RadioBanter - View Single Post

December 5th 05, 03:01 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.policy

wrote:
From: on Dec 3, 3:01 pm
K؈B wrote:
wrote

They're floating museum pieces.
In your dreams, landlubber! Just a couple of examples for you.....

The USS Constitution, homeported at Boston, is a commissioned US Navy ship (in
fact the flagship of the US Navy) with a full active duty crew of sailors. Not
a museum (the museum is across the street from her berth).

Been there, Hans.

There we have it! Presence of his Body makes Him "official." :-)

"Old Ironsides" is a museum piece. A fully operational museum piece thatactually
sails every few years, but a museum piece nonetheless. Her main functions are
educational and historic, not military.

Morse code testing for an amateur radio license is then also a
"museum piece"

How?

Hans says the USS Constitution is not a "museum piece". So neither is a
Morse
Code test.

of no educational or historic (nor military) need.

Why not?

There are many morse code museums around the USA to display the
"educational and historic needs" for morse code...no federal
license testing is needed to keep up those museums.

The USS Constitution is supported by Federal tax dollars and Federal
law.

If morse code is so damn good as a communications mode, then it
will survive quite well on its own WITHOUT federal license
testing requirements.

Maybe it will. There are reports of *more* Morse Code activity and
interest in some countries where the testing has been eliminated.
One such country is Germany.

Strange that all other radio services
of the USA quit using morse code for communications...

Why is that strange? Other radio services do not have the same
Basis and Purposes as amateur radio.

The USCG Barque Eagle, homeported at the Coast Guard Academy in
Connecticutt,
is a working training ship, used in training future seagoing officers.

Does she go out on search and rescue?

Is morse code part of search and rescue?

Can you shed some light on that or are you blinking in puzzlement?

[a clue a la "Jeopardy"]

Or is her purpose mostly historic and educational?

I'm glad those ships are kept in operation.

Why? You are NOT in the USN or USCG, have never served in uniform.

You have never been in the USN or USCG either, Len. You're no more
involved than I am.

You are NOT INVOLVED.

Yes, I am. I pay Federal taxes.

But in reality they are working museum pieces.

Tsk, tsk. Jimmie should go on a "cruise" (or "float", whatever)
with the midshipmen of either academy and see for himself. :-)

So they're not museum pieces. Which means Morse Code isn't either.

They're like the steam and first-generation diesel locomotives that a few
Class 1 American railroads have kept on their rosters. Those old locos spend
most of the time in storage, but are occasionally brought out and run
for special purposes. They still work, meet all applicable
requirements, and are technically
on the active roster - but in reality they're museum pieces.

Those old choo-choos are in the military? Do prospective Army
Corps of Engineers cadets from West Point, NY, go on railroad
"cruises" also? I think not. :-)

Actually, there is a station at West Point. A main line goes *under*
part of the campus.

Do those old choo-choos use morse code for communications?

Guess you never heard whistle signals...

And the main point remains: Sailboats make up far less than 1% of the
US military fleet.

Was that the "main point?" :-)

Yes.

Bad on me...I thought that AMATEUR RADIO LICENSING was the "main
point" in this thread. Must be "wrong." :-)

As usual.