Well you were there, and I sure was not. I am disappointed to hear of Dick Baldwin's actions on this. You always want to believe people in such levels of power are scrupulously ethical. I realize that he did not absolutely have to follow what the ARRL may or may not have wanted, but you rather expect your delegate to represent the democratic process.
For some reason I had thought the Japanese rigs were only allowed 10 watts output, but of course even then they would be double what most of us consider normal QRP power levels. On the higher bands they could be effective in causing quite a bit of QRM although I never had any here in the midwestern part of the U.S. I am sure it was a lot different in other places. One other thing. The ARRL supported at least keeping the 5 wpm CW test for the Extra Class and I don't remember them ever dropping that recommendation to the FCC. 73, Rick, KV9U Danny Douglas wrote: >Yes Rick, I am positive that the ARRL did exactly that. They published the >results, and made written statements in QST that they would fight for a >continuation of the standing rules at the IARU/ITU level, then turned right >around an voted with the rest of them against it. They then said they >would support its continued testing with the FCC, and then turned around and >did not do so, instead supporting the FCC's stated intention to delete the >requirement. I had at least two of them (ARRL OFFICIALS) tell me >face-to-face they would support the majorities wishes. Now they are >bragging about all the new "opportunities". Its come down to a business >decision, and they broke ranks, in order to sell more books, and hopefully >gain more dues, etc. I have read emails and missives from dozens of people >who are quitting over this. The ARRL management has never listened real >well to their membership, but this is the straw breaking the camels back, >for many. > >Go ahead and say 'JAPAN" . This all started years ago, and in fact at the >region 3 meeting in Hong Kong (73 or 74) I was the HK voting member to the >meeting. At that time, our Hong Kong Amateur Transmitting Society members >had thoroughly discussed the ever increasing numbers of hams we were seeing >in Japan and were discombobulated at the QRM we were being inundated with >from there. We had discovered, in order to get a license in Japan, all a >Japanese citizen had to do was throw a few Yen in an envelope and send it >off to JARL - not the Japanese government agency equivalent . For that, >they would get a code free HF license that would permit them operations on >certain parts of the hf bands, contrary to ITU rules. They were limited to >something like 25 watts at the time. I was asked to write up a position >paper and read it to the conference, by our membership. > >W1RU was there, representing the ARRLs members in the US Islands in the >region. When I spoke that we had a position paper to read, he as much as >demanded that we not be able to present it, because it wasn't on the agenda. >I knew well what was on the agenda, as being the host, I had written it. He >went on to demand that there be a vote JUST FOR ME TO READ THE PAPER. We >were not asking for a decision, a vote, or any other action to be made - >Just to be able to present our thoughts on the subject of "Issuance of Code >Free Amateur Licenses For Use On HF Bands" I had written the paper >carefully, not mentioning Japan, or any other country by name, but simply >stating our position against such actions since they were against >international regulations. A vote was taken, with 4 countries voting for >the reading of the paper, and two (JAPAN and USA) abstaining. I read the >paper. > >After that, JA1RL stood up and said as far as the Japanese were concerned, >they could issue such licenses because " These amateurs only use 25 watts of >power - so we know they will not interfere with any operations ""outside >Japan""" Say what???? You could have knocked the rest of us over (except >W1RU) with a feather. There were probably hundreds of hams already, at that >point, that had achieved and received QRP DXCC. > >During the next session of the conference, we were all advised by W1RU that >JARL was giving us (Region 3) an amount of money (I forget how much - or how >little) to fight "Interference on our bands" Yep - money talks. > >So , this is nothing new, for an organization supposedly there to fight for >its membership, to do just the opposite of what the majority wants, or to >tell us one thing and do exactly the opposite. The sad thing is its the only >thing we have. I was, and still am a member. That gives me the right to >bash them every time they do something like this. After all I AM THE ARRL. >Yeah ! Right! > > > > > > > >Danny Douglas N7DC >ex WN5QMX ET2US WA5UKR ET3USA >SV0WPP VS6DD N7DC/YV5 G5CTB all >DX 2-6 years each >. >QSL LOTW-buro- direct >As courtesy I upload to eQSL but if you > use that - also pls upload to LOTW > or hard card. > >moderator [EMAIL PROTECTED] >moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DXandTalk > > > >
