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There's an opinion I can really agree to. Remember the days when we
had to "draw" diagrams? The Colpitts...Hartley, and R.F.
Amplifiers? For a new ham, that was always tough for me. It might be
something to put back into the exams. See ya'll next month.
Bill Sawders, K7ZM
VD NW Div
-------Original
Message-------
Date: 12/16/06
21:38:21
Subject:
[arrl-odv:14948] Re: WT Docket 05-235
All --
My personal opinion...
I'm sad to see the Morse requirement go, but that's from a
philosophical
standpoint and not a regulatory standpoint. I would be
happier if the
theory exams were beefed up in response -- a whole lot more than
where it
is now. The Tech theory seems to have been watered down
to where anyone
can pass with a few days of memorization. "What is the
purpose of the
'Function' key found on your transceiver?"
I guess the big thing for me is the seemingly growing attitude --
inside
Ham Radio and throughout many other aspects of our society --
that
everyone should be able to accomplish anything no matter what, and
the
easy way to fix that is to make everything easier to accomplish,
rather
than establishing a bar for those willing to devote time and effort
to
meet and exceed. For those who can't devote the time and
effort, well,
that's life. As Rick K5UR has said (and not with respect
to the CW
requirement, so I don't want to get him in trouble), "Not everyone
is cut
out to be a Ham."
It's the same train of thought used by those who are targeting the
game
"tag" or dodgeball in our schools. The poor, slow
children always seem to
the ones who get "picked on," so let's just ban it to make them
feel
better rather than encouraging them to try harder and get better on
the
playground so they too can excel at the games. Not
everyone is cut out to
play tag or dodgeball either.
Don't get me wrong, this wasn't the FCC's motivation for doing away
with
CW, but it could have been FCC's philosophical reason for retaining
CW,
much like their philosophical reason for requiring a theory
exam. Many
Hams held out for this day so they could end up on HF through the
clock
striking midnight on some evening in the near
future. Path of least
resistance for reward.
While I'm not predicting the demise of Ham Radio, I am
unfortunately led
to ponder when the day will come when even the theory exam will
be
whittled down to a seemingly level on non-existence because
"everyone
should be able to get a license if they want one." I
can't place blame on
the Hams for jumping at the opportunity, and I'll respect every one
of
them as I do current hams who are on the air...it's the "system"
and
society that I blame for the 'instant gratification for minimal
effort so
we don't hurt feelings' attitude that seems to exist.
Back to what I alluded to in the first paragraph of my Saturday
night
rant, it's not just because it's CW (and I'm a CW op, and as Frank
said
below it's a mode, not a religion). I'd feel better if
the theory exams
were beefed up as a result, just so a respectable bar remains for
one to
meet and exceed in order to get their ham ticket. Not
everyone is cut
out to be a Ham, and that's consistent with an unwritten rule of
life
that I accept wholeheartedly.
My whippersnapper point of view...whew!
73,
Brian, N5ZGT
> Joel,
>
> I could not agree more with the statement below. The FCC has
ruled: CW
> is Mode and NOT a religion. I for one have had the debate up
to my ears
> for far too long! I will be interesting to see how ham radio
goes in the
> next few years. It is, I am sure, not the end of the world.
And yes, it
> is LONG overdue! I think it's a nice Christmas present.
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