I see that the FCC is not anticipating any changes in the Morse code
licensing requirements before 2006.

Is ther eanyone that has deferred getting a General or baove license
because they thought Element one was going to go away soon?

If so, Has it been worth the wait?


- Mike KB3EIA -

Mike Coslo wrote:
I see that the FCC is not anticipating any changes in the Morse code
licensing requirements before 2006.

Is ther eanyone that has deferred getting a General or above license
because they thought Element one was going to go away soon?

If so, Has it been worth the wait?


Way back when (in 1976) I learned around 7 WPM and
passed a 5WPM code test down at an FCC field office.
And I'm not that good at such tasks. Took about
6 weeks to learn the code to 7WPM. So you can
start today on the code, and probably be able to
pass the code test and have the upgrade or first license
of general or extra grade and get on HF. And you'll
have it 2 months from now instead of a year or more from
now. HF is a lot of fun, and is quite different from
2 meter FM. So, like that sneaker company that paid
the basketball superstar more than their entire payroll
of their Vietnam factory, "Just do it".

In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

I see that the FCC is not anticipating any changes in the Morse code
licensing requirements before 2006.

Where did you see that, Mike?

I hope it's true.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Barry OGrady wrote:

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 17:56:32 -0500, Mike Coslo wrote:


I see that the FCC is not anticipating any changes in the Morse code
licensing requirements before 2006.

Is ther eanyone that has deferred getting a General or baove license
because they thought Element one was going to go away soon?


I have the equivalent of a full call without having done any morse.

Good for you, mate. How does the FCC regulate Amateur access in your
country?


What is a baove license?

Gotta have Morse for a baove license, spelling monitor!


If so, Has it been worth the wait?


- Mike KB3EIA -



-Barry
========
"I see only with deep regret that God punishes so many of His children for
their numerous stupidities, for which only He Himself can be held responsible;
in my opinion, only His nonexistence could excuse Him."
[A. Einstein (Letter to Edgar Meyer, Jan. 2, 1915)]

Good quote, that!

- Mike KB3EIA -

robert casey wrote:

Mike Coslo wrote:

I see that the FCC is not anticipating any changes in the Morse code
licensing requirements before 2006.

Is ther eanyone that has deferred getting a General or above
license because they thought Element one was going to go away soon?

If so, Has it been worth the wait?


Way back when (in 1976) I learned around 7 WPM and
passed a 5WPM code test down at an FCC field office.
And I'm not that good at such tasks. Took about
6 weeks to learn the code to 7WPM. So you can
start today on the code, and probably be able to
pass the code test and have the upgrade or first license
of general or extra grade and get on HF. And you'll
have it 2 months from now instead of a year or more from
now. HF is a lot of fun, and is quite different from
2 meter FM. So, like that sneaker company that paid
the basketball superstar more than their entire payroll
of their Vietnam factory, "Just do it".

I've been trying to get that message out for some time now. When I
first became a Ham in 1999, there were some that told me to hang on
because the Morse requirement was going away soon. Over 5 years later,
and nothing has changed. If I would have waited until it goes away, I
would be waiting at least 7 years, and I wouldn't take bets on it going
away even then.

What I *would* make bets on is that the anticipated "instant
elimination* thinking that was going around since the treaty requirement
went away have done more to dampen the ranks of new advanced level hams
than the retention of Morse code.

Yup, Just DO it!

- Mike KB3EIA -

N2EY wrote:

In article , Mike Coslo
writes:


I see that the FCC is not anticipating any changes in the Morse code
licensing requirements before 2006.


Where did you see that, Mike?

http://www.arrl.org/?news_list_off=15

I hope it's true.

I want the situation to stabilize. In a world where the testing
requirements are in a state of flux - and it is a given that the testing
regimin is likely to get easier, not more difficult - many people will
take the path of least resistance and wait until requirements are
dropped. That is *if* they are dropped. But as I noted, there is always
*someone* to say that the element one test is going to be eliminated
"any day now"...


- Mike KB3EIA -

In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

robert casey wrote:

Mike Coslo wrote:

I see that the FCC is not anticipating any changes in the Morse code
licensing requirements before 2006.

Is ther eanyone that has deferred getting a General or above
license because they thought Element one was going to go away soon?

If so, Has it been worth the wait?


Way back when (in 1976) I learned around 7 WPM and
passed a 5WPM code test down at an FCC field office.
And I'm not that good at such tasks. Took about
6 weeks to learn the code to 7WPM. So you can
start today on the code, and probably be able to
pass the code test and have the upgrade or first license
of general or extra grade and get on HF. And you'll
have it 2 months from now instead of a year or more from
now. HF is a lot of fun, and is quite different from
2 meter FM. So, like that sneaker company that paid
the basketball superstar more than their entire payroll
of their Vietnam factory, "Just do it".

I've been trying to get that message out for some time now.

You should have gone on the NTS for such a message...

When I
first became a Ham in 1999, there were some that told me to hang on
because the Morse requirement was going away soon.

When I got a commercial license in 1956, some of the hams I
knew then were all saying morsemanship is the "ultimate skill"
for amateurs, therefore one "must" take a morse test for an
amateur radio license.

Some 48 years later a bunch of morsemen in here keep saying
all radio amateurs "must' take a morse test to "prove their
dedication (or whatever) to the ham community." :-)

In 1958 a bunch of hams I knew then were all outraged and
almost frothing at the mouth (latte' was not yet in vogue) about
those damn "civilians" not having to take a morse test to get on HF
for Class D CB! :-) That was 46 years ago. A few years later the
CB license needs were eliminated.

Over 5 years later,
and nothing has changed. If I would have waited until it goes away, I
would be waiting at least 7 years, and I wouldn't take bets on it going
away even then.

Morsemanship FOREVER!

Some morsemen won't allow their code keys to be taken from
their cold, dead fingers even after they've assumed ambient temps.

All them morsehams MUST prove their "dedication" to the hamcause,
ya see.

The morsemen had to test, so, by all the powers above, *ALL* hams
have to do it when they enter. If they don't, they aren't "real" hams.

So...51 years after I first fired up on HF all them morsehams keep
saying all them newcomers MUST take a morsetest to get on HF.

Some of those hams are "spiral cut" but that applies only to their
sorry excuse for mental emotion.

What I *would* make bets on is that the anticipated "instant
elimination* thinking that was going around since the treaty requirement
went away have done more to dampen the ranks of new advanced level hams
than the retention of Morse code.

So...now you've got this "instant gratification" thing going again?

Tsk. Over half a century past I never bothered with "advancing via
morse" and went ahead and got into the electronic industry for a
career...and retired (from regular hours, that is) in it.

You read the ARRL newsletter and what the ARRL says is pure
100% Gospel. "No changes in morse requirement." Yeah, right.

ARRL still hasn't gotten more than a quarter of U.S. amateur licensees
in membership. They don't reflect any majority.

Yup, Just DO it!

Why? Jump through old hoops because you jumped through old
hoops?

Ech.

Len Over 21 wrote:


So...now you've got this "instant gratification" thing going again?

Yes sir! Just like you have your thing going again. Does my posting offend?

- Mike KB3EIA -

In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

So...now you've got this "instant gratification" thing going again?

Yes sir! Just like you have your thing going again.

My "thing" has been "going" all the while...no problems. :-)

So has this ridiculous "necessity" of amateur radio to pass a morse
test in order to "qualify" for HF privileges for over a half century.

A mere 51 years I did not even have to pass any special test to
operate an HF transmitter outputting more power than any ham
is supposed to have (in 1953 that was 15 KW from the old Press
Wireless transmitters, went to 40 KW with the Collins rigs of
1955). No morse test needed. Didn't even have the MOS for
Fixed Station Transmitters, was MOS for microwave radio relay.

But, in 2004, U.S. radio amateurs MUST still pass a morse test
to "qualify" for operating an amateur radio transmitter on HF. No
other radio service (other than certain Maritime radio services)
require morsemanship testing.

Does my posting offend?

No, not me personally. I AM "offended" by the self-righteous hams
who insist (and some demand) that the morse test MUST remain
as if it is some kind of importance to "the service." This is the new
millennium, not some olde-tyme raddio where the "operators" sit
around with eye shades and sleeve garters while keying their bugs
and sideswipers and thinking they are Very Important or something.

Amateur radio is a HOBBY activity. Always was, and probably always
will be since the rest of the world can jolly well get on with life without
all those amateur hobbyists to Save The Planet from whatever.

If that morse test is so absolutely "needed," then the definition of the
ARS should be changed in Part 97 to "Archaic Radiotelegraphy
Service" for the USA.

In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

N2EY wrote:

In article , Mike Coslo
writes:


I see that the FCC is not anticipating any changes in the Morse code
licensing requirements before 2006.


Where did you see that, Mike?

http://www.arrl.org/?news_list_off=15

Well, they've been right about it so far. Way back in 2003 they said "at least
two years" which seemed incredible at the time. Many of us thought they'd just
dump Element 1 by MO&O (if that's the right acronym) in a few weeks/months.
There were even several petitions to that effect. But it's pretty clear that
FCC is going the whole NPRM route, and in no big hurry to do so.

I hope it's true.

I want the situation to stabilize. In a world where the testing
requirements are in a state of flux - and it is a given that the testing
regimin is likely to get easier, not more difficult - many people will
take the path of least resistance and wait until requirements are
dropped.

I think a few people will. Just as some people will wait until an item drops
below a certain price before they'll buy one, or replace the one they've got.

However I don't think there are large numbers of people waiting for Element 1
to go away before they get their amateur licenses.

That is *if* they are dropped. But as I noted, there is always
*someone* to say that the element one test is going to be eliminated
"any day now"...

It's been a year and a half since WRC 2003 and there's no change in sight. NPRM
cycles are long enough that it's very reasonable to expect no action until
2006. So once again, ARRL news is right on the money.

Of course there are always a noisy few who will say they're going to get a ham
license, but who never seem to get the proverbial round tuit. I recall one very
regular poster here who told us, way back in January 2000, that he was going
for Extra "right out of the box". He just didn't say *when*. Shall we continue
to lower the standards of the ARS to accomodate such people? I say no.

73 de Jim, N2EY