"Alun Palmer" wrote in message
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"Kim W5TIT" wrote in
:

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
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Kim W5TIT wrote:

Dee, no doubt CW has its benefits. Contrary to a lot of the
"pro-CW" folks, the "anti-CW" folks recognize its capabilities.
(It's silly to even put the groups in such diverse categories.)
However, that does not negate the argument that, even though it may
be quite beneficial, there are those of us who simply choose not to
learn it well enough for practicability (eh?).


You don't have to use it, just learn it. I don't like the stupid
satellite questions on the test, but I had to learn them. (sorry
satellite folks) If we threw out all the parts that some people did
not want to learn, there would soon be no test whatsoever.


I'd be happy to have as many _questions_ on the _written_exams_ about
Morse as about each other mode. A ham should _know_about_ all the modes.
What offends a lot of us is a _practical_ test in only _one_ mode. To
take your example, if you had to track a satellite pass and work someone
via satellite to get a licence, and that was the only practical test, that
wouldn't be right either, as it would be an unbalanced requirement
relative to all the other things you can do in the hobby. If you want to
have a practical test, how about soldering? At least it's not mode-
specific.


Actually I agree with having a soldering test. I consider it a basic skill
that all hams should have at least to the extent of soldering a PL259
connector to coax and demonstrating that they have achieved continuity and
no shorts.

The difference between CW and satellite is that CW is commonly used (about
50% of hams use CW some to all of the time) and it is cheap to use.
Satellite is uncommon and expensive. In addition, it takes actually having
a basic, minimal skill level at CW to judge whether one wishes to pursue it
to a useful level thus the prospective ham should be required to learn a
basic minimum.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE