Comments below.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

"Vito" wrote in message
...
"Glenn Ashmore" wrote

Doug Dotson wrote:
..... Personally, I think the code should stay.

I am a bit worried about the bands going the way of CB ... I would like
to see
the writtens get a lot tougher ....

It's inevatable because of technology. One had to know Morse to be a ham
"back when", not because of FCC rules but because it was the only reliable
way to communicate. The rules merely reflected that technical reality.

I think CW is still more reliable than phone, but certainly not more
effiecient nor is it more practical.

That
is no longer true today so requiring Morse makes about as much sense as
requiring visitors to Yellowstone Park to demo proficiency with flint and
steel before being allowed to see Old Faithful.

Not sure that being able to build a fire is a prerequisite to looking
at something. I agree that CW is obsolete, but your anology is a bit thin.
I wonder if when the code requirement goes away, the CW only portions
of the band will go away as well? Another poster suggested an additional
certification to operate in the CW subbands. That may be a workable
solution.


The same goes for the electronic part of the written tests. It was
essential
for hams to know enough to stay out of trouble when everybody built their
own rigs, but that day is long gone.

Some of the electronic portion is designed to make sure you don't kill
yourself. Others deal with not interfering with other services.

Everybody is an "appliance ham" because
it is too expensive to home brew.

Expense isn't the issue. Many hams these days just don't posess the
skills to homebrew. Homebrewing was just one aspect of the hobby.
Now days, instant gratification is the controlling factor.

This means that written tests should
emphasize good operating techniques which means a lot of rote
memorization.
You don't "understand" band limits in the same way we had to "understand"
how vacuum tubes and transistors worked - you just memorize them. In a
way,
that makes the tests harder. I didn't need to study before aceing my
general exam 'cuz I could already draw Hartley and Colpitts oscillators
but
I'll have to hit the books to pass my Extra cuz it's all memorization.

I would argue that drawing a schematic for an oscillator is pretty much
rote memorization. 4 years ago when I took my Extra written, it was
certainly not mostly memorization unless you mean memorizing the
test bank. I found it easier to learn the theory. The impedance calculations
and various other items did take some effort to learn.

73, K3DWW