At 08:13 PM 7/29/2005, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
As the USA's Federal Communications Commission observed, it didn't make a
lot of sense to test for proficiency in one mode (Morse) and ignore all the
other modes now in use.
What the FCC and others who make this argument fail to state is that code
is the only mode in which it is possible to actually administer a
proficiency test that makes any sense as it is the only mode that requires
a learned skill to be able to communicate with another station using that
mode. Exactly what proficiency would you test for SSTV for example or
PACTOR-III, the ability to boot a computer and click a program icon? Also,
other than speech, it is the only mode that the operator can decode solely
by listening to the sounds emanating from the speaker or headphones. No
other mode shares these unique characteristics nor requires a learned skill
to use.
However, these are not reasons to require a code test for access to the HF
bands but since the only meaningful test of the code as a mode is a
proficiency test I could see requiring it for the Amateur Extra Class since
there are numerous questions in the pool on various modes of operation.
73,
Mike WA3KYY
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