[CW] W5YI groups suggestions on ham radio licensing

[John Geiger]

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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