"KH6HZ" wrote in
:

wrote:
Seems to me that the rational compromise would be to offer a variety
of skills tests.

Perhaps. Unfortunately, a skills test requires a greater effort on the
part of VEs to implement, test, and grade. It is highly unlikely we
would ever see *ANY* suggestion that makes testing "harder" ever
implemented by the FCC. Fact is, it is politically incorrect to "fail"
people. We will never see the return of a skills test to the ARS.
That's the sad reality of the situation.



Just a comment about this part of the thread.


Once you get away from distinct skills such as Morse code acumen,
you get into a grey area. I'm trying to envision a test where one VE
wants only plain english and another one thinks it is cool to say things
such as QSL, QTH, or HI-HI on voice. So much subjectivity.

Operating practices are OUR responsibility to teach the new guys.
The idea of having to know it at the time of testing is not entirely
realistic.

- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -