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.

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.

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?

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