X-rated Vermonter wrote in
:

On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:58:31 GMT, Slow Code wrote:

X-rated Vermonter wrote in
m:

On Mon, 06 Nov 2006 01:16:08 GMT, Slow Code wrote:

X-rated Vermonter wrote in
m:

On Sat, 04 Nov 2006 23:58:09 GMT, Slow Code wrote:

If all the seats are taken at a club meeting and a 20wpm code tested
Extra is standing, a no-code ham should give their seat to the Extra
and sit on the floor. After saluting of course.

SC
++++++++
You have been drinking too much sloe gin.



Please wipe the seat after you get off to sit on the floor.

Thanks.

SC
+++++++++
It just so happens that I passed a 20 wpm code test and I think you
are a bozo.


If you're really a code tested Extra, why do you want to dumb down ham
radio? You should help me push for better radio exams by supporting an
increase in speed of the code requirement. If we can get rid of the
no-codes and nickle hams, test everyone up to 13 and 20wpm, no one will
have to sit on the floor at club meetings anymore.

SC

++++++++++++
I don't want to dumb down amateur radio, but you very much want to.
You see, amateur radio is supposed to be about advancement of the art,
and preparing and maintaining a civilian population with contemporary
communications skills Mandating a mode that has fallen completely out
of military and commercial use as obsolete is contrary to the concept
of advancement of the art. It is as if blood letting was a required
course for a medical degree.

Code is fine for those who like that mode. I use it at least once a
month. However, it is no longer the mode that is best in weak signal
conditions, or that uses the narrowest band width for effective
communication. PSK31 runs circles around code. And guess
what....many of the most fervent code guys I know cheat and use
computers to print the received code on a screen, and a keyboard to
allow the computer to generate their sending.

An amateur extra exam these days covers information a lot more current
than that on the exam just a few decades ago. Perhaps instead of
harping on code as some indicator of intelligence, you should direct
your efforts to having all hams retested on license renewal, to make
sure they continue to be current with the state of the art in amateur
radio. Or do you believe that de Forest era vacuum tubes are more
relevant to amateur radio in the 21st century than integrated
circuits?


Code is just one part of it. Here's my four step plan that will keep
ham radio from becoming like CB:


Step 1: No more automatic renewals. Individuals must retest and
pass all elements required for their license class.

Step 2: The passing score for written exams needs to be raised to 85%.

Step 3: Code elements should be 13 wpm for General, and 20 wpm for Extra.

Step 4: Make the no-code license one year non-renewable.