"Bert Craig" wrote in
et:

Wow Carl,

All that below to equate those who support the retention of Element 1
with "the enemy." I repeat, are you sure we're talking about the 5-wpm
exam? Sure doesn't sound like it.


The continued existence of a CW test does actually threaten the future of
the hobby, i.e. it is a 'deal killer' for recruitment. Unfortunately, a
lot of damage has already been done, as it has been allowed to persist
long past it's 'sell by' date.

Sure, 5 wpm is easy (higher speeds were not, but that's moot now).
However, the CW test manages to be too slow to impart any genuinely useful
level of CW ability, whilst at the same time putting off prospective hams.
In other words, it's more counter-productive than useful.

Sure. there is a lot of CW use by hams on HF, but there are precious few
prospective hams who want to use it. Put in all the written questions you
like on CW, though, as that won't cause the same kind of problem.

I think it's true that those who want to keep a code test would likely
have wanted to keep spark if they had been around back then. If they
really could stop the wheel of progress, the hobby likely would die with
their generation, but luckily that won't happen.

Keeping out all those who aren't interested in CW may keep a few
'breakers' out, but it keeps out most people, period. That may suit a few
people here, but it isn't the way forward. Ultimately, keeping the code
test would do far more to destroy the hobby than letting in a few CBers
(and I do mean a few, as most of them are not smart enough to pass the
written tests). If we keep a code test, the hobby will fail for lack of
interest. Luckily, I don't expect that to happen.