CANADA REPORTS AGREEMENT TO DROP MORSE

[AA7BQ]

INDUSTRY CANADA REPORTS "OVERWHELMING AGREEMENT" TO DROP MORSE

Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) reports that an Industry Canada (IC)
analysis has found "overwhelming agreement" that Canada should move away
from retaining a Morse code requirement as "the sole means of gaining
access" to the HF amateur bands. IC has posted a summary of comments from
the amateur community to RAC's Recommendations from Radio Amateurs of
Canada to Industry Canada concerning Morse Code and Related Matters.

"Amateurs should note that while the responses heavily favored deletion of
the Morse Qualification as a requirement for access to the HF bands,
Industry Canada still has to make and announce a decision on Morse
retention or deletion," RAC emphasized. IC reported 123 comments in favor
of relaxing the code requirement in Canada and only 19 "clearly opposed."
Another six comments were inconclusive.

The regulatory agency also has attempted to gauge the level of support for
each of RAC's 12 license restructuring recommendations. IC said it would
formulate a plan to implement changes emerging from the consultation
process.

RAC notes that until IC announces a decision to delete Morse, Canadian
amateurs not holding the Morse Qualification may not operate on the HF
bands.

The Industry Canada comment summary is on IC's Web site
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/inter.../sf08280e.html

Here in the US, the FCC has made no recommendation or decision regarding
the future of the current 5 WPM (Element 1) Morse requirement for HF
access. It's also reviewing several petitions, including one from the
ARRL, that propose further Amateur Radio license restructuring.


Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.

[K6BBC]

It's the end of the world as we know it.

K6BBC

[KC0W]

The great GIVE AWAY has already started up north & is marching it's way south. Amateur radio will surely be great here in the USA when we have a bunch of 2 meter repeater op's on HF.


Tom kcØw

[M0DTE]

Quote[/b] (k6bbc @ Jan. 22 2005,18:43)]It's the end of the world as we know it.

K6BBC

- and i feel fine!

i passed my uk rae in 1991 but never applied for my callsign until 2004 - back then i was never really interested in vhf - just hf dx and no interest in cw whatsoever (i trained to be a marine radio officer in 90-92 and did morse at 10wpm - my college experiences of morse training put me off the mode completely). I took the decision to apply for my callsign after the morse restriction was lifted here in the uk. ironically after 6months on the air i now have a keen desire to (re)learn cw (i feel im missing out on something great!) and i use vhf daily. - you see the fact is if the uk RA (ofcom)hadn't dropped the cw requirement i wouldnt even be operating at all. I had been without any radio equipment for a number of years but now spend most of my free time (and money!) on the radio or home-brewing a new antenna/interface -

Thats not a bad thing - surely!

take care

73 de

Chris
m0dte

[WT4M]

Is this really the end of the world? #Perhaps it already ended when we reduced the code speed. #How many of those who learn the code continue to use it?
Since I have learned, I have enjoyed copying and intend to jump in with both feet, when I get the opportunity.
IMHO, we should keep the code requirement as it currently stands. #I believe that it is essential that operators at least be able to copy at slow speed, in the event of catastrophic emergencies (such as those of late). #But I don't think that requiring the code (at any speed) will ensure "noble & reverent" operators.

73,

[W1YW]

I'm good.

We're just a weeee bit slow in the south...

73,
Chip N1IR

[KC7JTY]

Its amazing how different the Canadians are from us. In many ways they are more mature & less like children (as is the rest of the world).
There are however things about them that can really tick me off. The code thing is not one of them. Listening to you guys moan about the decline of Morse is joy extraordinaire to yours trully. I'll be savoring it for some years to come.

[KU2US]

I personally hope the FCC KEEPS the code requirement here in the USA. it is one of the only things that differentiates us from Chicken Band operators. It separates the DO'ERS from the wannabees, it separates those who are serious about ham radio, from those who just want to put a mic up to their mouths and yell "Radio Check". Yes, I agree about last ditch effort emergency communications, CW has got it all over SSB. It makes me sad that folks now days just want things just handed to them, instead of working for it. "its just to hard, I will never use it, its outdated, digital is faster, I have a cell phone, repeaters are cool, it keeps new hams out, it takes away from new technology" all lame brain excuses presented in the past. If a NEW ham wannabee really yearns for a ham license, They will Learn the code and all they have to do is "ask" for help, and it will be there in droves.When are folks going to realize, like it, use it or not, Code separates us from GMRS, FRS, CB and even "EchoLink" which I feel is NOT ham radio. I am a "Slow Know Code" Ham. This doesnt make me better than anybody else, but at least down deep I know I earned my license, and belong to a group that wants to keep ham radio the way it was intended to be-something better than CB.Example-"Radio check, Break/Break, ten-four, whats your "20", Raddiddio" all commonplace on some 2-meter repeaters, and now creeping into HF. I know Im going to get flamed for this, but TO BAD. Anybody can get a book and learn the answers before the test, anybody now can #get an Extra class license in 2 -weeks, which means, also, ANYBODY CAN LEARN THE CODE, too! My Advance class license is mine for life (Maybe), and Im keeping it. It is the only license now, to me, that means anything anymore. I am not degrading anyone, I dont care how you got your license, if you operate in the spirit and consideration that ham radio was meant to be. KEEP THE CODE.....Ken

[KF4ZNL]

I WOULD LIKE THE FCC TO DROP THE CODE FOR THE GENERAL CLASS LICENSE. I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) IT'S CAUSED COGNITIVE AND MEMORY PROBLEMS. I MANAGED TO PASS WRITTEN PART AFTER A YEAR OF VIDEOS AND ONLINE TEST. AND I MONITOR HF. AND FIND THAT THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT I FIND OFFENSIVE ON UPPER BAND'S #40 THRU 160 METERS TO BE AS BAD OR EVEN WORSE THAN THAT OF CB'ERS!!!! SO DO SAY THAT BECAUSE I CAN'T PASS MY CODE TEST THAT I'LL ACT LIKE A CB'ER. BY THE WAY I WAS A TRUCKER AND USED CB OFTEN NOT ONLY FOR TRAFFIC INFO BUT TO RAG CHEW TILL MS CAUSED ME TO LOOSE MY CDL.

[vk3aof]

Learning the code is like learning to shoe a horse to get a drivers license