[Qcwa] CW

[Bob Plamondon]

I don't resent folks jumping on the 5wpm Extra bandwagon.  Why shouldn't
they ?   I don't even use CW !   BUT ....

What irks me is that it took me almost 23 years (on and off) to get my
speed up to 20wpm (for some of us, it didn't come "naturally" at all and
we REALLY had to work at it).   Then, just a few short years later, they
drop the Extra requirement to 5wpm - WITHOUT PRESERVING ANY DISTINCTION
FOR THOSE OF US WHO PASSED 20WPM.  To me, that was a slap in the face
from the FCC and the ARRL - essentially REMOVING the clearly implied
recognition of the 20wpm capability I had worked so hard to achieve.

I suggested (to the FCC and ARRL) simply re-issuing our licenses to read
Amateur Extra/20 (rather than tag the 5wpm Extras with a /5) leaving all
else the same.  What would be the harm in letting us PRESERVE the
recognition of such an important achievement ?  Any Extra at 5wpm would
always have the option to take a 20wpm test - and feel very good at
having achieved it - and having the distinctive /20 suffix added to
his/her license too.   I would also make a separate proposal to offer
the same option for all levels (e.g., General/20) - to help emphasize
the importance of CW in our community - to encourage its use - and to
eliminate the written test as a (previous) prerequisite to recognize
that extraordinary achievement.

We could still do this now !

I'd appreciate hearing any arguments against such a change.

73,   w6BOB

Bob Plamondon
Southern California