[CW] Dumb down not justified

[N7DC@cs.com]

Don, I am adment against the removal of the sub-bands.  If you ever lived and 
worked overseas where there were no such things, you would understand why.  
For instance:  I lived in Caracas for 2 years, and mostly operated CW (as I do 
now).  There was a , well to say it nicely "woman" down lthe street who 
insisted on working her local cronies on SSB , right in the middle of the 40 meter 
CW band, instead of going up the freq where she wouldnt disturb CW ops.  There 
is nothing worse on the air, than trying to copy weak CW DX than thru a bunch 
of gaggley SSB signals.  They could have spoken to each ther on any band at 
all, but insisted on 40.  There is just no getting around it.  You simply cannot 
work both modes on the same freq, without ruining the enjoyment of the CW 
people.  

   I too passed my extra back in the 60s, way before we had to do so, and 
mostly just because I wanted to.    It was a point of pride to do so then.  And 
later it became necessary, if you wanted to work the lower portion of the hf 
bands.  Now,  it still means we can work the lower portions, but with so many 
easily passing the tests without the CW requirments, its getting more and more 
crowded on the lower SSB portions.

   I dont mind at all, letting hams work right down in the lower SSB 
portions, but if they are going to work in the lower CW portion, or CW at all, they 
should be required to pass a terst lto do so.  CW is completely different than 
SSB or the digital modes, and is a skill that must be practiced, so those that 
say there is no reason to pass the test "just look at the other modes- no test 
there" are wrong.  I wrote several letters to the ARRL , encouraging them to 
recognize this fact, and to push for continuance of the CW requirements at the 
IARU level, and at the IT meeetisngs.  No one would ever respond to that.  
Anyway, its time to head for church this morning, so will close this out.
73 and good luck to us and our hobby.  We need it.
Danny


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