[CW] Novice Bands are still there.

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

"John Geiger" <ne0p at lcisp.com> said:

I look back on my novice days with fond rememberances.  Ham radio was really 
a fraternity back then.  <SNIP>

I also don't seem to remember whining and crying about why did I have to
increase my code speed to get my general, but then maybe my memory is
selective.

Hello John,

You didn't hear any whining and crying about Morse Code requirements back in 
the Novice days because all hams had to take a "real" code test.

Back then you had to copy one minute solid out of five and send for one 
minute correctly out of five.

So you basically had to "know code" then.

I hear Extra class hams - even those licensed in the late 1980s when the 
test had been changed to multiple choice, and no sending test who can't copy 
code at 20 wpm.  They guess at it.

It WAS refreshing to know the "other fellow" could receive by hand and 
transmit by hand the code speed for which he obtained his license.

What a refreshing idea!

v73
David Ring N1EA