On 2005-08-09 22:06:01 +1000, "Gerald" said:
"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
k.net...
jds wrote:
well, call me an old fart then. if someone is too damn lazy to learn
code, let em be limited to a technician. i use cw 99% of the time. try
talking to some guy in italy that doesnt speak english any better than
i speak italian, add accent= wtf did he say??? an "a" is .- in any
language. jeez , 5wpm is a real obsticle?? i could copy 10 before i
even attempted my novice test.
j.d. kc7mpd
Sounds like a merit badge you have to learn to enter the club.
Bet you still have your Capt'n Midnight decoder ring.
Seriously, if you choose to use code, so be it.
I have better things to do with my time than learning to use a totally
dead language.
I'm not interested in ham radio as a hobby, I already have too many.
For me is it strictly a communication tool when I'm on then water.
Nothing more, nothing less.
If you aren't interested in HAM radio as a hobby, then why should the
hobby have to change to accommodate you? Why not expect the licensing
test to drop all the electronics requirements since you don't expect to
build / design / modify any radios. If you plan on having a marine
installer hook up your radio to a backstay, knowing about antenna
design seems like a waste of time. Even if you do, you should
probably need to prove you know something about rigging too. Well Lew,
if you want to communicate, use marine SSB, or Marine VHF, or CB, or
FRS, or GMRS, or your cell phone. Want to talk to HAMS? Get a HAM
license.
Want another potentially usefull communications option? If you do much
offshore work, you should consider getting a hand held Aviation VHF
radio with a AA battery pack to put in your "ditch bag". Legal to own?
yes. Legal to operate? Not with out an appropriate license. But, if
you just stepped up from your boat into your life raft, it might be
nice to talk with commercial airline pilots overhead while the rescue
people figure out who the unregistred EPIRB you activated belongs to.
--- ILLEGAL ??? COME ARREST ME --- PLEASE ---- NOW!!!!
Then there is that damn USCG Master License test. You need to know
inland river rules when you only operate in the atlantic coast. You
need to know how many bolts on a 6 inch fire hose coupling when you
only operate a 50 foot motor vessel. They actually expect you to know
how to navigate with a chart, dividers, parallel ruler and a pencil ---
how archaic is that? Everyone uses GPSs now. .They really need to dumb
that test down too to accomodate those too dumb, lazy or uninterested
enough to be bothered to learn.
Lew
Jerry
USCG Near Coastal Master / with towing and sailing endorsements
Amateur Advanced
That was the best rebuttal of the "you need to dumb things down so I
too can pass this test!" Amen Jerry.
PS. I am through all the practical reqirements for our AYF Coastal
Skipper Certification and working towards the Offshore Certificate.
--
Regards,
John Proctor VK3JP, VKV6789
S/V Chagall
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