At 21:48 15-02-2000 -0500, you wrote: <schlorp> I don't really see it that way, Gary. I see it instead as a big opportunity to "Elmer" a bunch of new blood into the hobby. I would also point out that the "death of 2 meters" (not my words) was predicted when the FCC dropped the code requirement for Tech. As far as I can tell, it didn't happen. 2 meters in the Seattle area is (with the occasional exception, quickly tracked down and dealt with) pretty well behaved. The fact that hamateur rigs cost much more than CB sets will help to weed out those who are really serious about the hobby, and those who are just "lookie-loos." I would also like to think that the upcoming revisions in the tests will make it difficult, if not impossible, to pass just by rote memorization. This means questions that require some level of actual electronics knowledge. I say let's wait to see what happens before disaster is expected. 73 de WD6EOS (eligible for QCWA membership in two years). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."