[AMRadio] Extra Class

[Rob Atkinson]

I understand how it can stink to have a 13 wpm license and get a no
code Extra.  We need to bring back the CW test but that is apparently
a lost cause.  The next best thing is if we had the old W1NJM George
Hart qualifying runs which were for the speed merchants, and below him
the W1AW qualifying runs with the endorsement stickers.  I do not know
if they still have them or not, but you could get a certificate and
endorsement stickers up to 35 or 40 wpm by sending in your copy.
Above that speed W1NJM took over.  I guess nowadays a cheater could
use a machine to copy but they could probably defeat that by randomly
slipping in a slightly long dit or dah a human would handle but a
machine would not.  I got the certificate from W1AW but only one
sticker for 25 wpm.  I never tried to get higher than that and now I
don't remember why as it was a long time ago.

I don't see why the VE people can't give a CW test anyway to those who
want to pass it, even if it is not a FCC requirement.  They could
issue some sort of certificate for it.  I suppose someone would make a
big deal about it for some perceived slight.  Maybe the VEs now don't
know the code.

73

Rob
K5UJ