You're right Ron. Most of us are "appliance operators" now. I still like playiung with my small homebrew rigs and the TCS.
Only regret is I wished they'd kept at LEAST the 5 WPM requirement for Amateur Extra. I got mine back in the early 60's when you had to do the 20 WPM test at the FCC's office. Actually, I took three codes tests that day: 16 WPM groups, 20 WPM plain text for 2nd Class Radiotelegraph, and 20 wpm for Amateur Extra. This was followed by the elements for 2nd Class Ship Telegraph. Was a long day! 73, Sandy W5TVW ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <[email protected]> To: "'Elecraft Discussion List'" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 4:20 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] My "Attitude" > Dave, NM4M wrote: > > QST, you will find that each generation of hams states how much easier > the ones that came behind have it. Its human nature. > > ------------------------- > > What a Ham needs to know to put a rig on the air today requires only a > tiny > part of the technical knowledge that past generations needed to know. > > Installing and repairing equipment also has grown more complex, just as > all > the various modes and procedures has made operating it more complex. Some > people do it all. Others specialize. Most Hams do a little of both. > > Even commercial licenses reflect this. Today a shipboard Communications > Officer may be licensed to operate the critical communications equipment, > but he/she is not allowed to repair or tinker with it in any way. In the > past, of course, "Sparky" was expected to do it all. > > If a modern Communications Officer wants to do repairs, he/she needs two > difference licenses from the FCC. Many ships find it more practical to > simply carry spares and let defective equipment be handled by specialists > in > port. > > > Ron AC7AC > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.325 / Virus Database: 270.12.23/2106 - Release Date: 05/09/09 06:54:00 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
