[Fists] ARRL, FCC and elimination of CW testing requirements.

Tue Jan 9 13:40:42 EST 2007

The only problem with ARRL bashing is it serves no purpose. I can join
right in there too, and have. But in this case I hate to say it, but FISTS
members didn't do much either. When all of the Morse related rules were up
for review, I saw a pitiful few who filed comments to the FCC. Even when
FISTS mounted a pretty good "propaganda" program if you will, that EVERY
MEMBER was aware of, we still did very poorly. Would it have mattered ???
Don't know. Maybe, maybe not. But the fact remains, it was more a case of
"Let George do it". Ops right here on this reflector flat out stated that
the Morse requirement would never be eliminated. "NEVER" has arrived. Now
it is up to us to regroup and re-think our future hopes for CW. Bashing
the ARRL accomplishes little, even tho' we sure all know that they are
like ants on a log going down the river. No one is steering, and none of
the riders really know or care where they are heading. But that can be
said of a lot of organizations. Since we are encouraging new hams to get
into CW, I feel it may be bandwidth better spent on pushing Morse,
especially here on the FISTS reflector, as it is to have new fellers
reading boo hooing about the loss of the test or an ARRL bash fest. That
stuff might be better left to QRZ.com where intelligence does not seem to
be a requirement for posting.
Al TAnner W8FAX/2192

> Sending CC's may delay your post. If you feel that your post needs to go
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>
>
> Hi Mark,
>
> I have no docs but, I was at a ARRL Convention here in WV.  There was
> a FCC rep who wore a Red ham badge with FCC and a ham call sign on it.
> I am not sure who was there from ARRL but the conversation came up
> code and no-code during the ARRL Forum.
>
> Quote from the FCC Rep "They are your bands and the FCC will do with
> them what the ARRL wishes" he said to the ARRL person.
>
> I just about fell out of my chair!!.
>
> If the ARRL does not support an idea they let it be known.  In this
> case they did nothing.  Not doing anything is the same as showing
> support.  We all know how the ARRL likes to send out flyers and
> bulletins.  Did they send out one requesting help and write the FCC to
> keep them from changing the code standard...NOPE.
>
> I think you get my drift.  If you don't perhaps you just dont want to see
> it.
>
> The ARRL let a bunch of hams down.
>
> The ARRL has to run their org as they see fit and that is their right.
>   I wish they would have supported keeping 20 WPM for extra and I did
> not like it.  I wish they kept 13 WPM for General and 5WPM for tech
> and novice but they did not and I did not like it.  But then I dont
> like lots of thins.  I dont like listening to a EXTRA Class ticket
> holder who does not understand how a dipole works.
>    I dont like the fact that my grandkids cant pray in school
> anylonger and the fact that people are trying to take IN GOD WE TRUST
> away.  Guess I am just old-fashion.
>
> Now if you are a CW op tell me what your thoughts are about the QRM
> from 14.058 to 14.065 and 7.030 to 7.060 over the weekend!  More to
> come as the No Code Generals work RTTY in the Data Parts of the band.
> What use to be for CW!
>
> BTW I did some cross mode and tried to tell a RTTY op he was Giving
> QRM to my CW QSO and he just about told me to take a hike.
>
> Thanks
> Bob
> KB2FEL WV dit dit
>
> Quoting W1EOF <w1eof at hamnutz.com>:
>
>> 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.
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Bob,
>>
>> Please explain your statement "The ARRL did have lots to do with the CW
>> changes."
>> Show FCC proposals, news releases, anything factual that supports your
>> position.
>>
>> Venting - Everyone is free to speak here unless it gets personal and
>> nasty
>> which we certainly don't need.
>>
>> I'm glad to hear so many people, regardless of position on the law, be
>> supportive of making a massive effort to bring people into CW. That's
>> something we can all agree on, something we can
>> all work together toward.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Mark W1EOF
>>
>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: kb2fel at citlink.net [mailto:kb2fel at citlink.net]
>>> Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 9:45 PM
>>> To: fists at mailman.qth.net
>>> Subject: Re: [Fists] ARRL, FCC and elimination of CW testing
>>> requirements.
>>>
>>>
>>> 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.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Dan,
>>>
>>> Guess we all know what side of the fence you sit on.
>>>
>>> The ARRL did have lots to do with the CW changes.  If they wanted to
>>> support it they would have sent all sorts of mailings out....lawyers
>>> assigned to the cause and so on.
>>>
>>> Now go away and sit down and let Jozef vent if he needs to.
>>>
>>> Bob
>>> KB2FEL WV
>>>
>>> Quoting Dan KB6NU <kb6nu at w8pgw.org>:
>>>
>>> > 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.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Come now. You're grossly exaggerating the hand the ARRL played in the
>>> > elimination of the Morse Code requirement. Once the international
>>> > treaty was modified to eliminate the international requirement for
>>> > Morse Code testing, it was only a matter of time before the test
>>> would
>>> > be eliminated here in the U.S. In fact, the ARRL's position was to
>>> > retain the test for Extra Class licensees.
>>> >
>>> > You go on further to state, "As a result of the CW requirements being
>>> > dropped, there are now two classes of ham radio operator: those that
>>> > pass a CW element and those that do not." How silly is that? Look, I
>>> > love operating CW as much or more than you do, but to imply that a
>>> ham
>>> > who has not passed a code test is of a lower class than one who has
>>> > passed a test is just ridiculous.
>>> >
>>> > The Morse Code test elimination is a done deal. Get over it. Then,
>>> > start working on getting as many of the no-code licensees on CW as
>>> you
>>> > can. I'll tell you one thing, though--with an attitude like the one
>>> > you've expressed below, you're certainly not going to win over very
>>> > many of them.
>>> >
>>> > Remember, it's not about passing a CW test, it's about using it
>>> on the air.
>>> >
>>> > 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!
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
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