RadioBanter - View Single Post - Advanced licensees who refuse to upgrade because of the CW issue

September 1st 03, 01:13 AM

In article ,
(Jason Hsu) writes:

I found this comment on eham.net:
"I hold the OLD ADVANCED license and it is a matter of prestidge. I
had to have 13 wpm to get to this level and now they want to do away
with ALL CW? Keep at least the 5 wpm.
It is too easy to pass a written exam. The code kept the CB crowd from
gaining acess to our bands. "

The fact of the matter is that simply having an Advanced is not proof of code
speed. Since 1990, medical waivers were available for 13 and 20 wpm.

Is this for real? Are there REALLY people with Advanced licenses who
refuse to upgrade to Amateur Extra SIMPLY because they feel the need
to prove they passed the 13 wpm exam?

There are some misguided folks who think that, but in fact it's not a proof of
code speed any more than my Extra is proof of 20 per.

I know it's a free country, and
there are also many Advanced licensees who decide that the extra
privileges aren't worth going to the trouble of studying up and going
to the VE session, but I find this hard to believe.

If somebody wants to know my code skills and technical knowledge, I don't point
to a license test I took in 1970. Instead, I just show 'em.

Anyone who thinks Morse Code is that important should try OPERATING
high-speed Morse Code and participate in Morse Code contests.

We do! 13 wpm isn't high speed, tho.

All the
Advanced license proves is that you passed 13 wpm and the other exam
requirements years ago.

Not even that. Medical waivers, etc.

It says nothing about what you have been
doing since. People who want to brag about their Morse Code
proficiency can do so much less obnoxiously by actually USING it on
the air.

No need to brag. Just show 'em.

73 de Jim, N2EY