On the bright side, there's a lot more ham gear on eBay you can bid on.


But...what good does having a bunch of gear if there is nobody to talk
to or listen to? I guess it's good if you're starting a radio museum...


Actually there is less of the good stuff on eBay than there was 2 years
ago. Plus prices for the rare stuff still keeps going up.

I don't think any correlation exists between them and current behavior
on HF, which I assume, possibly incorrectly, that you are refering to.

The biggest idiots on 20m, for instance, are on 14275, both sides are
guilty, and I am quite sure that they all got their tickets with CW
required. And the problem stations on 75 are quite the same. Which
also proves nothing either way.


it does prove that CW testing is at best poor proof of screening out
bad ops


Yup if you check it out most of the crap on HF is from old farts that
passed their tests with the CW requirement.

I am quite sure that they all got their tickets with CW
required. And the problem stations on 75 are quite the same. Which
also proves nothing either way.

it does prove that CW testing is at best poor proof of screening out
bad ops

There's no test for one important ham skill: typing. I didn't appreciate
how important it is until I learned that one of my pro-Morse buddies does
all of his sending with a computer. (He can send with a key but doesn't
know where his is.) He says he copies with the computer, too, although he
can follow along with the audio.

I asked around and found this practice is far from rare; I'm not sure
"common" is the right word, though.

We also might want to test for basic language skills, including punctuation.
While it's not always true, the disagreeable transmissions (and NG posts)
often make the speakers/writers sound pretty ignorant.

Sal M. Onella wrote:
I am quite sure that they all got their tickets with CW
required. And the problem stations on 75 are quite the same. Which
also proves nothing either way.

it does prove that CW testing is at best poor proof of screening out
bad ops

There's no test for one important ham skill: typing.
I asked around and found this practice is far from rare; I'm not sure
"common" is the right word, though.

We also might want to test for basic language skills, including punctuation.
why?

why do do we want to restrict the numer of hams in that manner

While it's not always true, the disagreeable transmissions (and NG posts)
often make the speakers/writers sound pretty ignorant.

"an_old_friend" wrote in message
oups.com...

We also might want to test for basic language skills, including
punctuation.
why?

why do do we want to restrict the numer of hams in that manner


That's a persuasive argument and you've definitely brought some clarity to
the issue. Thanks so much.

Sal M. Onella wrote:
"an_old_friend" wrote in message
oups.com...

We also might want to test for basic language skills, including
punctuation.
why?

why do do we want to restrict the numer of hams in that manner


That's a persuasive argument and you've definitely brought some clarity to
the issue. Thanks so much.
meaning of course you have no answer answer as well no name

**Please note the date of these numbers - this is a delayed repost from
early April, 2006**

These are the numbers of current, unexpired
amateur radio licenses held by individuals
on the stated dates, and the percentage of
the total number of active licenses that
class contains:

As of May 14, 2000:

Novice - 49,329 (7.3%)
Technician - 205,394 (30.4%)
Technician Plus - 128,860 (19.1%)
General - 112,677 (16.7%)
Advanced - 99,782 (14.8%)
Extra - 78,750 (11.7%)

Total Tech/TechPlus - 334,254 (49.5%)

Total General/Advanced/Extra - 291,209 (43.2%)

Total all classes - 674,792


As of April 2, 2006:

Novice - 25,614 (3.9%) [decrease of 23,715]
Technician - 278,690 (42.3%) [increase of 73,296]
Technician Plus - 40,534 (6.1%) [decrease of 88,506]
General - 133,682 (20.3%) [increase of 21,005]
Advanced - 72,819 (11.0%) [decrease of 26,963]
Extra - 107,768 (16.4%) [increase of 29,018]

Total Tech/TechPlus - 319,224 (48.4%) [decrease of 14,964]

Total General/Advanced/Extra - 314,269 (47.7%) [increase of 22,351]

Total all classes - 659,107 (decrease of 15,685)

Note that these totals do not include licenses
that have expired but are in the grace period.

They also do not include club, military, RACES
or other station-only licenses.

Note also that effective April 15, 2000, new
Novice, Technician Plus and Advanced licenses
are no longer issued.

Since April 15, 2000, FCC has renewed all existing
Technician Plus licenses as Technician. It is therefore
informative to consider the totals of the two classes,
since the Technician class includes a significant
number of Technician Plus licenses renewed as
Technician.

73 de Jim, N2EY

wrote in message
**Please note the date of these numbers
/////// DRIVEL FLUSHED ////////



Who Cares?

On Sat, 20 May 2006 15:15:39 -0700, "Sal M. Onella"
wrote:




I am quite sure that they all got their tickets with CW
required. And the problem stations on 75 are quite the same. Which
also proves nothing either way.

it does prove that CW testing is at best poor proof of screening out
bad ops

There's no test for one important ham skill: typing. I didn't appreciate
how important it is until I learned that one of my pro-Morse buddies does
all of his sending with a computer. (He can send with a key but doesn't
know where his is.) He says he copies with the computer, too, although he
can follow along with the audio.

I asked around and found this practice is far from rare; I'm not sure
"common" is the right word, though.

We also might want to test for basic language skills, including punctuation.
While it's not always true, the disagreeable transmissions (and NG posts)
often make the speakers/writers sound pretty ignorant.

In that case how about testing for personality traits as well as
anti-social and anti-authoritarian behavior? :-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Which "Roger" are you?



"Roger" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 May 2006 15:15:39 -0700, "Sal M. Onella"
wrote:




I am quite sure that they all got their tickets with CW
required. And the problem stations on 75 are quite the same. Which
also proves nothing either way.

it does prove that CW testing is at best poor proof of screening out
bad ops

There's no test for one important ham skill: typing. I didn't appreciate
how important it is until I learned that one of my pro-Morse buddies does
all of his sending with a computer. (He can send with a key but doesn't
know where his is.) He says he copies with the computer, too, although he
can follow along with the audio.

I asked around and found this practice is far from rare; I'm not sure
"common" is the right word, though.

We also might want to test for basic language skills, including
punctuation.
While it's not always true, the disagreeable transmissions (and NG posts)
often make the speakers/writers sound pretty ignorant.

In that case how about testing for personality traits as well as
anti-social and anti-authoritarian behavior? :-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com