Stefan Wolfe wrote:
"John Smith I" wrote in message
...

Take a good look behind you, all you see is about to disappear.

Why would you say that? Did the FCC make morse illegal?



No, the new generation of hams will make it obsolete and history!

JS

Stefan Wolfe wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

1) Use Morse Code on the air. For ragchewing, DXing, contesting,
traffic handling, QRP, QRO, QRS, QRQ, whatever floats yer boat. If your
favorite band is crowded, try another and/or get a sharper filter.

Actually, without skill in morse, you simply will not be able to participate
in QSO's with a large subset of the stations you listed. A lot of good DX
(and QRP etc.) is only available in Morse (sometimes only in the extra class
sections).

Agreed, but the point is that will only be true if skilled amateurs
continue to actually *use* Morse Code.

I don't think the financial incentive Carl mentions is very
relevant (or humorous for that matter).

WK3C and I go way back. We disagree on some things but agree on many
more things.
That he completed the financial backing is very funny to me.

If you learn morse, you will be
empowered to communicate with more people.

Yup - but only if radio amateurs continue to use the mode.

If you don't know Morse, well,
trying to find good DX will be similar to visitng Miami and not be able to
speak Spanish...you can get by but will miss a lot.

Some folks aren't interested in DX. But the same principle applies:
those
who don't use Morse Code will be missing a lot.

Too bad, Audios es 73

"Audios" - now that's funny!

73 es KC de Jim, N2EY

wrote:
...
Actually, without skill in morse, you simply will not be able to participate
in QSO's with a large subset of the stations you listed. A lot of good DX
(and QRP etc.) is only available in Morse (sometimes only in the extra class
sections).


Actually, that is outrageous.

With any decent code reader software and the audio of your rig into the
line in of your sound card in your computer, you can copy and send CW
much, MUCH faster, concisely and intelligibly than any "CW Freak" out
there ... you can send CW so fast, they only WISH they could copy it!

.... technology, ain't it wonderful? Welcome to the new millennium!

JS

John Smith I wrote:
No, the new generation of hams will make it obsolete and history!

Like AM?
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

Cecil Moore wrote:
John Smith I wrote:
No, the new generation of hams will make it obsolete and history!

Like AM?

Cecil:

While I will miss all the hiss, fading, noise and other products of AM
and SSB--yep, as obsolete as those.

Digital is where it is at! I am awaiting my first ogg-vorbis packets
now ...

Regards,
JS

Cecil Moore wrote:
John Smith I wrote:
No, the new generation of hams will make it obsolete and history!

Like AM?
--

The invention of the motorcycle did not make the bicycle obsolete. The
invention of the car did not make walking obsolete. Power boats did not
make all sailboats obsolete, although many sailboats were replaced by
power boats.

People still *run* marathons, even though they'd go a lot faster with a
lot less effort if roller skates were used.

AM did not become obsolete when SSB was invented. Morse Code did not
become obsolete when voice and RTTY were invented.

--

Except for a few people who learned Morse Code elsewhere, most would-be

hams don't have any prior Morse Code skill.

The code test acts as a sort of Great Equalizer, because almost
everyone
starts out as a clueless newbie with the mode.

Morse Code cannot be learned by simply reading a
book, visiting some websites or picking up a little bit here and
there. A newcomer cannot cut-and-paste his/her way to a
new skill, or rely on past achievements or claims to get around it.

It's a skill that is easily measured and cannot be faked. And it puts
a Final Authority wannabe on the same footing as a Young Squirt.

It may be precisely this equalizing effect that makes some folks want
to get rid of it.

73 es KC de Jim, N2EY

John Smith I wrote:
... technology, ain't it wonderful? Welcome to the new millennium!

My SCS PTC2e multimode controller will copy PACTOR2
DX signals from Europe that I cannot even hear and
don't even budge the S-meter. It also copies CW at
faster speeds than I can copy.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

wrote:
It's a skill that is easily measured and cannot be faked.

Morse code software is getting better all the time.
I can't copy much higher than 15 wpm but my SCS
PTC2e can. :-) It comes in handy when a CW
operator refuses my request to QRS.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

wrote in message
ups.com...
Carl R. Stevenson wrote:
Here's an interesting, but short-term, lmited lifetime idea for you folks
who want to promote code learning.

The Lehigh Valley Amateur Radio Club has ammassed $100.00 to present as
an
award to the last *club member* to pass Element 1 for an upgrade at a
*club-sponsored* ARRL VE session before the new rules come into effect
and
the Element 1 test moves out of the rule book and into the history books.

How will it be decided who is the last one?

Presumably by the club's VE team. (By the way I may not have made it clear,
but the "offer" only counts for folks who take Element 1 *after* the release
of the order and (oviously) prior to its effective date.)


(Actually, it was announced last week at this month's club meeting that
"several benefactors" had contributed a total of $70.00 to the cause and
I
just *had* to immediately kick in an additional $30.00 on behalf of NCI
to
make it an even hundred :-)

omigawd that's hilarious, Carl! I wish W3RV and I coulda been there
when you did that....

I really didn't do it to be funny ... but it would have been good to see you
guys.


As I said, this is a short-term (limited lifetime) opportunity. If you
want
to *continue* to promote code learning, great, but you'll have to come up
with a new idea ...

Here are 10 ways to promote Morse Code. (The "you" in the following is
aimed at the person who wants to promote the mode):

1) Use Morse Code on the air. For ragchewing, DXing, contesting,
traffic handling, QRP, QRO, QRS, QRQ, whatever floats yer boat. If your
favorite band is crowded, try another and/or get a sharper filter. If
you contest, even a little, send in your logs, photos, soapbox
comments, etc. Our presence on the air is essential - one of the
reasons FCC took away so much of 80 is that they were convinced it
wasn't being used. Our presence on the air is more important than ever.


2) Work on your Morse Code skills. Got a CP certificate?

But not just speed alone. Can you send and receive a message in
standard form? Can you do it faster than someone on 'phone?
Can you do both "head copy" and write it down? How about copying on a
mill? Ragchewing? Contesting? Being able to have a QSO at slow as well
as fast speeds?


3) Find a local club that does Field Day and go out with them.
Particularly if they have little or no Morse Code activity on FD now.
Help with their Morse Code efforts however you can - operating,
logging, setting up, tearing down, etc. FD is one way to actively
demonstrate 21st Century Morse Code *use*. Talking to people about
Morse isn't nearly so effective as showing them.


4) Set up a Morse Code demo at a local hamfest/club meeting/air
show/town fair/middle school etc. Not as some sort of nostalgia thing
but as a demonstration that Morse Code is alive and in use today.


5) Conduct training classes - on the air, in person, over the 'net,
whatever. Help anybody who wants to learn. Could be as simple as giving

them some code tapes or CDs, or as involved as a formal course at a
local community center.


6) Elmer anybody who wants help - even if they're not interested in
Morse Code at all. Your help and example may inspire them.


7) Write articles for QST/CQ/Worldradio/K9YA Telegraph/Electric
Radio/your local hamclub newsletter etc. Not about the code *test* nor
about Morse Code history, the past, etc., but about how to use Morse
Code *today*. For example, how about an article on what rigs are best
for Morse Code use, and why? Or about the differences between a bug,
single-lever keyer, iambic A and iambic B? Your FD experiences with
Morse Code? (QST, June, 1994) Yes, you may be turned down by the first
mag you submit it to - but keep submitting.


8) Get involved in NTS, QMN, ARES, whatever, and use Morse Code there.
The main reason so much emergency/public service stuff is done on voice
is because they don't have the people - skilled operators - to use any
other mode.

Actually, I believe that the main reason that most emergency/public service
stuff is done using voice (or digital modes) is that they're faster and more
convenient to use in a "tactical" situation.


9) Join FISTS & SKCC and any other group that supports Morse. Give out
numbers to those who ask for them even if you're not a contester/award
collector.


10) Forget about "the test". It will be gone soon and FCC won't bring
it back. Yes, a lot of us think they made a bad decision, but that's
nothing new, just look at BPL or their rulings on the sale of broadcast
radio stations.

Please don't compare this with BPL ... I support the ARRL's actions against
BPL and encourage all hams to do so. I contributed $1k to the Spectrum
Defense Fund - earmarked to fund their BPL efforts and I encourage everyone
to make as generous a donation as they can afford.


FCC won't preserve our standards and values - we have to do it.

And our attitude is a key part of that (pun intended). If we're seen as
a bunch of old grumpy gus types, not many will want to join us. But if
we present ourselves as a fun-loving, welcoming,
young-at-heart-and-mind, helpful group with useful skills,
similar people will want to join us.

Presenting CW as "something fun" is fine (as long as the presentee is
allowed to decide for him/her self whether it's really fun or not :-)

Presenting it as a "standard" or "value" (implying that without CW you're as
Larry and others used to say "not a REAL ham" is not the way.

Those who like CW should take comfort ... by all reports, in most of the
other countries that have eliminated the CW requirement, MORE people are
learning it now that before - folks may choose to do something if it's
presented right and their choice, but tend not to like having things forced
upon them.

73,
Carl - wk3c

wrote in message
ups.com...
Cecil Moore wrote:
John Smith I wrote:
No, the new generation of hams will make it obsolete and history!

Like AM?
--

The invention of the motorcycle did not make the bicycle obsolete. The
invention of the car did not make walking obsolete. Power boats did not
make all sailboats obsolete, although many sailboats were replaced by
power boats.

People still *run* marathons, even though they'd go a lot faster with a
lot less effort if roller skates were used.

AM did not become obsolete when SSB was invented. Morse Code did not
become obsolete when voice and RTTY were invented.

There will still be people who CHOOSE to use Morse if it's presented to them
as fun and they're allowed to make the choice without intimidation (and
without berating them)

Except for a few people who learned Morse Code elsewhere, most would-be
hams don't have any prior Morse Code skill.

True ...

The code test acts as a sort of Great Equalizer,

Absurd ... ALL that a code test does is indicate that you can copy Morse at
some specified speed. Nothing more, nothing less.

because almost
everyone starts out as a clueless newbie with the mode.

True ...

Morse Code cannot be learned by simply reading a
book, visiting some websites or picking up a little bit here and
there. A newcomer cannot cut-and-paste his/her way to a
new skill, or rely on past achievements or claims to get around it.

It's a skill that is easily measured and cannot be faked. And it puts
a Final Authority wannabe on the same footing as a Young Squirt.

It may be precisely this equalizing effect that makes some folks want
to get rid of it.

The implication above that everything about ham radio except Morse is
"cut-and-paste" is also absurd.

I was talking night before last with Ed Hare - remember the 3 page study
guide that he had for his novice test and compare that, as he does, to the
200+ pages of "Now You're Talking" - there has been NO "dumbing down" for
entry into ham radio. How anyone could assert with honesty and a straight
face that 200+ pages of material is "dumbed down" compared to 3 pages is
something that simply is unfathomable.

I think it's time to stop trying to attribute mythical powers to the soon to
be history Morse test. To continue only perpetuates the falsehood that
Morse skill is essential to being a good ham, capable of contributing, etc.

Have fun with Morse and promote it in a kind and polite way if you wish, but
please lose the attitude that Morse somehow is the measure of a "REAL ham."

73,
Carl - wk3c


73 es KC de Jim, N2EY