[Boatanchors] The ARRL's next move

[Mark K3MSB]

Hi Bob

95%+ Of my operating is CW;  all my DX awards and operating event awards
are CW, and I’ve been called upon as a CW “ringer” by various clubs in the
local area for contesting.  So, CW is a passion of mine.

That being said I have to disagree with you about your comment on CW.

When the CW requirement was in effect is served two purposes.   The first
was that it was necessary for emergency communications,  and the second was
that it acted as a gate-keeper;  you had to exert effort to learn the code
to join the “club”.

Today CW is not required for emergency communications not is it mainstream
like it was in yesteryear.  With the removal of the requirement, the gate
also went away.

Couple that with public posting of all the exact test questions and answers
and you have no gate through which anyone has to pass to get a license.
 No effort needs to be exerted;  just memorize your way to a license.
 In yesteryear,  those that “could” earned a ham ticket;  those that
“couldn’t” didn’t (or went into CB).   The technical bias level within the
amateur community was high.   Today,  those that “can’t” just memorize some
more and eventually get their ham ticket.   We all know what that does to
the overall technical level.

Combine that with the “entitlement” society we’ve become and it would just
be “unfair” if little Johnny failed to get his ticket.   It might hurt his
self-esteem.

The solution is not to make the exams so hard that you need an EE degree to
pass,  but rather to ensure people that want them have to earn them.   I’m
not sure what the “correct” answer is,  but not publishing the exact
questions and answer would be a good step.  That’s not going to happen.

>From ARLB007 from the ARRL today, they say 378,000 of the licensed amateurs
are Technician level, which is more than half of all licenses.   What the
heck does that say?    50%+ of current hams can’t pass the General exam?
Won’t take the time to do so?   Or Both?

“…that had taught him something about human nature, that challenge and
difficulty mattered less to the great majority than accomplishment and
gain….”   Greg Bear “Eternity”.

 73 Mark K3MSB


On Mar 1, 2018 11:48 AM, "K5MYJ" <macklinbob at gmail.com> wrote:

> BTW:
>
> There is no requirement for tech to pass any kind of CW test before trying
> it.
>
> They should fix that.
>
> Bob Macklin
> K5MYJ
> Seattle, Wa.
> "Real Radios Glow In The Dark"
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark K3MSB" <mark.k3msb at gmail.com>
> To: "Rob Atkinson" <ranchorobbo at gmail.com>
> Cc: "Boatanchors List" <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2018 4:47 AM
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] The ARRL's next move
>
>
> Why not just upgrade to General?
>>
>> Oh, sorry, stupid question……. It’s early morning and I haven’t had my
>> first
>> cup of coffee…..
>>
>> A year or so ago when the ARRL had their parks on the air program running,
>> a local club from the Harrisburg PA area activated a tunnel that was
>> somehow associated with the PA Turnpike or the old Pennsylvania Rail Road.
>> I noticed they had no CW listed so I sent the club an email saying I’d be
>> willing to go along to do CW.   I said I’d bring my own radio, antennas
>> etc.
>>
>> I was told "No!   The reason:  the public coming to the site would not
>> know
>> what CW was!
>>
>> 73 Mark K3MSB
>>
>>
>> On Mar 1, 2018 5:43 AM, "Rob Atkinson" <ranchorobbo at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> It's kind of interesting that nothing is done to foster CW operation
>>> in this petition.
>>>
>>> Rob
>>> K5UJ
>>>
>>> On Wed, Feb 28, 2018 at 8:38 PM, Randy Berry <randyn3lrx at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> > Phone privies for Techs on more HF bands along with some digital
>>> privies..
>>> >
>>> > http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-requests-expanded-hf-
>>> privileges-for-technician-licensees
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