[CW] CW - No code - and little code

[N7DC@cs.com]

I dont think 20 percent is reasonable.  For a band like 40 meters, that would 
give us only 60 KC for CW and allow the SSBers all the way down to 7.063 
(LSB), and thats just here in the states.  If stateside stations were allowed that 
low, guess where the DX, Canadians, and Mexicans would start showing up.  
What we need are sub-bands with teeth in them.  They should be World-Wide, not 
just US sub-bands, but we are never likely to succeed in that.  
 
  I have been saying for months (if not years): Let anyone take a test for 
HF, without code.  If they want to work code, THEN THEY SHOULD TAKE A CODE TEST. 
 Its the only mode that truly takes skill, and we should earn it before we 
are allowed there.

Speaking of skill.  The recent adoption of new international rules, and the 
not-so-recent downspeeding of CW tests here in the states are really starting 
to show on the bands.  More and more I am hearing extremely low CW speeds on 
the lower parts of the bands, and not only that, much of it is just downright 
unreadable.  I would never pass a Scout for 5 wpm, who sent that poorly, and I 
have tested hundreds.  Last night I heard dozens of Washington State stations 
in SR test.  A few of them were gliding along at 20 wpm or better with an 
automatic keyer, and when I gave them a call, they came back with the most horrible 
sounding keying possible, with me barely able to understand what they were 
trying to say.  THEY WERE ALL USING EXTRA CALLS.  Now it may be that these were 
club calls, and they were brand new to CW, but it doesn't lead me to have any 
confidence in our new testing schemes.  By the way, my old buddy Rex - K7QQ - 
Was ripping along at 40 wpm, and when he came back, I could read it.  Rex was 
my very first contact on the bands, and is still putting Washington on the 
score sheets.  


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