beerbarrel wrote:
On 21 Jul 2005 12:35:42 -0700, "John S." wrote:



beerbarrel wrote:
On 21 Jul 2005 12:08:56 -0700, "John S." wrote:



beerbarrel wrote:
On 21 Jul 2005 11:58:58 -0700, "John S." wrote:



beerbarrel wrote:
On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 13:29:37 -0400, Cmdr Buzz Corey
wrote:

John S. wrote:


Yes, or require that prospective drivers be proficient in the use of a
buggy whip in addition to passing a written and practical driving test.


If they are going to drive a buggy, it might be a good idea.



Maybe we should just drop the driving test altogether...well start
with your kids.

And that's the point. The written and practical drivers test is a
measure of whether a prospective driver knows something about the law
and theory of driving and has some proficiency in the operation of a
motor vehicle.

The written amateur test proves that the owner has some knowlege of the
theory of radio construction and operation.

The morse code test only tests the ability to translate a language for
which there is no practical use. It does not shed any light on the
ability if the prospective ham to operate a ham radio in a safe and
courteous manner. A live on-the-air test of a prospective ham setting
up a rig and using voice or one of the digital modes would prove
something about his competence as a radio operator.

Copying morse code proves nothing.



It proves that you have basic working knowledge of a very efficient
form of communication that is used for emergency communications today
and tomorrow. It runs circles around audio communication and can be
much more effective. Under certain conditions, having the ability to
copy morse can can mean the difference between like and death.

Morse code is not used in communications of any consequence in the
western world. Try communicating in morse code to FEMA, the Hurricane
Hunters, local police, fire or medical workers and see how far you get.
Nobody will be listening.


Let's hope I never have to find out, but I'd much rather be safe than
sorry. Btw, do a little band surfing through the cw bands sometime and
see how many signals you get then compare it the other bands. Cw
signals will be there when audio is long gone.

At least I will know where to go when I want to hide from the Ham
radio wannabes....head to the CW areas and get out of the new CB
areas.

But surfing through the bands and finding cw only proves one thing:
That there is a small band of hams that still enjoy an early form of
semi-digital communications. None of the people that do the searching,
rescuing, faghting wars, etc., use morse code. It was THE way to
communicate under difficult conditions, but no more.


Still is and always will be John. I'm assuming that you don't know
code. Would you know code from some other form of communication if you
heard it?

Sure, but whether I or anyone else knows it is pretty much irrelevant
since there are very few practical uses for it any more. I'm not sure
what you meant by: Still is and always will be. If you are saying
there are rescue, search, military or other professional groups in the
western world that use cw actively I would like to have a list.