Let's debate: Should Amateur Radio be made a free for all?
 

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/

(Lloyd Davies - The Time Lord ) wrote in
:

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/


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.

"Alun" wrote in message
...
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.

I don't know, Alun. I'd wager that more than a few PCTA's have made their
feelings felt to the FCC and, more importantly, to their local elected
representatives. (Some of whom have a say re. the FCC's bugdet.) Perhaps it
might be more than a year...much more.

73 de Bert
WA2SI

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.

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

I think the biggest detriment to testing now is the publication of the
question pools. People can get into the hobby via rote memorization,
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, and then
fade away. There are too many other options to communicate.

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

"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.

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 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.

"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/

This subject has been discussed, cussed, chopped up, thrown about for the
last 20 years. Enough is enough.

Anyway Llllllloooooooyyyyyyyydddddd no one gives a crap what you think.

Dan/W4NTI

"Bert Craig" wrote in message
.net...
"Alun" wrote in message
...
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.

I don't know, Alun. I'd wager that more than a few PCTA's have made their
feelings felt to the FCC and, more importantly, to their local elected
representatives. (Some of whom have a say re. the FCC's bugdet.) Perhaps
it
might be more than a year...much more.

73 de Bert
WA2SI


If the FCC goes along with the ARRL proposal, which it looks like they will.
Then CW will be here for the Extra class for the next generation or so.
After that everyone will be dead and the grandkids will be liked to the
internet at birth with bio implants.

Dan/W4NTI

"Barry OGrady" wrote in message
...
On 06 May 2004 04:03:56 GMT, (Lloyd Davies - The Time
Lord ) 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.


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

Must be a Frenchman, Belgium, or a Kraut.

All a bunch of whinning losers.

Dan/W4NTI