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Sheila,
G3HCQ (518)
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The Licence, The RA & R.S.G.B.
The principle of KISS seems to have been absent in the administration of amateur licensing through the years except perhaps, for the post-war period prior to the 'B' licence. Since that time we have had a proliferation of licences and their conditions from the pre and post-war 'A' through to the 'B', the various Novices and the 'A/B'. I assume the RA/RSGB hope this will increase the number of radio amateurs and, at the heart of the matter, RSGB members.
Most of you will recall the post-war period of one 'A' licence, the C&G examination with an initial 12 months probationary period of 25 watts CW, leading to 150 watts and AM. How simple and effective and even if altered to take in the current slow morse or it's removal, the 12 months probationary period at low power still seems sensible.
In the RadCom leader by President Hilary - 'Moving Amateur Radio Forward' (I am not sure what that means) she says that 'By removing obstacles and improving licence privileges, it is hoped that the number of amateurs in the UK will grow'. I do not share her optimism. The true amateur who stays the course of a lifetime hobby, which is what we need, is not coerced by licence sops, they have that initial spark of interest which endures. Drop-out from Amateur Radio and RSGB membership over the recent decades has been high whereas with the pre-war and post-war 'A' licences, remarkably low - the enduring spark?
The RSGB would do well to nurture the members it has and particularly its affiliated societies. I understand from Dennis, G400, our Editor, that his communication with the General Secretary recently left him with the opinion that the Society's view of RAOTA was quite derisory. A strange attitude when we have nearly 600 members, many of which are RSGB members.
I am sure, like me, all of you would like to see more amateurs in the future but realistically, with the alternatives to world communication and the technical advances that make home-brew more difficult, the prospects are not good.
EMC
I note that interest is being shown in PLT (high speed data at HF over power lines) and its possible effect to various services and amateur radio. The high speed data at HF over the domestic phone lines that I mentioned in OTN51 has yet to raise concern in this country. Perhaps it is another one of the delights to come! Keep well, 73 & 88.
Sheila, G3HCQ (518)
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