[AMPS] ARRL and QST

[Andy Wallace]

Bob--

Well put. As you know there are a lot of hams who think those of us who enjoy
linears are "lazy"--that we should devote all our time and effort to low power
and aluminum, preferably home built. Nonsense! The hobby has room for all types
of ham interests including those who would rather operate than build--that
doesn't make them lazy. 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. The notion that the HF bands will fill
up with CBers is also a strawman--those people who paid maybe $50 for a CB radio
will not take the written tests and spend thousands to put a decent HF station
on the air. As to keeping riff-raff out, listen to 14.300-.313 or 3895-3900
someday--they are already on the air. The notion that the current generation is
"dumbing down" is also nonsense--our US computer industry is the most vibrant in
the world and is driven largely by our younger brothers (and sisters)--young
people largely cobbled together the technology and software that is allowing us
to have this conversation..

Andy  K5VM

Bob Marston wrote:

> At 05:48 PM 1/26/99 -0800, Larry L. Ravlin wrote:
> >
> >I hardly think that cw is an archaic mode of communication
> ...Snip....
> >I would venture to say
> >that 90% of the people who want to do away with cw are too lazy to put
> >forth the effort to acquire the skill to use it.
>
> What do you base that on?  I've been licensed for 25 years and have met
> quite a few hams that have remained Techs despite having worked for years
> to get there code speed up to 13 WPM. Most have demonstrated technical
> abilities far beyond many Extras I know.
>
> >I don't have an extra
> >class yet but I am going to get it before another "dumbing down to
> >equiptment operator" from the FCC is put into effect.
>
> I've been licensed as Amateur Extra for 20 years, and there has been a
> great deal of "dumbing down" which includes a many Extras and CW Operators.
>  The Appliance Operator phenomenon is not something that is unique to those
> licensed below General as some would have us believe. Most of the guys
> doing 60WPM in a contest do little or no construction inside their shacks.
> It's usually limited to various gadgets. Most construction that goes on is
> usually limited to antennas. A few hearty souls will build an amplifier
> every once in a while. As to cutting edge stuff like spread
> spectrum...forget it...
>
> >It is not
> >unreasonable to expect cw skills from an operator,  this is "HAM RADIO' for
> >crying out loud, put forth some effort and be proud of your skills.
>
> What is unreasonable is requiring CW skills for access HF priviledges. One
> other misconception that needs to be cleared up is that those who advocate
> for such license class want CW done away with. That is a convient Strawman
> set up by those who advocate for CW simply because it is a barrier to entry.
>
> Mr. Ravlin seeks to question the pride one has in his/her license simply
> because they advocate for a no code HF license.   Your going to have to do
> better than that.
>
> 73s
>
> Bob K1TA




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