>If we want to grow the group that is interested in HF
>receivers and linears and restore economic health to the ham radio
>industry, we
>need to scale back the CW requirements.
Well, there is no CW requirement for the VHF/UHF/Microwave bands. Yet
you don't see those bands filled with Techs who are developing linears
and receivers, transverters, etc. Yes, some do do that stuff. But it
certainly isn't restoring any sort of economic health. Rather, most of
the big gun experimenters in those bands are higher class ops who have
grown weary of HF.
Opening HF to non-CW ops and restoring economic health are totally
unrelated. Those who want to learn all about amps will generally be
willing to apply themselves to learn CW as well.
Yes, ham radio has certainly flourished with a no-code license. It has
made all the difference in the world. VHF contests are full of thousands
of techs who just love to operate. EME contacts are becoming more
popular than HF. Satellites are all a buzz. Repeaters are always active
and simplex channels on FM always have a good QSO on them. Yep! A code
free license class has most definitely helped VHF, so I suppose you are
right, it will help the crowded HF bands as well. Good idea.
73,
Jon
KE9NA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jon Ogden
jono@enteract.com
www.qsl.net/ke9na
"A life lived in fear is a life half lived."
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