"bb" wrote in message
ups.com...

snipped


My comments with respect to the NPRM were, "What I fear most about
changing the Morse Code exam requirements is a lack of enforcement, and
what I fear most about maintaining the status quo is a lack of
enforcement."


Everyone is entitled to their opinion. You may have a valid concern!

You're right, it will take a while, even if
they were to decide to write a NPRM to do such. If these people
jumped into
Alligator infested waters as fast as they do rumors, the
population
would
take a sudden drop. I'm not a "lover" of code, but I have hold a
license
which required code.

Ditto.

5 WPM is not impossible to learn. It only takes a few
minutes a day and about 2 weeks at least to get enough to pass a
test. 2
weeks is not long,

It may be impossible for some. I learned it over a considerably
longer
period of time with frequent practice.

you probably drove longer on a permit before being
allowed to drive on your own. Probably studied the book longer
too!
It takes
little effort.

I disagree. It took a great effort.

For some - it may! One argument I've heard, is that those musically
inclined
pick it up quicker than others, yet I knew some who "were" musically
inclined and claimed to have a hell of a time with it. Reason? I
don't know.
I can't get inside their head.

Steve can. He can even have them incarcerated with a simple phone
calls.

The biggest problem with most is "laziness".

Was that your problem? If you hadn't been so lazy you could have
learned the code in under a week?

Eh - I had the code down in 2 weeks for the Novice exam. AND I'm now
an
Extra. Been licensed since the early 80s.
Yeah, I probably could have learned it in under a week, if I pushed
myself.

That wasn't my point. My point is that everyone is different, and the
length of time it takes to learn 5WPM varies greatly. The time it
takes to learn 20WPM could be lifetimes. Not everyone is even capable
of 13WPM.


I agree. As I've said, I learned the code well enough in 2 weeks to pass the
exam but it didn't / doesn't make me a "CW" king. Time isn't really the
factor here. My main point was (and I do know others who learned code
quickly), you "have to start". I've heard people spout out - I can't learn
those dashes and dots. Problem is, they never even tried. Maybe as kids -
they may have had a set of cheap walkie talkies with the code on them or
perhaps seen some code characters listed or heard them somewhere on tv or
so. Did they "really" try to learn it? Nine chances out of ten - I'm willing
to bet - NO. You have to "try". If you can't do it alone, seek out the help
of one who has or any of the courses available and give it a chance. I will
admit, some of the courses I have heard - sucked. They tended to turn me
away from the desire to listen. One reason, one of the course tapes had an
"echo" to it. Try listening to that for a while. If you were ever in a sub
and heard sonar for 8 hours a day or more, you'd have felt right at home.
So, yes - some things "can" drive you away from wanting to learn it.
If one method doesn't do it, find one that will. If you're interested
enough, you'll do what it takes to get through it.

Time used to be a factor at one time as a license had to be upgraded in a
certain time, so it sort of placed those who were lagging - in a bit of a
turmoil. I guess that was the FCC's way of saying - you can do it if you put
your mind to it. They kind of pushed you along or out of the way.

Most anyone will tell you - it isn't good to do such. Besides, at
that time,
I was chasing rug rats - so study time was premium.

I've been told that is absolutely no excuse. Nothing in your personal
or professional life can be more important than learning the code.


Hmmmmmm....... the only other one I can think of more important, is eating!


Most recommendations are
15 minutes to a half hour a day. That hardly makes it possible in a
week. I
used the words " "AT LEAST" 2 WEEKS". Some are faster learners than
others,
that is a given. BUT my point was, you have to get started to learn
ANYTHING. You can't absorb it through osmosis. Back to the timing
thing, I
hope someone from the military can step in to tell us how much time
they
were given to get the code down. I think they had to "Cram".

They've finally left the group. They were paid to learn the code, and
they kept getting paid even if they failed. Of course, insteading of
doing intercept comms, they were peeling potatoes.

Maybe you never
will use it again.

Perhaps. I've found little use for it so far. Maybe once I'm an
old
fart, have loads of time, and wax nostalgic for things that never
were,
I'll take it up and enjoy it, and demand that all learn it.

Probably the same age bracket as me. I do listen to call signs now
and then
on the scanner to pick out the services they represent - if I don't
immediately know who the service is. I do listen some times to code
on the
H.F. Bands.

I don't dislike the code. It was difficult for me to make the few
QSO's that I did make as a novice. I'd like to pick it up again
someday.

There are many things you learn in life and may never use
again, unless you plan to play on Jeopardy. Many people learned
the
skeletal
system in health class, microorganisms in Biology class. It
doesn't
mean
they use it now. Probably forgot it as soon as they graduated.
But,
it was
"required". It's not a big deal people. Once you get past the "do
I
have to"
and start doing it, you'll amaze yourself at how fast and easy it
can
be.

Indeed. I never had the "do I have to?" attitude as there was no
code-free license when I became a ham. Yet it took me about 9
weeks of
daily practice.

And you stuck with it!!!!!!!! You didn't quit, and it got you where
you
wanted to be. OR had to be - for your class of license. 2 weeks, 9
weeks, so
what... you did it. A milestone to be proud of. No one can fault you
for
that effort.

My ex-wife certainly can.


So could my ex wife, but then again, with her being divorced for the third
time in few years, I could care less what her opinion was of me. I gave my
50% and thats all I was worried about. I have no guilt - there.

I
DO use code now and then, but not daily like many others do.
Everyone
has
their own thing. Some are into Packet, RTTY, AMTOR, etc, I'm
not...
To each
his own. But we all had to learn "something" about those modes to
pass an
exam.

cl

Use it all you want. I'm against the Code Exam as an unnecessary
government requirement.

Funny thing is, we're all arguing pros and cons and in the end, it
won't
matter. WE do not have control. So, if we're going to debate the
issues we
have no control over, may as well keep it clean. Hardly any of us
know the
other and it isn't worth making enemies over. Certainly not worth
name
calling.... Whether I'm right or wrong, I do value opposing view
points.
Everyone has a right to his/her own opinion. It sure will be
interesting to
see how it all unfolds. I think in the end, we both know the answer
to that.
Pro or con, it is a matter of time. May be a year, may be 5, but it
will
come to pass.

cl

I don't think that's 100% correct. You and me don't write the FCC
regulations, but the FCC looked to the ARRL to put forth modern exam
requirements. The ARRL movers and shakers wrung their hands and bit
"thier" knuckles and said that there was no concensus. So the FCC
plowed ahead with modernization, and the ARRL came up with reductions
in the Morse requirements lickety split. Amazing, all that.

So in the end, if more folks has been exposed to viewpoints other than
the ARRL's, there just might have been a concensus.

Just my opinions, of course, but by tomorrow I'll probably be labeled a
liar, a homosexual, and maybe even a horse thief.


Not by me, I don't have a problem with opposing view points. You could be
right, I could be wrong. It is good to debate.
Name calling doesn't get it done. That is what kills me, many do that
because they can't do a good debate. So what if we keep opposing each new
point made, who cares? Just makes more to chat about.

As to the ARRL, at one point - "I" thought and perhaps I read it somewhere -
the FCC was getting fed up with the ARRL always trying to influence them.
I'm not sure what is going on there anymore. The ARRL ****ed me off a long
time ago and ever since then, it didn't matter to me whether they sank or
swam. The local representative was one of the most cocky - arrogant people
to walk the face of the earth. He was "supposed" to be at the Hamfest to
meet people and to discuss things. He blew off most of those who approached
him. Instead - always turning to his friend to talk to him. Well excuse US
for the interruption......... With representation like that, who needs them?
That wasn't the only issue. Their arrogance got the best of me and some
others I know - a few times. I don't follow them anymore - like a dog on a
leash. Funny, my brother just got an invitation the other day - to join.
First one he got in a long time. I said - must need some money! The ARRL
doesn't speak for me. Actually, I don't think they speak for themselves
anymore. In the end, unless we continue to get government protection, big
business will win. Money talks and bull **** walks.

cl