On Sun, 10 Sep 2006 10:47:59 GMT, Cecil Moore wrote:

funkbastler wrote:
No, but it darned sure wouldn't hurt to make sure they could drive
something with a standard transmission.

Would you have 1000 people learn to drive a standard
transmission even though only one person out of those
1000 people benefits from it? The cost/benefit ratio
is extremely high.

(I'll go ya one better - make EVERYBODY drive a standard - or a Harley -
and save some oil. Outlaw automatics!)

Ok then - same goes for satellite communications, fast/slow scan
television, packet, EME, and so on. Lots of applicants will never
use those modes, but the questions are on the test, so you
better learn the material.

K2FRD (I think) proposed what I thought was the best solution to
the Morse code issue - keep it as part of the test, but don't
keep it as a show-stopper. I think it would be fair, at least for
the higher grade licenses, to throw it in there with all the other
modes you may never use.... have it on the test, let the applicant
earn some points from it if they can, but don't send 'em home
disappointed if they don't.

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