Hot Tubes? Thought that was a seventies rock group! No...that was Hot Tuna, 
wasn't it?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 10:38 PM
Subject: CW Requirements


I used to think they shouldn't drop the code for any reason but I have
pretty much changed my opinion about that over the years.  Frankly, the
digital modes are practically taking over the CW bands anyhow.  If HF really
picks up during this next sun cycle peak, and it always does during those
years, the phone bands are going to be super crowded so the whole issue of
more phone band space is going to be coming up.  that normally means cutting
off some of the CW bands again.  I think they should give the digital folks
100 KHz and the CW gang at least 50 KHz of their own on all the major bands.
If a person isn't required to learn the code and if he isn't tested on it,
he won't be wanting to work CW anyhow.  It certainly doesn't make a person a
better ham, or smarter, or anything else but I wouldn't want to go without
it.  I haven't made an HF side band contact for years now.  In fact, I think
Butch on here was my last phone contact.  I always work CW for some reason.
To tell the truth, though, I sure had a blast during my novice days.  I made
lots of friends because I worked 80 CW most of the time as a novice.  Of
course, we only had one year to upgrade to general class so in six months, I
took the general test and passed it by the skin of my teeth.  I was 14 years
young at the time.  But, like I said, I really enjoyed my novice days with
the old gear, hot tubes, crystals to plug in, low power, and World War Two
receivers.  Now there is the name of a good ham magazine.  Hot Tubes.  Grin.

Phil.
K0NX