2e0edx
Full Member
QRP "It is vain to do with more what can be done with less" William of Occum, 1290-1350.
Posts: 109
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Post by 2e0edx on Dec 29, 2006 16:12:18 GMT
I'm sure that by now all or most forum members will be aware that M3s from December 06, have added advantages attached to their licensing conditions. The changes taking place as I understand it, will allow M3's access to the 10m band, one of the microwave bands, licensed for life (free if administered online), and the the use of certified converted PMR kits.
Personally, I think It's about time that they took some of the restrictions off. To me it did not add up to restrict microwave and 10mtrs when they could have turned to a CB rig and used 11mtrs which is what they were doing and I believe OFCOM had accepted that M3's and others were in danger of doing just so.
I'm hoping, as I'm sure many forum members are also that it will encourage more people onto the bands because of the converted pmr kit allowed. Suprising how many people once passing their Foundation license cant afford to buy a rig and we never then hear them on air! Of course PMR equipment can be very much cheaper to buy and can fit the requirements for many new amateurs to the hobby!
More interesting in my opinion is that the German authorities have made significant changes to the entry level Class E amateur radio licence. Class E licensees now have access to the HF bands and can run up to 75W output on the 160, 80, 15 and 10m bands. Class A licence holders meanwhile have been allocated the 7,100 to 7,200kHz segment on a secondary basis with a power output of 250W. German amateurs can now also use the 50MHz band. And finally, a restriction on the use of 1260-1,263MHz has been lifted.
The German approach to entry level licence holders is subtly different to the UK’s. Rather than giving newcomers access to all bands but at a very low power level, as we do in the UK, Germany has decided to offer them reasonably high power levels but restricted the bands they can use.
Thoughts anyone?
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Post by M0ZOE on Dec 30, 2006 12:44:10 GMT
That is interesting information Ian, I learned the other day that the U.S.A. have also made some changes. They are dropping the Morse Code requirements for the exam very similar to what they have done here in the UK. It will be interesting to read if any other countries are making changes or have plans to make changes in the future. A question for discussion. With Germany making changes to their newcomers access, who do you think has the better deal...Amateurs in Germany with higher power or UK with access to most of the bands? It will be interesting to hear what you all think...It would also be good to hear from Amateurs all over the world and the comparisons with their own countries licence requirements.
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Post by m0wow on Jan 2, 2007 11:29:45 GMT
Some interesting points raised here, in my opinion 10w is enough for an M3, using low power and getting good contacts is very satisfying. Also by limiting the Tx power to 10w it gives a new amatuer more incentive to study further and progress along the route to full 400w as an M0. Any M3 complaining that 10w is not enough to DX is welcome to look at my logbook and qsl cards . 73's de Den.
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Post by Maureen on Jan 16, 2007 16:24:41 GMT
The problem with allowing people too much power, like some of the european countries, is that many of them set their rigs to the highest power and leave them like that no matter how far they are transmitting. On 40m in the afternoons we used to get swamped by Italians using 1k when talking to each other and drowning us out when trying to work inter-G. I'm entitled to use 400w but as my rig was built for 100 that;s I use. I can't afford the exorbitant cost of an amp!
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Post by k9do on Jan 16, 2007 16:46:10 GMT
That is interesting information Ian, I learned the other day that the U.S.A. have also made some changes. They are dropping the Morse Code requirements for the exam very similar to what they have done here in the UK. It will be interesting to read if any other countries are making changes or have plans to make changes in the future. here in the US all Class (levels) has access to different modes (within the License Class bands privileges) the higher the (Class level) the more bands you can access There the entry level is Technician, then there was also , Technician with code ( they got some HF privileges Just Technician no code, no HF privileges) but now that they dropped the code they want to make both of the Technician levels have the same privileges. Also all Class levels have the same maximum power output. I find it interesting to see how different it is in different countries.
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Post by M0ZOE on Feb 12, 2008 9:30:38 GMT
Hi Everyone, Given the passage of a little time, How do you all feel about these comments now. Still the same? I think keeping to the same power was a sensible move. I was happy with 10 W as an M3 and am happy with 50 as a 2E0 and am sure will be even happier with 400 W as an M0. As for Extra Bands.... Yes I think it was sensible in some cases because some of the bands are quite silent and have just started waking up as it were with the influx of new licensee's which I am really excited about. Lots of new stations on 2 mtrs. Not yet been on 10 mtrs but I do have the capability. Wonder if someone could let us know where the centre of activity is on 10 Mtrs and when it is expected to be open ect?
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Post by M0ZIF on Feb 13, 2008 19:34:37 GMT
There is now also a License free Junior one too, that allows anyone under the age of ? I think it was 12 to use HF without a callsign, it was on RSGB news on sunday after new year. Strange but I understand we are the last eu country to implement it :S
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Post by M0ZOE on Feb 14, 2008 15:13:51 GMT
I didn't know that Lichey, wonder if there is anything on any websites about it so we can post it. Not that I need that for my kids as they are all over 12 lol typical.
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Post by M0ZIF on Apr 4, 2008 17:26:59 GMT
hmmn been trying to hunt this one down, it was on the RSGB news but can't find reference to it elsewhere
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M0TTB
Junior Member
Posts: 90
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Post by M0TTB on Apr 4, 2008 18:27:51 GMT
It's a bit hard to imagine, you can't just give kids free access to HF... maybe under strict supervision of a full license holder or something? Certainly lots of provisos.
I think they'd be uproar on the usual old fogey hang-outs if this was true.
cheers, Andy
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Post by M0ZOE on Apr 6, 2008 14:14:53 GMT
I agree Andy..... Kids given free reign may and probably will end up running a muck somewhere along the line.. I hope there are proviso's and supervision needed... eeeeek am sounding bit like an anit- m3'er... which I am not at all... m3's are the saviours of the hobby
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Post by M0ZIF on Apr 7, 2008 7:42:46 GMT
I will give the RSGB an email this morning asking about this and see if I can get details
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Post by M0ZOE on Apr 8, 2008 14:46:48 GMT
Good Luck with the email Martin... hope it can put our minds at rest with ths one Not that I mind kids being radio amateurs... nope how can I 4 of my kids are all M3's...lol
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Post by M0ZIF on Apr 8, 2008 14:58:05 GMT
I wish some of mine where under the M3 (No seriously I don't its school hols)
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Post by M0ZOE on Apr 9, 2008 19:11:01 GMT
Hee hee your radio would never be your own during the holidays Mine are not so bad at the moment as they have other things they are on with
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