03-06-18 11:26 Daryl Stout wrote to ED VANCE about ARRL Requests Expanded HF   
   Howdy! Daryl,   
      
    DS> @MSGID: <5A9F0BFC.1778.amtradio@capitolcityonline.net>   
    EV>Howdy! Daryl,   
      
    DS> Hi, Ed...   
      
    EV>Shouldn't Technicians automatically become owners of a General License   
    EV>since the 13 WPM CW Element isn't a requirement anymore.   
      
    DS>   They can be, if they prove they held an amateur radio license prior   
    DS> to March 21, 1987. If they have that, and the license was Technician,   
    DS> they just go to a VE Test Session, fill out the paperwork, pay the fee,   
    DS> and they get a CSCE for a General Class license WITHOUT having to take   
    DS> an exam. That's the ONLY license class with that.   
      
    EV>Now that the Novice Class License is no longer the entry level why doesn't   
    EV>the F.C.C. drop the Technician Class License and just offer Operating   
    EV>Privileges for only the General and Amateur Extra Class Licenses?   
      
    DS>   A large chunk of hams...Novice, Techician, and Advanced Class   
    DS> licensees, would then be left out in the cold. The Technician Class   
      
   Licensed Hams in those three Classes can still Renew their License when the   
   time comes.   
   I just did that in August 2017 for my Advanced Ticket.   
   -snip-   
      
    DS>   Never mind the fact that the gear manufacturers would have far fewer   
    DS> customers, and organizations (ARRL and otherwise) would have far fewer   
    DS> members. The hobby is dying, as so many are...because we can't seem to   
    DS> "stop the bleeding" of those who are letting their licenses lapse, or   
    DS> who are becoming Silent Keys.   
      
   Those who fit in that last catagory can't prevent the reason that keeps   
   them from Renewing their License.   
   -snip-   
      
    DS>   There's something in the hobby for every license class. While I tried   
    DS> CW, the nervous system damage from 2 lightning strikes over the years   
    DS> makes it impossible to transcribe what I'm hearing to letters. I never   
    DS> cared for contesting...and do all my QSLing now via eQSL. For their   
    DS> 20th anniversary, I purchased a Platinum Lifetime Membership.   
      
   You don't have to listen to CW anymore, use the computer on the CW Bands.   
   Make QSOs with a perfect fist.   
      
   I own a Bug but a J-38 Key fits my hand too, never tried computer CW myself   
   but seen other Hams use their PC for more than keeping the Log.   
      
    EV>... Johnson & Johnson Tagline: ###############   
      
    DS>   That's just a Band-Aid for a tagline that was cut and pasted into the   
    DS> QWK reader.    
      
   It appears that OLX couldn't show that ASCII Graphic Characters my First Aid   
   Tagline used.   
      
   The BandAid graphic is 5 $DB's (219), 5 $B0's (176) and 5 $DB's (219).   
      
   ###############   
      
   I just used Alt Key 219 five times, Alt Key 176 five times and Alt Key 219   
   five times to make the image of a BandAid.   
      
   Could You see the ASCII Graphic in OLX, but was not able to get it into   
   Your Reply to Me?   
   Or is 15 Pound Signs all that You saw in my Tagline and see in this message?   
      
   73 de Ed W9ODR   .    .   
      
   ... Circular Definition: see Definition, Circular   
   --- MultiMail/MS-DOS v0.49   
    * Origin: CCO BBS - capitolcityonline.net:26 (1:2320/105)