"Dwight Stewart" wrote in message
nk.net...
"Bert Craig" wrote:
[snip] The FCC
recently said "the emphasis on Morse code proficiency as a licensing
requirement does not comport with the basis and purpose of the service."
They came to that conclusion after looking at modern communications
systems
outside Amateur Radio and the changes that have occurred in communications
over the last fifty years. They noted that "no communication system has
been
designed in many years that depends on hand-keyed telegraphy or the
ability
to receive messages in Morse code by ear." And they said reducing the
emphasis on telegraphy proficiency as a licensing requirement would "allow
the amateur service to, as it has in the past, attract technically
inclined
persons, particularly the youth of our country, and encourage them to
learn
and to prepare themselves in the areas where the United States needs
expertise."

That deemphasis has already occurred. The no-code tech was instituted in
the late 1980s and the code for the higher classes was dropped to only 5wpm
in 2000. There is no need for further deemphasis. Particularly when the
stated reason was attract technically inclined people. That hasn't happened
so the reason for deemphasis has been proven to be invalid.


You mean the second most popular mode
in use today doesn't rate as a valid test
requirement determinator. (snip)


If you're going to argue that to justify a test requirement for the
second
most popular mode, why not argue the same for the third, forth, or even
fifth, most popular modes?

By the way, where did you get the idea that CW was the second most
popular
mode? I agree that SSB is probably the most popular. But, given the sheer
numbers of Technicians today and the fact that not all others use CW on a
regular basis, certainly far more people use FM than CW today.


The poster should have qualified that by saying "second most popular mode on
HF". The usage of FM on HF is very strictly limited and regulated and isn't
appropriate for use on bands that are as narrow as the HF bands.

As far as testing for the other modes:

Voice - we've all been talking quite some time, the only additional
knowledge needed is procedural, which can easily be covered by the written
tests

SSTV - just a matter of hooking up the hardware and then following the
correct operating procedures, both of which can easily be covered by the
written tests.

Digital modes - just a matter of hooking up the hardware and then following
the correct operating procedures, both which can easily be covered by the
written tests.

Morse code/CW is unique and cannot be covered by the written tests.
Actually I happen to believe that there would be great benefit to requiring
candidates to demonstrate other basic skills, such as soldering a PL-259 to
coax as an example, for licensing. But I know it won't happen.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE