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August 3rd 03, 10:50 PM

(N2EY) wrote in
:

In article , Alun Palmer
writes:

The continued existence of a CW test does actually threaten the future
of the hobby, i.e. it is a 'deal killer' for recruitment.

WHOA, hold on a second, there!

Folks, here's a claim that the code test must go because it allegedly
holds back growth in the ARS.

Unfortunately, a
lot of damage has already been done, as it has been allowed to persist
long past it's 'sell by' date.

Sounds like you're hedging your bets, Alun.

Not atall. Since about 1995 there has been a paradigm shift caused by this
medium we're using right now (the Internet). If code testing had been
abolished significantly before that it would have boosted our numbers far
more than it ever can now. All I'm really saying is that that opportunity
is lost.

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.

How do you know they don't want to use it? At the past several Field
Days, the CW ops generated the most interest.

As a sideshow it generates interest. Think of it as being like a
demonstration of some obscure craft in a living museum. Sure, people find
it interesting watching a blacksmith shoe a horse (and that's not a dead
art either), but it doesn't mean they are going to learn to do 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.

Different thing entirely. Spark for hams wasn't outlawed in the USA
until 1927 - long after hams had stopped using it. By choice.

If they
really could stop the wheel of progress, the hobby likely would die
with their generation, but luckily that won't happen.

Do you want code USE by hams to continue or not, Alun?

Honestly? I don't care if it does or not. For the record I think it will
continue. It does have some advantages (but then, so do a lot of other
modes).

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.

OK, let's look at some facts:

- Growth in the ARS in the USA from 1980 to 1990 (when there were no
waivers and all hams had to pass at least 5 wpm) was almost exactly the
same as from 1990 to 2000 (when both waivers and codetestless licenses
were available)

- Overall, the ARS in the USA has kept on growing for the past 35
years. In fact, since the end of WW1, the only periods of non-growth
were WW2 and most of the 1960s.

And now a challenge to all this stuff about disincentives. Soon the
code test will probably be gone. There will probably be a surge of new
licenses and upgrades, then back to growth rates near to what they were
before. If we don't see more long-term growth without code tests, will
you admit you were wrong and help get code tests reinstated?

73 de Jim, N2EY

You know I won't (a wise man only asks questions to which he knows the
answers, and you're no fool). I have always disagreed with a skill test in
Morse being a condition for HF phone. I have never heard an argument for
that that makes logical sense.

73 de Alun, N3KIP