On Mon, 2006-12-18 at 07:15 -0500, Paul Christensen wrote:
> > I'm sorry but I don't buy the analogy. CW is a mode that most of us
> > enjoy.
>
> I fully agree, Carl. When early renditions of phone were introduced just
> after WWI, CW had already begun its decline as an imperative mode. We held
> on to the notion that its a necessary requirement for another 85 years --
> even after the introduction of digital services in the '70s.
>
> While I'm of the opinion that testing for CW proficiency should not be an
> absolute requirement for HF access, I do believe that we should retain a
> 10WPM proficiency for Extra-class and keep the existing 25 kHz or so of
> reserved spectrum on most HF bands. My rationale for 10 WPM is simply for
> historical preservation and goes back to the requirements of the first
> amateur exams administered by the FCC in 1912.
>
> After conducting some research this weekend, I could go back as far as 1921
> when it appeared two levels of licenses classes existed -- both of which
> required proficiency of Continental Morse at 10 WPM. Further, in 1934,
> shortly after the enactment of the Communications Act, three classes of
> licenses existed -- Classes A, B, and C (conditional). Each required CW
> proficiency at 13 WPM.
>
> Those of us licensed during the past 30+ years probably think that the
> barrier to entry keeps getting easier - and it has during this period of
> time, but the apex of complexity really began in the 1960s with the FCC's
> adoption of "Incentive Licensing." Until then, the written exams were
> unequivocally harder than the M/C exams today, but for many decades, the
> highest class of license between 1912 and the 1960 required no more than 13
> WPM -- and this, at a time when CW was more important then ever.
>
> Circling back, I would like to see the League file a Petition for
> Reconsideration that re-establishes the first CW testing speed of 10WPM for
> historical preservation for the Extra class -- and to keep the existing CW
> spectrum benefit while making no further distinction for any other mode.
>
> Paul, W9AC
>
The fact remains that for weak signal work based on human skills, not on
computer software of questionable reliability, CW is still the most
effective mode. It works for VHF aurora propagation modes, and for moon
bounce.
You propose 10 wpm. If you want to work me on CW you will have to copy
faster because I can't send that SLOW even by my hand key. Actually at
10 wpm you can still count dots and dashes, it takes 13 and above (which
is why that magic number for licenses in the past) to change from
counting to character recognition.
73, Jerry, K0CQ
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