[CW] A modest proposal

[Thomas Beaudry]

> I also disagree with a CW-only segment.  It would further isolate CW
> and telegraphers.

How would it further isolate by maintaining what we have now?

> The CW exam are not a qualifier to "allow" people to operate CW, nor 
> do the
> technical aspects of the exams "give us permission" to build or repair 
> our
> own equipment.  Rather, the exams function to provide a certain level 
> of
> well-rounded, technical foundation or syllabus for self-study; and with
> incentives to keep us progressing in our knowldge and skills.

That's been the complaint about the modern licensing system since it 
was started, that it is incentive based.  So what is wrong with 
suggesting a qualification based system instead?  It's the only 
alternative except unless you want to consider doing away with exams 
period.

> The best approach -- since we just restructured -- is to do fine 
> tuning, not
> major surgery.
>
> So, here is my proposal, which requires only a small amount of 
> tweaking:
>
> Technicians:
> CW: no code
> Exam: basic electricity, components, digital modes, rules, regs
>     NO ADDITIONAL VOICE or analog privileges
>     CW & Digital: General Class 10, 15, 40, and 80 subbands
>     SSB, SSTV: Same as current Tech Plus on 10
>     200 W max power
>
> General:
> CW: 5 wpm
> Exam: block diagrams, common circuits, intermediate troubleshooting
>     Same as current General Class
>
> Extra:
> CW: 10 to 20 wpm
> Exam: circuit design, highly technical, cutting edge modes
>      Same as current Extra Class
>
> Exams:
> End "Do-Overs" -- only one failed element per exam session.
> Math Questions -- do not publish the actual numbers used.
> Other Questions -- do not publish the exact form of the question.
> Answers -- do not publish the exact form of the answers
> Distractors -- allow VE teams and VECs to vary the distractors

I could agree with this providing CW sub-bands are maintained.  I'd 
prefer CW segregated from the other digital modes as well but could 
live with them as is if there was enough space.

> Voice privileges should be held out as the incentive to upgrade.  We 
> need CW
> over the whole band, because it is a very worthy supplement to SSB in 
> bad
> conditions.  A CW-only segment would just create a ghetto.  And I 
> don't want
> to be behind the gates when the nocode pogrom starts.

We have CW over the whole band.  Nobody has proposed changing that.  
And I don't buy a CW-only sub-band creating a ghetto.

-- 
Thomas M. Beaudry
k8la / ys1ztm
K2 # 3422