Re: IARU and Amateur Radio are Reaching ¡°an Inflection Point
perhaps tim would grant one of the ham radio magazines an interview and they could ask him what can be done to bring the iaru and radio societies around the world into the 21st century there are many new ways hams are using amateur radio its not all about contests morse and ft8 the rsgb have chosen to make the radio ham exams harder and we wait to see what impact in getting more people into the hobby this will have
73 ian g3zhi
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whatsapp??? +447575658368
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
The real question missed by all here is why can't there be a PMR version of the Ham Radio licence there is Zello which does the same. There is PMR licence free. Argue the quality of the licence, not with G4TBD who worked his way up since 1973 as one of those evil denisons of the nether world of being a G8. I started as a second class version of licence holder. What has changed, your children make international video calls using or some? app. Science? Fiction for Amateur Radio? back in the day. The quality of the licence has never been the issue or knowledge of users or its importance of knowing what you are doing. So the hobbie died on your tombstone is? this your choice? like it or not because you never admitted technology over took you and your hobbie? You did not except the fact it is an experimental hobbie, not exclusive to CW operators who claimed it was not the real hobbie or contest operators. I hate so many that told me it was only about CW that made you a real Amature. I hate this, are we preventing new blood because we are better? So can you build a phase lock loop that works on 23 cms or even one at all? I doubt if many can, hated it as much as most of the G8s back in the day who were excluded from HF who could do things like that! Dispute as much as you like the world is changing. Why did the old Amature radio operator? not complain about the licence fee? Because it came with a service, mediocre maybe, but it came with something not like today where you have no rights. The whole thing is refusing to stop throwing your sabo's into the the machinery to stop progress (sobotarge). The time has come to not be a luddite and to promote what remains of the hobbie. Say what you like and even think what you like of me, we are no longer in the stone age. Do you know what a Coherea is and how Marconi used one to decode CW?
DE G4TBD AR K
? ??
On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 09:00:31 PM GMT, Malcolm G0TMP <malcolm@...> wrote:
If it costs that much to collect the fees they must be making a huge loss with AdCom then!
On 13 Nov 2019, at 20:02, John G4SWX via Groups.Io <john.regnault@...> wrote:
?On Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 09:07 AM, Malcolm G0TMP wrote:
I¡¯ve voiced mine and believe the option should be looked into.
So why should that be? You are just one bit of email in the noise.................. I just think that you are wrong and your opinion does not matter! John G4SWX
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
If it costs that much to collect the fees they must be making a huge loss with AdCom then!
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On 13 Nov 2019, at 20:02, John G4SWX via Groups.Io <john.regnault@...> wrote:
?On Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 09:07 AM, Malcolm G0TMP wrote:
I¡¯ve voiced mine and believe the option should be looked into.
So why should that be? You are just one bit of email in the noise.................. I just think that you are wrong and your opinion does not matter! John G4SWX
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
On Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 09:07 AM, Malcolm G0TMP wrote:
I¡¯ve voiced mine and believe the option should be looked into.
So why should that be? You are just one bit of email in the noise.................. I just think that you are wrong and your opinion does not matter! John G4SWX
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
Malcolm, I am interested in what you have said and would like to know what you expect Ofcom to do in return for your licence fee. Regards Derek
Derek Hughes BSc(Hons), MIET, ProfGCE
RSGB Developing Amateur Radio Group Lead Chairman Quantum Amateur Radio & Technology Society
M: 07306 616 636 E: derek@... W: www.g7lfc.co.uk
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On 13 Nov 2019, at 17:07, Malcolm G0TMP <malcolm@...> wrote:
? That¡¯s your opinion to which you are entitled to. ?I¡¯ve voiced mine and believe the option should be looked into. Just because the licence is free now does not been we would not be better off paying for something for which we might get something back in return!
TMP On 13 Nov 2019, at 16:15, John G4SWX via Groups.Io <john.regnault@...> wrote:
?On Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 07:55 AM, Malcolm G0TMP wrote:
but please think before/instead of a knee jerk reply
It deserves a knee jerk reply as it makes little sense: Why?should radio amateurs pay a licence fee when it is free at the moment? We would have less radio amateurs and the money would not make any significant difference to our influence?with Ofcom! Ofcom would still have to provide a non-RSGB payment collection facility as radio licensing is their statutory duty. As things are it is a very simple and free process! John G4SWX
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
It is all very good people talking about extra payments for a licence that is free to all now,
but what about the people that are on benefits or DLA or basic retirement, how do they find an
extra ?25 a year?
?
The radio can be a way of helping people less well off to be able to have a bit extra in their life.
?
We all can not afford the latest radio out or the latest test kit etc.
?
So please before you all start talking about adding extra money that might just be 7p a day to you but is an extra ?25 bill per year that people that are less well off can not afford!
?
Yes, people like me, and probably a lot more out there than will openly admit.
?
The work I do teaching radio and playing radio with the Cadet forces, keep me going out, and the radio at home allows me to escape away from the world to my shack.
?
So please think about the less well off who can not afford ?25 extra a year.
?
Yours
?
Les ¨C M0LPB ?
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
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On Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 07:55 AM, Malcolm G0TMP wrote:
but please think before/instead of a knee jerk reply
It deserves a knee jerk reply as it makes little sense:
Why?should radio amateurs pay a licence fee when it is free at the moment?
We would have less radio amateurs and the money would not make any significant difference to our influence?with Ofcom!
Ofcom would still have to provide a non-RSGB payment collection facility as radio licensing is their statutory duty.
As things are it is a very simple and free process!
John G4SWX
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
That¡¯s your opinion to which you are entitled to. ?I¡¯ve voiced mine and believe the option should be looked into. Just because the licence is free now does not been we would not be better off paying for something for which we might get something back in return!
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On 13 Nov 2019, at 16:15, John G4SWX via Groups.Io <john.regnault@...> wrote:
?On Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 07:55 AM, Malcolm G0TMP wrote:
but please think before/instead of a knee jerk reply
It deserves a knee jerk reply as it makes little sense: Why?should radio amateurs pay a licence fee when it is free at the moment? We would have less radio amateurs and the money would not make any significant difference to our influence?with Ofcom! Ofcom would still have to provide a non-RSGB payment collection facility as radio licensing is their statutory duty. As things are it is a very simple and free process! John G4SWX
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
Malcolm G0TMP wrote: "I think the licences could be administered by the RSGB on behalf of OFCOM for a fee of around ?25"
It 2005 RSGB submitted a proposal to issue the amateur radio licences themselves. At the time they calculated a ?50 fee would cover their costs, we are fortunate Ofcom said no, it would have been a total waste of money.
Many countries have now scrapped annual licence fees, most recently in late-2018 members of the French parliament's upper house, the Senate, discovered that simply collecting the annual fee cost more than the fee itself - so they scrapped it.
BTW the company RSGB set up many years ago to handle licensing work,?RSGB Licences Ltd, can be found on the UK Government's Companies House site at
73 Trevor M5AKA
On Wednesday, 13 November 2019, 15:55:49 GMT, Malcolm G0TMP <malcolm@...> wrote:
Ok here¡¯s my opinion but please think before/instead of a knee jerk reply ... I think the licences could be administered by the RSGB on behalf of OFCOM for a fee of around ?25, an additional fee can then? be paid should you want RSGB membership, with a discount should you not require AdCom!
Regards?
On 13 Nov 2019, at 15:31, John G4SWX via Groups.Io <john.regnault@...> wrote:
?> The current situation does not work well at all. I cannot think of a single reason that would make anybody think so.
As I said you are ONLY looking at things from the amateur viewpoint. I can see that from the Ofcom side things are currently fairly smooth and cheap.
>Without paying something, we cannot hold OFCOM to account for the poor job that they do.
Yet again, a completely misguided amateur viewpoint. Even if the amateur licence was ?25 p.a. I would doubt if Ofcom would be inclined to do an awful lot more than they currently do to support amateur radio! Amateur radio issues would still sit close to the bottom of a large number of other radio services. We would also have far fewer licenced amateurs and correspondingly less clout!
> They cannot even get the ADSL providers to notch out the amateur bands which would be quite easy to do.
Yet another?opinion that?arises from amateurs learning a little and not understanding the whole complex situation!!!
> the ability is already in the specification and can be easily done
No, no and no again!!!! The fact that something is in an VDSL specification?or even in the VDSL chipset does not mean that the DSLAM manufacturer has implemented in their products and even if they have it might not well be in the specification of the DSLAM management system put in place by the VDSL provider. Even if this was all in place, why should a VDSL provider reduce the possible downstream/upstream capabilities of their service to all customers just to satisfy a limited number of radio amateurs? If it could be implemented on a case by case basis why should VDSL customers suffer a reduced service just because they lived close to a radio amateur. You also need to understand that the greater Ofcom has high level targets for ADSL coverage and speed.
I am not saying that the VDSL situation is good for amateur radio but just saying Ofcom should do something is just plain unhelpful.
John G4SWX
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
I've been following this thread with some? interest and now I'm a member its 2 pennyworth time.
Back in 1982 armed with a copy of the RAE syllabus I spent a happy few weeks drinking beer on a beach in Gabon swotting up on what was required - work had been suspended!!? I'm not an electronics expert but have a scientific background and a few weeks later went to the local C&G centre. The result was enough to get me G6DRT.
Fast forward many years and I'm still in the hobby. 2m only and only digital modes. I have never been on HF as all I wanted to do was 2m. No offence for those who are HF but it has never appealed to me. What was the point of asking me questions about it?
So, why this email? Well, I cannot remember the square root of damn all about circuits / interference / testing that the RAE required me to learn. in fact I suggest that I forgot it very quickly as it was superfluous. But, I still operate. And here is the nub of the issue. This hobby needs new blood if it is to survive. The 'younger generation' have enough on their plates exam wise in their formative years without the burden of yet more exams. And for what? Like me to promptly forget what I learnt I would think.
Yes - have some sort of testing procedure but keep it purely operation only. Forget the technical side initially and if that person wants to progress introduce that later. That is why such a scheme that is proposed would get my vote.
In case you are wondering what the square root of damn all is then the value is equivalent to diddly squat!!!
2 pennyworth over...
Peter G4URT?
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Re: IARU and Amateur Radio are Reaching ¡°an Inflection Point
Guy
I think I can see why John R thinks your views are more from inside the ¡®Ham Radio Box¡¯, so to speak. I agree with you however that this is a difficult topic.
Here are a few replies to your comments...
One has to think why so many amateurs operate FT8 and think that that is amateur radio. I used that mode exclusively for a long time, but never considered it proper amateur radio. It is ¡®proper' amateur radio though isn¡¯t it? In what way would it not be?
I think that that is the nut to crack What is? The definition of ¡®proper¡¯ amateur radio? Ask a QRPer or an ATVer or a Microwave enthusiast and they will all tell you they are doing proper Ham Radio! It may not match up with yours or mine, but that¡¯s ok surely?
Any attempt to increase numbers must not be at the expense of quality. Quality? How do you define the ¡®quality¡¯ of a Radio Ham? We¡¯ve all passed some kind of exam to get on air¡ And that Foundation Licensee you¡¯ve just spoken to and that some hams may have berated for only having an M7 callsign, could be the brain surgeon scheduled for your operation tomorrow, who knows? Is he a ¡®quality' Radio Ham or not?
?I would like to see much more policing of some sort to weed out the dregs of the hobby. The RSGB should be given some "teeth" to deal with this. We cannot even police society effectively so good luck with policing a hobby!? So it has always been - we just have more people around today who seem to get a kick out of ¡®playing up¡¯ - the RSGB are just a society, a club, they cannot have any powers unless granted by government and that won¡¯t happen...
I am not a fan of the current system at all. I much preferred the RAE and morse route. There are things about the current system that are bad but a lot that is good too. You sound as though you yearn for the ¡®good old days¡¯ whereas what we could/should be doing is trying to make the entrance to the hobby at the very least more appealing and maybe even, dare I suggest, a little more exciting too?
I would probably not have bothered with the current system which seems more designed to generate income for the RSGB than anything else. I don¡¯t know whether it generates that much cash in the grand scheme of things. The RSGB needs members above all to keep itself solvent. It would be interesting to see the figures though...
RegardsChrisChris Rolinson G7DDN
07544-549000 Network Radios Columnist for Radio User Magazine
Latest piano?compositions are available on?,??,?,??,?and all good online music stores
Please check out my??channel
You can find out more on??and at?
New single ¡®Evocation¡¯ out November 2019
On 13 Nov 2019, at 15:55, Guy G4DWV 4X1LT < guy@...> wrote:
This is a very difficult topic indeed. With respect to the low numbers in African countries, it may be down to the authoritarian governments too.
It is not just bums on seats. One has to think why so many amateurs operate FT8 and think that that is amateur radio. I used that mode exclusively for a long time, but never considered it proper amateur radio. I think that that is the nut to crack. Any attempt to increase numbers must not be at the expense of quality. I would like to see much more policing of some sort to weed out the dregs of the hobby. The RSGB should be given some "teeth" to deal with this.
I am not a fan of the current system at all. I much preferred the RAE and morse route. I never had a class B licence, going straight to an A. I would probably not have bothered with the current system which seems more designed to generate income for the RSGB than anything else.
Norway has a single class of licence and one 28 multiple choice exam. Power outputs allowed are up to 1KW.
Cheers
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
On Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 07:55 AM, Malcolm G0TMP wrote:
but please think before/instead of a knee jerk reply
It deserves a knee jerk reply as it makes little sense: Why?should radio amateurs pay a licence fee when it is free at the moment? We would have less radio amateurs and the money would not make any significant difference to our influence?with Ofcom! Ofcom would still have to provide a non-RSGB payment collection facility as radio licensing is their statutory duty. As things are it is a very simple and free process! John G4SWX
|
Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
Ok here¡¯s my opinion but please think before/instead of a knee jerk reply ... I think the licences could be administered by the RSGB on behalf of OFCOM for a fee of around ?25, an additional fee can then? be paid should you want RSGB membership, with a discount should you not require AdCom!
Regards?
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Show quoted text
On 13 Nov 2019, at 15:31, John G4SWX via Groups.Io <john.regnault@...> wrote:
?> The current situation does not work well at all. I cannot think of a single reason that would make anybody think so.
As I said you are ONLY looking at things from the amateur viewpoint. I can see that from the Ofcom side things are currently fairly smooth and cheap.
>Without paying something, we cannot hold OFCOM to account for the poor job that they do.
Yet again, a completely misguided amateur viewpoint. Even if the amateur licence was ?25 p.a. I would doubt if Ofcom would be inclined to do an awful lot more than they currently do to support amateur radio! Amateur radio issues would still sit close to the bottom of a large number of other radio services. We would also have far fewer licenced amateurs and correspondingly less clout!
> They cannot even get the ADSL providers to notch out the amateur bands which would be quite easy to do.
Yet another?opinion that?arises from amateurs learning a little and not understanding the whole complex situation!!!
> the ability is already in the specification and can be easily done
No, no and no again!!!! The fact that something is in an VDSL specification?or even in the VDSL chipset does not mean that the DSLAM manufacturer has implemented in their products and even if they have it might not well be in the specification of the DSLAM management system put in place by the VDSL provider. Even if this was all in place, why should a VDSL provider reduce the possible downstream/upstream capabilities of their service to all customers just to satisfy a limited number of radio amateurs? If it could be implemented on a case by case basis why should VDSL customers suffer a reduced service just because they lived close to a radio amateur. You also need to understand that the greater Ofcom has high level targets for ADSL coverage and speed.
I am not saying that the VDSL situation is good for amateur radio but just saying Ofcom should do something is just plain unhelpful.
John G4SWX
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Re: IARU and Amateur Radio are Reaching ¡°an Inflection Point
This is a very difficult topic indeed. With respect to the low numbers in African countries, it may be down to the authoritarian governments too.
It is not just bums on seats. One has to think why so many amateurs operate FT8 and think that that is amateur radio. I used that mode exclusively for a long time, but never considered it proper amateur radio. I think that that is the nut to crack. Any attempt to increase numbers must not be at the expense of quality. I would like to see much more policing of some sort to weed out the dregs of the hobby. The RSGB should be given some "teeth" to deal with this.
I am not a fan of the current system at all. I much preferred the RAE and morse route. I never had a class B licence, going straight to an A. I would probably not have bothered with the current system which seems more designed to generate income for the RSGB than anything else.
Norway has a single class of licence and one 28 multiple choice exam. Power outputs allowed are up to 1KW.
Cheers
|
Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
> The current situation does not work well at all. I cannot think of a single reason that would make anybody think so.
As I said you are ONLY looking at things from the amateur viewpoint. I can see that from the Ofcom side things are currently fairly smooth and cheap.
>Without paying something, we cannot hold OFCOM to account for the poor job that they do.
Yet again, a completely misguided amateur viewpoint. Even if the amateur licence was ?25 p.a. I would doubt if Ofcom would be inclined to do an awful lot more than they currently do to support amateur radio! Amateur radio issues would still sit close to the bottom of a large number of other radio services. We would also have far fewer licenced amateurs and correspondingly less clout!
> They cannot even get the ADSL providers to notch out the amateur bands which would be quite easy to do.
Yet another?opinion that?arises from amateurs learning a little and not understanding the whole complex situation!!!
> the ability is already in the specification and can be easily done
No, no and no again!!!! The fact that something is in an VDSL specification?or even in the VDSL chipset does not mean that the DSLAM manufacturer has implemented in their products and even if they have it might not well be in the specification of the DSLAM management system put in place by the VDSL provider. Even if this was all in place, why should a VDSL provider reduce the possible downstream/upstream capabilities of their service to all customers just to satisfy a limited number of radio amateurs? If it could be implemented on a case by case basis why should VDSL customers suffer a reduced service just because they lived close to a radio amateur. You also need to understand that the greater Ofcom has high level targets for ADSL coverage and speed.
I am not saying that the VDSL situation is good for amateur radio but just saying Ofcom should do something is just plain unhelpful.
John G4SWX
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
Hi John,
The current situation does not work well at all. I cannot think of a single reason that would make anybody think so.
It may not surprise you to know that I am NOT in favour of a free licence! Without paying something, we cannot hold OFCOM to account for the poor job that they do. They cannot even get the ADSL providers to notch out the amateur bands which would be quite easy to do.AIUI, the ability is already in the specification and can be easily done. The minimum cost for a licence should be ?25 IMHO. That's 7p a day! That's so cheap after working out the daily cost I am sorely tempted to increase my minimum!
Nobody is forcing anybody to get a vanity callsign, so if somebody does not want one they just have to not bother. That is the case with car number plates and it brings in loads of money.
Cheers
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Re: IARU and Amateur Radio are Reaching ¡°an Inflection Point
Tim Ellam VE6SH seems oblivious to the collapse in the hobby that already happened in Canada.
Perhaps his misunderstanding stems from the fact that amateur radio was made Licence Exempt in 2000 with callsigns being allocated for 125 years. This means each year the number of callsigns allocated increases never mind that most have given up the hobby or are dead.
ARRL spend their time writing glowing press releases above the apparent increase in the US amateur population. Now I guess to be fair it's part of ARRL's job to put a Positive Spin on everything related to the hobby but it ignores the underlying hollowing out of the hobby which will inevitably lead to a collapse in the numbers.
The model of very high barriers to entry which some countries have promoted to the rest of of the world for decades is a failure. Look at Africa, Dozens of new nations were born in the 1950s/60s but the failed model of amateur radio that was promoted to them meant the hobby never got started in those new countries. Today we have over 40 African countries with next to no amateur radio, except for brief visits from foreign DXpeditions.
1.2 Billion people with 800 million mobile phones but no amateur radio.
Even for the one nation in Africa that has has a significant amateur population - South Africa - the outlook is dire.
South Africa adopted the bureaucratic, rigid, elitist model with high barriers to entry found in countries like the UK. While they did eventually copy the UK's Foundation Class with their 100 watt Class B their National Society crippled it by asking the Regulator for lots of petty restrictions.? Holders must be aged under 26, exams are only held twice a year and I believe there's only a couple of venues in the entire country where you can sit it. In addition to that the national society dreamed up all sorts of pointless Practical Assessments to be completed which require a suitably authorised person to oversee them.? The result is they only get about 6 new Class B amateurs a year.
I think IARU leadership has not yet woken up to the extent of the changes that are needed.
73 Trevor M5AKA
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Re: New UK Entry Level Licence proposed
#Licensing
On Tue, Nov 12, 2019 at 02:34 AM, Guy G4DWV 4X1LT wrote:
OFCOM is not fit to administer amateur licences IMHO.
Not a very clever statement and pretty typical of an introspective amateur view! Ofcom have sought to minimise the cost of issuing all sorts of licences whilst maintaining reasonable overall control over users of RF spectrum. Whilst the current situation is not perfect, it works pretty well and is free! Playing around with callsigns is pure vanity for a few and I think it might be an excellent idea to stamp them all?out! Amateurs seem to claim some special entity around callsigns when all it really is the serial number attached to a licensing process! John G4SWX
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Re: IARU and Amateur Radio are Reaching ¡°an Inflection Point
??????
RegardsChrisChris Rolinson G7DDN
07544-549000 Network Radios Columnist for Radio User Magazine
Latest piano?compositions are available on?,??,?,??,?and all good online music stores
Please check out my??channel
You can find out more on??and at?
New single ¡®Dreams¡¯ out September 2019
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On Tue, Nov 12, 2019 at 02:34 AM, G3ZHI ian wrote:
the challenges that must be faced:
- What is amateur radio?
?
- The roles of IARU and its member-societies
I actually disagree with Tim Ellen and the IARU AC, I think this is a retrospective view which needs a bigger jolt of reality to bring it up to date! It is my view that in the UK and many developed countries that amateur radio has gone beyond the point of inflection and is clearly heading downwards. My view is that stagnation, in many areas,?set in a number of years back and that although there is some realisation that things have to change many of those involved are afraid of the future and 'rocking the boat' and upsetting many established radio amateurs. For instance the 'Growth' part of the RSGB 2022 strategy: This all sits within the easy 'comfort zone' with relatively small and correspondingly low impact targets. (men in sheds......) Most views of amateur radio are introspective and only focused on what existing radio amateurs might think! Amateur radio only exists because other stakeholders allow it to do so. If we did not have access to the amateur bands, which is not a 'God-given right' we would be simply another sub-section of makers, tinkerers and hackers. Amateur radio needs significant change of attitude to survive even if it causes massive pain to much of its current establishment. John G4SWX
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Re: IARU and Amateur Radio are Reaching ¡°an Inflection Point
On Tue, Nov 12, 2019 at 02:34 AM, G3ZHI ian wrote:
the challenges that must be faced:
- What is amateur radio?
?
- The roles of IARU and its member-societies
I actually disagree with Tim Ellen and the IARU AC, I think this is a retrospective view which needs a bigger jolt of reality to bring it up to date! It is my view that in the UK and many developed countries that amateur radio has gone beyond the point of inflection and is clearly heading downwards. My view is that stagnation, in many areas,?set in a number of years back and that although there is some realisation that things have to change many of those involved are afraid of the future and 'rocking the boat' and upsetting many established radio amateurs. For instance the 'Growth' part of the RSGB 2022 strategy: This all sits within the easy 'comfort zone' with relatively small and correspondingly low impact targets. (men in sheds......) Most views of amateur radio are introspective and only focused on what existing radio amateurs might think! Amateur radio only exists because other stakeholders allow it to do so. If we did not have access to the amateur bands, which is not a 'God-given right' we would be simply another sub-section of makers, tinkerers and hackers. Amateur radio needs significant change of attitude to survive even if it causes massive pain to much of its current establishment. John G4SWX
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IARU and Amateur Radio are Reaching ¡°an Inflection Point
IARU and Amateur Radio are Reaching ¡°an Inflection Point¡±
11/08/2019
Participants at the 45th meeting of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative Council (AC) in late September discussed the organization¡¯s role in advancing amateur radio going forward. The IARU released a??of the meeting this week. IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, who chaired the AC meeting in Lima, Peru, observed that the IARU and amateur radio are reaching what he called ¡°an inflection point.¡± He asserted that amateur radio is changing, but the IARU and its member-societies are not.
?
Ellam¡¯s remarks prefaced a wide-ranging discussion of the challenges to be overcome if the IARU and amateur radio itself are to remain relevant. After several hours of discussion, AC participants agreed on four top-level headings to identify the challenges that must be faced:
?
- What is amateur radio?
?
- The roles of IARU and its member-societies
?
- Recruitment into amateur radio
?
- IARU finances
?
The AC also agreed that it is essential to involve younger people from outside the Council in determining how to address these challenges, and the three IARU regions were asked to identify individuals who ¡°could take ownership of these topics.¡±
?
A small working group was named, consisting of IARU Region 2 Vice President Ram¨®n Santoyo, XE1KK; Region 2 Area A Director George Gorsline, VE3YV, and IARU Region 1 President Don Beattie, G3BJ. Using topics discussed to develop a starting point, the panel will aim to have a draft version of a plan by mid-December to address the challenges that would serve as a basis for further discussion.
?
IARU Region 1 (Europe, Africa, and the Mideast) has been a leader in marshalling interest among next-generation radio amateurs, sponsoring Youngsters On The Air (), and other youth-related activities, including a summer camp each year attended by young radio amateurs from around Region 1. IARU Region 3 noted at the Council meeting that it plans a Youth on the Air activity in Thailand next October and expressed the hope that Regions 1 and 2 can participate.
?
In other matters, based on a suggestion from Fred Matos, W3ICM ¡ª a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) spectrum manager ¡ª the AC agreed to change the objective of the IARU HF World Championship contest to read as follows: ¡°To support amateur self-training in radiocommunications, including improving amateur operating skills, conducting technical investigations, and intercommunicating with other amateurs around the world, especially IARU member-society headquarters stations, using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.¡±
?
According to an AC meeting document, Matos¡¯?rationale is that the objective of an IARU-sponsored activity should tie directly to the ITU?Radio Regulations.
?
In a related matter, the Council agreed to indicate to ARRL, which administers the competition, that it would favor relaxing rules for multioperator, single transmitter, mixed-mode entries ¡ª which the AC views as more restrictive and punitive than those that apply to most other contests ¡ª without affecting?scoring and adjudication.?Under current rules, multioperator, single transmitter, mixed-mode entries must remain on a band and mode for at least 10 minutes before changing bands or modes, and violating the band change rules will reclassify the entry as a check log. The IARU event is held each July.
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John G4SWX
Les Brown