[Fists] The Senior Mode

Mon, 1 Sep 2003 21:26:47 -0400

Hi Cheryl,

I don't think that anybody's arguing for the elimination of the mode. Far
from it. The question is whether in 2003 there is any sensible purpose for
making cw proficiency a *requirement* for access to the amateur HF bands.

I choose to learn cw because I find it interesting and a challenge but as
the IAU has adjudged there's no longer a necessity to make it mandatory.
Ships no longer need carry a cw proficient radio operator because the
technology has moved on.

Your comments on technical requirements I concur with; nobody should be
allowed on the bands without having at least a rudimentary understanding of
the effects of their actions.

What I *do* take issue with is the underlying attitude that has been evident
on this list that nobody should be permitted access to the HF bands unless
cw proficient. It just makes no sense to me. You might just as well pick any
other mode - say PSK31 - and demand that nobody be allowed on the bands
unless they can demonstrate that they can touch type  at at least 20 wpm. I
can btw.

Finally, to repeat, I'm learning the skills because I *want* to. Not because
I have to.

73

Paul M3CRQ

-----Original Message-----
From: Cheryl W. Ring [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 31 August 2003 11:55
To: [email protected]; Chris Redding
Subject: Re: [Fists] The Senior Mode

Chris - and the FISTS reflector.

Good Morning!

To qualify for 5 wpm morse testing took me about 6 weeks of about 3-4 hours
a week practice.
That's about 24 hours of work - and some of it fun.

To qualify for my written exams - including learning how to draw all the
circuits we were tested on, Ohms Law, Kirkoff's Law, Lenz's law, and
Murphy's Law, elements of Algebra, Trigometery, conversion from polar to
rectangular coordinates, transmission line theory, propagation theory,
vacuum tube theory and practice, transistor theory and practice, power
supplies, full, half-wave, bridge, rectification, switching power supplies,
Crystal (pierce), Colpits, Hartley, and Armstrong oscillators, Phase lock
loops, chokes, resistors, transformer theory, capacitance, complex impedanc
calculation, power factor, basic techniques of RF amplification,
hetrodyning, phasing, lissojous patterns, neutralization, Amplitude
modulation, Frequency Modulation, limiter/detectors, diode and product
detectors, balanced modulators, plate modulation, grid/screen grid
modulation, Basics of radiotelegraphy by baudot printer, television
transmission (NTSC standards, chroma, color burst, synch pulse) and
reception theory, circuit practices at VHF and UHF, frequency measurement,
lecher wires, gunn diodes, microwave theory took me much longer to study
for.  And of course, we had to study FCC and ITU radio laws and operating
practices (including Q signals).

I have NEVER used the majority of the technical material that I studied.  I
certainly never had to do anything involving the square root of "negative
one", so why was I TORMENTED with this requirement?

Why?  Because it set me apart from others - it made me qualified.  I would
have some understanding of radio and I would know my surroundings!

I don't know what this big deal is about - the code is nothing compared with
the technical requirements.

Or have they changed the technical requirements?

Is that what this is all about?  They've watered down the technical
requirements so they need no study, so let's eliminate the other parts that
need study?

73

David J. Ring, Jr., N1EA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Redding" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2003 9:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Fists] The Senior Mode

>
> Agreed, Dan.
> It is 2003. The morse test war (for those who chose to fight it) is lost.
> Fists must now transform itself into the 'first point of contact' for
anyone
> who develops an interest in the mode.  The same way that other modes (such
> as RTTY / Data / Hellschreiber / TV / Satellites) all have their own
> associations which extend a helpful hand to the curious and the confused
> newcomer.
> You never hear any of these groups insisting that everybody must pass a
> proficiency test for their favourite mode before being allowed on HF, and
I
> can't understand why the morse lobby should be any different.
> Sure, morse is an excellent mode...I will always love it, but we must now
> reform into a group which presents a welcoming and helpful face to anybody
> who wonders what all those mysterious 'secret agent' beeps at the bottom
of
> the bands mean, and want to find out more.
> If we attempt to fight a rearguard action against 'no code', we will
simply
> be identified with the past. Personally I want my favourite mode to
continue
> and grow into the 21st century, to continue the long and proud tradition
of
> what I regard as 'The Senior Mode'.  For this we will need new blood,
which
> we will not get if we come to be seen as an embittered bunch of elitist
'old
> groaners'.
>
> All the best,
> Chris G4PDJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Dan KB6NU <[email protected]>
> To: Chris Redding <[email protected]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2003 1:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Fists] garbage, etc.
>
>
> > Hey, Chris--
> >
> > I'm glad to see that I'm not the lone voice crying out in the
wilderness.
> :)
> >
> > As you note, many guys now simply pass the test and then never touch a
key
> > or paddle ever again. That's just as bad as not ever having to pass the
> test
> > at all. FISTS needs to be in the forefront of promoting CW use, not in
the
> > forefront of complaining about the elimination of the Morse requirement.
> >
> > 73!
> >
> > Dan KB6NU
>
>
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