"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
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cl wrote:
"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...

cl wrote:


"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...


cl wrote:




which required code. 5 WPM is not impossible to learn. It only takes a
few minutes a day and about 2 weeks at least to get enough to pass a
test.

Took me 45 minutes a day for over 6 months, plus one failed test to get
to 5 wpm.

I'm all in favor of Morse code testing, but you guys have to show some
understanding that it isn't that easy for a lot of people.

I aced the writtens, without a whole lot of study by comparison to a
lot of people. I don't go around calling them retards or stupid.

- Mike KB3EIA -


Ok.... It took "me" 2 weeks, I know others who learned it quickly, but I
can't provide a time frame. Yes, code "can" be harder for others to pick
up. I don't doubt that for a minute. Point is, you have to put one foot
in front of the other and stick with it, to get down the path to learn
it.

Yup. I must confess that I kind of drew you and some folks into this a
bit, because I have some significant hearing defects. Several 60+ db
notches,esp at the mid and higher frequencies and two separate tones of
tinnitis, a different frequency for each ear. I haven't had a quiet
moment for 30 years or more. When conversing with people, I read lips. I
understand vey much the situation of the fellow whose wife has notches
in her hearing.(conjecture alert) I would also say I suspect that the
constant noise in my ears has turned of parts of my brain that process
sound. And that is probably why I had such a hard time (conjecture alert
off) All I can say for teh folks with hearing problems is that study,
practice, and most importantly, relaxation during copying is the key.



I can only imagine what it must be like with a significant hearing
deficit. I can not and will not put anyone down who has such a problem.

It really isn't so bad. In fact, it is sometimes hilarious, when I badly
misinterpret what someone says. My family usually tells people of my
"predicament" before I meet them, when they have the chance, so they don't
think I'm whacked when I give them some off the wall response! 8^)

Though there are some sleepless nights when the ears are really
roaring....

So I just wear a headset to Op, and turn the sound up......

As to how they can learn code, there are many ways, but I guess it comes
down to whatever works best for that person. Not everyone's condition is
the same. I've tested folks with some difficulties, I followed the
guidelines as given by the VEC/FCC. There are ways to test folks with such
problems, but getting them to be able to learn the code - is the first
hurdle.


Does 6 months of constant hard effort indicate the desire to "stick with
it"?



Yes, I'd say it certainly does! You are to be commended for doing such.
You're not a "quitter". And from the sounds of things, you didn't "whine"
about it either.

Whining doesn't help anything. And I am proud of having learned Morse
code. Yes, that part was more difficult for me than some others.

Big deal - I'm not going to demand that everything be changed to suit me.
I fully support Morse code testing.


Many don't want to start, and whine about it without ever putting forth
effort. Hell, I know people who bitched about having to look at the
"basic" Q/A manual! One remark was "Do I "have" to learn all this?"
Another - "Do I "have" to read all these questions?" But yet they want a
license. Pure laziness. Licenses should be "earned" not given away.
People are least likely to respect something "given" to them.

Most of what you say , I agree with. If a person doesn't want to study,
they shouldn't have a license


The bands are already showing signs of deterioration from people who
just don't care.

I've heard of some pretty wild times long before things were "dumbed
down"!

- Mike KB3EIA -





Yeah, I know the bands started going to hell before that. Used to be I
bragged about Ham to people who wanted their kids to get into radio but
didn't want the CB garbage. I said Ham is clean. Today, you couldn't pay
me to advertise ham as being clean. It is NOT. That is sad..... It really
is. The exams test for proficiency in code, theory, rules and
regulations. They're not psychological tests to weed out all the riff
raff. IF such tests existed for Ham and all the other fields, maybe we'd
have a better world. There are people in every field, be it a hobby or
profession - who ruin it or at the very least - make it look bad for the
rest.

I don't know if you do PSK31 or not. But if you want to QSO with gentlemen
and gentlewomen, it is the place to go. I've yet to hear a curse or even
complaining gossip on that mode. The worst I ever heard was one ham
(deservedly) upbraiding another for a horribly overdriven and powerful
signal that was wreaking havoc with the rest of the segment. But even that
was tame by comparison with the rest of the bands. 20 is great for DX, and
80 is the place to go to ragchew.

And on psk31, I have no hearing problems at all, haha!

- Mike KB3EIA -

No as a matter of fact, I am not into PSK31. I've not really been on the Ham
bands for a while. Just recently I did start scanning them though. First
time in about a year. I'm waiting to do some more phone and yes - maybe even
a CW contact!!!!!

cl