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- Date: Wed, 25 May 94 04:30:17 PDT
- From: Ham-Policy Mailing List and Newsgroup <ham-policy@ucsd.edu>
- Errors-To: Ham-Policy-Errors@UCSD.Edu
- Reply-To: Ham-Policy@UCSD.Edu
- Precedence: Bulk
- Subject: Ham-Policy Digest V94 #221
- To: Ham-Policy
-
-
- Ham-Policy Digest Wed, 25 May 94 Volume 94 : Issue 221
-
- Today's Topics:
- Code test speeds (5 msgs)
- Skinny Dip
-
- Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Ham-Policy@UCSD.Edu>
- Send subscription requests to: <Ham-Policy-REQUEST@UCSD.Edu>
- Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu.
-
- Archives of past issues of the Ham-Policy Digest are available
- (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/ham-policy".
-
- We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text
- herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official
- policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 24 May 1994 08:15:14 GMT
- From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jherman@ames.arpa
- Subject: Code test speeds
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <2r0ds7$pbh@chnews.intel.com> cmoore@ilx018.intel.com (Cecil A. Moore -FT-~) writes:
- >
- >The guy I know with Attention Deficit Disorder has been a ham for
- >30 years and holds a commercial FCC license. He has forgotten more
- >about radio than I will ever know. He is barred from normal HF
- >operation even though he was an AM broadcast engineer for many years.
- >He has spent hundreds of hours trying to learn to copy code. Ever try
- >to get a code waver for ADD?
-
- I wanted to be a commercial airline pilot but couldn't pass the eye exam.
- People just have to accept their weaknesses and go on with life.
-
- > A Morse Code test is like having detailed
- >spark-gap technical questions on the written test.
-
- Cec - you've eaten too many of Ed's prunes. Spark's not a legal mode, but
- I frequently count more CW QSOs than any other mode on the HF bands. CW is
- being used just as much today as yesteryear. The test is relevant.
-
- >The guy with ADD has a genius level IQ.
-
- And I would have made an exceptional airline pilot but I couldn't get in.
-
- >Morse code is as obsolete
- >as are "slip sticks" in this day and age. (Remember slide rules?)
-
- Not when there's as many if not more CW QSOs than any other mode at
- a given time.
-
- Slide rules? I don't even allow my math students to use calculators -
- everything has to be done with pencil and paper.
-
- 73 Cec,
- Jeff NH6IL
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 24 May 1994 09:01:50 -0400
- From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!udel!news.sprintlink.net!rtp.vnet.net!char2.vnet.net!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Code test speeds
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- Neil D. Friedman (ndfriedman@delphi.com) wrote:
- : Jerry Dallal <jerry@hnrc.tufts.edu> writes:
- :
- : >(2) [I need help on this one.] I thought it was *required* by international
- : >treaty. I say 'thought' because I don't know how the no-Code Tech class
- : >is able to coexist along with these requirements.
- :
- : There is no international requirement for a code test above 30 MHz.
-
- OK - then please explain how CB is legal?
-
- Also - what is the international code requirement - in wpm?
-
- Why not put pressure (votes) on the ARRL to get the requirement
- changed. Rightly or wrongly the ARRL is perceived to represent
- the ENTIRE Amateur community.
-
- Isn't a lot of the resistance to dropping the code requirement
- the "Tree House Syndrome" (Now that I climbed up here - I want
- to pull up the ladder - or at last remove every other rung.
- (quaver switch) You are going to put an elevator WHERE????
- (quaver switch)
-
- David W. Barrow III, BSBA, JD
- exe02594@vnet.net
- N9UNR @ WA9POV.#MKE.WI.USA.NA
- (414) 375-3557
- or - if you must "snail it"
- 1894 Elm Drive - Town of Cedarburg
- West Bend, WI 53095-9603
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 24 May 1994 08:49:16 -0400
- From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!udel!news.sprintlink.net!rtp.vnet.net!char2.vnet.net!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Code test speeds
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- kevin jessup (kevin.jessup@mixcom.mixcom.com) wrote:
- : In <hamilton.768755278@BIX.com>
- hamilton@BIX.com (hamilton on BIX) writes:
- : >I say leave things where they are. Or if there are changes to be made,
- : >consider some "Extra-Extra" licenses for really high-speed code (> 30 wpm)
- : >or for demonstration of special skills in handling emergency traffic, etc.
-
- : Why does nobody want the theory tougher?? CW tests greater than the
- : existing 20 WPM so as to provide a greater challenge?? Whats wrong
- : with a theory challenge? Could it be that once you get to that 20 WPM
- : point, the code becomes an obsession? A skill to be learned and taken
- : to ridiculous extremes at the expense of all other knowledge?
-
- : After over a year of reading rec.amateur.radio.policy the truth
- : finally becomes clear: amateurs really are NOT afraid of code
- : nearly as much as they are of theory. The thought of a theory
- : test with more math and electronic fundamentals then the
- : existing advanced and extra tests horrifies them...
- : "Lord have mercy: we might have to do a little network analysis and
- : solve an equation with three unknowns. OH MY GOD! We might have
- : to figure the AC gain of a multistage amplifier. We might
- : have to figure out the input impedance of a transitor amp!
- : Nosireebob! I'd rather go on upping my code speed and get
- : more HF privileges while continuing to accuse those dumb
- : nocodes of being applicance operators. Yes: appliance
- : operators. After all, I know how to build a kit or copy
- : a design out of QST. I can copy 20 WPM. I have a WALL of
- : QSL cards. I took 1st in the contest last week. I am a ham's ham!"
- : Tougher theory means learning new concepts that you have never heard
- : of before. It means undersanding rather than brute-force pattern
- : recognition.
-
- : BTW, why are ALL the contests related to making contacts. Why
- : are there no theory contests? Why is ALL the prestige in amateur
- : radio associated with code, contacts and contests?
-
- : How about a contest that gives all particpants a year to come
- : up with a new design (not a reinvention of the wheel) that
- : requires efficient spectrum usage, low cost and reliable
- : data and/or voice transfer? Or even use an existing modulation
- : technique but have a contest to do it better and cheaper than
- : anything else available. How about giving it as much or more
- : attention as the page after page of contesting and QSL awards
- : that I see in issue after issue of QST?
-
- : --
- : /`-_ kevin.jessup@mixcom.com
- : { }/ Marquette Electronics, Inc
- : \ / N9SQB, ARRL, Amateur Radio
- : |__*| N9SQB @ WD9ANY.#MKE.WI.USA.NA
-
- Kevin makes good sense. To what end do I exchange a call sign,
- Contact number, and station class on Field Day? What have I
- proved?
- (For me it is a time when I am away from phones (except the cell-tell)
- and can chat with good friends while awaiting my turn to operate a HF
- rig "under supervision". We debate whether to "park and bark" or
- "roam and groan" to get more contacts....)
-
- Why not use repeaters? Link a dozen or so and pass traffic from the
- Left Coast to the West Coast?
-
- Its almost too late for this year - but why not analyze the rules,
- figure out what produces the most points (12GHz maybe) and work
- the "h3ck" out of that!
-
- Since the Coast Guard has given up the code - then maybe we are
- - again - lagging. We USED to be the pioneers (defined as those
- with their faces in the dirt and arrows in their backs). Now it
- seems that the commercial uses will "gobble up" the frequencies
- before "we" get there. Maybe we need to substitute feed-horn
- questions for the code.
-
- I wish I could give proper credit for the idea which appeared here
- a short time ago - which I think may be the BEST INTERIM solution
- - put a few code questions into each element so that the "testee"
- could at least identify which repeater he/she/it is on.
-
- David W. Barrow III | .sig under construction
- exe02594@vnet.net
- N9UNR@WA9POV.#MKE.WI.USA.NA
- 1894 Elm Drive - Town of Cedarburg
- West Bend, WI 53095-9603
- (414) 375-2667
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 24 May 94 20:35:24 -0500
- From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken.llnl.gov!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Code test speeds
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- exe02594 <exe02594@char2.vnet.net> writes:
-
- >OK - then please explain how CB is legal?
-
- The international code requirement pertains only to amateur operation.
- CB is not amateur radio.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 24 May 94 11:39:19 GMT
- From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!convex!news.duke.edu!godot.cc.duq.edu!newsfeed.pitt.edu!dsinc!wells!w2up!barry@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Code test speeds
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- md@maxcy2.maxcy.brown.edu (Michael P. Deignan) writes:
-
- > Although a good idea, I don't think its practical, since some health
- > plans may not have a physician who is a ham. Thus someone would have to
- > go to a non-provider physician and incur an out-of-pocket expense, or not
- > get a waiver at all, which defeats the purpose.
- >
- > MD
- > --
- > -- Michael P. Deignan
- > -- Amalgamated Baby Seal Poachers Union, Local 101
- > -- "Get 'The Club'... Endorsed by Baby Seal poachers everywhere..."
-
- Uh oh - you are touching a nerve here! So there's no ham-dox in your HMO.
- Big deal! If a ham license is worth anything to someone, they can fork
- over a few bucks for a medical exam. Despite President and Mr. Clinton's
- plans, I don't believe free health care is a god-given right. Neither is
- free legal care, free automotive care or free groceries.
- Judging from your header, you're in Rhode Island - the state which is
- presently (via its BC/BS plan) trying to claim that having cataract
- surgery in the second eye is unnecessary - after all, we only need one
- eye to see...
-
-
- =======================================================================
- Barry N. Kutner, W2UP Usenet/Internet: barry@w2up.wells.com
- Newtown, PA Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
- Packet Cluster: W2UP >K2TW (FRC)
- .......................................................................
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 24 May 1994 04:42:36 -0400
- From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!usenet.ufl.edu!usenet.cis.ufl.edu!anshar.shadow.net!anshar.shadow.net!nobody@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Skinny Dip
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
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-
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-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 24 May 94 17:05:44 GMT
- From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!headwall.Stanford.EDU!abercrombie.Stanford.EDU!paulf@network.ucsd.edu
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- References <hamilton.768755278@BIX.com>, <1994May13.195106.20824@mixcom.mixcom.com>, <2rst4c$gej@char2.vnet.net>
- Subject : Re: Code test speeds
-
- exe02594@char2.vnet.net (exe02594) writes:
-
- >Kevin makes good sense. To what end do I exchange a call sign,
- >Contact number, and station class on Field Day? What have I
- >proved?
-
- You've proven that you can pass small amounts of information quickly to a
- large number of geographically diverse stations. In a Real Emergency, this
- is what really counts.
-
- >Since the Coast Guard has given up the code - then maybe we are
- >- again - lagging.
-
- Um, you might want to tell that to the folks at NMC, who work a couple dozen
- ships an hour in the CW portion of the 8 MHz maritime mobile band. No, the
- Coast Guard has not given up the code. [They stopped monitoring the 500 kHz
- calling frequency a few months back, but mediumwave traffic on all modes is
- spotty these days.]
-
- >We USED to be the pioneers (defined as those with their faces in the dirt and
- >arrows in their backs).
-
- Yes and no. Hams largely pioneer advances in cost reduction, along with a
- few technological bits here and there. The latter hasn't slowed a bit.
-
-
-
- --
- -=Paul Flaherty, N9FZX | "The Enemy of the Good is the Better."
- ->paulf@Stanford.EDU | -- Gen. William "Wild Bill" Donovan
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 24 May 1994 19:40:14 GMT
- From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!zip.eecs.umich.edu!yeshua.marcam.com!news.kei.com!news.byu.edu!news.mtholyoke.edu!world!dts@@.
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- References <2rm331$i1j@ccnet.ccnet.com>, <2rmci7$nil@sefl.satelnet.org>, <1994May22.220257.3643@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>.ed
- Subject : Re: FCC understaffing problem
-
- In article <1994May22.220257.3643@ke4zv.atl.ga.us> gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes:
- >In article <2rmci7$nil@sefl.satelnet.org> jmodlin@satelnet.org (Jeffrey Modlin) writes:
- >>As another side bar:
- >>
- >>Our tickets are one of the only free things that can be gotten anymore
- >>through the FED. I know cost is always an issue, but don't you (pl)
- >>think that a small tariff on our licenses might help solve the issue.
- >>After all this person is there to meet our needs and my feeling is that
- >>her salary could go to better use. Ladies and Gents, if we're ready to
- >>plunk down several hundreds of dollars on equipment, shouldn't we be
- >>ready to drop another $5 or $10 for the license? The $5 +/- for the test
- >>is fine with all so why not take the next step. The cost of processing a
- >>ticket should be felt by the applicants not spread throughout the tax
- >>base and paid for by the rest of the tax paying public.
- >>
- >>Maybe if we're covering the cost we could have more to say about the turn
- >>around time.
- >
- >There are two things wrong with this idea. First, by law, all revenues
- >go directly to the Treasury general fund. Only Congress is Constitutionally
- >authorized to appropriate money. So any license fee is just a tax. Second,
-
- Is there anything that keeps Congress from directly targeting dollars to
- particular accounts? They do make the laws, after all...
-
- >there is no competition for the FCC in handling licensing, therefore there
- >is no incentive for them to perform efficiently. You can't take your business
- >elsewhere if you aren't satisfied with their service. Your only recourse is
- >through the political process, and that's open to all citizens, not just
- >those who receive services.
- >
- >Gary
- --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
- Daniel Senie Internet: dts@world.std.com
- Daniel Senie Consulting n1jeb@world.std.com
- 508-779-0439 Compuserve: 74176,1347
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 24 May 1994 22:52:20 GMT
- From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jherman@ames.arpa
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- References <ddtodd.77.000D50FB@ucdavis.edu>, <hamilton.768924952@BIX.com>, <ddtodd.89.0008D30A@ucdavis.edu>
- Subject : Re: Code test speeds
-
- In article <ddtodd.89.0008D30A@ucdavis.edu> ddtodd@ucdavis.edu (Daniel D. Todd) writes:
- > You keep saying that cw is just as important as it has always
- >been. This is simply not true. The ARRL did a survey recently.
-
- The survey said that almost 40% of hams operate CW (not exclusive of other
- modes). But trying listening to 40M in the evening and what you'll actually
- hear is at least 50% of all QSOs are being conducted using CW.
-
- CW is just as important as it has always been.
-
- Jeff NH6IL
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 24 May 1994 22:59:30 GMT
- From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jherman@ames.arpa
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- References <2qtv2u$pqn@chnews.intel.com>, <hamilton.768924220@BIX.com>, <051694162854Rnf0.78@amcomp.com>
- Subject : Re: Code test speeds
-
- In article <051694162854Rnf0.78@amcomp.com> dan@amcomp.com (Dan Pickersgill) writes:
- >>But obsolete? Anyone who's listened on HF knows that's not true.
- >
- >Yes sir, we are dedicated to preserving the history of radio!
-
- Dan, do as the man suggested! Listen and count the CW vs other-mode QSOs.
-
- >But MUCH more of the activity hams engage in is NOT morse code.
-
- Wrong wrong wrong. There are just as many if not more CW QSOs being conducted
- as compared to any other mode at any one time. [I'm going to have everyone
- saying this in their sleep.]
-
- Jeff NH6IL
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 24 May 1994 18:04:10 GMT
- From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!modem58.ucdavis.edu!ddtodd@network.ucsd.edu
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- References <RFM.94May18134613@urth.eng.sun.com>, <2rgane$elb@chnews.intel.com>, <Anthony_Pelliccio-230594124631@138.16.64.55>■Æ
- Subject : Re: What *does* the FCC think? (was Re: Code test speeds)
-
- Anthony_Pelliccio@brown.edu (Tony Pelliccio) writes:
-
- >Cecil,
- > Isn't the total spectrum used for HF CW less than 2MHz worth of
- >bandwidth? Not very significant when you come right down to it.
-
- Tony,
- CW is allowed on all HF frequencies. You are probably confused with the CW
- exclusive frequencies.
-
- Dan
-
- =========================================================================
- Dan Todd ddtodd@ucdavis.edu kc6uud@ke6lw.#nocal.ca.us.na
- Charter Member: Dummies for UNIX
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
- When radios are outlawed, only outlaws will have radios
- - David R. Tucker on rec.radio.amateur.policy
- ==========================================================================
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 24 May 94 18:01:34 GMT
- From: agate!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!NewsWatcher!user@ucbvax.berkeley.edu
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- References <2rgane$elb@chnews.intel.com>, <Anthony_Pelliccio-230594124631@138.16.64.55>, <ddtodd.114.000A121D@ucdavis.edu>
- Subject : Re: What *does* the FCC think? (was Re: Code test speeds)
-
- In article <ddtodd.114.000A121D@ucdavis.edu>, ddtodd@ucdavis.edu (Daniel D.
- Todd) wrote:
-
- > Anthony_Pelliccio@brown.edu (Tony Pelliccio) writes:
- >
- > >Cecil,
- > > Isn't the total spectrum used for HF CW less than 2MHz worth of
- > >bandwidth? Not very significant when you come right down to it.
- >
- > Tony,
- > CW is allowed on all HF frequencies. You are probably confused with the CW
- > exclusive frequencies.
-
- You're right... but even when you take total amateur spectrum below 30MHz
- it's not that much. The VHF/UHF bands waste much more.
-
- --
- == Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR
- == Anthony_Pelliccio@brown.edu, Tel. (401) 863-1880 Fax. (401) 863-2269
- == The opinions above are my own and not those of my employer.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Tue, 24 May 1994 08:35:57 GMT
- From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jherman@ames.arpa
- To: ham-policy@ucsd.edu
-
- References <9405111559.AA00194@hwking.cca.rockwell.com>, <BPL8Lc3w165w@w2up.wells.com>, <SRO.94May12193553@media-lab.media.mit.edu>
- Subject : Re: Code test speeds
-
- In article <SRO.94May12193553@media-lab.media.mit.edu> sro@media.mit.edu (Shawn O'Donnell) writes:
- >
- >How about this: since the technology is changing, we drop or lower the
- >code speed, but we require you to copy ASCII BPSK at 300 baud by ear.
-
- I don't hear too much of that on the bands but I do hear CW being used
- as much if not more than any other mode.
-
- > What's so special about the
- >code?
-
- At least half of those on HF use it.
-
- >Just because we had to learn it doesn't mean that it's
- >important.
-
- I'm not sure if anything is `important' in this hobby. But the code sure
- is useful. I can build a CW xmtr from spare parts (see my articles from
- last year on r.r.a.homebrew) and be on the air having a QSO
- with someone thousands of miles away in just a few hours time. That
- might no be `important' but it sure is fun.
-
- Jeff NH6IL
-
- ------------------------------
-
- End of Ham-Policy Digest V94 #221
- ******************************
-