KØHB wrote:

"Mike Coslo" wrote


Code test dissapears, nothing in it's place. I want to see something in
it's place, or else itis pretty hard to argue that it hasn't been made
much much easier to get a license.


Siince the Novice license was discontinued, it has become more difficult to
become an amateur.

really? The most difficult thing for me in Amateur Radio was to learn
Morse code. It would have taken me just as long to get a Novice as it
would to get my General ticket.


Not a filter, not a way of keeping people out. just a way
of ensuring that the amateur has some level of acumen.


I don't hold the opinion that the Morse test established that the applicant
has any "level of acumen" (check with Funk and Wagnalls before you respond).

acumen: keenness and depth of perception, discernment, or discrimination
especially in practical matters.

Sounds good to me Hans, although it was from Merriam Webster, not Funk
and Wagnalls. Any other corrections to make to my posts?

I'm a firm believer that we need to ensure that the prospective amateur
is *interested* in the hobby. No question to me that the old Morse code
test went some way towards that. That's not a filter. Making a
prospective ham have to stand up against a tree while other hams throw
eggs at him/her before a license is issued is a filter.

The Morse code is almost certainly going away. I don't really give a
good rat's backside about it. So now we are arguing about whatever word
you want to use instead of acumen. I desire more, and you appear to
desire less.

In the world of Amateur Radio there are users and tinkerers. We need more
tinkerers, not more users.

Well we aren't heading that way!

- Mike KB3EIA -