6 ms·

What’s the actual point of having to learn all that for the license? What’s the actual point for the license in the first place?

irrational 6y ago
The license is an FCC requirement. They are also the ones who come up with the test questions. You would have to ask them. I can understand why they would want me to understand the laws governing ham radio. I don’t understand why I need to be able to read a schematic diagram to get a license. I assume that if I was going to build my own equipment that I would need to know a lot more than what I needed to learn to pass the test.
- formerly_proven 6y ago
  > The license is an FCC requirement. Technically yes, but these requirements are pretty much the same globally, because they're copy-pasted from the ITU. Ham radio is practically governed by international law and quite possibly the field with the least diverse regulations in the world.
- tzs 6y ago
  > I can understand why they would want me to understand the laws governing ham radio. I don’t understand why I need to be able to read a schematic diagram to get a license. You need to consider the big picture. Ham radio is just one of several radio services. They have different licensing requirements depending on their purpose and/or who is meant to use them. For services that are aimed at people who just want to communicate, getting a license won't involve anything like schematic diagrams--if a license is even required. The ham radio service's target is radio geeks. Hams are given considerably more leeway in what they can do with radio than are users of most other services, and so the licensing requirements include more things concerning the underlying technology than you need to just operate a radio reasonably.
  - NovemberWhiskey 6y ago
    >For services that are aimed at people who just want to communicate, getting a license won't involve anything like schematic diagrams--if a license is even required. For people who might be interested in what those 'unlicensed' services are, they include: - FRS (the Family Radio Service[0]), which is typified by the sort of $20 bubble pack radios you can buy at a sporting goods store; - MURS (the Multi-Use Radio Service[1]), which is common in commercial radios used by e.g. staff at big box stores; - CBRS (the Citizens Band Radio Service[2]), which is probably familiar to most from "any movie involving truck drivers". These services may have licensing/approval rules for equipment, but not for individuals using them. [0] https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/family-radio-service-frs https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-divis... [1] https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/multi-use-radio-service-murs https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-divis... [2] https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/citizens-band-radio-service-cbrs https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-divis...
- NovemberWhiskey 6y ago
  This is not so uncommon, though. The FAA private pilot's license is often described as a "license to learn", for example: it gives you the technical permission to fly aircraft that are entirely unsuitable for someone who has as few as 40 hours flight time; even the right to be the test pilot for an aircraft that you built for yourself! Both licenses are intended to help you with the foundational framework for success, like: what are the regulatory limits? how should I think about my personal limits? what's potentially dangerous? where and how can I learn more than the basics?
- amatecha 6y ago
  Being able to read schematics and have basic electronics equipment is likely tested because getting a license gives you the legal right to build your own radio equipment that can transmit on amateur radio frequencies, potentially worldwide. They make some effort to ensure you know some of the basics so you aren't stomping around on the frequencies and ruining the airwaves for others. Plus it's a good way to introduce some of the necessary concepts to tinker in the amateur radio space. When I was trying to pick up signals from as far as possible, I used the knowledge I gained from studying for a license to inform how I needed to alter my setup (knowledge of antenna construction, impedance and basic circuits like a balun for example). The license studying material actually provided an excellent starting point which helped me know exactly what I needed to search about online :) I think the overall point is, if people don't grasp those basic concepts, they are probably not well-suited to the world of amateur radio and will cause trouble when they buy some expensive radios and misconfigure them, or start making seriously questionable DIY radio equipment, or so on.
kwk1 6y ago
> What’s the actual point for the license in the first place? The electromagnetic spectrum is a limited resource; an amateur radio license is a license to do certain kinds of experiments in the spectrum. The kind of activity that makes up these experiments when done by someone who doesn't know what they're doing has the potential to cause harm which is hugely disproportionate to the amount of effort it would take to do it. While it's possible to pinpoint individual offenders, if unlicensed activity was widespread then the ability to do so would be overwhelmed.
- jacquesm 6y ago
  In practice though lots of 'HAM's' use their license as an access ticket to a slightly more elitist version of CB radio. The number of people that actually move the needle by doing experiments is dwindling year by year.
  - GekkePrutser 6y ago
    Not just more elitist, also a lot more capable of course. With 4W FM on 11m you're not going to make it across the world (unless in exceptional conditions). But I agree this was never the intention of the license.
    - jimktrains2 6y ago
      nitpick: CB is AM or SSB, not FM. Aside: 4W is for AM. You can do a little more (12W iirc) on SSB because it's spread more evenly across the bandwidth being used.
      - GekkePrutser 6y ago
        Ahh I suppose it is in the US. Here in EU it's FM actually. AM and SSB are forbidden. But I know some people import "President" rigs to use it anyway, as the band is hardly policed at all these days.
        6y ago
etage3 6y ago
Speaking for France, but I suspect it is the same elsewhere: back in the day, the license exam was to build your own radio and operate it in front of an inspector, so it might be a remnant of that era. You also need to know this stuff to set up antennas.
jimhefferon 6y ago
One of the arguments for allowing operators to have part of the spectrum is to help build a pool of technically knowledgable, and practically capable, people in the population.

irrational 6y ago

The license is an FCC requirement. They are also the ones who come up with the test questions. You would have to ask them. I can understand why they would want me to understand the laws governing ham radio. I don’t understand why I need to be able to read a schematic diagram to get a license. I assume that if I was going to build my own equipment that I would need to know a lot more than what I needed to learn to pass the test.

formerly_proven 6y ago
> The license is an FCC requirement. Technically yes, but these requirements are pretty much the same globally, because they're copy-pasted from the ITU. Ham radio is practically governed by international law and quite possibly the field with the least diverse regulations in the world.
tzs 6y ago
> I can understand why they would want me to understand the laws governing ham radio. I don’t understand why I need to be able to read a schematic diagram to get a license. You need to consider the big picture. Ham radio is just one of several radio services. They have different licensing requirements depending on their purpose and/or who is meant to use them. For services that are aimed at people who just want to communicate, getting a license won't involve anything like schematic diagrams--if a license is even required. The ham radio service's target is radio geeks. Hams are given considerably more leeway in what they can do with radio than are users of most other services, and so the licensing requirements include more things concerning the underlying technology than you need to just operate a radio reasonably.
- NovemberWhiskey 6y ago
  >For services that are aimed at people who just want to communicate, getting a license won't involve anything like schematic diagrams--if a license is even required. For people who might be interested in what those 'unlicensed' services are, they include: - FRS (the Family Radio Service[0]), which is typified by the sort of $20 bubble pack radios you can buy at a sporting goods store; - MURS (the Multi-Use Radio Service[1]), which is common in commercial radios used by e.g. staff at big box stores; - CBRS (the Citizens Band Radio Service[2]), which is probably familiar to most from "any movie involving truck drivers". These services may have licensing/approval rules for equipment, but not for individuals using them. [0] https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/family-radio-service-frs https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-divis... [1] https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/multi-use-radio-service-murs https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-divis... [2] https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/citizens-band-radio-service-cbrs https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-divis...
NovemberWhiskey 6y ago
This is not so uncommon, though. The FAA private pilot's license is often described as a "license to learn", for example: it gives you the technical permission to fly aircraft that are entirely unsuitable for someone who has as few as 40 hours flight time; even the right to be the test pilot for an aircraft that you built for yourself! Both licenses are intended to help you with the foundational framework for success, like: what are the regulatory limits? how should I think about my personal limits? what's potentially dangerous? where and how can I learn more than the basics?
amatecha 6y ago
Being able to read schematics and have basic electronics equipment is likely tested because getting a license gives you the legal right to build your own radio equipment that can transmit on amateur radio frequencies, potentially worldwide. They make some effort to ensure you know some of the basics so you aren't stomping around on the frequencies and ruining the airwaves for others. Plus it's a good way to introduce some of the necessary concepts to tinker in the amateur radio space. When I was trying to pick up signals from as far as possible, I used the knowledge I gained from studying for a license to inform how I needed to alter my setup (knowledge of antenna construction, impedance and basic circuits like a balun for example). The license studying material actually provided an excellent starting point which helped me know exactly what I needed to search about online :) I think the overall point is, if people don't grasp those basic concepts, they are probably not well-suited to the world of amateur radio and will cause trouble when they buy some expensive radios and misconfigure them, or start making seriously questionable DIY radio equipment, or so on.

kwk1 6y ago

> What’s the actual point for the license in the first place? The electromagnetic spectrum is a limited resource; an amateur radio license is a license to do certain kinds of experiments in the spectrum. The kind of activity that makes up these experiments when done by someone who doesn't know what they're doing has the potential to cause harm which is hugely disproportionate to the amount of effort it would take to do it. While it's possible to pinpoint individual offenders, if unlicensed activity was widespread then the ability to do so would be overwhelmed.

jacquesm 6y ago
In practice though lots of 'HAM's' use their license as an access ticket to a slightly more elitist version of CB radio. The number of people that actually move the needle by doing experiments is dwindling year by year.
- GekkePrutser 6y ago
  Not just more elitist, also a lot more capable of course. With 4W FM on 11m you're not going to make it across the world (unless in exceptional conditions). But I agree this was never the intention of the license.
  - jimktrains2 6y ago
    nitpick: CB is AM or SSB, not FM. Aside: 4W is for AM. You can do a little more (12W iirc) on SSB because it's spread more evenly across the bandwidth being used.
    - GekkePrutser 6y ago
      Ahh I suppose it is in the US. Here in EU it's FM actually. AM and SSB are forbidden. But I know some people import "President" rigs to use it anyway, as the band is hardly policed at all these days.
      - 6y ago

etage3 6y ago

Speaking for France, but I suspect it is the same elsewhere: back in the day, the license exam was to build your own radio and operate it in front of an inspector, so it might be a remnant of that era. You also need to know this stuff to set up antennas.

jimhefferon 6y ago

One of the arguments for allowing operators to have part of the spectrum is to help build a pool of technically knowledgable, and practically capable, people in the population.