"John Smith" wrote in
:

N2EY:

Perhaps introduce testing for "African Message Drum" also, bet some of
those guys could pound out a little ditty and have it carry a message
to! Maybe chant a little rap with it too!

Some testing in the care maintenance of carrier pigeons might be in
order to, for the guys who wanted real DX!

John

wrote in message
ups.com...
Leo wrote:
On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 19:37:30 GMT, "KØHB"
wrote:

An interesting announcement! Here in Canada, Morse Code is now an
alternative method of qualifying for HF privileges.

In other words - Morse survived!

Morse Code *testing* survived - it's just not mandatory anymore in
Canada.

IIRC, this was exactly what the commentary on the proposal supported.

A couple of the other requests from the Amateur community
via the
RAC proposal) were granted as well - increasing the pass
marks on the
exams to 70% from 60%, and the addition of commercial kit-building
privileges for Basic license holders.

Not bad - now there's a regulatory agency that listens. Well done,
Industry Canada!

I agree 100%!

They found a way to give everyone some of what they wanted.
They listened to what the majority of those expressing an
opinion supported, and acted on it. They produced a set of
regulations designed to reconcile or at least minimize
polarization, rather than increase it.

What concepts, eh? ;-)

Perhaps we in the USA should suggest such a system to FCC....



73 de Jim, N2EY




It's a little late, isn't it Jim?

I find it interesting that South Africa was the first one to propose such a
system, but I don't think the ZAs adopted it in the end. I have no trouble
in principle with an alternative theory/code system, but how would you do
it? Maybe Elements 2 and 3 + 20 wpm or elements 2, 3 and 4 to get full
privileges?

It's all moot now anyway. We all know the NPRM will become the R&O.

There is one loose end, though. I read the NPRM to say that Tech+ would
become closed, so that all new Techs would have to get element 3 to get on
HF, but others have read it that all Techs would get Tech+ privileges. Does
anyone know which is right?

My XYL (N3MKR) is a no-code Tech, but she will be taking element 3 anyway.
Her object is to get a UK licence. As she is not a US citizen (neither am
I), the only way for her to do that short of taking the UK tests is to get
her General, which would entitle her to a UK Full licence. She isn't
prepared to learn code to do it, but then neither is she in the least
interested in getting on HF, or anything besides 2m FM as a matter of fact.

I reckon she could take her element 3 now (or could if she had studied,
LOL!), as it shouldn't have expired by the time the R&O comes out.
Hopefully, by the time she got her General the free lifetime licences
should have been introduced in the UK, which would work out very nicely.

I have reverted to my original no-code call for the UK, as it is now a Full
licence. For a while I held an 'A' call, G0VUK, obtained on the basis of my
US Advanced as then was. Over there calls can only be re-issued to an
immediate family member or to a club, and only with the licencee's
permission (or next of kin). So, just for a laugh, I could let her have my
A call while I now have a B (no-code) call, although I have passed 20wpm CW
and she can't read code atall! That should wind up a few people.

73 de Alun, G8VUK, N3KIP