The Japanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications announced a
reduction of Morse Code test requirements on May 24th, 2005. The
announced changes, effective October 1, 2005, reduce the requirements
for 1st and 2nd class licenses to 5 wpm, solid copy for two minutes.
Previously these two license classes required 12 and 9 wpm,
respectively. The code test requirement for a third class license,
previously 5 wpm, will be eliminated.

The no-code-test fourth class license remains unchanged.

73 de Jim, N2EY

wrote in message
oups.com...
The Japanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications announced a
reduction of Morse Code test requirements on May 24th, 2005. The
announced changes, effective October 1, 2005, reduce the requirements
for 1st and 2nd class licenses to 5 wpm, solid copy for two minutes.
Previously these two license classes required 12 and 9 wpm,
respectively. The code test requirement for a third class license,
previously 5 wpm, will be eliminated.

The no-code-test fourth class license remains unchanged.

73 de Jim, N2EY


Interesting that they chose not to eliminate it entirely given the change in
treaty requirements. Any info on their rationale?
Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Dee Flint wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
The Japanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications announced a
reduction of Morse Code test requirements on May 24th, 2005.


Interesting that they chose not to eliminate it entirely given the change in
treaty requirements.

Yes, Dee, *very* interesting!

Any info on their rationale?


None so far. But it's noteworthy that it took them so long to make the
change, and it won't be effective form several months yet.

The number of JA amateur station licenses has been steadily declining
for about 10 years, even with their nocodetest 4th class HF license. It
will be interesting to see what happens to the number of JA hams with
these changes.

73 de Jim, N2EY

wrote in message
ups.com...
Dee Flint wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
The Japanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications announced a
reduction of Morse Code test requirements on May 24th, 2005.


Interesting that they chose not to eliminate it entirely given the change
in
treaty requirements.

Yes, Dee, *very* interesting!

Any info on their rationale?


None so far. But it's noteworthy that it took them so long to make the
change, and it won't be effective form several months yet.

The number of JA amateur station licenses has been steadily declining
for about 10 years, even with their nocodetest 4th class HF license. It
will be interesting to see what happens to the number of JA hams with
these changes.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Perhaps they want the capability of being able to copy the Russian, Chinese,
and the N. Koreans.

Gee.....just like the old Eastern Block countries did.....they still have
the CW. Gee wonder why?

May I venture an opinion? Hows this? When the crap hits the fan and all
we have left is basic CW to communicate with....where are the ops coming
from?

Dan/W4NTI

wrote:
Dee Flint wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
The Japanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications announced a
reduction of Morse Code test requirements on May 24th, 2005.


Interesting that they chose not to eliminate it entirely given the change in
treaty requirements.

Yes, Dee, *very* interesting!

Any info on their rationale?


None so far.

Just jump on the low end of 20 and find out. Remember, CW
communications transcends all language barriers.

But it's noteworthy that it took them so long to make the
change, and it won't be effective form several months yet.

There's always the bright side, right?

The number of JA amateur station licenses has been steadily declining
for about 10 years, even with their nocodetest 4th class HF license. It
will be interesting to see what happens to the number of JA hams with
these changes.

73 de Jim, N2EY

May you live in interesting times.

Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
Dee Flint wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
The Japanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications announced a
reduction of Morse Code test requirements on May 24th, 2005.


Interesting that they chose not to eliminate it entirely given the change
in
treaty requirements.

Yes, Dee, *very* interesting!

Any info on their rationale?


None so far. But it's noteworthy that it took them so long to make the
change, and it won't be effective form several months yet.

The number of JA amateur station licenses has been steadily declining
for about 10 years, even with their nocodetest 4th class HF license. It
will be interesting to see what happens to the number of JA hams with
these changes.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Perhaps they want the capability of being able to copy the Russian, Chinese,
and the N. Koreans.

Gee.....just like the old Eastern Block countries did.....they still have
the CW. Gee wonder why?

May I venture an opinion? Hows this? When the crap hits the fan and all
we have left is basic CW to communicate with....where are the ops coming
from?

Here's one. I'll still be able to talk, and key the microphone.

"bb" wrote in message
ps.com...


Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
Dee Flint wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
The Japanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications announced a
reduction of Morse Code test requirements on May 24th, 2005.


Interesting that they chose not to eliminate it entirely given the
change
in
treaty requirements.

Yes, Dee, *very* interesting!

Any info on their rationale?


None so far. But it's noteworthy that it took them so long to make the
change, and it won't be effective form several months yet.

The number of JA amateur station licenses has been steadily declining
for about 10 years, even with their nocodetest 4th class HF license. It
will be interesting to see what happens to the number of JA hams with
these changes.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Perhaps they want the capability of being able to copy the Russian,
Chinese,
and the N. Koreans.

Gee.....just like the old Eastern Block countries did.....they still have
the CW. Gee wonder why?

May I venture an opinion? Hows this? When the crap hits the fan and
all
we have left is basic CW to communicate with....where are the ops coming
from?

Here's one. I'll still be able to talk, and key the microphone.


You can take em to the water, but ya cain't make em drink.

Dan/W4NTI

Dan/W4NTI wrote:
"bb" wrote in message
ps.com...


Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
Dee Flint wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
The Japanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications announced a
reduction of Morse Code test requirements on May 24th, 2005.


Interesting that they chose not to eliminate it entirely given the
change
in
treaty requirements.

Yes, Dee, *very* interesting!

Any info on their rationale?


None so far. But it's noteworthy that it took them so long to make the
change, and it won't be effective form several months yet.

The number of JA amateur station licenses has been steadily declining
for about 10 years, even with their nocodetest 4th class HF license. It
will be interesting to see what happens to the number of JA hams with
these changes.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Perhaps they want the capability of being able to copy the Russian,
Chinese,
and the N. Koreans.

Gee.....just like the old Eastern Block countries did.....they still have
the CW. Gee wonder why?

May I venture an opinion? Hows this? When the crap hits the fan and
all
we have left is basic CW to communicate with....where are the ops coming
from?

Here's one. I'll still be able to talk, and key the microphone.


You can take em to the water, but ya cain't make em drink.

Dan/W4NTI

Why drink bad water?

Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
.. . . .

The number of JA amateur station licenses has been steadily declining
for about 10 years, even with their nocodetest 4th class HF license. It
will be interesting to see what happens to the number of JA hams with
these changes.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Perhaps they want the capability of being able to copy the Russian, Chinese,
and the N. Koreans.

Gee.....just like the old Eastern Block countries did.....they still have
the CW. Gee wonder why?

May I venture an opinion? Hows this? When the crap hits the fan and all
we have left is basic CW to communicate with....where are the ops coming
from?

From the kiddie chat rooms and RRAP of course . . . (?!)

In it's Evil Empire days in the eastern bloc it was their militaries
which very heavily encouraged and supported ham radio. They made no
bones about the fact that they viewed hams as a pool of reserve
military assets with critical skills. Hundreds if not thousands of
clubs were equipped with freebie military gear and near-mandatory
participation in contests was the norm since contesting is a
skill-builder. I remember listening to some of their "inhouse"
contests, SPs working UAs, etc. Those guys were *good*, almost 100%
hand-keyed 25-30 WPM CW hour after hour.

Maybe there's a grain of truth in your contention Dan, maybe some
countries still see some value in retaining some basic communications
skills in case push comes to shove . . . ?

Dan/W4NTI

w3rv

wrote:
Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
. . . .

The number of JA amateur station licenses has been steadily declining
for about 10 years, even with their nocodetest 4th class HF license. It
will be interesting to see what happens to the number of JA hams with
these changes.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Perhaps they want the capability of being able to copy the Russian, Chinese,
and the N. Koreans.

Gee.....just like the old Eastern Block countries did.....they still have
the CW. Gee wonder why?

May I venture an opinion? Hows this? When the crap hits the fan and all
we have left is basic CW to communicate with....where are the ops coming
from?

From the kiddie chat rooms and RRAP of course . . . (?!)

In it's Evil Empire days in the eastern bloc it was their militaries
which very heavily encouraged and supported ham radio. They made no
bones about the fact that they viewed hams as a pool of reserve
military assets with critical skills. Hundreds if not thousands of
clubs were equipped with freebie military gear and near-mandatory
participation in contests was the norm since contesting is a
skill-builder. I remember listening to some of their "inhouse"
contests, SPs working UAs, etc. Those guys were *good*, almost 100%
hand-keyed 25-30 WPM CW hour after hour.

My latest ARRL Handbook shows a photo of a Chinese girl doing RDF.

Maybe there's a grain of truth in your contention Dan, maybe some
countries still see some value in retaining some basic communications
skills in case push comes to shove . . . ?

Dan/W4NTI

w3rv

A grain indeed. A single grain in a 15 ton load.