[Fists] CW Activity

[Cheryl W. Ring]

I respectfully disagree with your statement "And, I guess, in this day and 
age, we probably don't need the 20  WPM stuff, but we do need the 5 WPM 
testing."

First, as far as I'm concerned the 20 wpm requirement should be required of 
"Extra" class radio amateurs and the technical test for "Extra" should be on 
a par of the exam of GROL or the 2nd class radiotelegraph commercial exams.

You can't "do" much with 5 wpm morse, nor can you "do" much with a written 
exam on the regulations with no radio theory.  You need to be an "expert" 
when you are an Extra - or at least have the basic expert qualifiications to 
get to that knowledge and experience.]

Without it, what is "Extra" about the extra class?

Best Wishes,

Cheryl
C.W. Ring, KB0RQN

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ATanner283 at aol.com>
To: <fists at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2005 7:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Fists] CW Activity


Sending CC's may delay your post. If you feel that your post needs to go to 
more than one destination please send them separately.



Interesting stuff as usual Fred. I guess that everything that can be said
about the removal of CW has been said many times over. I never looked at it 
as a
 filter or anything of the sort. I looked at it as a requirement that I had
to  pass to become a ham radio operator. "Back when" I don't seem to recall
folks  always trying to find the "easier, softer path" to everything. FISTS
really  missed the boat the first time around when the decision was made to 
remain
silent on the Morse issue. At that time we were more of a "force" and should
have used our clout. Later,when it was decided to enter the fracas, the 
horse
 had not only left the barn, but was in the glue factory. I believe that a
lot of  this stuff started when novices were given the added privileges. 
When
you were  75 watts INPUT limited, xtal control, one year up or out, you were
either  motivated to get going, or GET going. I couldn't WAIT to dump those 
dang
xtals.  It also meant that when a feller shed his novice accent, he could
access the HF  bands knowing he was able to operate in a somewhat 
professional
manner, and had  SOME skills before being turned loose on the ham population 
at
large. Many many  hams hated the Morse requirement. For some, it was the
hardest of all, but for  just as many, the theory was hard. This idea that 
Morse
"blocks" individuals  from being hams is pure B.S. If you wanna ticket, you 
will
study and get one.  Many of the ops who hated Morse found they actually 
loved
it after they became  proficient at it. Now, many will never know the joy of
code, because they will  NOT be motivated to try it. Even 5 WPM is not code,
nor is it a test of  proficiency. And, I guess, in this day and age, we 
probably
don't need the 20  WPM stuff, but we do need the 5 WPM testing. We will 
loose
it of course, but in  years to come, when the bands have all become emptier
than they are now, I  wonder if the "gimmee's" of this hobby will look back 
and
point to the moment  they lost it.  Phone and digital comm becomes very
boring and sterile  indeed after awhile. Take a look at the repeater 
activity. It's
zilch here  around Dayton now. Well unuff for now..........I put up an
inverted "L" for 160  this week, and think I will go see what's happening on 
that
band this morning.  Time will tell whether history will applaud our decision 
to
dumbify our treasure  of ham radio, or look back on us as folks who gave 
into
instant gratification,  political correctness, and the idea that no one 
should
fail, so lets do away  with the test. We shall
see....................Al/W8FAX/2192
_______________________________________________
Fists mailing list
Fists at mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/fists