In article , Dick Carroll
writes:

Then when the retired head of the Amateur and Citizen's Division of the FCC
states in his comments to the NCVAEC petition, the writing of which he was a
party, that it simply is an oxymoron that an Extra Class ham should
be allowed to *not* be proficient in Morse when he is considered an expert at
ham radio, you might take that as some sort of a clue to thinking in high
places...

Oh, my, an "authority" on CW!

About as much "authority" as your SINGLE example of GMDSS never, ever
going to work in maritime distress and safety!

Why don't you work with the FCC to make the Archaic Radiotelegraphy
Service an alternate reality?

LHA

In article , "Arnie Macy"
writes:

"Len Over 21" wrote in part ...

Well, that's how it goes. Every amateur must know morse in order to save
the next Titanic or something. Morse is used "countless times" in national
emergencies. It is the next most basic radio communications thing, etc.
["countless" is apt because the number of actual emergency comms done by
on-off-keying modes is zero, zilch, nada...unless the self-promoters think
that Health and Welfare messages are "emergencies."]
_________________________________________________ ________________

My EM Agency has multiple sets of HF gear and every one of them is manned by
an ARS operator that is CW capable -- and we'd be foolish not to include
that capability in our EM package.

Absolutely...nothing gets through like morse code.

Amateur use of morse code will always save the day.

Amateur radio will save/rescue untold numbers of hurricane victims.

Now, don't get me wrong, I just love the new technology.

Anything invented/discovered after 1930 must be "new technology" to you.

As a part of that, we have FM trunked radios, laptop
computers, closed network capability, VTC Scotties, and SATLinks. IOW, we
use *all* of the tools available to us.

But, more importantly, MORSE CODE SKILL is a NECESSITY for
emergency communications, right?

Of course it is. You MUST require all amateurs to KNOW morse code.

Morse code gets through when nothing else will.

That's why all amateurs are SUPERIOR to professsional communications
people.

"Real" amateurs KNOW morse code, therefore they are superior.

Why not just admit that CW does
have a place in the EM package -- or are you just so dug into your position
that you can't see the sky anymore?

I'm not "dug in," just covered with all that bull**** shoveled by the PCTA.

IMO, it's not necessary to throw out
the older viable technology in order to embrace the future.

Newflash: "Spark" (damped wave oscillation) was once a "viable technology."
No longer. It is outlawed in the USA.

Don't worry...your crystal set will still receive signals. No electric
power
required.

Are you properly equipped with "viable technology" of crystal sets?

If that were
the case, none of us would ever use a hard-wired phone again.

According to the US Census Bureau, there are over 100 million cellular
telephone subscribers in the USA. There are over 150 million "hard-wired"
telephones in the USA.

What is the point of your little "viable technology" diatribe?

And why in the hell aren't you OUT THERE being ten kinds of EM
manager with impending doom/disaster from Isabel?

LHA

"Dick Carroll" wrote

I am capable of passing any sort of radio traffic by way of
radiotelgraphy,

I'd like to see you pass a weather satellite photo fax via
radiotelegraphy....

which I learned as a requirement of my licensure as a
ham radio operator. There is no reason for you to be exempted from the
same.

Well, at least you finally admit that it's "I had to do it, you
should too."



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"Bill Sohl" wrote in part ...

"FCC nor almost every emergency preparedness organization/operation has no
desire or need for morse in their plans."
__________________________________________________ _________________

I ask because you wrote the above. Why do you think the EM planners have
"no need" for Morse? Any tool available should be considered for use in the
EM package. Not only is our equipment capable of Morse, but we have CW
capable operators for each. We've used it in the past and I strongly
suspect that will do so in the future as well.

Arnie -

"Len Over 21" wrote in part ...

Absolutely NOTHING about single side band (sic), amplified modulation
(sic) and RTTY until the 1900s.

That would make those modes about 103 years old, Len. At what point do we
start to consider them outdated?

When did the "amateur expert" Arnie Macy last take an amateur radio test?

Since I'm a VE -- I looked at the current material about a week ago.

Now, why in the hell aren't you OUT THERE as an EM person getting ready for
Isabel's destructive landfall? We can't read about Macy's marvelous savings
of the day through ham band OOK CW on the ARRL news page if you don't get
off the Internet and be ready for all those disasterous emergencies.

Well, I must say that I have been quite busy for the past two weeks. The
initial track of the storm was not looking very good for the SE United
States. Fortunately for us, we were able to miss the bullet on this one.
Of course you know that we *did* use that old stand-by Morse Code when Floyd
came calling in 1999. SSB (you know, that 103 year old technology) was just
not cutting it, so we went to CW until the condx improved. It's kinda hard
to talk with someone 250 miles away on a handi-talkie.

Arnie -

"Len Over 21" wrote ...

Macy, almost ALL your arguments are superfluous, denigratory, and without a
shred of merit in here. All you do is promote myths of "CW" as if this was
still the 1930s.
__________________________________________________ _______

Are you Clint's Daddy? I was hoping that *he* would answer the question. I
will say this, though. He sure does admire you. Are you sure y'all aren't
related?

Arnie -

"Bill Sohl" wrote ...

How about knowing Spanish, Chinese, etc...two of the most popular languages
used on the air after English?
__________________________________________________ ___________

Wow, now that's a bit of a stretch, isn't it?

Arnie -
KT4ST

"Len Over 21" wrote ...

I believe that a person who aspires to be an Amateur Extra Class *should*
be
able to send/receive Morse Code at a minmum level.

Explain why a TEST is necessary.

To demonstrate that minimal ability

You and I both know that
even if testing for CW goes away, the mode will remain a very popular one
in
the ARS for a very long time.

"Very long" is very subjective. It is as "long" as the extremes of the
actuarial tables.

As long as people use, it will survive. SSB is a good example of that. 103
years old and still going strong.


If OOK CW is already so damn popular, why are you so insistent that a
TEST
for it MUST BE KEPT?


Not *if* CW *is* the second most popular mode in the ARS.

To me, at least, it just makes sense that a
person holding the highest class of license should have a working
(practical) knowledge of the second most popular mode we have.

It only "makes sense" when considering YOU are one.

It's my opinion, Len. I think I made that pretty clear.

If everyone else is of the same class, then you aren't either "special"
or
"superior" anymore.

I could care less if everyone was an Extra Class. I just think if they hold
that class of license, they should also possess a minimum level of CW
proficiency.

You seem to NEED the status, rank, title, and privileges of Amateur
Extra
more than what all those privileges allow you to do. All you do is
"work
CW?"

Everyone else has to do as you did...because...

I don't need any status or rank. I worked my way up the ladder like
thousands before me. That doesn't make me any better or worse than anyone.
It just means I was motivated to succeed -- and I did.

Arnie -
KT4ST


LHA

I am capable of passing any sort of radio traffic by way of
radiotelgraphy, which I learned as a requirement of my licensure as a
ham radio operator.

yep. well, there is no longer a 13 or 20 wpm requirement for a license, and
soon there will no longer be a 5 wpm cw testing requirement. Then, people
will get ham radio licenses and be ham radio operators WITHOUT having
done it.

what's your point?

There is no reason for you to be exempted from the
same.

in your opinion. However, the opinion that counts is that of the fcc
body itself, not you... and, eventually, just like with 13 and 20 wpm
testing, they'll drop the 5. THAT is what will count.

"Len Over 21" wrote in part ...

You KNOW all elmers personally, right? Why don't YOU continue to alienate
and denigrate all the others who have been on HF much longer than you, who
have worked HF comm 24/7 longer than you've been alive? Since you aren't
out getting ready for emergency work on Isabel, why don't you start a
petition for an RM with the FCC to make the 'ARS' the Archaic
RadioTELEGRAPHY Service.
__________________________________________________ _______________

What in the world are you talking about, Len? Have you been into the sauce
again? I have nothing but respect for the Elmers in the ARS. I might not
always agree with them, but I sure would never get in an argument over a
repeater with one. That's just pure disrespect.

BTW, thanks for mentioning Isabel. We *have* been working very hard
tracking her and making preliminary preparations for a possible evacuation.
Fortunately, we didn't have to implement them this time around. But thanks
for caring about my job. It's touching, really.

Arnie -
KT4ST