[CW] W5YI groups suggestions on ham radio licensing

[Lawrence Makoski]

Points that caused me to "raise an eyebrow":

"Before you jump up and shout, think about the way things should be, or
could be, looking forward to the future, not backward to what has gone
by. Do not ignore tradition, but at the same time, try to expand your
thinking to encompass what is yet to come. Think about what we actually
need to move ahead, and what might be best left
behind."

I have a mind, thank you very much, please do not tell me how to think.

"Who are these people, and who elected them as "God"?"

Exactly what I would like to know !!!

"So, there are no "Morse code haters" on the committee. There is no
conspiracy, no secret agenda, no kickback from the manufacturers, no
"black plan" from the ARRL, no anything."

Methinks you doth protest too much!

"Just as letting code free new hams on to our VHF bands has not, for the
most part, resulted in chaos, the same will be true of our HF
assignments."

Yeah, right .......


"Morse will probably retain most of it's exclusive band segments, at
least for now."

How comforting!

"They just don't try, you say? Apparently you have not participated at
hundreds of exam sessions. I have. I have seen grown men and women with
tears in their eyes, frustrated, angry, sometimes back next time,
sometimes giving up on ham radio altogether."

Sorry, but this doesn't wash.  I have been a VE for 14 years now and I
HAVE attended hundreds of VE sessions.  I have NEVER seens anyone cry
because of failing a Morse Code exam.  Quantify, people, quantify!  If
you did, you'd find the result a lot different from what YOU think it
is.

"So, who's to say that mastering Morse code skills makes a better ham? I
would not be so arrogant as to think such a thing."

I would not considerate it arrogant to think that a little discipline
would make a better Ham.

"CW is a great mode. It's fun. I enjoy it. And, it's time to move on. We
no longer require applicants to draw schematic diagrams, demonstrate how
to neutralize a triode vacuum tube amplifier, lots of other things."

More's the pity.

"Will ham radio turn into CB? No, it won't."

Those who pay no attention to history are doomed to repeat it.  Look
what happened to CB when they relaxed the requirements.

"Oh, pardon me - you always build everything from scratch? Great! Who,
exactly, are you going to talk to? Most of the rest of us opt for the
practical approach, and purchase a rig from one of the several companies
that cater to hams. If there are no manufacturers, then there are no new
rigs. Hard to carry on a QSO if no one is there."

Oh yes, let us all bow down to worship before the altars of the almighty
Yaesu, Kenwood and Icom !!!

"You know, fresh ideas, new blood, people that can
actually see their radios without having to put on glasses - what a
concept!"

Oh yes, and let's be snotty to boot!

"Remove some of the math. Remove some or even most of the "radio law"
type questions. Instead, require applicants to sign a statement that
they have read the Part 97 rulebook, and that they have a copy
(available for free via web download)."

Oh, hell, and while we're at it ... let's just eliminate the whole
testing scheme, anyway.  All it does it ruins people's self-esteem.  We
can't have that, now, can we?

"Take out one or two more theory questions. We're not making engineers,
at least not yet. Put in a couple of additional practical questions
about operating your radio. A poke here, a cut there, and we're done."

1) What does an "on" button do?
2) What does an "off" button do?
3) What does "PTT" mean?

Congratulations, you've passed !  You're a Ham now!

"What do you think is better for our hobby - lots of enthusiastic
newcomers, or an ever-declining number of increasingly older hams?"

Hmmmm .... quantity or quality ?  Gee, that's a tough one!

"OK, now we've got a brand new ham. Whether we call them a
"Communicator", or some other name, what's next? Where are they going to
operate?"

I think it's called 27 MHz.

"Suppose, just for a moment, that a petition got filed requesting that
the FCC make the following changes: Take the present HF Novice bands on
80, 40, 15, and 10 meters and reassign them to voice operation."

And if you think we're going to stop here, I have a bridge in Brooklyn
you might want to buy!

"How about those who feel insulted that these new hams are gaining
"free" access to bands that "they had to work hard for". Excuse me? Do
we recognizethat times have changed and move on, or not?"

Oh yeah, that's right .... it's time to also insult all these nice folks
were trying to "re-educate"!

"Very soon (a few days at most) after the Morse requirement disappears,
assuming it does, then we plan to file for the creation of the
"Communicator" license, as detailed elsewhere in this discussion."

Honest, we have NOTHING to gain form this!

"Next, once the "Communicator" proposal started to look like it would
become reality, we would file another petition asking that the Novice HF
assignments be re-allocated, also as per the previous discussion. We
would
further ask that the re-allocation take place at the same time as the
implementation date of the new license, so that those who passed their
tests would have a place to operate."

Translation - Next step ... we're out to get access to the CW subbands!

"We are not suggesting that the CW sub-bands, or the exclusive CW bands
for Extra licensees, be eliminated or otherwise adjusted. Again, with
the exception of Novice CW, we are not proposing any change whatsoever
to the
present band plans or allocations."

I still have that bridge if you want to buy it !!!!

"A few final words:

There are no black helicopters.

This is not a plot by ARRL or Fred (W5YI) or anyone else to sell more
books, antennas, radios, or (fill in the blank). Yes, ARRL will gain
some new members, the W5YI group will sell a few more books, and
possibly some of the manufacturers and vendors will peddle a few more
sets. Is this bad? How? It looks like growth of our beloved hobby from
here. By the way, did you know
Fred sold his company some time back? He does not particularly stand to
gain anything from this effort, nor do any of the other committee
members. Do you suppose the committee members just want to see our
wonderful hobby prosper? Wouldn't that be an odd reason for doing what
they are doing?"

Whay are they bringing this up again, unless some sort of "nerve" has
been struck ????

"With assistance from Fred Maia, W5YI"

This tells me everything I need to know!

73 de Larry W2LJ - Vivat Morse! � �

W2LJ@arrl.net
http://www.qsl.net/w2lj

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