John, the digital age can come to an end in a heartbeat. An EMP pulse may
well wipe out the computers.

CW which requires nothing but the human mind to get data through will be
with us to the end of humanity.

As hams we need to be able to provide communications under the worst
imaginable scenario. I, and many of the hams on here could in short order
build a simple transmitter and receiver capable of CW operation and get a
message through. What if no one on the other end is capable of receiving the
message?

I guess you can ride like Paul Revere as your car will no longer run unless
you drive an old pre-computer model. The DMV may indeed be asking questions
as to what to do when your horse takes a dump in public.

I don't care if the FCC and the rest of the world makes stupid decisions, I
have no problems with anyone who enters amateur radio via slow/no code. My
objection is with sacrificing a skill that may be required to save lives and
property for the sake of increasing numbers.

Too bad a neat skill set was viewed as a determent...

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Ohhh, ask historical questions...

Well, this is the digital age, fat chance of those questions ever getting
there again...

However, when the DMV starts asking questions on how to properly groom a
horse--and what to do if the horse ever farts in public--you will know that
world is ripe for such...

John

Fred:

I have nothing against those who wish to maintain ancient technology for when
the "madmax age" (I think I even look a bit like Mel Gibson--too bad the women
can't see the similarity!) arrives we will be prepared, I am just against
FORCING people to do this.

I am against requiring them in being proficient in sending smoke signals, shoot
arrows with messages attached, using carrier pidgeon or being able to pass
messages between villages by "african message drum" also, if we get there, we
will pick it up fast enough...

John

"Fred W4JLE" wrote in message
...
John, the digital age can come to an end in a heartbeat. An EMP pulse may
well wipe out the computers.

CW which requires nothing but the human mind to get data through will be
with us to the end of humanity.

As hams we need to be able to provide communications under the worst
imaginable scenario. I, and many of the hams on here could in short order
build a simple transmitter and receiver capable of CW operation and get a
message through. What if no one on the other end is capable of receiving the
message?

I guess you can ride like Paul Revere as your car will no longer run unless
you drive an old pre-computer model. The DMV may indeed be asking questions
as to what to do when your horse takes a dump in public.

I don't care if the FCC and the rest of the world makes stupid decisions, I
have no problems with anyone who enters amateur radio via slow/no code. My
objection is with sacrificing a skill that may be required to save lives and
property for the sake of increasing numbers.

Too bad a neat skill set was viewed as a determent...

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Ohhh, ask historical questions...

Well, this is the digital age, fat chance of those questions ever getting
there again...

However, when the DMV starts asking questions on how to properly groom a
horse--and what to do if the horse ever farts in public--you will know that
world is ripe for such...

John

John, no one has ever been "forced" to learn CW to become a ham. Everything
in life has a price of admission. You may choose to pay the price or not.

I have never heard of "press gangs" capturing people and forcing them to
learn CW.

Neither have I seen a movie titled "Two Years Before The Key"

Like I say, I don't have a dog in the code/nocode fight. I personally feel
that it is a necessary tool. YMMV


"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Fred:

I have nothing against those who wish to maintain ancient technology for
when
the "madmax age" (I think I even look a bit like Mel Gibson--too bad the
women
can't see the similarity!) arrives we will be prepared, I am just against
FORCING people to do this.

I am against requiring them in being proficient in sending smoke signals,
shoot
arrows with messages attached, using carrier pidgeon or being able to pass
messages between villages by "african message drum" also, if we get there,
we
will pick it up fast enough...

John

"Fred W4JLE" wrote in message
...
John, the digital age can come to an end in a heartbeat. An EMP pulse
may
well wipe out the computers.

CW which requires nothing but the human mind to get data through will be
with us to the end of humanity.

As hams we need to be able to provide communications under the worst
imaginable scenario. I, and many of the hams on here could in short
order
build a simple transmitter and receiver capable of CW operation and get
a
message through. What if no one on the other end is capable of receiving
the
message?

I guess you can ride like Paul Revere as your car will no longer run
unless
you drive an old pre-computer model. The DMV may indeed be asking
questions
as to what to do when your horse takes a dump in public.

I don't care if the FCC and the rest of the world makes stupid
decisions, I
have no problems with anyone who enters amateur radio via slow/no code.
My
objection is with sacrificing a skill that may be required to save lives
and
property for the sake of increasing numbers.

Too bad a neat skill set was viewed as a determent...

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Ohhh, ask historical questions...

Well, this is the digital age, fat chance of those questions ever
getting
there again...

However, when the DMV starts asking questions on how to properly groom
a
horse--and what to do if the horse ever farts in public--you will know
that
world is ripe for such...

John

Fred:

There is no "price of admission" which needs be paid, the tests should reflect
a logical, necessary "instruction" for what a guy/gal will need to get a radio
and enter the hobby on level which is inline with his/her interests...

Morse has no place in this age, few will ever be interested in a key... if they
are, no one will stop them from picking one up.

Long live amateur radio, and long stay dead the key...

John

"Fred W4JLE" wrote in message
...
John, no one has ever been "forced" to learn CW to become a ham. Everything
in life has a price of admission. You may choose to pay the price or not.

I have never heard of "press gangs" capturing people and forcing them to
learn CW.

Neither have I seen a movie titled "Two Years Before The Key"

Like I say, I don't have a dog in the code/nocode fight. I personally feel
that it is a necessary tool. YMMV


"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Fred:

I have nothing against those who wish to maintain ancient technology for
when
the "madmax age" (I think I even look a bit like Mel Gibson--too bad the
women
can't see the similarity!) arrives we will be prepared, I am just against
FORCING people to do this.

I am against requiring them in being proficient in sending smoke signals,
shoot
arrows with messages attached, using carrier pidgeon or being able to pass
messages between villages by "african message drum" also, if we get there,
we
will pick it up fast enough...

John

"Fred W4JLE" wrote in message
...
John, the digital age can come to an end in a heartbeat. An EMP pulse
may
well wipe out the computers.

CW which requires nothing but the human mind to get data through will be
with us to the end of humanity.

As hams we need to be able to provide communications under the worst
imaginable scenario. I, and many of the hams on here could in short
order
build a simple transmitter and receiver capable of CW operation and get
a
message through. What if no one on the other end is capable of receiving
the
message?

I guess you can ride like Paul Revere as your car will no longer run
unless
you drive an old pre-computer model. The DMV may indeed be asking
questions
as to what to do when your horse takes a dump in public.

I don't care if the FCC and the rest of the world makes stupid
decisions, I
have no problems with anyone who enters amateur radio via slow/no code.
My
objection is with sacrificing a skill that may be required to save lives
and
property for the sake of increasing numbers.

Too bad a neat skill set was viewed as a determent...

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Ohhh, ask historical questions...

Well, this is the digital age, fat chance of those questions ever
getting
there again...

However, when the DMV starts asking questions on how to properly groom
a
horse--and what to do if the horse ever farts in public--you will know
that
world is ripe for such...

John

John Smith wrote:

SNIPPED

Long live amateur radio, and long stay dead the key...

John


John, I don't know if you do serious DX. But, I will witness that DX on
CW is a heck of a lot easier and faster than on SSB.

As long as there is 'exotic DX' CW will live.

Ham op:

I don't even enjoy chat with male ops! I like a nice female voice, either
am/ssb/fm with an aussie or british accent...

Contacts for the sake of contacts?
List of countries I "want" to chat with?
Number of contacts?

Naaa, none of the above interest me, they did when I first got my license--but
soon (over a year or two) tired of that...

Hey, what can I say....

Perhaps I am not your "normal" ham... ya think? grin

John

"Ham op" wrote in message
...
John Smith wrote:

SNIPPED

Long live amateur radio, and long stay dead the key...

John


John, I don't know if you do serious DX. But, I will witness that DX on CW is
a heck of a lot easier and faster than on SSB.

As long as there is 'exotic DX' CW will live.

Ham op wrote:

John Smith wrote:

SNIPPED


Long live amateur radio, and long stay dead the key...

John


John, I don't know if you do serious DX.

I suspect that "John" is not supposed to use his station to transmit
more than 150 miles.

ac6xg

If you think back to the first Star Trek movie it took good old
fashioned Morse Code to communicate with "V'ger" (Voyager)

Dave N

Fred W4JLE wrote:
John, the digital age can come to an end in a heartbeat. An EMP pulse may
well wipe out the computers.

CW which requires nothing but the human mind to get data through will be
with us to the end of humanity.

As hams we need to be able to provide communications under the worst
imaginable scenario. I, and many of the hams on here could in short order
build a simple transmitter and receiver capable of CW operation and get a
message through. What if no one on the other end is capable of receiving the
message?

I guess you can ride like Paul Revere as your car will no longer run unless
you drive an old pre-computer model. The DMV may indeed be asking questions
as to what to do when your horse takes a dump in public.

I don't care if the FCC and the rest of the world makes stupid decisions, I
have no problems with anyone who enters amateur radio via slow/no code. My
objection is with sacrificing a skill that may be required to save lives and
property for the sake of increasing numbers.

Too bad a neat skill set was viewed as a determent...

"John Smith" wrote in message
...

Ohhh, ask historical questions...

Well, this is the digital age, fat chance of those questions ever getting

there again...

However, when the DMV starts asking questions on how to properly groom a

horse--and what to do if the horse ever farts in public--you will know that
world is ripe for such...

John