In article . net, "Dwight
Stewart" writes:

"N2EY" wrote:

I disagree!

Apply that logic to some other skill or knowledge. For example,
the Smith Chart. (snip)

Or how about Ohm's Law? The phonetic alphabet? Typing skills?

Those are all skills or knowledge that can be used by every ham radio
operator.

How can a blind amateur use the Smith Chart?
How can an amateur who cannot speak use the phonetic alphabet?

Not so with Morse Code.

Which amateurs cannot use Morse code?

You think that skills do not transfer in any way? I disagree!

I think code skill does not transfer to "more experienced" or "more
qualified" when discussing a ham radio operator instead of code alone.

All else being equal, having a skill related to amateur radio means the person
with the skill is more experienced than someone who doesn't. (Note that "all
else being equal" thing).

Sorry Dwight, you're simply off base on this one. I cannot see
how you can deny that having Morse code skills makes a ham
more experienced and more qualified - all else being equal.

More experienced and more qualified in what, Jim?

In amateur radio communications.

Morse Code only, not as a ham operator.

No, as a ham operator. Morse Code is a big part of amateur radio. (So are many
other things which do not have their own, standalone test for a license).

With the Technician license, the FCC has already established
that Morse Code is not a qualification needed to be a ham radio operator.

More precisely, they have said that a Morse Code *test* is not absolutely
necessary in order to be granted a license.

But I'm not talking about the *test*, but about relative levels of experience
and qualification.

Therefore, Morse Code cannot be used when deciding who is "more experienced"
or "more qualified" as a ham radio operator.

By that logic, nothing that isn't on the Technician written test can be used to
determine who is "more experienced" or "more qualified" as a ham radio
operator. Faulty logic.

For example, the Tech test does not require that an amateur actually operate an
amateur radio station at all. So, by the logic you use against the Morse Code
experience/qualification thing, an amateur who has spent many years operating a
wide variety of modes, bands, and on-air activities (public service, contests,
rag chews, satellites, etc., ) cannot be said to be "more experienced" or "more
qualified" as a ham radio operator, because the Tech test doesn't require any
actual operating.

The inescapable, logical conclusion that results is this: Having Morse code
skills makes a ham more experienced and more qualified as an amateur radio
operator - all else being equal.

Of course that plain simple fact doesn't prove that there must be a code test
as a condition of granting a license.

73 de Jim, N2EY