Opus- wrote:
On 5 Oct 2006 04:26:28 -0700, spake thusly:
Opus- wrote:
The statement is quite simple...a voice on the airwaves can convey
much more information than just the words spoken but CW can only
convey the words.
Morse Code can convey more than the words - if the operators are
skilled in it.
One of those old timers once told me that he recognized another
operators "hand" back when I watched him operate.
Yup. Little things about an op's sending can make it as recognizable as
a familiar voice.
btw, the term "fist" is used in the same context as "hand" was used by
that op.
I am not sure how
much more a person can get out of code.
The words, of course. How they are sent can tell a lot, too. It takes a
bit of experience to recognize all the subtleties of Morse Code.
The main point is that skilled Morse Code operators can convey more
than 'just the words'.
It's not the same thing as a voice, though.
I think that is your main point.
It's a different
communications experience, just as the written word is a different
experience from the spoken word.
Fair enough.
Exactly.
Since the medium and usually the hardware is exactly
the same weather or not a microphone or a key is used, why bother with
a key that is much more limited?
Several reasons:
1) It's often *not* the same hardware. You can use much simpler
equipment for Morse Code than for voice modes.
Well, I did say "usually".
Of course.
But wouldn't simpler equipment limit you to code only?
That depends on the exact situation. The important point is that once
you have Morse Code skills, using code-only equipment isn't really a
limitation in most cases.
Simplicity of equipment can be very important in some situations. For
example, if someone wants to actually build their HF Amateur Radio
equipment, it's much simpler and easier to build a Morse Code station
than an equivalent-performance voice station. In portable operations,
the power requirement, size and weight of a Morse Code station can be
less than that of the equivalent voice station.
2) It's a different communications experience. (see above). For many of
us, that alone makes it worthwhile.
I am curious as to what would make it worthwhile.
All sorts of things:
A) You can communicate without talking or typing. (In a world where a
lot of us spend a lot of time on the telephone and computer, being able
to communicate another way can be a real treat!)
B) The exercise of a skill is fun. Consider the person who learns how
to play a musical instrument: do you think making music (performing) is
the same experience as listening to recorded music?
C) Once you have the skills, communicating with Morse Code can be as
easy - or even easier - than using voice.
D) You can use Morse Code in situations where voice could not be used.
For example, suppose you are in a small house, apartment, RV, tent,
etc., and you want to operate without disturbing others (who might be
sleeping, talking, etc.). Of course you can put on headphones so they
don't hear the received signals, but in order to transmit, you have to
talk. Even if you keep your voice down, it can bother others. How many
times have you heard people complain about folks using cell phones in
public? But with Morse Code and a good pair of cans, you can operate
and make less noise than someone typing on a keyboard.
3) It takes up much less spectrum. With good equipment, five to ten
Morse Code signals can fit in the same spectrum space required by just
one single-sideband voice signal. AM and FM take up even more space on
the band.
Some very valid points here.
None of which mean that there *must* be a Morse Code test for an
amateur radio license. I happen to think such a test is a good idea,
but that's just my opinion.
4) It's more effective under adverse conditions. A Morse Code signal
typically has about 10-13 dB of advanatage over single-sideband voice.
That's about 2 S-units. Under conditions that make SSB unusable, or
barely usable, Morse Code will often be solid copy with good signals.
I could see the challenge in this. I remember a certain thrill back
when I was a kid, whenever I managed to make out a distant signal and
recognize where it was broadcast from.
Exactly! The very fact that it takes some skill is part of the fun and
attraction.
There are other reasons, but those four come to mind right now.
Here's one mo
5) The amount of "bad behavior" problems resulting in FCC enforcement
actions is much less from radio amateurs using Morse Code. Just look at
the FCC enforcement letters that address violations of deliberate
interference, obscenity, exceeding license privileges, and other "bad
behavior" problems. Almost all of them are for violations committed
using voice modes, not Morse Code. The difference is much greater than
would be expected from the relative popularity of the modes.
This doesn't mean all voice ops are problems or all Morse Code ops are
saints! All it means is that there's a lot less enforcement problems
from hams actually using Morse Code.
Somehow, this relates to pixels on my
screen but I have yet to understand why my opponent felt the need to
misdirect, misrepresent and misquote.
Lots of that going around - on both sides. Don't let it bother you - I
sure don't.
I just don't like the snotty attitude that makes the ARS look so bad.
Agreed! There's too much of that type of attitude on *both* sides of
the debate.
I am still waiting for my government handout. Never had any government
handouts in the 44 years I have been around.
How does one define "handout"?
For example, is public education of children a government handout? Yes,
many parents with kids in public school pay school taxes, but in most
districts those taxes paid by parents do not cover all of the costs of
the public schools. And the level of taxation does not depend on how
many children the parents have in school. Is public school a government
handout to people with lots of kids?
Or how about tax deductions? Are they a form of government handout? If
you have a mortgage or home equity loan, the interest is deductible. If
you rent, you don't get that deduction. Is that a government handout to
homeowners?
Not trying to be argumentative, just trying to get a clear idea of what
is a handout and what isn't.
Can none of the pro-coders make
a valid point?
I just made a couple of valid points. That doesn't mean there *must* be
a Morse Code test, just that the mode has some good points.
Thank you for making some points in a nice, civilized manner.
My pleasure. Thanks for reading.
My neighbor, when I was about 12 or younger, had a nifty tower setup.
He had 2 tall telephone poles in the ground with enough space between
them for a third pole bolted in near the top, adding almost the full
length of another pole, save for about 6 feet where all three were
bolted together. I was self-supporting.
Cool! I recently saw a similar setup used for a repeater antenna in a
wooded area. It blended in much better than metal tower.
--
The question of whether there should be a Morse Code test for an
amateur radio license really boils down to this: Does such a test do
more good than harm? The answer is always an opinion, not a fact.
Jim, N2EY