[Lowfer] Alternate Morse code test

[WE0H]

Dang, could you imagine less than up to par pilots in fast experimentals
flying at whatever altitude or heading they desired. It's bad enough with
newspapers and autopilots these days.

Mike Reid
http://www.we0h.us/airplanes

-----Original Message-----
From: lowfer-admin@mailman.qth.net [mailto:lowfer-admin@mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Jay Rusgrove
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2003 6:31 AM
To: lowfer@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Alternate Morse code test

Bill

What other reason could there be? Just for the record I'm not an ARRL hater
(worked there for 6 years) - I just disagree with their thought process.

It's also interesting to note that there are fewer young people getting into
flying - another activity that requires a federal license. Thank God that
the
Feds have not relaxed the requirements there!

As Homer Simpson said a number of years ago, "If it's difficult to do, it's
just
not worth doing." Unfortuanely that has become the prevailing attitude.

Jay

Bill Ashlock wrote:

> Jay, others:
>
> >Nice idea but it'll never happen. This is the membership boon the ARRL
has
> >been
> >praying for. If you get a chance check out a 60's ARRL license manual.
That
> >will give you a
> >good appreciation for how far we've gone downhill. The current theory
part
> >of
> >the test is a complete joke by comparison. Now that the cw requirement is
> >gone
> >we are fully "dumbed down" and the "Good Buddy" floodgates are wide open.
> >Breaker, breaker 14 200.
>
> I'm intrigued with all the comments about code speed and reduction of
> technical understanding needed to pass the written portion of the exam as
> the years increase.  Is the real motivation for making these changes an
> effort to counteract the decreasing interest in Ham radio or some other
> reason?  I suppose any discussion on the successes and/or failures of the
> ARRL could REALLY swamp this reflector? I would hope the ARRL is having
the
> same internal discussion as we are having tonight, or is the current
> leadership from a different persuasion? I find very minimal desire amongst
> the younger set in this town (30k pop) to get into Ham radio, even though
> the number of Hams here is at least 200. Not sure how many are active,
> however.
>
> Bill A
>
> _________________________________________________________________