[Fists] The Senior Mode

Mon, 1 Sep 2003 18:39:27 -0400

It doesn't make sense to some because their agenda doesn't allow it to make
sense or they just cannot see the big picture.  This is a sustained
world-wide campaign. The anti cw allies don't necesarily have the same ends
in mind. But they're conjoined in the immediate goal of removing cw as a
testing requirement.

Some sincerely believe that cw is just another mode and removing the testing
requirement will bring in more hams, more otherwise technical hams--and they
do not object and may even want to retain current or even stiffer technical
exams. Some lust after the non-phone bands. Some want no requirements, no
testing. They'll turn on each other after the cw testing war is waged to its
apparently foregone conclusion. No one can say what Amateur Radio will look
like down this tortuous road. I'm hopeful that the hobby/service will find a
way to continue in it's mission. Individuals, both flawed and gifted and the
big in between will make that happen.

If where i'm coming from makes a difference, I can fill a book with what I'm
not. I have to admit that. For me an Amateur Radio license was a ticket to
learn about things that I had little to no exposure to. I took the
requirements as I found them, including 5-13-20 wpm cw tests.  They were
snapshots in time accomplishments as were the theory exams I passed. None of
them made me an electronic wiz. None made me "better" or "worse" than those
who came after or before.  They did make me better on my own personal scale.
They did spark (hi) an interest to explore and achieve. I hope those
requirements don't fade away anytime soon.  Within reason, they encourage
safety, courtesy, good operationg practices. Or a starting point to build a
base on those things.

73 de John, ks4xn

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Bartlett" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 9:26 PM
Subject: RE: [Fists] The Senior Mode

> 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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> >
> >
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> >
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