Jeff Renkin wrote:
Jeff Renkin wrote in message
...
What are you going to use when HF propagation is too weak to support
voice???

That was already answered higher up in the thread, I will requote that part:

The International Maritime Organization officially phased out Morse code Feb.
1 for ships in peril, replacing it with the high-tech Global Maritime Distress
and
Safety System.

FOR COMMERCIAL VESSELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So that answer would be, the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.

Right...A guy on a 20 ft sailboat is going to buy a system that costs
more than his boat...Good grief....Get a grip.

Satellites and GPS are far more reliable than HF. Keep in mind code was
invented and used because there were no microphones invented yet.
Likewise, HF was ok before we had satellites and GPS. When a friend of
mine recently traveled overseas, I was able to track the entire flight from
several free websites that you just enter in the flight number and you get a
constant read out of speed, altitude, location and maps to show you exactly
where the plane was the whole time. With technology like this, no one even
needs to call for help anymore, when the signal stops, we know exactly where
it was when it stopped and can go looking for it.

How many people do you know with small private boats, that have the
normally COMMERCIALLY USED GMDSS system onboard? This is not a trick
question...You can take your time, if this hurts your brain.
Most people running 20 ft sailboats do not have the resources of
American Airlines, or a large shipping company. Also, in most cases, the
info you see on that airnav website will be estimated much of the time.
The only time the aircraft will be spitting out that info is if they
send it out via ACARS. And they don't do that every few minutes. That
and any radar transponder info from air traffic controllers. I receive
ACARS direct on my rig, so I'm familiar with how they operate, what they
send, and how often they usually spit out coordinates. It's really not
that often. Some hardly ever do...If a plane crashed, it's not going to
instantly show up on airnav software.

Why do so many people want to throw all this technology away and force
everyone to stay with antiquated forms of communication like HF and Morse
Code?

There is no one throwing anything away. We have nothing to do with
commercial marine systems. I've never heard of a single ham that
suggests they should do away with their COMMERCIALLY used GMDSS system.

What next? Will they start a movement to force all of us to get rid of our
washing machines and have to use old washboards instead so THEY will be happy?

If we decided to change all commercial vessels back to 500kc morse, you
might have a point. But we aren't , so you don't.

I for one, gladly embrace new technology that makes life easier and
better.

Yea, I bet you will install all that stuff on a 20 ft sailboat. Real
soon...At O-clock I bet...
I use all the latest technology too, but that doesn't mean I'm dumping
all my older ones just to look stylish. The newer ones just add to the
ones I already have at my disposal.


Wanting to play around with HF and Morse Code for a hobby to get a
nostalgic feeling of yesteryear is fine, but be realistic and don't come up
with ridiculous ideas to force others to use it.

There is no one forcing anyone to do anything. Trying to compare
requirements for a commercial marine system to amateur radio is
ridiculous. You are the one that needs to get realistic. Why do you keep
trying to force this down everyones throat when it's not even a system
that private boats use with any regularity at all? As far as I know, the
"least" vessel required to use that system is one that carries over 12
passengers on *international* voyages. What do you suggest the people
with 20 ft sailboats, carrying 3 people on a short hop down the coast
use? This is not a trick question. Take your time.

People who bowl or play golf don't force everyone else to do that either.
Hams that use microphones don't tell morse code lovers they have to use
microphones, so why can't the stubborn headed morse code loving hams just
enjoy their hobbies without forcing everyone else in the world to do what THEY
want to do.

How are we forcing anyone to do anything? We amateurs don't make the
rules #1.
Why do some seriously misguided people insist on telling me how I should
operate my radio station when handling emergency traffic to someone who
wouldn't ever be likely to have GMDSS gear at all?
Why on earth would you even care what mode I use. I don't tell you what
modes you should use. I could care less.
Like I said the other day, hell will be freezing over before I would
ever be likely to handle emergency traffic from a large commercial
vessel. I don't care what gear they use. Yea, maybe in 1912 when the
titanic took a swim, but not now, or even when they still used the old
system in recent years. You need to get a grip and quit confusing a
commercial marine system with amateur radio.

All you seem to care about is being able to use a frigging microphone on
the HF ham bands without taking that dog slow 5 wpm code test. What on
earth does this have to do with commercial marine GMDSS systems? Crap,
it only takes about two weeks to learn 5 wpm code. Maybe a month at the
most for people like you who have a mental block. You can say anything
you want, but to me, anyone that will not even attempt to pass that test
is just plain lazy if they really want a ticket. And I have no problems
with that either, until they start whining about it.
I bet I could teach code to the piano playing chickens at the "IQ Zoo"
in Hot Springs AR. faster than you will ever get it. Why, because all
you seem to want to do is whine about it. Truly pitiful if you ask me.
Those chickens won't whine. All they will want is a small treat of food
after they pass each letter. I had to learn stuff for the written tests
that I will never use, but you don't see me whining about it. If the US
drops code testing, fine. But they haven't yet, and whining about it
will do you no good at all. The FCC could care less about whining
no-code advocates.
MK

P.S I reposted this on my server cuz google crapped negative on me when
I pulled the trigger. If it dupes, oh well...
--
http://web.wt.net/~nm5k