RadioBanter - View Single Post

AJ Lake · September 8th 08, 06:33 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.homebrew

wrote:

My personal theory on why it [code test] was eliminated is this:
Since the early 1980s, the FCC has been required to do more and more
stuff with less and less resources. So they have constantly sought out
ways to reduce their workload, particularly for radio services that
don't bring in $$, like ham radio.

And another theory is that the code mode is simply obsolete so why test
for it. No more horse driving government tests either. Course
for people who like it, they can still work CW and drive horses.

But even though the last remnants of the Morse Code test were removed
back in February 2007, there are still plenty of hams using it on the
air.

Yea, but there's less and less each year as the old guys die off. I know
you work CW so you know that the vast majority of your CW QSOs are with
people in their 60's and over. One foot in the proverbial grave.

This past Field Day, for example, the group I went with had one
Morse Code station and three voice stations, all similarly equipped.
There were three Morse Code operators and far more voice ops, yet the
Morse Code station made more QSOs than all the voice stations
combined. This wasn't a surprise, either.

You don't really call those guys with the computers and keyboards
who ruin the CW bands on contest weekends CW ops do you ???