Moving Forward

It is a new year and seems to be a new age for the Amateur operator. Many changes have taken place, some good and some bad. With new digital modes to radio over the Internet, and the FCC dropping the Morse code requirement. I also believe it is a the start of sunspot cycle 24, am I correct?

What changes that have happened recently do you think have and will effect the ham community most?

I believe that the dropping of the Morse code requirement is the one of the biggest changes this year. It was part of an exam to help operators learn a form of communication older than cell phones (by a longshot).
I also believe that it was a mistake. Morse code can get through when nothing can and removing the requirement will cripple emergency communications because of less Hams who can send and receive code in a disaster. Since you don't need a microphone or computer for Morse code and you can send it with 2 wires to act as keyer, it is a very efficient mode.

What do you think?

you are right. morse code can get messages to places voice cannot. but CW also discourages youngsters from joining the hobby.i myself am a basic plus licence holder.but i have decided my first HF QSO will be in CW only.

It's not the CW that is in the way, it is their will to learn it.

I don't even have my license yet(I take the test on the 20th) but you can bet I will study the code. I feel a little cheated actually. I may never be as fast as those guys on Jay Leno but I will be at least able to do 5wpm before I take the general.

Quote[/b] (ERICENNIS @ Jan. 12 2007,21:07)]I don't even have my license yet(I take the test on the 20th) but you can bet I will study the code. I feel a little cheated actually. I may never be as fast as those guys on Jay Leno but I will be at least able to do 5wpm before I take the general.
Go for it man!

[VA3SAX]

I'm a basic plus. managed to get 91% on my test...I'm still proficient at 7 wpm and I'm using the koch method to get to 25 wpm...5 wpm is not a major hurdle. And VA7AAX if you want to we can make a sched at some point once you're ready for HF...I made my first HF contact long ago and it was in SSB. if you want some good HF operating make sure to get out to field day...you can pack a years worth of learning into that weekend easily

[m0pcb]

CW rocks! Though in all honesty I didn't use it for quite a while after I passed my 12wpm code test. I started on air at about 5-7wpm and worked up. After a while I was up to 15-20wpm and loving it. Now I can cope with a little faster, but speed isn't everything. I'd rather stick at 18wpm and work people than rattle off at 45wpm and work a few QRQ ops.

Anyway, it's worthwhile to have a go, as with most things to do with amateur radio :-)

73, Iain M0PCB/AD5XI
FISTS 7194 :-)

[KB1LQC]

Quote[/b] ]It is a new year and seems to be a new age for the Amateur operator. Many changes have taken place, some good and some bad. With new digital modes to radio over the Internet, and the FCC dropping the Morse code requirement. I also believe it is a the start of sunspot cycle 24, am I correct?

What changes that have happened recently do you think have and will effect the ham community most?

I believe that the dropping of the Morse code requirement is the one of the biggest changes this year. It was part of an exam to help operators learn a form of communication older than cell phones (by a longshot).
I also believe that it was a mistake. Morse code can get through when nothing can and removing the requirement will cripple emergency communications because of less Hams who can send and receive code in a disaster. Since you don't need a microphone or computer for Morse code and you can send it with 2 wires to act as keyer, it is a very efficient mode.

What do you think?


I am an avid HF operator, I upgraded to Amateur Extra within a year of receiving my technician license and therefore had to learn code. My first contact was on a home brew 500 mW CW transmitter dubly named the "Michigan Mighty Might".

A majority of my operating on HF and even 6m is CW... about 60% to 75% or even more of the time I am on CW rather than sideband. So obviously I am a supporter of CW, as one would think.

However, I believe that the decision to eliminate the CW requirements was one of the FCC's best decisions. The move will allow more operators to gain their HF privileges and get exposure to CW and SSB. As a Tech. most operators only see the 2m FM and 70CM FM operations, maybe a few get into 6M Sideband but not many. CW will NOT diminish, more likely it will flourish. I see it with my school club, students and friends are excited to be on the HF portion of the bands and look forward to operating on HF. Their excitement rose and they still want to learn CW. This move will result in a positive influence to the hobby and CW alike.




Thank You
Bryce Salmi
KB1LQC

[VA3SAX]

CW is such a fun mode to work on. I can't imagine anyone simply abadoning it as an operating mode. the other thing that CW has going for it is the fact that it's so useful in many DX situations. in situations where you can barely copy a SSB signal CW still comes through loud and clear. I managed up up my score substantially in the VHF contest by responding to guys in cw because they couldn't hear me on SSB. if anyoen nearby has a setup on any of the vhf bands then drop me a line I'd be happy to try to setup a CW contest on 6m or something. once I switch my 6m antenna out for my 40m one once again I'll be back on there and we can try someting. Alternately I'm frequently on CWCommunicator practicing up on my skills

[W8LBO]

Yeah, I learned CW and wanted to get good at it, but I sort of put that off. It is pretty fun. People say it gets places when voice can't, but really, how often do you need a method of talking that gets places voice doesn't? I like the challenge of making out voices on 40-meters through QRM and static. It's sorta fun.