"Dee D. Flint" wrote in
gy.com:


"N2EY" wrote in message
...
In article .net,
"KØHB" writes:

"Dee D. Flint" wrote

And it has the unique characteristic that
you can't take advantage of it until you have acquired a basic
skill level.

Unique? What's unique about Morse in that regard. There is no mode
which you can use without some basic skill level in that mode.

What's unique is that most people old enough to pass the amateur radio
license exams do not already have Morse skills, and will have to learn
Morse skills in order to use the mode. But the vast majority of those
same people already posess the skills to use other modes.

So what it comes down to is that a little serious skill-learning is
required to use Morse on the air, except for a very few people who
have learned Morse elsewhere. I think that plain, simple fact bothers
some of the most vociferous and abusive anti-code-test folks.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Excellent summary there, Jim. I think that is what many of us are
trying to say but not finding the right words.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE



What is annoying is that a skill test is foisted on those who don't have
the desire to use the skill. Learning the theory of modes you don't want
to use is not too onerous, but having to pass a typing test to use phone
would be just as annoying and stupid as having to pass a code test to use
phone, for example. Besides, having to know about other modes is
reasonable, but actually learning to use them is another matter. Also, if
I hear CW on my frequency I may be able to read it with some difficulty,
but if I hear RTTY or PSK31 there is no chance.

"Alun" wrote in message
...
"Dee D. Flint" wrote in
gy.com:

Also, if
I hear CW on my frequency I may be able to read it with some difficulty,
but if I hear RTTY or PSK31 there is no chance.

Which is why in an emergency situation, if voice is unusable, I would pick
CW rather than RTTY, PSK31, etc. There are more ops out there listening and
although some are rusty on their code since they don't use it much they
could still help even if the code had to be sent really slowly.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Alun" wrote in message
...
What is annoying is that a skill test is foisted on those who don't have
the desire to use the skill.

Alan, I'm gonna let you in on a secret...although I know that you're already
aware of it. Preparing for and passing the 5-wpm Elemnt 1 test does NOT
leave one ready to use the skill OTA. It only gives one a taste so that one
may make an educated choice as to whether or not they wish to persue CW any
further.

The majority of newbies I've worked sent at approx. 8 to 10-wpm. (That's
right, just below the plateau.) We seem to gravitate to one another. Ok, the
Novice/Tech"+" sub-bands help bring us together. My point is that those who
actually get OTA are putting in more effort than needed just to pass Element
1. Those who pass Element 1 and wish to go no further with CW have made a
truly educated dicision because they now have a little "practical"
experience with the mode under their belt on which to base their
decision...and are not just simply talking from their @$$!

Learning the theory of modes you don't want
to use is not too onerous, but having to pass a typing test to use phone
would be just as annoying and stupid as having to pass a code test to use
phone, for example. Besides, having to know about other modes is
reasonable, but actually learning to use them is another matter.

As I mentioned in another post, the mode is really not the issue...the
having to really learn it is. Do away with the published Q&A pools and watch
the whining escalate.

Also, if
I hear CW on my frequency I may be able to read it with some difficulty,
but if I hear RTTY or PSK31 there is no chance.

You may have just touched on a selling point for CW.

73 de Bert
WA2SI

"Bert Craig" wrote in
et:


"Alun" wrote in message
...
What is annoying is that a skill test is foisted on those who don't
have the desire to use the skill.

Alan, I'm gonna let you in on a secret...although I know that you're
already aware of it. Preparing for and passing the 5-wpm Elemnt 1 test
does NOT leave one ready to use the skill OTA. It only gives one a
taste so that one may make an educated choice as to whether or not they
wish to persue CW any further.


5 wpm is certainly too slow to prove much, but it only still exists at
that level as a residual requirement to meet the old s25.5, which has
since been changed so that no code test is required atall. If the FCC
truly thought that a CW test was necessary, the speed would be higher.

The majority of newbies I've worked sent at approx. 8 to 10-wpm.
(That's right, just below the plateau.) We seem to gravitate to one
another. Ok, the Novice/Tech"+" sub-bands help bring us together. My
point is that those who actually get OTA are putting in more effort
than needed just to pass Element 1. Those who pass Element 1 and wish
to go no further with CW have made a truly educated dicision because
they now have a little "practical" experience with the mode under their
belt on which to base their decision...and are not just simply talking
from their @$$!

Learning the theory of modes you don't want
to use is not too onerous, but having to pass a typing test to use
phone would be just as annoying and stupid as having to pass a code
test to use phone, for example. Besides, having to know about other
modes is reasonable, but actually learning to use them is another
matter.

As I mentioned in another post, the mode is really not the issue...the
having to really learn it is. Do away with the published Q&A pools and
watch the whining escalate.


Well, I think that the real issue is that it's a different kind of test.

Also, if
I hear CW on my frequency I may be able to read it with some
difficulty, but if I hear RTTY or PSK31 there is no chance.

You may have just touched on a selling point for CW.

73 de Bert
WA2SI




Whilst that is true, the point I was making is actually that since I can't
read RTTY or PSK by ear, and they are legal modes, it doesn't help all
that much that I can read CW (albeit not terribly well, since I never use
it).

73 de Alun, N3KIP

"Alun" wrote in message
...
"Bert Craig" wrote in
et:


"Alun" wrote in message
...
What is annoying is that a skill test is foisted on those who don't
have the desire to use the skill.

Alan, I'm gonna let you in on a secret...although I know that you're
already aware of it. Preparing for and passing the 5-wpm Elemnt 1 test
does NOT leave one ready to use the skill OTA. It only gives one a
taste so that one may make an educated choice as to whether or not they
wish to persue CW any further.


5 wpm is certainly too slow to prove much, but it only still exists at
that level as a residual requirement to meet the old s25.5, which has
since been changed so that no code test is required atall. If the FCC
truly thought that a CW test was necessary, the speed would be higher.

Agreed, I was pointing out a very beneficial secondary benefit. It
"requires" one to place themselves in a position from which to make an
educated decision.

As I mentioned in another post, the mode is really not the issue...the
having to really learn it is. Do away with the published Q&A pools and
watch the whining escalate.

Well, I think that the real issue is that it's a different kind of test.

Exactly.

Also, if
I hear CW on my frequency I may be able to read it with some
difficulty, but if I hear RTTY or PSK31 there is no chance.

You may have just touched on a selling point for CW.

73 de Bert
WA2SI

Whilst that is true, the point I was making is actually that since I can't
read RTTY or PSK by ear, and they are legal modes, it doesn't help all
that much that I can read CW (albeit not terribly well, since I never use
it).

73 de Alun, N3KIP

I understand the point you were making. If I could just ask you why you
bothered to take the code test(s)?

73 de Bert
WA2SI

"Bert Craig" wrote in
:

"Alun" wrote in message
...
"Bert Craig" wrote in
et:


"Alun" wrote in message
...
What is annoying is that a skill test is foisted on those who don't
have the desire to use the skill.

Alan, I'm gonna let you in on a secret...although I know that you're
already aware of it. Preparing for and passing the 5-wpm Elemnt 1
test does NOT leave one ready to use the skill OTA. It only gives
one a taste so that one may make an educated choice as to whether or
not they wish to persue CW any further.


5 wpm is certainly too slow to prove much, but it only still exists at
that level as a residual requirement to meet the old s25.5, which has
since been changed so that no code test is required atall. If the FCC
truly thought that a CW test was necessary, the speed would be higher.

Agreed, I was pointing out a very beneficial secondary benefit. It
"requires" one to place themselves in a position from which to make an
educated decision.

As I mentioned in another post, the mode is really not the
issue...the having to really learn it is. Do away with the published
Q&A pools and watch the whining escalate.

Well, I think that the real issue is that it's a different kind of
test.

Exactly.

Also, if
I hear CW on my frequency I may be able to read it with some
difficulty, but if I hear RTTY or PSK31 there is no chance.

You may have just touched on a selling point for CW.

73 de Bert
WA2SI

Whilst that is true, the point I was making is actually that since I
can't read RTTY or PSK by ear, and they are legal modes, it doesn't
help all that much that I can read CW (albeit not terribly well, since
I never use it).

73 de Alun, N3KIP

I understand the point you were making. If I could just ask you why you
bothered to take the code test(s)?

73 de Bert
WA2SI




To get all the _phone_ frequencies

"Alun" wrote in message
...
"Bert Craig" wrote in
:

"Alun" wrote in message
...
"Bert Craig" wrote in
et:


"Alun" wrote in message
...
What is annoying is that a skill test is foisted on those who don't
have the desire to use the skill.

Alan, I'm gonna let you in on a secret...although I know that you're
already aware of it. Preparing for and passing the 5-wpm Elemnt 1
test does NOT leave one ready to use the skill OTA. It only gives
one a taste so that one may make an educated choice as to whether or
not they wish to persue CW any further.


5 wpm is certainly too slow to prove much, but it only still exists at
that level as a residual requirement to meet the old s25.5, which has
since been changed so that no code test is required atall. If the FCC
truly thought that a CW test was necessary, the speed would be higher.

Agreed, I was pointing out a very beneficial secondary benefit. It
"requires" one to place themselves in a position from which to make an
educated decision.

As I mentioned in another post, the mode is really not the
issue...the having to really learn it is. Do away with the published
Q&A pools and watch the whining escalate.

Well, I think that the real issue is that it's a different kind of
test.

Exactly.

Also, if
I hear CW on my frequency I may be able to read it with some
difficulty, but if I hear RTTY or PSK31 there is no chance.

You may have just touched on a selling point for CW.

73 de Bert
WA2SI

Whilst that is true, the point I was making is actually that since I
can't read RTTY or PSK by ear, and they are legal modes, it doesn't
help all that much that I can read CW (albeit not terribly well, since
I never use it).

73 de Alun, N3KIP

I understand the point you were making. If I could just ask you why you
bothered to take the code test(s)?

73 de Bert
WA2SI

To get all the _phone_ frequencies

Ah, good...for increased privileges. Obviously, noted by your class of
license, you did NOT find this to be an insurmountable hurdle. After all,
nobody forced you to either upgrade your ticket or aim for the General or
Extra right from the starting gate. You *wanted* more *privileges* and these
were a sufficient *incentive* for you to decide to make the effort to *earn*
them. That's not being forced to do anything, Alun. Them's good
old-fashioned values...and the basis for a principle that I'd be glad to see
my kids apply to ALL of their endeavors in life.

This whole issue is not really over the Morse code test. It's about ANY
requirement that causes an applicant to really have to expend some mental
elbow grease and/or impede his/her path toward instant gratification. Like I
said before, pull those published Q&A pools and make 'em learn the subject
matter and actually apply the principles and theory to pass the
writtens...and witness the whine factor grow. Preparing to pass the 5-wpm
Exam cannot even be called cerebral, it's rote memorization. The faster
speeds become purely reflex oriented. Nobody's thinkin' when they copy
hi-speed Morse.

So all this blather about "jumping through hoops" and "barriers" is a bunch
of hot air. Folks have just figured out a way to gain a *privilege* in a
perceived easier fashion, collectively whine. It stands a great chance
too. After all, the Gov't. agency they must cajole shares their goal, less
work. So with great glee, their proponents espouse "the FCC doesn't agree
that Morse is necessary." The "regulatory" angle is just that, an angle. If
you ignore the angle, you realise that it was never about Element 1 in the
first place.

Why must our beloved hobby/service be reduced to the lowest common
denominator?

73 de Bert
WA2SI

"Bert Craig" wrote in
t:

"Alun" wrote in message
...
"Bert Craig" wrote in
:

"Alun" wrote in message
...
"Bert Craig" wrote in
et:


"Alun" wrote in message
...
What is annoying is that a skill test is foisted on those who
don't have the desire to use the skill.

Alan, I'm gonna let you in on a secret...although I know that
you're already aware of it. Preparing for and passing the 5-wpm
Elemnt 1 test does NOT leave one ready to use the skill OTA. It
only gives one a taste so that one may make an educated choice as
to whether or not they wish to persue CW any further.


5 wpm is certainly too slow to prove much, but it only still exists
at that level as a residual requirement to meet the old s25.5,
which has since been changed so that no code test is required
atall. If the FCC truly thought that a CW test was necessary, the
speed would be higher.

Agreed, I was pointing out a very beneficial secondary benefit. It
"requires" one to place themselves in a position from which to make
an educated decision.

As I mentioned in another post, the mode is really not the
issue...the having to really learn it is. Do away with the
published Q&A pools and watch the whining escalate.

Well, I think that the real issue is that it's a different kind of
test.

Exactly.

Also, if
I hear CW on my frequency I may be able to read it with some
difficulty, but if I hear RTTY or PSK31 there is no chance.

You may have just touched on a selling point for CW.

73 de Bert
WA2SI

Whilst that is true, the point I was making is actually that since
I can't read RTTY or PSK by ear, and they are legal modes, it
doesn't help all that much that I can read CW (albeit not terribly
well, since I never use it).

73 de Alun, N3KIP

I understand the point you were making. If I could just ask you why
you bothered to take the code test(s)?

73 de Bert
WA2SI

To get all the _phone_ frequencies

Ah, good...for increased privileges. Obviously, noted by your class of
license, you did NOT find this to be an insurmountable hurdle. After
all, nobody forced you to either upgrade your ticket or aim for the
General or Extra right from the starting gate. You *wanted* more
*privileges* and these were a sufficient *incentive* for you to decide
to make the effort to *earn* them. That's not being forced to do
anything, Alun. Them's good old-fashioned values...and the basis for a
principle that I'd be glad to see my kids apply to ALL of their
endeavors in life.


I think you're missing the point. I took _code_ tests to get _phone_
subbands. There's no logic in that. Never was, even from the beginning.

This whole issue is not really over the Morse code test. It's about ANY
requirement that causes an applicant to really have to expend some
mental elbow grease and/or impede his/her path toward instant
gratification.

No, it's about learning code skills to use other modes.

Like I said before, pull those published Q&A pools and
make 'em learn the subject matter and actually apply the principles and
theory to pass the writtens...and witness the whine factor grow.
Preparing to pass the 5-wpm Exam cannot even be called cerebral, it's
rote memorization. The faster speeds become purely reflex oriented.
Nobody's thinkin' when they copy hi-speed Morse.

So all this blather about "jumping through hoops" and "barriers" is a
bunch of hot air.

Learning an unrelated skill is a prime example of "jumping through hoops"
(your phrase, not mine)

Folks have just figured out a way to gain a
*privilege* in a perceived easier fashion, collectively whine. It
stands a great chance too. After all, the Gov't. agency they must
cajole shares their goal, less work. So with great glee, their
proponents espouse "the FCC doesn't agree that Morse is necessary." The
"regulatory" angle is just that, an angle. If you ignore the angle, you
realise that it was never about Element 1 in the first place.


It has always been about the code test. No angles. If you think it's just
a bid to reduce the requirements in general, then you just couldn't be
more wrong.

Why must our beloved hobby/service be reduced to the lowest common
denominator?

73 de Bert
WA2SI