Hi all,
I agree with you Butch.  I have been a ham for about 30 years.  I cut my
teeth on cw, and still enjoy it.  But, I also like the new modes as well.
There's something special about listening to a satelite as it comes over the
hurrizon and passes overhead.
There's one thing that I don't understand.  What is wrong with ham radio
today.  The only major change that I have seen is that cw qsos are a little
harder to make these days.  Other than that, everything seems about the same
to me.
Thanks,
Clarence
----- Original Message -----
From: "Butch Bussen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 2:11 PM
Subject: Re: Reflections On The Past Forty-Four Years In Ham Radio #1


>I don't agree with the thought that getting rid of c w caused the increase
> in all the rudeness and so forth we see on the air these days, nor do I
> consider ham radio a glorified cb band.  I was a novice back in 1961,
> never got on the air.  got my general in 1968 and have been an active ham
> since and now have my extra, yep, had to wait until they dropped the cw
> requirement down to 5 wpm.  I never liked cw, I could never make it to 20
> wpm.  Sure, ham radio has changed, some for the good and some not so good,
> as with all things in our society.  I use to operate 80 meters back when I
> first got on and some of the most unfriendly rude and obnoxious people I
> ran across were licensed extras who had passed their code test at 20 wpm.
> I think it is ludicrous to claim the absence of a cw requirement has lead
> ham radio to where it is today.  Many things have ben a factor.  As far as
> rudeness and such go, I see a lack of that almost every where I go in
> society these days, not just ham radio.  Try driving in a large city such
> as Vegas and you'll see what I mean.
>
> I don't want to turn this into a code versus no code debate, I think code
> is great for those who love it, but why should those of you who love it
> require those of us who don't to use it.  I love and enjoy theory, and
> many of my friends will tell  you I'm a very good tech.  The theory part
> of the exams were a piece of cake for me.  Now I could say, the theory is
> too easy.  We should make it much harder.  Same logic applies I think.
>
> Yes, the hobby has changed, I've seen packet come and go.  I ran a packet
> bbs for 15 years, two nodes and maintained and owned two repeaters.  Here
> in VEgas, I own my own repeater with i r l p on it, and serve on two
> technical committees in ham clubs.  Why, because I like computers and
> theory.
>
> Enough of my rambling.
> 73s
> Butch Bussen
> wa0vjr