[TenTec] Real CW

[John T. Gwin]

Does anyone remember a QST article of some 25 or more years ago called "Sweaty Palms at the Old Post Office"?

By W6ISQ, as I recall.

How true it was.

-W4SK


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ron Notarius 
  To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment 
  Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 2:27 PM
  Subject: Re: [TenTec] Real CW


  Longer ago than I want to think about, back when the FCC actually gave
  exams, I was going for my General code at the quarterly Pittsburgh PA test
  session (at the now departed 'Holiday House' in Monroeville just outside
  Pgh, but I digress).  A candidate actually did attempt to copy code by
  writing down the dots and dashes, and was told by the examiner when he
  turned in his test that this was not acceptable, as it was not "copying" the
  code -- ie, comprehension was what was desired, not merely writing down the
  sounds and looking at it later.  (No, I don't know who he is/was, though I
  do also remember a buddy of his shoving a Bash book under my nose on the way
  out... and FWIW, I passed General and just missed Advanced that day...)

  Thereafter, at every test session I took while shooting for my 20 WPM, I
  heard the FCC examiners state during the instructions that writing down dots
  & dashes was NOT considered copying the code and WOULD NOT be accepted.

  I've also heard (or said) statements to that effect at almost every VE
  session I've been involved with since the VE program was implemented.

  Having said all this... I do agree with Scott's two basic premises:
  (a)  With few exceptions, copying 5 WPM is not that difficult
  (b)  It's a shame that none of the OT's piped up and offered to help

  And gang... those of you who've only had to deal with a VE team to take your
  exam(s) may not believe this, but trust me, those sessions are MUCH easier
  than sitting in front of a grumpy FCC staff person who'd rather be doing
  almost anything else at 8:30 on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning...

  73, ron wn3vaw

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Scott / W4PJ" <w4pj at bellsouth.net>
  To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
  Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 11:10 PM
  Subject: Re: [TenTec] Real CW


  > Five words a minute.
  >
  > Five characters times five in five minutes.
  >
  > The day I went in for my Extra, I carried paper and pencil, and when they
  > ran the code for the 5wpm, I decided to jot down every dot and dash.  I
  > filled the paper with marks for  twentyfive 'words' on the paper,
  > containing
  > dots and dashes.  I didn't try to copy what was sent, just put the dots
  > and
  > dashes on the paper at five wpm.  Guess what?  No Problem!
  >
  > Since the current test has no time limit, anybody who says they can't take
  > the 5wpm test just doesn't even have the ability,, er, I mean desire to
  > jot
  > dots and dashes down on a piece of paper and then translate the text at
  > their own liesure.  That person just doesn't want it. At all.  C'mon, the
  > difficulty level of jotting the dots and dashes down on paper only takes
  > hand motion, not mental ability at all.  You don't even have to be able to
  > "copy" code at 5wpm.
  >
  > You gotta be too much more than just lazy to not get 5wpm at today's
  > standards.
  >
  >
  > PEACE
  > Scott / W4PJ
  >
  > P.S. It's too bad no OT piped up and said, "If you want some help, I'll
  > work
  > with you."
  >
  >
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: <K4IA at aol.com>
  > To: <tentec at contesting.com>
  > Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 4:33 PM
  > Subject: Re: [TenTec] Real CW
  >
  >
  >> Our local club usually runs a General class but the last time we did it,
  >> everyone passed the theory and in a full year, no one passed the code.
  >>
  >> This year when someone asked when we would be running the General class,
  > one
  >> esteemed Elmer piped up, "When you pass the code, we will hold a General
  >> Class to cover the theory."  The silence was deafening.
  >>
  >> Radio  k4ia
  >> "Buck"
  >> Fredericksburg, VA USA
  >>

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