"Alun" wrote in message
...
"Phil Kane" wrote in
et:

On Thu, 06 May 2004 22:34:54 +1000, Barry OGrady wrote:

I think that since Morse Code is old, but not completely useless, I
feel it should no longer be made to be learned to gain access to the
HF bands.

It's not! I have full access to all HF amateur bands without a lick of
morse.

You, sir, have that only by virtue of being licensed by some
Administration other than the U.S. Federal Communications
Commission.

It is the latter's licensing policy that is under discussion here.

But you knew that all along, didn't you?

Don't tease the bears...... ggg

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon




I'd say it's still relevant. Lots of countries have now abolished the code
test, since the international requirement went away last July. What
problems have been reported as a result? None, of course. So that is proof
that it isn't necessary.

The only problem is to those that don't learn Morse Code. They can now
officially say they are half a ham.

Dan/W4NTI

Alun wrote:

I'll grant that 5wpm is relatively easy, but still a lot of work

There's a gaping contradiction buried in there some place.

Dave K8MN

Lloyd,

It is already headed that way. Ummmm K1MAN? 14.313? 75 meters?

As far as a test, methinks that when an 8 year old can pass the extra, it is
time to rethink exactly what we want. Certainly, it isn't, nor should it
be, a test that might well be appropriate for a college student. That said,
it appears headed towards a bonus question (worth 50 points). Spell your
name and address properly, and they add 50 points. Starting with 50 points
(assuming most folks can spell their name and address properly), most folks
could randomly select answers and have a fair chance of passing. Of course,
someone will complain that if they can't read and write, they should simply
mark their 'X' and get the 50 points. Someone else can read the questions
and they can guess - and still have a good chance of passing.

73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA

"Lloyd Davies - The Time Lord " wrote in message
...
I think that since Morse Code is old, but not completely useless, I feel
it
should no longer be made to be learned to gain access to the HF bands.

Do I feel that Amateur Radio be made a free for all? No, it should not.
There
should be a test, but not a really hard test, but not a easy one either.

I'll even admit, I'll never get a new Icom 7800, at $10,000.00 - I'll be
lucky
to maybe get a used 706 at about 400 or 500 or so.


Lloyd Davies - Time Lord and Talk show host
"On the Domestic Front"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/domesticfront/


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On Thu, 06 May 2004 22:12:59 GMT, "Dan/W4NTI" w4nti@get rid of this
mindspring.com wrote:

snip


-Barry
========
Web page: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~barry.og
Atheist, radio scanner, LIPD information.

Must be a Frenchman, Belgium, or a Kraut.

The '.au' in Barry's Internet address kinda localizes him to
Australia......not Austria.....


All a bunch of whinning losers.

Dan/W4NTI

73, Leo

The ITU requirement for a code test was dropped on July 5th, 2003, so
evidently a majority around the world agree with you. I think the FCC will
drop it, but they move at a snail's pace. I didn't think it would survive
for as long as a year after it was no longer needed, but it's only nine
months so far, so I could still be right.


Likely the FCC brearucracy just hasn't gotten around to it yet. They
have bigger fish to
fry, and will likely get to it when there's nothing better to do.

The only problem is to those that don't learn Morse Code. They can now
officially say they are half a ham.



Has there been any trouble attribatable to a "non-code" ham fumbling
with code on the
bands? As long as he's not QRMing anyone, other hams will likely
"elmer" him so he
will become more proficinent. This would be a good use of the old
Novice subbands.
By gentlemens' agreements, designate s few frequencies as training
grounds for code
beginners. Not everyone can make it to a code class.

Dave Heil wrote in news:409ABB0C.C1D993E8
@earthlink.net:

Alun wrote:

I'll grant that 5wpm is relatively easy, but still a lot of work

There's a gaping contradiction buried in there some place.

Dave K8MN


Not atall. Something doesn't have to be hard to take a long time to do.

Robert Casey wrote in
:






The ITU requirement for a code test was dropped on July 5th, 2003, so
evidently a majority around the world agree with you. I think the FCC
will drop it, but they move at a snail's pace. I didn't think it would
survive for as long as a year after it was no longer needed, but it's
only nine months so far, so I could still be right.


Likely the FCC brearucracy just hasn't gotten around to it yet. They
have bigger fish to
fry, and will likely get to it when there's nothing better to do.



Sad but true. You only have to look at their home page to see where we are
in their priorities, i.e. not even on their radar atall.

Alun wrote:

Dave Heil wrote in news:409ABB0C.C1D993E8
@earthlink.net:

Alun wrote:

I'll grant that 5wpm is relatively easy, but still a lot of work

There's a gaping contradiction buried in there some place.

Not atall. Something doesn't have to be hard to take a long time to do.

Now you've added an additional element. We've gone from "easy" to "a
lot of work" to "long time to do". Something "easy" wouldn't seem to
require either a lot of work or a long time to do.

I have little sympathy for anyone who would claim that learning morse at
a speed of five words per minute is a lot of work or that it requires a
long time to learn.

Dave K8MN

Alun wrote in message . ..
Tony P. wrote in
:

In article , daviesl2003
@aol.com says...
I think that since Morse Code is old, but not completely useless, I
feel it should no longer be made to be learned to gain access to the
HF bands.

Do I feel that Amateur Radio be made a free for all? No, it should
not. There should be a test, but not a really hard test, but not a
easy one either.

I'll even admit, I'll never get a new Icom 7800, at $10,000.00 - I'll
be lucky to maybe get a used 706 at about 400 or 500 or so.

I didn't find the series of tests difficult at all. The 5WPM and 13WPM
were fairly easy too, as I had time to practice the 5WPM while on a
rainy camping trip. Good thing I brought plenty of batteries and a code
practice tapes.


I'll grant that 5wpm is relatively easy, but still a lot of work

13WPM was gotten by actually working HF with what privileges I had as a
Tech+. From there, up to 20WPM and all done.


I'd say it's a bit harder for those with no interest in using CW

I had no particular interest in the topics covered by probably half
the courses I had to pass to get a degree. But I did pass 'em
(grousing all the way) and the priveleges flowed. The philosophy
behind volume of work invested in learning = volume of privs goes back
at least to the guilds of the early Renaissance.

I think the biggest detriment to testing now is the publication of the
question pools. People can get into the hobby via rote memorization,

True in some instances, but most people don't have photographic memory

which by the way is what schools teach kids, not how to think but how
to memorize.

So over time the hobby is just going to be awash in nitwits,

I don't think so. Not any more than it already is, anyway!

and then
fade away. There are too many other options to communicate.



...which is another issue altogether. The Internet has hit the hobby pretty
hard.

What's your point? Ham radio license tests should be reduced to
passing a test on mouse operations in order for ham radio to compete
with the Internet? Passing a one-button mouse test garners a Tech
ticket, two gets a General and two plus a scroller wheel gets the
examinee an Extra?

w3rv