"CW" wrote in message
...
You know, the only way these things will change is when the oldtimers die
off. I'm one of them but agree with you.

Disagree

There is no issue -- until recently Morse code testing was an international
requirement.
Requirements are just that whether you like them or not.
(hated hygiene in college - useless course, bit the bullet and got thru it
anyway)
Now Morse it is no longer an international requirement (agreement), the US
FCC will undoubtedly drop it. Standby

We are talking about testing not the use of the Morse code.

I have no doubt what so ever that Morse will be used on the Ham bands
indefinitely by new folks, old folks and just plain folks and you can be
sure - contesters.

A charming mode such as this will refuse to die -- requirement for testing
or no.

The difference between the Morse code and PSK31 is nil -- speed is 30 to 50
WPM in either one.
The difference is a skill set that the anti-code bunch here refuse to buckle
down and learn

During the last county fair, I took a code practice oscillator to our Ham
booth and tapped out Morse code, dozens of kids stopped by and were
fascinated with it. Several wanted to know how to learn the code -- we gave
them handout sheets to get them started. We could not only attract youth to
Amateur Radio, we used Morse code to do it!! How do like them dity dots
hjsjms ???

We now have over 30 school kids enrolled in Ham classes.

What have you done to further the cause of Amateur Radio ????

Lamont Cranston
I shadow, therefore I am

wrote in message
ups.com...
The issue is not whether one could "suck it up" and take the
meaningless test if they want a license. No doubt, if someone wanted
to become an licensed amateur they could learn the minimum speed for
code and then never use it again.

The issue is how such requirements are are perceived by and whether
they motivate prospective hams to study for one or more licenses. Like
it or not licensed amateur radio communication and it's sister hobby
SWLing face a lot of competition from other modes of communication and
gathering information about the world that were not there 20 years ago.
And none of those modes require testing and licensing. That
competition is real and the amateur radio hobby needs to recognize that
it no longer has the appeal of being the premier method of long
distance communication. If the hobby doesn't, it will gradually fade
away.