Joe Guthart wrote:
I am glad the FCC finally took charge of the situation and
decided to drop the code requirements.

Well, it's what they're proposing to do, anyway.

Here's why ...

I like Amateur Radio and want it to be a life-long hobby
for me ... however, I just plainly can't take time
to effectively study the code at this point in my life.
I think my story is pretty common for most of the
new people entering Amateur Radio today. I am a
43 year old married father of three children. I
have a background in Aerospace Engineering and my
full time work is in the high technology sector
working with many well known computing infrastructure
companies. I got my Technician license about two and
a half years ago because it was a neat little challenge
for me to combine radio communications with some of
the newer digital modes. Basically, it was fun, not
really technical challenging, but a nice way to relax.
I do enjoy making contacts on 6 meters. I would
play around with some different radio, antenna, and
computer configurations and started to develop a relationship
with some fellow ham buddies. Soon I became limited
with the VHF/UHF band and wanted to hop onto HF. Of
course, by the current rules one would have to jump on
and take on learning Morse Code. I am absolutely sure
I could do this if I had enough time. Having an ongoing
career and being a family man, doesn't really leave
a whole lot of time to practice dits and dahs. I have
actually played around with the code several times, but
real life events and changing priorities always got in
the way; not en excuse just reality. I really do see
learning the code as similar to my older engineering
brethren making me learn how to use a slide rule; it's kind of neat, but not really effective for me, or most folks, given the advance of other computing methods and devices.

So what that boils down to is this, Joe: You don't want to
spend the time or effort needed to learn enough Morse Code
to pass the test.

What about the written tests for General and Extra? In order
to use digital modes on HF, you need at least a General
Class license.

Fellow hams need to sit back and take an objective look
at this hobby because it is dying a rapid death!

How do you figure?

When I became a ham in 1967, there were about 260,000 US hams.
Now there are over 650,000. The peak was about two years ago,
but there have been ups and downs before.

Amateur Radio needs me and people just like me to join in on
the HF bands and to use our real world high tech expertise to
help further Amateur Radio.

OK, fine, how *exactly* will that happen?

Will you design and build new high tech radios?
Develop new high-performance modes of communication?
Set up some sort of new radio network?
Get more people interested in amateur radio by
demos, articles, etc.?

Where will the time come from to do that stuff?

For that matter, where will the time come from for
you to set up an HF station and operate it?

Amateur Radio also needs my $$$$. Take a look at
the declining number of amateur radio manufacturers
and radios.

Did that in another part of this thread. The trend is
opposite to what you're saying.

How could any business justify spending a
lot on research and development in a market
that is collapsing?

Well, the manufacturers don't think it's collapsing!

Finally, I honor all those of you who are code proficient.

Thank you!

I too may one day still be code proficient even if there is no formal testing.

Why not now?

20-45 minutes a day for 4-6 weeks should get you to 5 wpm. There
are freeware Morse Code trainers that will run on most PCs. I
recommend the G4FON one.

However, I do think that the right decision has been made
by the FCC and will ultimately be finalized with little
changes.

I don't think it's the right thing, but I'm afraid FCC will
do it anyway.

This will not kill our hobby, but will inject more life into
it.

I hope you're right.

73 de Jim, N2EY