"Bill Turner" wrote in message
...
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

On Mon, 05 Jun 2006 23:59:38 -0500, "David G. Nagel"
wrote:

The problem with the newbys with nocode techs is that they don't realize
that knowing the code is just as important as knowing how to press the
on/off button.

Dave WD9BDZ

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

"Just as important"?

Boggles the mind.

73, Bill W6WRT
49 yr ham, Extra Class

I don't think you can really expect the newbies to want/desire to know that
which they know may be being phased out soon. Why worry about learning it if
they know it will soon be gone?

I am of the opinion that a 5 WPM at least - should be kept on as a
requirement - as someday - it may be needed. Think not? Say you're in the
midst of an attack - of terrorism, a war on our homefront OR a large scale
natural disaster, a microphone isn't working or available. You can key the
radio but don't know code - now what? With code, even at 5 WPM - you could
get some very important information to those needing it to help save you -
to them. You could tell them WITH code, what is needed, exact whereabouts,
how many people involved, etc........ Just clicking a mic pin with a wire
won't tell anyone anything and could delay any help or a response big enough
to do much good. In these times with the large scale disasters as we've seen
and attacks - even for any said to be planned, NOW is a good time to WANT to
know code. IT may save you........ It is one of those skills you learn -
just like CPR or whatever - you hope you never have to use, but you're glad
you have it - when you need it.

5 WPM is NOT hard to learn or do. ANYONE with any interest can learn it in a
month at most if you take x amount of characters a day and start using them.
Many learn it sooner but it shouldn't take more than a month to get to 5
WPM. "I" know how I learned it but my method won't work for all, just as
others didn't work for me. But the main thing is, you must "want" to learn
it. If you were 16 and didn't want to learn to drive a car - plain and
simple your driving days would be non-existant or very short lived at best-
point being MOST 16 year olds WANT to learn to drive. YOU HAVE TO WANT IT.

Many of you may have heard of the Quecreek Mine incident in PA some time
ago. A pipe was drilled down into the shaft. Those at the surface heard 9
taps on it, signifying there were 9 miners there. NOW - if any of those
miners KNEW code, they could have gotten a message to the surface as to what
conditions were exactly, the extent of injuries as best they could, etc.
Maybe even instructions to help those on the surface plan their moves a tad
better. Luckily, the 9 were saved but that is an example of just those 9
taps - crude MORSE - which sent a valid message. Were it not for that, no
one would have known they were alive until someone may have went in. AND -
MAYBE - those digging operations after a couple hours would have slowed due
to lost hope. The fact they knew those guys were still alive gave them
urgency to press on......... Code CAN have a place in your life.

clfe