation licence
Path: DB0FHN<DB0ZWI<DB0HDF<DB0HOT<DB0MRW<OK0PPL<RZ6HXA<SP7MGD<7M3TJZ<HA3PG<
GB7FCR
Sent: 030321/1929Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:51966 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:230837G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : WIA@WW
Rob, VK5NRS wrote:-
> So, you agree that the Novice licence is of a higher standard that you
> are willing to set for the new Foundation licence.
You may be misunderstanding the proposals - that's if they're to mirror
the UK Structure. The UK F.L. is the entry level - it doesn't replace the
Novice.
The Intermediate Licence replaces the Novice, but is more comprehensive,
and affords higher power levels (I.L. = 50 Watts, compared to the Novice
it replaced, = 5 Watts).
The Novice Licence in the UK was a great idea, and was, incidentally,
the brainchild of Ian G3ZHI, much derided on packet, but the driving
force behind the NRAE in the teeth of years of opposition from the
"old guard" at the RSGB.
Sadly it flopped. In more than a decade it produced only 2,834 Novices out
of 56,820 total licences in being at March 2002. The reason was that if
anything, the NRAE was harder to attain than the RAE licence. IE:
Novice Licence (NRAE):
Must attend a course.
Must be continually assessed.
Involves practical as well as theory.
Includes topics not covered in the full RAE, such as safety in the shack.
Multi-choice 45 question exam.
Congrats! You can now use 5 Watts on a few slots!
Full RAE:
No need to attend a course.
No practical work.
80 multi-choice exam paper, not dissimilar in difficulty from NRAE.
Read a few books, turn up on the day and tick the boxes.
Bingo! 400 watts is yours to play with!
The pitiful allocation of the now defunct NRAE compared to the RAE meant
that it was never seen as a stepping stone to the RAE - just a hurdle to
be by-passed. It was shortsighted and mean-spirited that the allocation
wasn't commensurate with the effort involved. The RSGB and RA now see the
error of their ways, and have done an excellent job with the new
structure.
> And you agree that it takes time and effort to accrue the necessary
> knowledge to obtain the Novice licence, but you are still prepared to
> disregard all of that and combine the current Novice licensees with the
> new proposed Foundation licence!
I don't know what's proposed in VK, but in the UK, the F.L. takes about 10
hours tuition, allows 10 Watts on all LF/HF/VHF/UHF bands up to 440 Mhz
except 10 Metres. (They've dumped the Morse test of course - it's a myth
that you need 5WPM Morse to have LF/HF access when operating from your
own country. Each administration can decide it's own approach to the
Morse test issue).
The FL is now the mandatory entry point into amateur radio in the UK.
When the RAE is scrapped later this year, the new system - of which the
FL is the first step, is to be a three-part structure, the Full licence
being a "bolt-on" not a "stand alone" licence, needing the FL and I.L as
a pre-requisite.
More than 6,000 have taken the FL in the UK during 2002, of whom 3,100
are newcomers. Prior to that interest in amateur radio in the UK had
collapsed as it has elsewhere in the world. There are lots worse things
than teenagers can get up to than studying for the FL, and I'm pleased
that many established amateurs who see things that way have encouraged
them into the hobby in the face of some derision from bigots.
These kids have done all that's asked of them by the RA to obtain their
licences. The challenge to us will be whether or not we can earn their
respect and welcome them into the hobby - not the other way round.
The first pilot of the UK Intermediate Licence has just been completed,
and RSGB reports:
"Steve Hartley, G0FUW reports that all seven candidates who sat the I.L.
in Bath passed. They are now going on to do the RAE in May. In some cases,
this progression is only because of the confidence gained through the
intermediate course".
End quote.
The FL and IL are helping to revive amateur radio clubs all over the UK
which would otherwise "wither on the vine". One club in Telford has been
especially successful and has been awarded 2,000 GBP from the National
Lottery Fund for equipment to run its FL courses.
The I.L. allows 50 Watts, and the course is very comprehensive, including
construction of a working project - simple RX, GDO etc, use of test gear
for alignment, fault finding, and theory.
Face it guys, operating a modern HF rig, with auto ATU and a shop bought
antenna, is not especially skilled. Many amateurs have allowed what little
skill they did have to decay over the years since they passed the exam,
and haven't kept pace with events. I doubt that many critics of the new
licensing structure could even teach it, apart from the fact that they
aren't of a mind to. I can't for the life of me see how someone who has
passed the RAE is better equipped to use 400 watts than someone who's
passed the more comprehensive I.L.
The question isn't so much about how many hoops should newcomers have
to jump through to be considered worthy by existing amateurs, but what
do existing amateurs have to offer that makes this a hobby worth coming
into when there are so many other things to do in life? In too many cases,
very little I'd say.
Newcomers have to satisfy the terms of the licence, which aren't dictated
by radio amateurs, but by the regulatory bodies - in the UK, the RA, and
in VK, the ACA. Thankfully, they seem to approach the issue with a good
deal more common sense and pragmatism than some radio amateurs.
Anyone with an open mind will find the UK RA's website well worth a visit
at:
www.ra.gov.uk
There you'll find the syllabus for the FL and I.L. courses, tutor guides,
and other helpful info. It's a good website too, with lots of links to
other amateur radio related sites.
As to the consultation process, the WIA - like RSGB have no doubt done
their best to keep members informed by news bulletins on packet, by
their newsletter, on the net, and maybe on the air too.
Some may say "I'm not a WIA member, I don't listen to the news, I'm not
on the internet, I'm not a Club member, but I expect to be consulted".
For someone who's in a communications hobby to be such a poor communicator
is a problem for him - not the WIA.
I'm not of course directing these comments at Rob, I'm generalising
about attitudes which are all too prevalent. In my view, gaining a full
amateur radio licence is a breeze compared to gaining a driving licence,
and always was.
73 - David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Message timed: 19:22 on 2003-Mar-21
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