[Hallicrafters] Ham radio operation.

[David L. Thompson]

> The code requirement is five words per minute for General or Extra. The
ARRL has
> removed any incentive to develop good or rapid CW skills by lowering
licensing
> standards over the years. You will not find many good CW operators under
sixty
> years of age.
>

The FCC not the ARRL has removed the CW incentive.   The ARRL still has W1AW
code practice with speeds up to at least 35WPM and still give certificates
for reaching speeds from 15 to 35WPM.

If you want to hear good CW operators the best places to look are the CW
traffic nets,  the CW bands during contests such as the ARRL SS, and hams
calling Dxpeditions.  There is a web called DX Summit that spots most rare
stations around the world by band.  Listen on 15 or 20 to stations calling
the rare DX.  This is usually high speed stuff but world class ops will slow
down to 20 WPM.  I remember W4KFC sending CQ on Sunday afternoon of the ARRL
Sweepstakes at 20 WPM and he would slow down even further.  Often the spots
on Dx summit are mostly CW!!!

With all the decisions being made on CW after the recent WRC conference I
feel the CW band segments will remain CW for a long time.  I know the FCC
has no plans to eliminate the CW bands.

I agree with the other respondee who said give CW a chance and you will like
it.  I am a phone operator and even I enjoy CW.   On 160 meters CW is a
requirement to work most rare and semi rare countries.  One ham W7DRA likes
running old boatanchor gear such as a DX 20 and ARC 5 receivers so almost
anything will work on CW.

73 Dave K4JRB