[Fists] A Modest Proposal

[Dan KB6NU]

As K3PID has pointed out, the ARRL currently issues Certificates of  
Code Proficiency. They rely on the applicant to honestly copy the  
code himself or herself, and they don't test for sending ability, but  
otherwise it seems like a decent enough program.

If you want something more comprehensive, then I suggest that you  
develop the program and get it rolling, then get FISTS to sponsor it.  
It seems to me that FISTS is reputable enough to run such a program,  
and I'd vote for it--if we voted for such things (or anything, for  
that matter).

Having said that, what's the big deal? As you note, the proof of  
one's skill will always be on-air performance, so my inclination  
would be to not waste any time at all on such a certification and  
instead just have fun making contacts and work at getting others to  
have as much fun as I'm having.

73!

Dan KB6NU
----------------------------------------------------------
CW Geek and MI Affiliated Club Coordinator
Read my ham radio blog at www.kb6nu.com
LET'S GET MORE KIDS INTO HAM RADIO!





On Dec 19, 2006, at 10:45 AM, John - N5DWI wrote:

> 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.
>
>
> *A Modest Proposal*
>
> (With apologies to Jonathan Swift, 1667 – 1745)
>
>
> Many amateurs are justifiably proud of their achievement of passing  
> the 5, 13, or 20 WPM Morse code examinations conducted by the FCC,  
> or later, by volunteer examiners.
>
> Even if they are too gentlemanly, or too ladylike, to say so, some  
> amateurs consider the fact of having passed those examinations as a  
> sort of badge of honor, marking them as somehow “a cut above” those  
> who haven't done so, the so-called “no-coders.”
>
> They decry the sad state of affairs of the loss of this cherished  
> mode of operation (which hasn't gone away).
>
> They moan that the entrance examinations of the hobby are being  
> watered down to the point that anyone with a body temperature over  
> about 40 can now qualify.
>
> They complain that it's not fair that **THEY** had to go through  
> all this effort and newcomers do not.
>
> For redress they ply the ARRL AND FCC with requests or demands to  
> DO SOMETHING !!!
>
> Well, folks –- it just ain't gonna happen.
>
>
>
> MY PROPOSAL
>
> For those to whom it matters, and I'm one of them, the real proof  
> of our Morse skill, can be heard by all every time we fire up the  
> rig. But some, again including myself, would like a little more  
> than that. We would like a document, a license, a certificate,  
> something to point to attesting our skill.
>
>
> Since the FCC license will no longer attest to that skill, we can  
> and should take matters into our own hands.
>
> I propose someone, for example, ARRL, or CQ Magazine, with a  
> certain amount of credibility, organize a fee based certification  
> program. This program:
>
>   1.
>
>      would administer Morse examinations by volunteers,
>
>   2.
>
>      would issue certificates immediately upon passing,
>
>   3.
>
>      would maintain an online database for ease of verification,
>
>   4.
>
>      optionally, would examine both sending and receiving,
>
>   5.
>
>      optionally, would NOT use multiple choice examinations,
>
>   6.
>
>      optionally, would test for X number of minutes of solid copy.
>
> Websites such as QRZ.COM, on their call sign lookup feature, could  
> post the speed, the name and call sign of the examiner, date and  
> serial number of the certificate, along with all the other  
> currently carried information.
>
> And all that, after any necessary and proper amendments, would be  
> well and good; BUT, once again:
>
> The best proof of our skill will always be ON THE AIR, regardless  
> of how, when or why we acquired that skill.
>
> That's the way it looks from here.
>
> vy 73 de john, N5DWI
>
> (Donning asbestos suit.)