Post by va3css on Sept 30, 2005 9:26:26 GMT -5
In the war on the CW requirements, the one prevailing opinion is that if the requirements are dropped, CW will die off. What is forgotten is that in some ways, allowing operators onto the HF bands without any CW skills may, in the end, spark a renewed interest in that method of communication.
CW diehards and longtime Hams will tell you how CW is a mode of communication that can find it's way through almost any amount of interference, and with any signal strength. Thus, it's the single best form of communication out there. Many Hams may not fully understand that if the only exposure they have is repeater usage. Once they're on HF bands, listening to static they've never heard before, and trying to get their weak signal out much further than that invisible antenna up on that tall building across town, they'll understand better.
For sure, the biggest difference the dropping of the requirements has had in many countries, (including Canada) is an increase in radio sales. All sorts of operators previously void of HF band usage are out buying HF equipment right now. Even I have a new toy, from a recent swap in London, Ontario.
That new toy is a Yaesu FT-857D, which features, among other things, a CW tutor. That's right - you can have this rig tutor you on CW! Combine that with the rig's ability to actually be on HF bands with, and you have a winning combination for sparking renewed interest in CW.
But nowhere is this ever mentioned. All that's ever said is how dropping the CW would allow "riff raff" onto the Amateur bands, like it's some sort of separation between good and bad radio operators.
Like the recent interference / jamming problem in this area??? Does anyone actually believe CW would have made a difference there???
Even when dropped as a requirement, it doesn't mean it's gone completely.
Here in Canada, it's no longer a requirement. But it STILL can be used as one way to earn HF privileges!
As of the new rules, there are two ways for an Amateur to gain HF privileges:
1) Earn 80% or better on the Basic exam (which is 80 or more questions correct)
2) Earn at least 70% on the Basic exam + pass the CW test at no less than 5wpm.
Many examiners will even allow you to re-test at a later date, if your mark was less than 80% the first time through.
So it's not gone completely. It's just not a requirement. It still is one way to gain HF privileges. And IMO, once you're on the HF bands, learning CW will have a renewed interest.
That's certainly the case here in Canada.
CW diehards and longtime Hams will tell you how CW is a mode of communication that can find it's way through almost any amount of interference, and with any signal strength. Thus, it's the single best form of communication out there. Many Hams may not fully understand that if the only exposure they have is repeater usage. Once they're on HF bands, listening to static they've never heard before, and trying to get their weak signal out much further than that invisible antenna up on that tall building across town, they'll understand better.
For sure, the biggest difference the dropping of the requirements has had in many countries, (including Canada) is an increase in radio sales. All sorts of operators previously void of HF band usage are out buying HF equipment right now. Even I have a new toy, from a recent swap in London, Ontario.
That new toy is a Yaesu FT-857D, which features, among other things, a CW tutor. That's right - you can have this rig tutor you on CW! Combine that with the rig's ability to actually be on HF bands with, and you have a winning combination for sparking renewed interest in CW.
But nowhere is this ever mentioned. All that's ever said is how dropping the CW would allow "riff raff" onto the Amateur bands, like it's some sort of separation between good and bad radio operators.
Like the recent interference / jamming problem in this area??? Does anyone actually believe CW would have made a difference there???
Even when dropped as a requirement, it doesn't mean it's gone completely.
Here in Canada, it's no longer a requirement. But it STILL can be used as one way to earn HF privileges!
As of the new rules, there are two ways for an Amateur to gain HF privileges:
1) Earn 80% or better on the Basic exam (which is 80 or more questions correct)
2) Earn at least 70% on the Basic exam + pass the CW test at no less than 5wpm.
Many examiners will even allow you to re-test at a later date, if your mark was less than 80% the first time through.
So it's not gone completely. It's just not a requirement. It still is one way to gain HF privileges. And IMO, once you're on the HF bands, learning CW will have a renewed interest.
That's certainly the case here in Canada.
