The thread that really will heat up that neverending holy war on RRA Policy

[D.B. Cooper]

Hi Gang,

The following is simply my opinion of amateur testing in
general (and a subtile dig at vanity calls thrown in for
grins) and not intended to slam Rod or his abilities.  By
the mere fact that Rod is on this list places him in the
"highly competent" catagory of ham, in my opinion.
Nevertheless, not being known as the shy-retiring type,  I
feel the compelling urge to add my opinion to the mix,
fearing not that my suggestions will ever come to pass.
We've gone too far down the slippery slope into "CBliddom."

It's not the code speed, or lack of same, that is dumbing
down the amateur community.  It's the Bash type testing and
multiple guess examinations that make passing the test more
a function of memorization of the license test questions
than really understanding what's going on.

The top code speed for a Class A amateur license in 1947 was
13 WPM.  The Extra Class license came in the early '50s I
believe, but didn't have any extra privileges until
somewhere around 1968 when this stupid incentive licensing
proposal was promoted by the ARRL.

This is strictly an opinion, but requiring code for ham
licenses is like requiring horsemanship for people seeking
drivers licenses.  CW is fun and should be kept as a mode of
communications for those who wish to practice it.  I like CW
myself, but these days it's more a rite of passage than a
critical mode of communication.

Now I have a proposal.  Let's drag all these "Extras" with 2
letter calls (along with all the other hams in the US) down
to the nearest FCC field office and give them
real CW and theory examinations.  Copy 5 minutes of CW at 13
WPM with one minute perfect copy with a cigar chomping nasty
looking FCC engineer with a 1st Radiotelegraph ticket
standing behind you, let alone 20 WPM.

Give them a theory test that instructs them to design a
simple linear amp, antenna tuner and dipole antenna, and
draw schematics of hartley, colpitts, and electron coupled
oscillators.

I can name 2 "Extras" with 2 letter calls that couldn't pass
THAT test on a bet -- and they admit it.  Then require 1
year's experience before the Class B amateur can sit for the
Class A exam.  And require 25 years of experience before
they'd be eligible for a 2 letter call.

After that, lets talk about dumming down.

I did send my opinion to my director.  Much the same as what
I said above.  Thank you Rod for bringing this proposal to
our attention.

73

Paul WA6OKQ


Roderick M. Fitz-Randolph wrote:
>
> I AM UNALTERABLY OPPOSED TO THE FURTHER "DUMBING DOWN" AND "LET'S
> MAKE IT EASIER FOR THOSE THAT DON'T LIKE THE CW SPEED REQUIREMENTS!"
>
> PLEASE COUNT MY VOTE AS A FIRM "NO!!" AND PLEASE EVERYONE SEND YOUR
> OWN FEELING ABOUT THE MATTER TO THE DIRECTORS AT THE ADDRESSES
> INDICATED BELOW.
>

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