FCC Noncommital on Code Changes

PE1RDW

Ended with this thought demonstrating a great attitude;

"Do I feel wronged that they get handed all these extentions? no not realy because it gives me more felow hams to experiment with."

I like to think that some day many of the CW Morse Code lovers will stop the "I had to so you must also" or "you are not a REAL ham unless you know code". I am sick of the reference to lazy, stupid, dumbed down and other generalizations that disrespect many Licensed Amateur Radio Ops.

I sincerely hope that some day they have an epiphany and realize that CW can stand on it's own for many many decades well into the 22nd century, perhaps forever. (well at least as long as the ARS exists)

CW and Morse Code works every where every time, CW and Morse Code are a tradition, CW is easy and can be done home brew for less the $20.00, CW Morse Code is on the moon, satellites, and many beacons, Morse Code on CW helps bridge the language barrier, Morse Code on CW is nostalgic, and Morse Code via CW is fun..... sell those facts OM!

WOW! And I am staunchly anti code test....hummmm go figure

 

I guess I need to hurry up and learn code before the requirement goes away - and then never use it.

I would hate to be shunned by all the know-coders for the rest of my life while I'm TALKING on HF.

 

I say we lower the requirements for physicians. God knows we have a shortage of them.

 

Simple fact:
Any General,or Extra in favor of dropping code is just wanting his/her local 11 meter buddies to be able to get on HF with him/her!
Mike

 

Bad analogy.  Eliminating/lowering physician testing would cause more people to die from doctor mistakes and incompetance.  Eliminating the code test will just cause a couple ham operator heart attacks.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself...most of the ones that complain about the fcc dropping it, never use it anyway.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I say we lower the requirements for physicians. God knows we have a shortage of them.


YES they are called EMT's and Volunteer First Responders!
I bet that they are the first to treat you if you are having a heart attack or stroke or bleading badly after a car crash.and thank God they are there!

Get Real here.
ARS is a hobby!
Do  physicians do it as a hobby!

I did an edit for the spelling police.
But I do have other hobbie's OK?

 

That physician analogy was completely brainless. k3ng is right, as is kc0pdf - I can tell you, I know more EMTs that have saved lives where, without their help, the patient would have died. Radio is not even remotely related to that analogy. Sheesh.

Being able to copy CW at 5, 13, or 20 wpm does not make anyone a good op. Nor does not knowing code make someone a bad op. Of course, the issue is now, and always has been, the fact that some folks have had to run a more rigorous gauntlet than others. Though only required to work 5 wpm, I am up to 13 now. I am very slow and I really don't care. I am raising the bar for myself, not to prove to anyone else I can do it. What I am really concentrating on is learning more radio theory and electronics. I could care less if I never gain speed with CW. But I do care that I understand about propagation, antennas, amplifiers, SWRs, etc. So have your code-no code debate. It is really pointless.

 

1) A lot of people are referring to a "hobbie".... would someone tell me what a "hobbie" is? Is it anything like a "hobby"?

2) I am both amazed and appalled at the number of times people are willing to rehash the same old arguments over and over again. Instead of complaining about this old topic, get into the shack and get on the air. Imagine how many more people could be in your log if you left these stupid code threads on this website alone!

3) This site sets a horrible example for newcomers to amateur radio when all they see is ops bashing each other over code and other issues... just knock it off. You want to attract new people to the hobby? First and foremost, stop scaring them off with all these stupid threads that make it look like we're all a bunch of stuck-up know-it-all snobs. There are few people like this on the air in reality, and when you run across them most ops have a nice device called a VFO to get themselves away from it. It must be real motivating for a potential new licensee to go for it when they see nothing but hostility on what's probably the biggest ham radio site on the net.

4) Gaaaaaah, I'm going to go get on the air... I'm sure I'lll get flamed for posting anyway. And I just might use code. Or SSB.

 

With the FCC taking the time to mandate a no code testing requirement, could it be that they want the ham community to get this off their chest, matter of speaking, before they actually put this into effect?  To make it an easier transistion?

The reason I'm asking this is because I've read in other posts and threads that some of the hams say that first they were against it, then later in the thread or other posts, they state that they were either wrong or thought it to be a great thing getting more OP's to work on the bands.

 

(Devil's Advocate Mode) Simple Fact: Anyone in favor of keeping the code test just wants to keep only their old geezer buddies in ham radio just so they can talk about their laxatives and medical issues.

All sounds kind of silly, doesn't it?  Do you have any evidence to back up your "simple fact"?  I'm a 20 WPM Extra and don't know any CBers.

 

Well here goes my first post.

I became a NCT when I was 12 in 1994. I have been meaning to get my code privliges ever since but I made a big mistake and joined the local volunteer FD and EMS. J/K I am glad I joined emergency services because I have learned a lot and it helped me get a great job.

But all of this volunteer work has kept me busy along with school, college and work. I have been learning the code on and off and hopefully I will finally get thru this and get HF privliges. If I even have the spare cash kicking around to get a HF radio - and find a way to put a HF antenna in my condos attic! Time will tell.

Anyway, I am 24 and most of my friends are around the same age. They all think the hobby is interesting but the CW scares them away. Talking to people far away in other countries is cool to them. The local repeater talk is not that attractive. They can do the same thing with their phones in full duplex! Even when I explain why CW is better sometimes they just refer me to the internet, their MP3 player camera cell phone or instant messengers that can all do the same thing for much less. Young people seem to like efficieny a lot these days with the little time we all have.

If letting CW go gets more people into the hobby then lets welcome it. We all have a favorite mode to use. BUT, the FCC should leave a subband for CW operators. You never know when our bands are going to be looked at as prime real estate for other services. After 9/11 shortfalls in public safety communications has been a highlight in all the news. Not much has happened because there is NO MORE spectrum left. Pretty soon they might start to look at 2m, 1.25m or 70cm when first responders start to figure out that 800 trunk/digital systems dont propagate and cover large areas. Get more people involved in the hobby dont shun them away.

Shawn N1TGE

 

But they are too lazy to learn. They've grown use to welfare and thats good enough for them
73
AC7DX
A know coder

 

Ok Shawn,

As far as cw scaring people,--I was 17 when I got my
novice ticket back in 1959, and cw did not scare myself
or many other "kids" back then.

And why do you think that was?--We looked as the
cw requirement,--as just that,--a "requirement" and did
what we had to do to get the license.

I was "scared" when I took my motor vehicle drivers exam at 19, BUT I did NOT let that stop me,--barely
passed the road test, and went on to be a good driver
and have driven all over the U.S. over the past 40+ years and was able to stay out of any major accident.

I guess,--what I am saying,--is that if you want
something bad enough,--you will find a way to get it.

                         73`s, Good luck,
                          from Rene,--K1MVP

P.S., You have already demonstrated courage,(in my
       opinion) in posting your thoughts on this
       website.(QRZ is a "rough" one)

 

I plan on learning CW and upgrading no matter what. Whichever way the ruling goes, it only changes exactly how soon, and the order I'll do it in (I'm already confident in passing the written for the General, but am nowhere near having my CW down yet).