Gang,

I've read with some interest (and commented at times) concerning the CW
tests. I'd like us all to consider that even a newbie would likely know
more about radio and communications than some guy born in 1768 (and, yes,
I'm cheating - I'm reading some interesting info out of the Handbook). AM,
FM, CW ... all very modern compared to this gentleman. Heck, spark wasn't
around then. This guy formulated the relationship between the application
of heat to a solid body and its propagation. What does this have to do with
radio? The gentleman's name was Joseph Fourier. The laws he wrote (and I
now quote from the Radio Amateur's handbook) define the connection between
time and frequency domain descriptions of signals. He might not understand
radio right away, but as soon as he saw what was being done with DSP, he'd
likely be ahead of us all. It is time to get over the CW business. Really.
The amateur license is an introduction to electronics and communications.
It isn't a professional license, but allows us to learn (and serve in
emergencies). I honestly believe it is time to drop the 'holier than thou'
attitude and try and attract new blood to this fine hobby of ours. I don't
care what class of ticket one holds, we are all licensed amateur operators
and all should be respected as such.


73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA



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