From: on Mon 6 Jun 2005 18:17

wrote:
From: "K0HB" on Mon 6 Jun 2005 03:14


The total number of amateur radio licensees as a percentage of the
US population is only one factor in the regulatory process. Other
factors include the number of *active* licensees, the way the

That's simply untrue, '

[FCC constantly polls all amateurs to see if they are *active*
and thus only the *active* amateurs count for anything by the
morsemen who are truly representative of amateur radio in their
service to the nation]

Agreed. However, the variety of equipment available to radio
amateurs today far exceeds that of the past, and the cost in
constant dollars is far less.

That's simply untrue, '

[beautiful, state-of-the transceivers can be built for
under $100 by morsemen who are the true representatives
of amateur radio in their service to the nation]

Yet even small companies serving niches in the amateur radio
market have demonstrated they can survive.

That's simply untrue, '

[all who dilligently serve the niches never go defunct]

In other words, the older the population, the more of 'em are
going to die off sooner.

That's simply untrue, '

[morsemen live forever and are truly representative of
amateur radio in their service to the nation]


1) There are relatively few radio amateurs younger
than about 10 years of age. So any comparison
to the general population should be adjusted to
compensate for the fact that the median age of the
US population can reasonably be expected to
be lower than that of an activity such as amateur
radio.

That's simply untrue, '

[all true morsemen began when under 14 years of age, live
forever, and are the true representatives of amateur radio
in their service to the nation]

2) The source of amateur radio licensee age
statistics can be problematic. The FCC has
changed its policy on birthdate information
as part of the requirements, so some licensees
ages are known and others are unknown, making
the FCC database a problematic source of
licensee age information.
Surveys and polls may or may not be a
representative sample of the amateur radio
population.

That's simply untrue, '

' has only to post and his words are true, for
he is a morseman and truly representative of amateur radio
in his service to the nation]

A more illuminating statistic, IMHO, would be to compare
the distribution of the ages of amateur radio operators
to the distribution of the ages of the general population.

That's simply untrue, '

[morsemen are ageless and truly represent amateur radio in
their service to the nation]


4. Amateur radio is basically a HOBBY.

For many if not most radio amateurs, that is true. But there
is a significant public service element to the amateur radio
service that is not a part of most other "hobby" activities.

That's simply untrue, '

[morsemen serve their country in all amateurdom and are the
only true representatives of amateur radio]


There are also more hobbyists and more free time. More retirees
and semi-retirees. People are living longer and staying active longer.

That's simply untrue, '

[morsemen are ageless and truly represent amateur radio in
their service to the nation]


That is true only if the "greater numbers" are active, visible, and
present a positive image to the general public and government
agencies.

[morsemen serve their country in all things amateur, are the
only true representatives]


An interesting statistic, but of itself tells little. Additional
information is needed to understand the full meaning.

That's simply untrue, '

[morsemen are the only ones that count for anything]


For example, what does it cost to be a member of the Academy of
Model Aeronautics? How long is a membership good for? What services
does the Academy offer its membership?

[only morsemen are true representatives of anything and
therefore all other activities are meaningless]


The above numbers include expired-but-in-the-grace-period
licenses as well as current (unexpired) licenses. The number of
current licenses is significantly lower.

[only morsemen are significant since they represent amateur
radio in their service to the country]

The term "no-code-test Technician Class" is not entirely accurate.
An unknown number of amateur whose license class is Technician
have passed a code test. These include:

[only morsemen are significant since they represent amateur
radio in their service to the country]


In addition, there has been a net loss of total FCC amateur radio
licenses held by individuals since the restructuring of April 2000.
Despite reductions in both code and written testing, and the reduction
of license classes open to newcomers, growth has not occurred.

[the only true growth in radio is through morsemenship and thus
morsemen truly represent amateur radio in their service to the
nation]


The preceding statement does not recognize the fact that not
all licenses of the Technician class are "no code test". It is
therefore misleading to the point of possibly being incorrect.

[only morsemen are truly representative of amateur radio in
their service to the nation]



As the FCC continues to renew all Technician Plus licenses
as Technician, the number of code-tested Technicians
continues to grow.

[only morsemen are truly representative of amateur radio in
their service to the nation]


None of these are radio services that require licensing by the user.
Indeed, most of them are not radio services at all.

[only amateur morsemen are truly representative of radio]


The only real significance of these communications alternatives
to amateur radio growth is that they are additional choices for the
person whose primary interest is the message rather than the medium.
For the person who is more interested in "radio for its own sake",
they are not a substitute.

[only amateur morsemen are truly representative of radio]


Consider the analogy of water transport. For millenia, watercraft were
propelled by wind, muscles (human or animal) and/or water currents.
Traveling by water meant those motive power sources and no others.

[only amateur morsemen are truly representative of radio which,
through amateurism is the national transportation served]


Then the invention of steam and internal-combustion engines created
a whole new set of alternatives. In less than a century, most water
transportation abandoned wind and muscle power entirely, in favor
of fossil-fueled and even nuclear-powered engines.

[only amateur morsemen are truly representative of radio which,
through amateurism is the national transportation served]



There is no way to know for sure how many of these are actually
in use, because there is no license procedure for that radio
service. The number quoted is a decline from the boom
years of the "cb craze", about 30 years ago. Despite the low cost
of cb equipment, the lack of licensing and rules enforcement, and
the widespread availability, the cb service has been in decline from
its peak for a couple of decades now - while the population considers
to increase.

[only amateur morsemen are truly representative of radio which,
through amateurism is the national transportation served]



Citizens band allocations in the 27 MHz region were created 47 years
ago, but the service goes back to 1948, when UHF allocations were created by
FCC. The current GMRS and FRS allocations are the direct descendants
of those 1948 allocations.

That is simply mistaken, .

The electromagnetic spectrum does not exist in frequency unless
it has first been pioneered by amateurs, noted by the ARRL,
and remarked upon by K1ZZ in a QST editorial. FCC does not
count, physics do not count, the fact that the FCC did not
exist prior to 1934 does not count.

[the first mode in radio was telegraphy and that, in 1896, is
the bedrock upon which morsemen trace their radiotelegraphy
roots and morsemen are the only true representatives of
amateur radio in their service to the nation]


Yet in emergency situations, the amateur radio service continues to
perform public service.

[so it is written by morsemen who are the true representatives
of amateur radio in their service to the nation]



The previous statement is obviously incorrect, since none of the
above mentioned are free publications. It is obvious that "operating
income" includes all income available for the production of a
publication - advertising, subscriptions, etc.

You are simply mistaken,

[so it is written by the morsemen who are all accomplished
publishers as well as radio manufacturers and thus truly
representative of amateur radio in their service to the nation]



This may or may not be true. Simply increasing the number of
licenses may not result in a larger market for equipment or
publications, nor a more-favorable regulatory climate. The 27 MHz
cb example is not what amateur radio should emulate.

[cb is the scum, the vileness of the devil, spawn of satan
and the only true representatives of radio are the amateur
morsemen serving their nation]



Perhaps. It is important, however, to evaluate whether proposed
changes will actually bring growth, and also whether there will
be negative effects connected with the proposed changes that
will negate the positive effects of growth.

You are simply mistaken, .

[only morsemen can know for they represent the true being of
radio and the amateur service to their nation]



In the past 5 years, the number of US hams has decreased, not
increased. The total
number of Technicians and Technician Pluses is lower now than 5 years
ago.

You are simply mistaken, .

[only morsemen know the truth for they are truly representative
of amateur radio in their service to the nation]


What solution do you propose?

Morse code. The salvation of humankind, morse code is the only
answer to immortality, truth, justice, and the American Way.

.... "morsemen" have lost touch of reality... however, this is not
surprising, they attempt to pay homage to dead keys and recite the
technology of yesteryear as relevant... soon this too will pass...

Warmest regards,
John
wrote in message
oups.com...
From: on Mon 6 Jun 2005 18:17

wrote:
From: "K0HB" on Mon 6 Jun 2005 03:14


The total number of amateur radio licensees as a percentage of the
US population is only one factor in the regulatory process. Other
factors include the number of *active* licensees, the way the

That's simply untrue, '

[FCC constantly polls all amateurs to see if they are *active*
and thus only the *active* amateurs count for anything by the
morsemen who are truly representative of amateur radio in their
service to the nation]

Agreed. However, the variety of equipment available to radio
amateurs today far exceeds that of the past, and the cost in
constant dollars is far less.

That's simply untrue, '

[beautiful, state-of-the transceivers can be built for
under $100 by morsemen who are the true representatives
of amateur radio in their service to the nation]

Yet even small companies serving niches in the amateur radio
market have demonstrated they can survive.

That's simply untrue, '

[all who dilligently serve the niches never go defunct]

In other words, the older the population, the more of 'em are
going to die off sooner.

That's simply untrue, '

[morsemen live forever and are truly representative of
amateur radio in their service to the nation]


1) There are relatively few radio amateurs younger
than about 10 years of age. So any comparison
to the general population should be adjusted to
compensate for the fact that the median age of the
US population can reasonably be expected to
be lower than that of an activity such as amateur
radio.

That's simply untrue, '

[all true morsemen began when under 14 years of age, live
forever, and are the true representatives of amateur radio
in their service to the nation]

2) The source of amateur radio licensee age
statistics can be problematic. The FCC has
changed its policy on birthdate information
as part of the requirements, so some licensees
ages are known and others are unknown, making
the FCC database a problematic source of
licensee age information.
Surveys and polls may or may not be a
representative sample of the amateur radio
population.

That's simply untrue, '

' has only to post and his words are true, for
he is a morseman and truly representative of amateur radio
in his service to the nation]

A more illuminating statistic, IMHO, would be to compare
the distribution of the ages of amateur radio operators
to the distribution of the ages of the general population.

That's simply untrue, '

[morsemen are ageless and truly represent amateur radio in
their service to the nation]


4. Amateur radio is basically a HOBBY.

For many if not most radio amateurs, that is true. But there
is a significant public service element to the amateur radio
service that is not a part of most other "hobby" activities.

That's simply untrue, '

[morsemen serve their country in all amateurdom and are the
only true representatives of amateur radio]


There are also more hobbyists and more free time. More retirees
and semi-retirees. People are living longer and staying active longer.

That's simply untrue, '

[morsemen are ageless and truly represent amateur radio in
their service to the nation]


That is true only if the "greater numbers" are active, visible, and
present a positive image to the general public and government
agencies.

[morsemen serve their country in all things amateur, are the
only true representatives]


An interesting statistic, but of itself tells little. Additional
information is needed to understand the full meaning.

That's simply untrue, '

[morsemen are the only ones that count for anything]


For example, what does it cost to be a member of the Academy of
Model Aeronautics? How long is a membership good for? What services
does the Academy offer its membership?

[only morsemen are true representatives of anything and
therefore all other activities are meaningless]


The above numbers include expired-but-in-the-grace-period
licenses as well as current (unexpired) licenses. The number of
current licenses is significantly lower.

[only morsemen are significant since they represent amateur
radio in their service to the country]

The term "no-code-test Technician Class" is not entirely accurate.
An unknown number of amateur whose license class is Technician
have passed a code test. These include:

[only morsemen are significant since they represent amateur
radio in their service to the country]


In addition, there has been a net loss of total FCC amateur radio
licenses held by individuals since the restructuring of April 2000.
Despite reductions in both code and written testing, and the reduction
of license classes open to newcomers, growth has not occurred.

[the only true growth in radio is through morsemenship and thus
morsemen truly represent amateur radio in their service to the
nation]


The preceding statement does not recognize the fact that not
all licenses of the Technician class are "no code test". It is
therefore misleading to the point of possibly being incorrect.

[only morsemen are truly representative of amateur radio in
their service to the nation]



As the FCC continues to renew all Technician Plus licenses
as Technician, the number of code-tested Technicians
continues to grow.

[only morsemen are truly representative of amateur radio in
their service to the nation]


None of these are radio services that require licensing by the user.
Indeed, most of them are not radio services at all.

[only amateur morsemen are truly representative of radio]


The only real significance of these communications alternatives
to amateur radio growth is that they are additional choices for the
person whose primary interest is the message rather than the medium.
For the person who is more interested in "radio for its own sake",
they are not a substitute.

[only amateur morsemen are truly representative of radio]


Consider the analogy of water transport. For millenia, watercraft were
propelled by wind, muscles (human or animal) and/or water currents.
Traveling by water meant those motive power sources and no others.

[only amateur morsemen are truly representative of radio which,
through amateurism is the national transportation served]


Then the invention of steam and internal-combustion engines created
a whole new set of alternatives. In less than a century, most water
transportation abandoned wind and muscle power entirely, in favor
of fossil-fueled and even nuclear-powered engines.

[only amateur morsemen are truly representative of radio which,
through amateurism is the national transportation served]



There is no way to know for sure how many of these are actually
in use, because there is no license procedure for that radio
service. The number quoted is a decline from the boom
years of the "cb craze", about 30 years ago. Despite the low cost
of cb equipment, the lack of licensing and rules enforcement, and
the widespread availability, the cb service has been in decline from
its peak for a couple of decades now - while the population considers
to increase.

[only amateur morsemen are truly representative of radio which,
through amateurism is the national transportation served]



Citizens band allocations in the 27 MHz region were created 47 years
ago, but the service goes back to 1948, when UHF allocations were
created by
FCC. The current GMRS and FRS allocations are the direct descendants
of those 1948 allocations.

That is simply mistaken, .

The electromagnetic spectrum does not exist in frequency unless
it has first been pioneered by amateurs, noted by the ARRL,
and remarked upon by K1ZZ in a QST editorial. FCC does not
count, physics do not count, the fact that the FCC did not
exist prior to 1934 does not count.

[the first mode in radio was telegraphy and that, in 1896, is
the bedrock upon which morsemen trace their radiotelegraphy
roots and morsemen are the only true representatives of
amateur radio in their service to the nation]


Yet in emergency situations, the amateur radio service continues to
perform public service.

[so it is written by morsemen who are the true representatives
of amateur radio in their service to the nation]



The previous statement is obviously incorrect, since none of the
above mentioned are free publications. It is obvious that "operating
income" includes all income available for the production of a
publication - advertising, subscriptions, etc.

You are simply mistaken,

[so it is written by the morsemen who are all accomplished
publishers as well as radio manufacturers and thus truly
representative of amateur radio in their service to the nation]



This may or may not be true. Simply increasing the number of
licenses may not result in a larger market for equipment or
publications, nor a more-favorable regulatory climate. The 27 MHz
cb example is not what amateur radio should emulate.

[cb is the scum, the vileness of the devil, spawn of satan
and the only true representatives of radio are the amateur
morsemen serving their nation]



Perhaps. It is important, however, to evaluate whether proposed
changes will actually bring growth, and also whether there will
be negative effects connected with the proposed changes that
will negate the positive effects of growth.

You are simply mistaken, .

[only morsemen can know for they represent the true being of
radio and the amateur service to their nation]



In the past 5 years, the number of US hams has decreased, not
increased. The total
number of Technicians and Technician Pluses is lower now than 5 years
ago.

You are simply mistaken, .

[only morsemen know the truth for they are truly representative
of amateur radio in their service to the nation]


What solution do you propose?

Morse code. The salvation of humankind, morse code is the only
answer to immortality, truth, justice, and the American Way.

From: "John Smith" on Tues 7 Jun 2005 13:13

Len:

Naaa, a bunch of toothless old farts wrote that, don't be fooled...
these are the same men who confuse a hobby license with a Phd... they
take themselves much too seriously and expect other too... now, you can
be a dern fool and pay attention to all that, or ignore it all and seek
truth...

"John Smith," ya gotta know da TERRITORY!

This place be da BLOG of the Mighty Macho Morsemen, serving
the nation through amateur radio!

First of all, only one in here apparently is "toothless," that
of the Cursing Tomb Sentinel who never shows any teeth in his
mighty photo portraits and "action" candids. [he of the
"seven hostile actions"]

Then we have the NO-Serving (except through morsemanship
which is their true representative of U.S. amateur radio)
who make jolly good laffs and pointy fingers at those of
us who have served our country in the military.

There are the apparently brain-damaged who are confused and
curse those of us who know the truth...because we have done
things not described by the official voice of radio, ARRL.

One of the greatest of the apparently brain-damaged was in
firm conviction of the ARRL Handbook as being "a standard
book on every [electronic] engineer's desk." He got very
upset when asked to prove that statement. Being a
"lecturer at the University of Hawaii" (instructor at a
junior college attached the university) he was unfamiliar
with engineering per se but was a champion of morsemanship
and once heard a ship "scream" through CW.

There have been many others, some no longer with us. They
all have variations on the common dreams of wish-fulfillment
and self-importance. They are a SERVICE TO THE NATION for
taking up the hobby of amateur radio, "proving it" by
pointing (heatedly) to the FCC's definition of "Amateur
Radio Service." Unfortunately they overlook the simple fact
that EVERY radio type and kind in Title 47 C.F.R. is called
a Service ("service" in Title 47 is a regulatory term).

They have their "academic certificates" in the form of FCC
amateur radio license forms (suitable for framing) and thus
are BETTER than PhDs. They are nearly all claiming they, as
amateurs, are BETTER than professionals. Of course they are
...in their minds. Some have passed a morse code test at
high rate and that is even GREATER than their "academic
achievement" license certificates. They are RADIOTELEGRAPHERS!
The nobelest achievement in their world. Never mind that
actual jobs of radiotelegraphy are akin to chicken having teeth,
they have FANGS of expertise and bite all who dare accost them
in this newsgroup. They are CHAMPIONS, they are HEROES,
they are a bit nuts with self-love, self-promotion, self-
righteousness that doesn't stop.

"The truth is out there" is more than a TV show catchphrase.
It is reality of the rest of the radio world. Few of these
mighty macho morsemen have the courage to find out...they
await their revelations in the pages of QST where they are
spoon-fed what a few in Newington think is what they ought
to know.

So, to coexist in this Morsemen's BLOG, one has to "agree"
and kiss their figurative asses, take their unflogging
cursing and denigrations. Morsemen RULE RADIO in this
little BLOG. Morsemen must be fed a steady emotional diet
of gratuitous (and unwarranted) praise for their mighty
efforts and skills. THEY know all. Like already.

Get the picture? :-)

I was gonna say that!!! (but, you did say it better!)

But glad you clarified, certainly is close to my take on the whole
thing--you think you might be the only one who has ever told them the
truth--of how it all looks in others eyes? If not, you suppose the
problem is that they didn't believe the first guy? grin

Warmest regards,
John
wrote in message
ups.com...
From: "John Smith" on Tues 7 Jun 2005 13:13

Len:

Naaa, a bunch of toothless old farts wrote that, don't be fooled...
these are the same men who confuse a hobby license with a Phd... they
take themselves much too seriously and expect other too... now, you
can
be a dern fool and pay attention to all that, or ignore it all and
seek
truth...

"John Smith," ya gotta know da TERRITORY!

This place be da BLOG of the Mighty Macho Morsemen, serving
the nation through amateur radio!

First of all, only one in here apparently is "toothless," that
of the Cursing Tomb Sentinel who never shows any teeth in his
mighty photo portraits and "action" candids. [he of the
"seven hostile actions"]

Then we have the NO-Serving (except through morsemanship
which is their true representative of U.S. amateur radio)
who make jolly good laffs and pointy fingers at those of
us who have served our country in the military.

There are the apparently brain-damaged who are confused and
curse those of us who know the truth...because we have done
things not described by the official voice of radio, ARRL.

One of the greatest of the apparently brain-damaged was in
firm conviction of the ARRL Handbook as being "a standard
book on every [electronic] engineer's desk." He got very
upset when asked to prove that statement. Being a
"lecturer at the University of Hawaii" (instructor at a
junior college attached the university) he was unfamiliar
with engineering per se but was a champion of morsemanship
and once heard a ship "scream" through CW.

There have been many others, some no longer with us. They
all have variations on the common dreams of wish-fulfillment
and self-importance. They are a SERVICE TO THE NATION for
taking up the hobby of amateur radio, "proving it" by
pointing (heatedly) to the FCC's definition of "Amateur
Radio Service." Unfortunately they overlook the simple fact
that EVERY radio type and kind in Title 47 C.F.R. is called
a Service ("service" in Title 47 is a regulatory term).

They have their "academic certificates" in the form of FCC
amateur radio license forms (suitable for framing) and thus
are BETTER than PhDs. They are nearly all claiming they, as
amateurs, are BETTER than professionals. Of course they are
...in their minds. Some have passed a morse code test at
high rate and that is even GREATER than their "academic
achievement" license certificates. They are RADIOTELEGRAPHERS!
The nobelest achievement in their world. Never mind that
actual jobs of radiotelegraphy are akin to chicken having teeth,
they have FANGS of expertise and bite all who dare accost them
in this newsgroup. They are CHAMPIONS, they are HEROES,
they are a bit nuts with self-love, self-promotion, self-
righteousness that doesn't stop.

"The truth is out there" is more than a TV show catchphrase.
It is reality of the rest of the radio world. Few of these
mighty macho morsemen have the courage to find out...they
await their revelations in the pages of QST where they are
spoon-fed what a few in Newington think is what they ought
to know.

So, to coexist in this Morsemen's BLOG, one has to "agree"
and kiss their figurative asses, take their unflogging
cursing and denigrations. Morsemen RULE RADIO in this
little BLOG. Morsemen must be fed a steady emotional diet
of gratuitous (and unwarranted) praise for their mighty
efforts and skills. THEY know all. Like already.

Get the picture? :-)

From: "John Smith" on Tues 7 Jun 2005 21:18

I was gonna say that!!! (but, you did say it better!)

Thank you...but it's only a summation of what has gone on in
here for years, said by others as well as I. :-)


But glad you clarified, certainly is close to my take on the whole
thing--you think you might be the only one who has ever told them the
truth--of how it all looks in others eyes? If not, you suppose the
problem is that they didn't believe the first guy? grin

Actually there were dozens in here since 1996 trying to
point out the TRUTH, but the die-hard morsemen would have
none of it, preferring their own wonderful fantasies. Most
simply got tired of wasting their time trying to argue
against those (sometimes irrational) "believers."

One of the redoubtable fanstasizers was Jim Kehler, KH2D,
on Guam. He went so far as to "found" the fake organization
known as "No SSB International" to counter the established
No Code International (NCI) organiztion. NSI had very good
web page design but was hampered by their "leader," Kehler,
possessed of a zealot's blunt axe of words. NSI no longer
exists as any effective group. NCI continues. NCI leaders
helped to bring about the revision of S25 for international
amateur radio standards at WRC-03...along with the IARU...
even though hampered by the resistance of ARRL at the time.
Kehler had some kind of illness and moved to the contiguous
USA a few years ago. He had a website of his own (may still
have) and kept digging and digging at those code-tested he
did not like...in rather not-nice terms such as "brain-dead
old farts." :-)

The international maritime world selected GMDSS as THE
distress-and-safety automatic calling system a few years
ago, abandoning the old, romantic stalwart 500 KHz distress
frequency with its "CW" only capability. The USCG has
stopped monitoring that 500 KHz frequency. Some in here
(notably W0EX in Missouri, probably SK now) tried to tell
all "it wouldn't work!" by repeatedly quoting some retired
mariner (who was oblivious to the fact that the international
maritime folks had already tested the system and found that
it does work!). The FCC has added GMDSS commercial licensing
class categories (a few years ago) in Title 47 C.F.R. and
COLEMs do the testing for those (rather simple) written
license tests.

The ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) has
abandoned "CW" necessity for long over-water flights and
air carrier navigator-radio personnel were "downsized"
(laid-off, given their pension monies, waved bye-bye).
ICAO switched to voice on HF for such tasks.

Maritimers on the shipping lanes now use SSB voice and
various TORs (Teleprinter Over Radio) on HF for long-distance
communications. More expeditious for them, less error-prone
than "CW." River and harbor communications switched to VHF
voice decades ago for water-borne radio communications.

Outside of some long-ago-installed automatic station
identifiers using preset ID beepers, the only users of "CW"
in the USA are the amateur radiotelegraphers. Members of
the ARS (Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society) do some remarkable
rationalization on "why" all MUST test for morsemanship to
gain HF privileges: "It is the SECOND-most popular mode;"
"it is needed so all can communicate with third-world hams;"
"it is a 'traditional' and 'basic' mode;" "they need to know
it so that all can communicate during extreme emergencies
(perhaps when space aliens invade the earth)." The old,
tired, trite "CW gets through when nothing else will" still
surfaces even though first coined in the 1930s. Put into
terms of reality, the morsemen had to test for it and
therefore all newcomers have to do it (the "jump through the
hoops" hazing syndrome)...nya, nya. :-)

A sub-group of the mighty macho morsemen are the ex-service-
members (military service that is) who demand a militaristic
structure of defined rank-status-privilege with the "best"
privileges naturally bestowed on those with the highest rank.
[they self-define themselves as "deserving" of it] All of
the military mighty macho morsemen are anal to a point of
near-insanity on strict, unbending legalities with implied
capital-offense punishment to be immediately applied to the
poor souls who look for change in regulations. They
"believe" all the usual political propaganda statements to
be (almost) words of God and gleefully pin on their "deserved"
medals for engaging in a hobby activity that requires federal
regulation (due to the nature of EM physics).

All that fuss and furor over a HOBBY activity! None may say
nay to the divine-right of ham rule by the mighty macho
morsemen! :-)

Yes.

Well, you cannot disguise the fact that the over 60 crowd just don't
have the energy or enthusiasm as the teenage to 30 crowd--or the fact
that these younger people are actively engaged in the research,
development and production phases of electronics. Why they may
effectively hang on limiting the hobby--this cannot not go on
indefinitely...

And, while it is true only those with a wet diaper can truly appreciate
change--change is in the wind... the next decade should provide a dip
in number of licenses which has never been seen before... this is only
the beginning...

Warmest regards,
John
wrote in message
ups.com...
From: "John Smith" on Tues 7 Jun 2005 21:18

I was gonna say that!!! (but, you did say it better!)

Thank you...but it's only a summation of what has gone on in
here for years, said by others as well as I. :-)


But glad you clarified, certainly is close to my take on the whole
thing--you think you might be the only one who has ever told them the
truth--of how it all looks in others eyes? If not, you suppose the
problem is that they didn't believe the first guy? grin

Actually there were dozens in here since 1996 trying to
point out the TRUTH, but the die-hard morsemen would have
none of it, preferring their own wonderful fantasies. Most
simply got tired of wasting their time trying to argue
against those (sometimes irrational) "believers."

One of the redoubtable fanstasizers was Jim Kehler, KH2D,
on Guam. He went so far as to "found" the fake organization
known as "No SSB International" to counter the established
No Code International (NCI) organiztion. NSI had very good
web page design but was hampered by their "leader," Kehler,
possessed of a zealot's blunt axe of words. NSI no longer
exists as any effective group. NCI continues. NCI leaders
helped to bring about the revision of S25 for international
amateur radio standards at WRC-03...along with the IARU...
even though hampered by the resistance of ARRL at the time.
Kehler had some kind of illness and moved to the contiguous
USA a few years ago. He had a website of his own (may still
have) and kept digging and digging at those code-tested he
did not like...in rather not-nice terms such as "brain-dead
old farts." :-)

The international maritime world selected GMDSS as THE
distress-and-safety automatic calling system a few years
ago, abandoning the old, romantic stalwart 500 KHz distress
frequency with its "CW" only capability. The USCG has
stopped monitoring that 500 KHz frequency. Some in here
(notably W0EX in Missouri, probably SK now) tried to tell
all "it wouldn't work!" by repeatedly quoting some retired
mariner (who was oblivious to the fact that the international
maritime folks had already tested the system and found that
it does work!). The FCC has added GMDSS commercial licensing
class categories (a few years ago) in Title 47 C.F.R. and
COLEMs do the testing for those (rather simple) written
license tests.

The ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) has
abandoned "CW" necessity for long over-water flights and
air carrier navigator-radio personnel were "downsized"
(laid-off, given their pension monies, waved bye-bye).
ICAO switched to voice on HF for such tasks.

Maritimers on the shipping lanes now use SSB voice and
various TORs (Teleprinter Over Radio) on HF for long-distance
communications. More expeditious for them, less error-prone
than "CW." River and harbor communications switched to VHF
voice decades ago for water-borne radio communications.

Outside of some long-ago-installed automatic station
identifiers using preset ID beepers, the only users of "CW"
in the USA are the amateur radiotelegraphers. Members of
the ARS (Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society) do some remarkable
rationalization on "why" all MUST test for morsemanship to
gain HF privileges: "It is the SECOND-most popular mode;"
"it is needed so all can communicate with third-world hams;"
"it is a 'traditional' and 'basic' mode;" "they need to know
it so that all can communicate during extreme emergencies
(perhaps when space aliens invade the earth)." The old,
tired, trite "CW gets through when nothing else will" still
surfaces even though first coined in the 1930s. Put into
terms of reality, the morsemen had to test for it and
therefore all newcomers have to do it (the "jump through the
hoops" hazing syndrome)...nya, nya. :-)

A sub-group of the mighty macho morsemen are the ex-service-
members (military service that is) who demand a militaristic
structure of defined rank-status-privilege with the "best"
privileges naturally bestowed on those with the highest rank.
[they self-define themselves as "deserving" of it] All of
the military mighty macho morsemen are anal to a point of
near-insanity on strict, unbending legalities with implied
capital-offense punishment to be immediately applied to the
poor souls who look for change in regulations. They
"believe" all the usual political propaganda statements to
be (almost) words of God and gleefully pin on their "deserved"
medals for engaging in a hobby activity that requires federal
regulation (due to the nature of EM physics).

All that fuss and furor over a HOBBY activity! None may say
nay to the divine-right of ham rule by the mighty macho
morsemen! :-)

John Smith wrote:
Yes.

Well, you cannot disguise the fact that the over 60 crowd just don't
have the energy or enthusiasm as the teenage to 30 crowd--or the fact
that these younger people are actively engaged in the research,
development and production phases of electronics. Why they may
effectively hang on limiting the hobby--this cannot not go on
indefinitely...

John, there is hope. I took a look at the actuarial tables shortly
after joining this newsgripe, and it look like they are working in our
favor. We can help it work by not turning into the very type of
amateur that the tables are currently removing from hamdom.

And, while it is true only those with a wet diaper can truly appreciate
change--change is in the wind... the next decade should provide a dip
in number of licenses which has never been seen before... this is only
the beginning...

Warmest regards,
John

Progress!

From: John Smith on Jun 8, 5:35 pm

Yes.

Well, you cannot disguise the fact that the over 60 crowd just don't
have the energy or enthusiasm as the teenage to 30 crowd--or the fact
that these younger people are actively engaged in the research,
development and production phases of electronics. Why they may
effectively hang on limiting the hobby--this cannot not go on
indefinitely...

And, while it is true only those with a wet diaper can truly appreciate
change--change is in the wind... the next decade should provide a dip
in number of licenses which has never been seen before... this is only
the beginning...

The mighty macho morsemen cannot conceive of that. They are
immortal. They RULE. [they've said as much...]

However, "energy and enthusiasm" is a function of both individual
genes and mental outlook. "Enthusiasm" in half-century-old state-
of-the-art techiques and practices should be consigned to niche
nostalgia places, not kept as federal regulations.

Many of the stratification crowd seem to hang onto their
"enthusiasm" of their young days as if it were a lifeline to
some imagined fountain of youth promising that they will
remain younger than springtime by holding to old paradigms.
[Rodgers and Hammerstein could do a great musical opera on
that if Rodgers wasn't a silent (piano) key and Oscar wasn't
a silent pen...but it wouldn't play in Newington] [well,
maybe a version of "Carousel" since these olde-fahrts keep
going around and around and around...]

My own viewpoint is different. By virtue of being born when
I was, my lifetime has seen the comming of the solid-state
era and the definite decay of vacuum tube technology...that
bringing a virtual explosion of different applications, new
and exciting SOCs (Systems On a Chip)...plus a whole new set
of passive and semi-active components and ways to hold them all
together. Technology-wise that is truly WONDERFUL and
MARVELOUS. We all have the capability of high-speed data and
imagery communications internationally, 24/7, no worries about
the condition of the ionosphere...all for less than $2000 in
today's dollars to get a "mainframe" computer on a desk and
a year's subscription to an ISP. Buy-sell-trade, do personal
banking, keep family in touch at all times etc., etc., etc.
My personal enthusiasm on the technology just grows and grows
from keeping in touch with the new developments and seeing
the products (some delivered to my door after electronic
ordering). I'm not going to see the end of even if the
mortal world sees my end. That's the way of humans being.

Others, the stratification crowd, the staunch defenders of the
status quo, demand a HALT to progress, NO CHANGE. Keep all
nice and tidy and belonging just the way it was when they were
young. Psychological reassurances of their "safety." Denial
of the fact that they ARE getting on. Denial of the fact that
other, younger people MIGHT be interested in doing this ham
radio hobby thing. Oh, some of them whip up some adrenaline
and do lip-service to old, trite phrases of "helping youngsters"
and all that but the MUST keep THEIR playground in their order.
NO changes allowed. Most don't help, don't bother to learn how
to help.

Why would a young person of today WANT to study morse code just
to communicate on HF? Other than being in a "ham family?" The
Internet opened to the public 14 years ago and most of the world
is connected to the net. A shrink wrap CB transceiver is available
over the counter for less than $100, complete with antenna and
microphone. A pair of FRS hand-helds costs only $50 maximum and
permits 5 mile two-way talking with isolation via digital mode.
A cell phone with a built-in camera costs less than $100 and can
communicate anywhere within range of a cell site...to the rest
of the telephonic world. One in five Americans have cell phone
subscriptions. Need to send documents across country fast? Go
to chain drugstores and use their FAX machines. All sorts of
quick communications possibilities for all today. COMPETITION
OF INTEREST. Competition of quality and dependability. And all
that hasn't touched on the OTHER advantages the younger folk have
today, things that are entertaining, interesting, mind-holding.

In truth, some young folks LIKE certain old things. That's been
true in every generation. The best-ever stagecoaches are built
today...in either California or Arizona (depending on your guild
location)...for movie and TV use. Horseback riding is for personal
pleasure today. It isn't a requirement to survive as it once was.
When we want to send a telegram today, it is done by data modes
probably through fiber-optic lines, transmission at relatively
unlimited speed, securely and without error. No one has to go to
the old train office and have some manual telegrapher translate
it and send it at 10 to 20 words per minute. That was for times
older than a century ago.

Today's ham can purchase a top-of-the-line HF transceiver, fancy
antenna and tower, peripheral gizmos up the gazoo, all for less
than $5000. They get rock-solid frequency stability and read-out
of same down to 10 Hz increments...Digital Signal Processing,
"VFO 'split'" with frequency memories, sharp crystal filters to
reduce QRM and QRN to a minimum...even operate it through a PC!
None of that was available in a single package a half century ago.
But, the olde-fahrts can sit back and dictate all MUST test for
the 161-year-old "technology" skill of morse code on that HF.
Incredible dichotomy. Incredible hypocrisy.

Actuarial tables will manifest themselves. The mighty macho
morsemen WILL have their morse keys pried out of their cold,
dead fingers. Your prediction will come to pass. Perhaps
much sooner than they expected. RIP.

Bip Bip

Len:

A direct quote from Jim Haynie, "The ARRL president asserted that many
Amateur Extra class licensees couldn't pass today's Element 4
examination if they had to..."
Complete article at:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/05/22/1/?nc=1

Warmest regards,
John
wrote in message
ups.com...
From: "John Smith" on Tues 7 Jun 2005 21:18

I was gonna say that!!! (but, you did say it better!)

Thank you...but it's only a summation of what has gone on in
here for years, said by others as well as I. :-)


But glad you clarified, certainly is close to my take on the whole
thing--you think you might be the only one who has ever told them the
truth--of how it all looks in others eyes? If not, you suppose the
problem is that they didn't believe the first guy? grin

Actually there were dozens in here since 1996 trying to
point out the TRUTH, but the die-hard morsemen would have
none of it, preferring their own wonderful fantasies. Most
simply got tired of wasting their time trying to argue
against those (sometimes irrational) "believers."

One of the redoubtable fanstasizers was Jim Kehler, KH2D,
on Guam. He went so far as to "found" the fake organization
known as "No SSB International" to counter the established
No Code International (NCI) organiztion. NSI had very good
web page design but was hampered by their "leader," Kehler,
possessed of a zealot's blunt axe of words. NSI no longer
exists as any effective group. NCI continues. NCI leaders
helped to bring about the revision of S25 for international
amateur radio standards at WRC-03...along with the IARU...
even though hampered by the resistance of ARRL at the time.
Kehler had some kind of illness and moved to the contiguous
USA a few years ago. He had a website of his own (may still
have) and kept digging and digging at those code-tested he
did not like...in rather not-nice terms such as "brain-dead
old farts." :-)

The international maritime world selected GMDSS as THE
distress-and-safety automatic calling system a few years
ago, abandoning the old, romantic stalwart 500 KHz distress
frequency with its "CW" only capability. The USCG has
stopped monitoring that 500 KHz frequency. Some in here
(notably W0EX in Missouri, probably SK now) tried to tell
all "it wouldn't work!" by repeatedly quoting some retired
mariner (who was oblivious to the fact that the international
maritime folks had already tested the system and found that
it does work!). The FCC has added GMDSS commercial licensing
class categories (a few years ago) in Title 47 C.F.R. and
COLEMs do the testing for those (rather simple) written
license tests.

The ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) has
abandoned "CW" necessity for long over-water flights and
air carrier navigator-radio personnel were "downsized"
(laid-off, given their pension monies, waved bye-bye).
ICAO switched to voice on HF for such tasks.

Maritimers on the shipping lanes now use SSB voice and
various TORs (Teleprinter Over Radio) on HF for long-distance
communications. More expeditious for them, less error-prone
than "CW." River and harbor communications switched to VHF
voice decades ago for water-borne radio communications.

Outside of some long-ago-installed automatic station
identifiers using preset ID beepers, the only users of "CW"
in the USA are the amateur radiotelegraphers. Members of
the ARS (Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society) do some remarkable
rationalization on "why" all MUST test for morsemanship to
gain HF privileges: "It is the SECOND-most popular mode;"
"it is needed so all can communicate with third-world hams;"
"it is a 'traditional' and 'basic' mode;" "they need to know
it so that all can communicate during extreme emergencies
(perhaps when space aliens invade the earth)." The old,
tired, trite "CW gets through when nothing else will" still
surfaces even though first coined in the 1930s. Put into
terms of reality, the morsemen had to test for it and
therefore all newcomers have to do it (the "jump through the
hoops" hazing syndrome)...nya, nya. :-)

A sub-group of the mighty macho morsemen are the ex-service-
members (military service that is) who demand a militaristic
structure of defined rank-status-privilege with the "best"
privileges naturally bestowed on those with the highest rank.
[they self-define themselves as "deserving" of it] All of
the military mighty macho morsemen are anal to a point of
near-insanity on strict, unbending legalities with implied
capital-offense punishment to be immediately applied to the
poor souls who look for change in regulations. They
"believe" all the usual political propaganda statements to
be (almost) words of God and gleefully pin on their "deserved"
medals for engaging in a hobby activity that requires federal
regulation (due to the nature of EM physics).

All that fuss and furor over a HOBBY activity! None may say
nay to the divine-right of ham rule by the mighty macho
morsemen! :-)

John Smith wrote:
Len:

A direct quote from Jim Haynie, "The ARRL president asserted that many
Amateur Extra class licensees couldn't pass today's Element 4
examination if they had to..."
Complete article at:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/05/22/1/?nc=1

Haynie's mistake is in assuming that because he might have trouble
passing it, many others would also have difficulty.

Dave K8MN