[CW] Dissing the ARRL

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

Wow!  A month?

You're doing very well.  It took me about 13 weeks of practice and a hour
and a half class at Mass. Institute of Technology when I learned the code.

To pass the novice license, I took that 13 week class - weekly 1-1/2 hours
of code, and 1-1/2 hours of theory.

Then I took the General class - which was another class the same length - 13
weeks and two  periods of 1-1/2 hours for code, and 1-1/2 hours of theory a
night.

PLUS there was homework.  We had to compute series and parallel resistors,
computing voltage drop across each component, transformer power and current
radios, calculating 3db drop off points of a specified frequency for bypass
capacitors in audio circuits, and so forth.  (I don't remember them all -
it's been almost 40 years.)

We had about 30 or 40 questions do do a week - some of them simple, some
difficult.

Later we had to computer real and apparent power in AC circuits, and compute
complex impedances using the negative square root of -1.

We also learned how to change from polar to rectangular coordinates to
compute the complex relationships in L/C/R networks.  We also had to do
problems with time constants (RC and RL time constants.)

I practiced code for one or two hours a day, and theory for a bit more.

This work was rewarded because I passed my examinations the first time, and
I knew I did well.

But that usually happens when I prepare myself.

I would leave a receiver on NSS and copy their code at about 20 wpm - I
didn't get much (or anything!) at first, but then I started picking up
groups that I recognized.  I wrote down the dots and dashes (???!!!???) and
realized that it was "THE" and from then on, I could copy this word.

I kept doing this work throughout my ham radio life!

73

David Ring, N1EA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gene Buckle" <geneb@deltasoft.com>
To: <cw@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 5:13 PM
Subject: Re: [CW] Dissing the ARRL


> > the MAIN reason, that being the very fact that CW is no longer required
to
> > get a ham license..(after all, 5 WPM requires practically no skill).
The
>
> This really annoys me.  I busted my ass for a month and still barely
> squeaked by on the 5 WPM code test.  To _you_ it requires practically no
> skill.  To _me_ it's a struggle every time I turn on the radio.  Don't
> assume that what comes easy to you is easy for others.  Even after all the
> work I put into passing my General, I'm still for mandatory code testing.
>
> I joined FISTS shortly (within _days_) of getting my new privs and I think
> it's a great organization.  (The gears of their Code Buddy program could
> use some oil, but I digress. *grin*)  I'm up for just about anything that
> will promote the use of CW.  Belittling people, even as a side effect of a
> broad statement doesn't help at all.
>
> g.
>
> 73 de kc7afe
>
> --
> Proud owner of 80-0007.
> http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
>
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