CANADA REPORTS AGREEMENT TO DROP MORSE

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

K6BBC

 

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

 

- 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

 

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,

 

I'm good.

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

73,
Chip N1IR

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

From one of the sissies in the North...First of all everything works by supply and demand. Also, you fine Americans profess to freedom being of utmost importance and freedom world wide . Please then, practise what you preach. Be tolerant of others and allow freedom to take it's course. When something or some system is protected by restraining rules, it usually ends up dying or disappearing. Morse code will always exist as a matter of fact there are people in our sissie radio club who can rattle of 18 words per minute. I haven't heard that very often down south. There are many aspects of our radio and all have to be respected. The real danger some day will not come the Hams but from the government. They will eventually steal your bands and frequencies. God Luck to all domains and all people everywhere

 

Yes, but how does all of this relate to making a Fan Dipole?



Peter, N4LI

 

We already do. Don't expect this change anytime soon people, things move slow in the frozen tundra

 

Everyone said the same thing back when no-code tech came along (end of amateur radio, end of the world etc). None of it ever came true and I'll tell you why: no one is that interested in amateur radio on any scale that really makes a difference. There are no masses waited at the gates to get on hf or amateur radio in general. You could give away extra class licenses at the street corner - I'd bet money no-one would do anything with them. A lot of this stems from the undisputable fact that we are so much better connected today then we were 10-15 years ago. When I want to make a phone call when I'm out and about I use my mobile phone - it works great, I can use it for anything I like and its cheap. When I want to send electronic mail I have a 3 megabit cable line (that a million times faster than 1200 baud packet radio). You get the point.

People will disagree with this statement - even though its pretty much what was said back in the early 90's in QST magazine (they used giving away extra class tickets at the superbowl as an example though). Tuning across the bands you'll hear traffic, but not nearly as much as it used to be. In Portland (population over a million) there are more than 50 repeaters around here, however only two or three are ever used with any constancy.

 

Why do those who complain about change in amateur radio continue to be operators?

When you got your license did you expect that regulations would remain the same forever?  For that matter, do you expect anything in this world of ours doesn't change?

Don't amateur radio operators count the ability to adapt to changing situations one of their strong points?

Hmm, guess not ... and to think so many of you berate CBers who are so much more adaptable -- you never hear them complaing about the inevitable demise of CW requirements do you?

Chuck, AA1MN