[CW] W5YI groups suggestions on ham radio licensing

[John Geiger]

The first 2 times I took the general written exam
(back in 1981-1982) I failed it, although I did pass
the CW test.  WHile I didn't break down in tears at
the exam session, I wasn't too far away from it, being
a 14 year old kid at the time.  

So, doesn't this mean that the written test should be
removed?  After all, it is a barrier to people
becoming hams.  What about the mentally challenged
individuals (e.g. Down's Syndrome) who want to become
hams, but don't have the mental capacity to pass the
written test.  Is this really fair to them?  Should we
exclude them?

Also, if someone does break down in tears over a CW
test, is that person really emotionally stable enough
to operate HF?  Will this person resort to causing
intentional interference because they become
frustrated over not being able to work the DX?  Their
past behavior suggests that it might be possible.

73s John NE0P

Founder of NWI (No W5YI International)
--- Steve w0oow <w0oow@piperscreek.com> wrote:
> AMEN !!!  That about says it all.  As so many people
> have said... maybe the
> question is not why Johnny can't learn code, but
> rather why Johnny won't
> learn code.  I never questioned that fact that I had
> to learn code to pass
> any exam.  I just learned it as one of the
> requirements.   Some people seem
> to want quanity rather quality.  Wait - maybe what I
> should have said is
> that some people want $$$$ rather than quality. 
> Folks, no matter how you
> slice it, it's all about money.  I may not be super
> at CW, but at least I
> passed 20 to get my extra.
> oow
> 
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 12:06:02 -0800 (PST)
> > From: John Geiger <johngeig@yahoo.com>
> > Subject:     Re: [CW] W5YI groups suggestions on
> ham radio licensing
> > To: "David J. Ring, Jr." <n1ea@arrl.net>,
> N2EY@aol.com, N7DC@cs.com,
> > cw@mailman.qth.net
> >
> > I have a couple of problems with this rationale,
> as I
> > will outline below:
> >
> > 1. The idea that code serves as a barrier to
> getting
> > into ham radio, and it keeps good people out-wait
> a
> > minute, the technician license hasn't required a
> code
> > test for 12 years or more now.  How is morse code
> > keeping people out of ham radio when it isn't
> required
> > to be a ham?
> >
> > 2. The argument that even with practice everyday,
> I
> > couldn't win the tour de France or paint the Mona
> > Lisa-exactly correct, and I am not allowed to
> enter
> > the tour de France, and no art museam will display
> my
> > "works".  So be it, I will find another hobby. 
> The
> > Boston Marathon will not let you enter unless you
> have
> > completed antoher certified marathon in the past
> year,
> > in a specified amount of time.  If you haven't,
> tough
> > luck, go run elsewhere.
> >
> > Why can't we have the same attitude about ham
> radio?
> > If you can't or don't want to learn code, go find
> > another hobby, or enjoy the VHF priviledges you
> have.
> > Why do we have to allow everyone to be a ham?  How
> > does that possibly benefit us?  Name one other
> hobby
> > that takes the attitude that we must get everyone
> > involved?
> >
> > 3. I am getting a little tired about this "75
> meter"
> > argument for how the morse code test doesn't
> screen
> > out bad operators.  Go listen to 11 meters
> instead.
> > That's what it sounds like when you have no
> licensing
> > requirements, which is what we are headed towards.
> >
> > 4. While the VHF bands didn't deteriorate into
> total
> > chaos when we removed the CW requirement from the
> > Technician license (WAIT!!!!!!! They just admited
> that
> > CW isn't a barrier to becoming a ham), I don't
> think
> > the quality of conversations improved either. 
> Back in
> > 1990 we kept hearing about all of these
> technically
> > savvy people that wanted to be hams, except for
> the
> > Morse Code.  So where are they?  I have yet to
> hear
> > anything on the local repeater that resembles an
> EE
> > classroom.  In fact, I shudder to think that
> anyone
> > with a scanner can listen to the local repeater
> and
> > get an idea of what ham radio is like from that.
> >
> > I really couldn't stomach any of their discussion
> > after this, so I quit.
> >
> > 73s John NE0P
> >
> > Bigotted 20 wpm extra
> >
> 
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