Know Code or No Code??

I have to comment on the so called efficiency of Morse code.  Everyone that is for code talks about how efficient code is; how little spectrum it uses.  But I have to argue against this notion.

Some assumptions:
(These assumptions are backed up by references.  See links below.)
Code              5 WPM
Bandwidth    250 Hz

Code            20 WPM
Bandwidth   250 Hz

Voice           200 WPM
SSB           2500  Hz

Taking these to assumptions into perspective we get:
Code5:     0.02 Words/Hz
Code20:   0.08 Words/Hz
SSB:        0.08 Words/Hz

So in reality Code is not really that efficient.  Even at 20 WPM code just matches the Words/Hz relationship.  And if you factor time into the equation, it takes TEN TIMES as long to get the same message out in code!


References:
Bandwidth of CW
http://www.eham.net/newham/modes

Bandwidth of SSB
(gleened from statement that typical SSB is between 2 and 3 kHz)
http://www.qsl.net/kc0dmh/bandwidths.html

Speaking Rate

http://www.sheilaallee.com/questions.htm

 

No code's been around for something like eleven years, and you guys are still arguing about it? Sorry, after that much time, I don't get it. I got my license (my "no-code license") to communicate, not fight with people. If you want code as a useful mode, keep it. But if you want code as a hazing ritual, you're totally wrong and it should be dumped.

 

Im just learning code because I have to in order to upgrade .Thats it. Im just learning it because I have to.There are alot of things I had to learn because I had to. Some of the things I learned because I had to I knew right from the start I would never use but I learned them anyhow.Just to move ahead and go on. Like the dreaded code.Im just learning it because I have to in order to use hf phone. It isint going to make me a better ham.I m
already a good ham. Even if all I am is a "Tech cber".Now where did I leave my slide rule?

 

IMHO, I think code should be kept.
I think Insentive Licenseing should be droped, in favor of olny two classes, Novice and after year of on air a small test on general radio, passing to a general operator,(or what ever you want to call it ) full bands operation, then mabey just mabey Ham Radio might still be around in 10 years . The SAT computer with live audio and video is here now, and if you were not hams , what would you choose ?

73 .....

 

Will this ever end? Every 3 months or so this same tired old subject comes up with the same typical responses.

The next round will no doubt pit the pro-coders against the no-coders.

Same song, second verse.

 

I have no problem with telegraphy Elemet-1a continuing to be a requirement for HF class licenses. Matter of fact the Amateur Extra exam should be more difficult (technical) than what it currently is. . .

IMHO

73,

Peter - AG4RC

 

what can you do knowing the code??

you can listen for beacons on HF know what openings
there are and what area there comming from...

if you don't require code any longer for hams.
who will know code if it is used later due to a distaster?

I can check beacons and know what areas are open on HF. even today 10M was dead but a trip through 28.200-
28.300 showed 10M open to 3 land....

a week signal but a little opening.. so I put out a CQ
on 28.400 and picked up a 3 call.....

the "no coder" would have given up after not hearing a qso.....

Jeff

 

Can't we all just get along?

73's

 

I think KC2GVA and AG4TN are right on the money. How about this -

To get General you need:
  get you call mentioned in at 2-3 major contests (even with checklog), OR
  make at least 100 confirmed contacts on any band with any mode, OR
  homebrew some simple ham equipment (rigs, antennas, ..)

To get Extra:
  win a section, OR
  make 1000 QSOs, OR
  get WAS, OR
  ... etc

Time when CW was a measure of experience is gone. In the past, it was impossible to pass 20wpm without spending some significant time on the air, so you *had* to learn Q code, etiquette and proper procedures. Now, 5 wpm is just too easy and doesn't mean anything. There is no challenge in that. I think this is what our hobby is missing most these days - challenge. Lack of it turns out more newcomers than 5 wpm CW requirement.

 

I use CW exclusively on HF, but I don't think it should be required for your license. I also don't think I should have to learn all the math to upgrade to extra. I'll bet the are more people doing CW than ther are building their own rigs these days, yet I still have to learn half power bandwidth, LC formulas and DB gains and losses.
Can I claim a math handicap (with a doctor's notice, of course!) and get an exemption for that part of the test?!
Or I could just add 2+2 for the VE's and show I understand the concepts.

 

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Pestilence76 @ June 06 2002,20:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">...the movie Independence Day shows one reason why knowing code may be important. It is also a skill that should seperate the experts from the rest of us.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
QUICK!  Call SETI!  Get me my TELESCOPE!  Grab my DEATH-RAY BACKPACK! RUN!!  Those damned ALIENS are coming again!  Oh, and honey, BRING MY STRAIGHT KEY!  I wanna brush-up on my speed so when those UFO's come around here, I can dih-dah Will Smith and Tommy Lee Whats-his-name! OOPS!  Wait---I was thinking of the wrong Earth-destroying, alien-UFO movie, sorry!

As far as separating the experts from the rest of us, being good at pounding the brass does not make one an "expert" at anything but pounding the brass!

 

In responce to KA7RRA I partisipated in CW traffic nets for 2 days durring the initial 9-11 incident.Dave AE8U

 

I don't think a general or extra class license should be given without 5 wpm code exam. But other than in this panel, no one asked my opinion either.

 

Code:

 I earned my novice in 1956 as KN2ZUR, Moved to Michigan and got K8QJL. In those days I used CW pretty regularly. Dropped out in 1974. 3/18/92 I rediscovered ham radio, hated the code requirement. 2 days ago I tried it again, made a contact on 17 CW. Guess what? Its still there at about 10 WPM. Learned it in boy scouts 50 years ago and its still there! 
Code IS basic. It does separate the wanna be's from the Ham's. Lets keep this basic requirement. Its really not that hard to learn 5 WPM. Rick,  AB8NB

 

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Posted on June 08 2002,05:56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote (Pestilence76 @ June 06 2002,20:34)
...the movie Independence Day shows one reason why knowing code may be important. It is also a skill that should seperate the experts from the rest of us.

QUICK!  Call SETI!  Get me my TELESCOPE!  Grab my DEATH-RAY BACKPACK! RUN!!  Those damned ALIENS are coming again!  Oh, and honey, BRING MY STRAIGHT KEY!  I wanna brush-up on my speed so when those UFO's come around here, I can dih-dah Will Smith and Tommy Lee Whats-his-name! OOPS!  Wait---I was thinking of the wrong Earth-destroying, alien-UFO movie, sorry!  

As far as separating the experts from the rest of us, being good at pounding the brass does not make one an "expert" at anything but pounding the brass![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

I haven't seen that movie for a while, but I recall slow code and poorly set straight keys, not the morse masters one would think.