what countries still require morse code?

[AB2AX]

When I do searches,
I just come up with "Not many"

is there a list somewhere?
and at what speeds?

just wondering

tnx Patrick

[WX7G]

India and Japan have code testing for some licenses. I believe Turkey does also.

[W9GB]

Last time I looked a few years ago, there were at least 30 ITU countries (largely Western Europe, Australia,) that
relaxed or eliminated Morse code proficiency for an amateur radio license.

Russia, parts of Middle East, and Eastern European countries still required CW proficency for licensing.
BTW, at one time the fees to get a license in some countries were hundreds (or thousands) of US dollars -- I have not checked that aspect since late 1990s.

Canada provides a CW proficiency/endorsement, so that their citizens can operate in countries still requiring CW proficiency.

w9gb

[SV9OFO]

Greece, for one, still requires Morse code 5 WPM knowledge for HF priviledges.

It looks like it won't be for long, though; a public discussion regarding the modification of Amateur radio Act 68000/763/2002 including some "no-code license holders HF priviledges inclusion" was held on August by regulating authority, the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks (YYMD).

It is weird that the draft issued by YYMD was based on that no-code licensees would have been granted priviledges only to the voice and data portion of the bands, discretly excluding CW portions.

This was justified as a way to avoid interference to CW portions, and is believed to have originated by the IARU's Member society in GR.

Opponents to the draft, and supporters to the full drop of Morse code requirement, who are requesting the update of the act for long, claim that

"It's funny, some are trying to save CW by effectively killing it".

They base their opinions on that given enough time, when all newcomers to the hobby would have taken advantage of no-code licensing, nobody would ever need to learn CW, nobody would be able to even use CW (as one would have to take exams to upgrade his/her license in order to use CW portions at all) and nobody will eventually use the relevant band portions.

Same people claim that if CW is viewed under a prism of option rather than obligation, newcomers will bent over it curiously. "You can't *enforce* love for something, especially since we are talking about a hobby", they say, while strongly requesting the unification of all licenses to the one, European unified standard for amateur radio licensing procedure known on HAREC as the requirement for a full license, dropping the morse code requirement.

It's rather important to state that the sole difference in examinations between applicants for HF priviledges and applicants for VHF & up priviledges is the Morse code. All material from electronics to regulations remains the same for both categories, and the license upgrading procedure consists of just the morse code examination.

So far, situation remains, with no-code licencees having priviledges solely above 144 MHz. Ministry's Act update is held back in line as problems in Greek Economy call for more important issues to be taken care of.

While situation remains, holders of Advanced & Extra no-code US licenses can carry operations in Greece when visiting, as having full priviledges,
all HAREC no-code license holders of CEPT can operate with full priviledges, and a "no code" class-b license holder issued by YYMD can go everywhere within the CEPT (EU) except Greece, and have full priviledges(!), as a HAREC certification WILL be issued upon request by YYMD.....

[G4LNA]

It is weird that the draft issued by YYMD was based on that no-code licensees would have been granted priviledges only to the voice and data portion of the bands, discretly excluding CW portions.

This was justified as a way to avoid interference to CW portions, and is believed to have originated by the IARU's Member society in GR.



So if I'm reading this correctly the Morse code requirement isn't going to be scrapped at all if this goes through, I assume, rightly or wrongly, that to use Morse you still have to pass a Morse test? I don't know the privileges in SV but are you not allowed to use Morse across the whole band? Like you can in most EU countries.

[SV9OFO]

Hi hi! This is the very point I personally stated to the supporters of the draft!


"-There is absolutely no problem whatsoever! If someone should use CW (many class 2 amateurs use CW on 144, 432, even EME) in HF bands, they could do it wherever in the band they feel appropriate to (provided they don't cause interference), not just on the CW only portion of the band!
So, the draft is totally false, has no leg to stand on international agreements or regulations, renders itself inapplicable and cancels itself in a blink of the eye!".

It is totally nonsense. Has nothing to do with actual "CW portion protection", it is the last Old Timers attempt to distinguish themselves from the young lads.

Many, with me among those (I do have full priviledges), hope that they will eventually fail on marginalizing operators into groups of "be all" and "not be all".

Pressure was strongly applied on unification, and maybe we will manage to have the draft withdrawn for revision.

Problem is that local IARU representative is based in Athens, and most opponents of the current drafts revision are scattered around Greece.

Therefore, most hams are rarely asked for their opinion on ham subjects apart of the very core of RAAG and most RAAG members hold back the horses of unification, declaring that it is their opinions that should be respected, because they have been standing for amateur radio for 50 years or more.

Of course you have to prove morse proficiency in Greece in order to have HF priviledges, (whatever proficiency can be proved at 5 wpm). And the current (with no 2nd revision announced so far) draft on updating currently enforced act was keen on keeping the no-code operators out of CW portions instead of granting them full priviledges.

Of course you are allowed to use CW across all HF bands, as for HF ITU regulations and spectrum allocations apply as Greece has signed the spectrum allocation agreements, provided you are a Class 1 (fully priviledged) operator. No-code operators are only allowed to use voice, data or even CW for 144MHz & up throughout the bands. Repeaters are identifying themselves on CW.

Moreover, Greece has no explicitly enforced by law following of IARU bandplan so far, (the draft is supposed to change that but the writers probably misunderstood the limits of "CW only" portion as "CW only there(!)") so you could use voice on IARU bandplan CW portion and NOT be illegal if you do not cause harmful interference. Even on 30m.

Actually, having a license entitles you to the whole spectrum portion as applies to your license class, without any bandwidth limitation for using any modulation you want wherever you want, always provided you do not cause harmful interference.

limitations on that exist only for 50mhz (secondary alloc.(max bw 3 KHZ) ), 70 mhz (secondary alloc.(max bw 3 KHZ) ) and from 5.6 GHz and 10.3 GHz where a NoV is required. 24GHz is primary.

[N5AL]

Mexico:
The Class I license (5 year, renewable) requires 10 WPM.
The Class II license (5 year, renewable) requires 7 WPM.
The Novice license (2 year, non-renewable) has no code requirements.
The Restricted license (1 year, non-renewable) has no code requirements.

Don't forget the Ñ which is — — · — — :)

[WB2WIK]

Don't forget Pakistan!

Not only is a code test required, but you must first join the national radio club (mandatory) and obtain an SWL membership before you can even apply for a ham license. You also must be over 18 years of age, and register a complete station and antenna description: http://pakhams.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=92

Such things were common requirements 40-50 years ago in many parts of the world and (sigh) led to some of the best, most knowledgeable and talented contributors to the art of amateur radio there will ever be.

But that was then.;)

[WB2WIK]

Don't forget India!

5 wpm required for Grade II (partial privileges)
12 wpm required for Grade I (full privileges)

"The Officer-In-Charge, Wireless Monitoring Station, Dept. of Telecommunication under Ministry of Communication, Govt. of India is the authority for conducting these tests in their own town provided there are sufficient number of applicants. The licenses are issued by Wireless Planning & Co-ordination Wing of DOT, Govt. of India after passing the test in any of the following grades:

1. Restricted Grade II -Permitting use of VHF/UHF only (i.e Walkie-Talkies).
2. Grade II - Permitting HF/VHF/UHF frequencies but with limited transmitting power.
3. Grade I- Permitting all amateur frequencies with higher power including latest techniques.
4. Advance Grade- Permitting higher power and advanced techniques including Satellite Communication.

The Morse Code of 5 words per minutes sending-receiving will make eligible to get grade-II and 12 words per minutes sending-receiving will get grade-I. For advanced grade higher level of technical knowledge in electronics is essentially required."