[Qcwa] The Blackout of 2003

[Gregory W. Moore]

GA All,

I have to comment on this, first off, let me state that I am a firm 
believer in CW ops, I enjoy CW QSO's, I have operated as a professional 
Radioman in the Navy, and know full well the potentials of CW. IMHO I 
happen to believe that regardless of any other reason someone can come 
up with for why the CW requirement should be kept, and kept, again IMHO, 
as is, or actually 'as was", is that it separated the sheep from the goats.

    The fact that someone shows the desire to learn CW shows desire, 
discipline, and motivation.  It shows they truly WANT to become a 
serious operator. One can make all the arguments one wants about "its 
obsolete", "it has no relavance today". "its slow", "we have digital 
modes", and these arguments are simply apples and oranges. IT JUST 
DOESN'T MATTER!!! Learning and operating CW shows that the person 
desirous of a licence has the character traits that we want in the 
ranks.  I went thru Radioman "A" school in 1966.  I breezed thru the 
code, having already learned, and operated same. I did make the 
discovery though, that in the eyes of the Navy, one's progress learning 
and advancing in speed, was more than just learning a communications 
mode, it was a test of one's motivation and the ability of that person 
to stay on track, and become a reliable Radioman.  So, as you can see, 
things are not always what they appear on the surface. 

I happen to enjoy working CW, and relax with a few QSO's after spending 
a few hours on MARS nets, where we use other modes (SSB, and a whole lot 
of digital, including ALE). I also enjoy working the digital modes, so 
basically, consider myself pretty well rounded in my interests, as I 
also enjoy hombrew.

Now, here is the point I want to make, about some comments which have 
been made.  At this point in time, we have to prioritize our efforts, if 
we are going to keep what we have, and enjoy doing.  The danger at the 
present point in time is not from CW requirements, or the lack thereof, 
but from BPL.  It would be a great thing indeed, if we were able to keep 
both actions (CW retention and the non-introduction of BPL) as a "hot 
button" item at the same time, but if history has taught us one lesson, 
it's that the politicians (and they, regardless of one's thoughts on the 
matter, are who are going to decide the BPL issue in the end, 
politicians and burecrats, with the motivator being lobbying and the 
bottom line, that's how things have always been, and the way they will 
continue).  BPL is a very clear and present danger. The recordings and 
tests by the ARRL have proven this beyond doubt.  Even here, in my QTH, 
Upper Darby, PA, we have remotely read electric meters. The interference 
is very much like BPL, albeit of a lesser nature.  It sure has made a 
believer out of me.  To get back to the point of the politicians, they 
seem to only be able to concentrate on one item at a time, and most of 
them have their own agendas, regardless of party affiliation.  They also 
have lobbyists and PACS, and the fact is,  that the ARRL, as a non 
profit corporation is forbidden by law from introducing legislation, 
lobbying legislators, or attempting to influence legislation.  It 
doesn't matter if you see this being done all the time, that's the damn 
law according to the IRS, and they are one humongous 600 pound gorilla.

    It is going to be up to us, the individual radio op, who writes, 
phones, emails, and faxes his legislators, and tells them in no 
uncertain terms, that we don't support BPL. Letters, etc, to a 
legislator equal votes, and there is nothing more important to a 
politician than votes. Since, by law, the ARRL can't do it, it is up to 
us, each and every one of us, to be lobbying hell out of our 
legislators, local, state and federal, like our lives depended on it, 
because, in a way, they do.  If BPL is allowed to become a going 
concern, we can kiss our radios goodbye, as they only thing they will be 
recieving is the rippling roar of the BPL signals.

    Keep CW?  Sure, that's an extremely desirable prospect, and one 
deserving of all the work and energy we can put into it, but even CW is 
not going to work with the whole electric grid radiating QRM/N.  Let's 
look at it the other way as well. Say that our local utility offers BPL. 
Your neighbor has their computers on the BPL, as their network server 
and ISP..  Neighbors kid is playing Duke Nukem interactive, and all of a 
sudden, said kid's computer develops a bad case of the crashes, kid goes 
moaning and crying to whatever passes for parent/guardian in household, 
and who gives kid whatever kid wants to shut kid up.   Guess who's gonna 
get blamed for this problem???? For each and every one of us that's been 
thru an Interference complaint, we already know who is "guilty until 
proven innocent, and then still guilty, as long as said complainant can 
see an antenna".

We all know where this is going to lead, unless it gets stopped before 
it can start.  It is unfortunate that priorities have to be set, but 
they have to be, given the choices. I wish the only problem we had to 
face, both as citizens of this country and as hams ("unpaid 
professionals/"),  was either the CW requirement, or the imminent danger 
of BPL. but it isn't, as I believe we all know. 
If one doesn't set priorities, one fights for the wrong things and the 
wrong outcomes.

OK that's my $0.02 of rant for the day....

73 es ZUT!!!!!!!! de Greg Moore WA3IVX/ NNN0BVN

Jeffrey D Angus wrote:

>
>
> W3DMB@aol.com wrote:
>
>> There appears to be some individuals who have a CW phobia..  mention 
>> CW and they run to their keyboards.
>>
> Not I. I enjoy CW.
>
>> Having been involved in the J.O.T.A. (Jamboree On The Air for the 
>> Boy/Girl Scouts)
>>
> A worthwhile endeavor, and congratulations for being actively involved.
>
>> If the ham population wants to get young people involved - computers 
>> don't cut it - the games and the internet has removed that mystery 
>> and interest.
>>
> Neither does (and this is NOT directed at you) treating newcomers like 
> they have
> some sort of disease because they didn't have to do what you did 50-60 
> years ago.
>
>> Of course those who have the phobia wont be cured even though they 
>> have an Extra class license and dont have to use CW ---  It is still 
>> the monster under their bed that they are trying to convince others 
>> to chase it away..
>>
> How soon we forget. I remember back in the late 60's it was VERY 
> prevalent among
> a lot of hams, "Boy, I can't wait to upgrade and get rid of this damn 
> code key."
>
>> So sad.
>>
> True. For a variety of reasons.
>
> Jeff
> wa6fwi
>

-- 
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
                                                   --Edmund Burke

Greg Moore NNN0BVN PA
U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)
Official Pennsylvania Area Website:
http://pages.prodigy.net/nnn0fbk/mars.htm
Official Northeast Area Website: 
http://www.navymars.org/northeast/index.htm
Navy-Marine Corps MARS: Proudly Serving Those Who Serve."
E-Mail (MARS) nnn0bvn@navymars.org
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