http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/bu...0A&oref=slogin

Just think you spent all that time and effort leaning the ancient
language of code all for nothing.

Apparenty the military doesn't think so
Douche Bag wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/bu...0A&oref=slogin

Just think you spent all that time and effort leaning the ancient
language of code all for nothing.

http://www.radio-electronics.com/inf...morse-code.php
"The main area in which Morse is used today is for radio transmissions. While the requirement for ships at sea to be able to send Morse code distress signals ended on 31st January 1999, many other still use Morse. Some ships still use it as a cheaper option than the satellite
communications systems that are in general use now. Also some armed forces still use it as a last ditch form of communications."

http://www.astrosol.ch/networksofthe...rks/index.html

http://www.recruiting.forces.gc.ca/v...?id=277&bhcp=1
"Communicate inter-ship by ship/shore radio teletype, ship/shore satellite, voice and radio teletype, video conferencing, chat, facsimile, email, tactical international and administrative voice radio, flashing light (Morse code), flag signalling and semaphore"

http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/marpac/...s_e.asp?id=240
"* Integral units include:all Canadian warships stationed on the West Coast; one of the Navy's three Fleet Schools, where sailors learn about everything from Morse code to high-tech weapon systems; the Naval Officer Training Centre, known as "Venture," where all naval officers receive their initial training; and the west coast Fleet Diving Unit, which, along with a range of services to the Fleet, provides explosives disposal and diving services to local police forces."

http://www.goarmy.com/JobDetail.do?id=174
"TRAINING

Job training for a Signals Intelligence Analyst requires 9 weeks of Basic Training, where you learn basic Soldiering skills. Then you will attend Advanced Individual Training that consists of 18 weeks of classroom training, including practice in operating radio equipment. Some of the skills you'll learn a

* Use of specialized radio receivers
* Security operations
* Morse code
\
\http://www.goarmy.com/JobDetail.do?id=174
"RADIOMAN (RM)

School Code No. 30

SELECTION QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM TEST SCORES: GCT 50; SPELL 50; CLER 50; RADIO* 55.

PHYSICAL: Hearing in each ear must be 15/15 by whispered voice. Ears free from disease. Manual dexterity.

PERSONAL: No older than 28, unless experienced in code reception.

MISCELLANEOUS: Hobby as "Ham Operator," if code work included. Knowledge of typing desirable. H.S. experience desirable.

JOB DESCRIPTION

DUTIES: Sends and receives encrypted (codes and ciphers) and plain-language messages by radio. Receives messages in Morse code through earphones and records them by typewriter. Transmits with a telegraph key or microphone. May be required to make simple emergency repairs to receivers and transmitters. Must be familiar with the parts of Naval messages, including abbreviations and shortcuts (prosines, etc.); keeps a radio log. Stands watch in radio "shack".

EQUIPMENT USED: Radio telegraph, radio telephone, direction finder, typewriter. Radio repair tools, electrician's tools, testing meters.

TYPES OF BILLETS: All ships; radio stations ashore.
I could easily find many many more

"Douche Bag" wrote in
ps.com:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/bu...r=1&em&ex=1167
368400&en=19d9459b705ce909&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

That ancient code as you put it is a language made in heaven.

When Amtor, Pactor, this TOR or that TOR, SSTV and even phone can't make it
through, the Lord was kind enough to provide us with cw.

One thing you failed to notice was that the FCC did not do away with CW. No
no no ... it can still be used. Wait until contest time you witless twit!

CW blows phone away when conditions are tough. If you want to see skill and
savvy at work then build a Captain Decoder kit and "listen" in. Of course
that's providing you have such skills.

You think your all that because you took a written test and passed? HA! Dig
out a test sheet from before the age of transistors and chips.

You'll fast discover my friend that earlier on in this world people
developed skills, real skills, not a fast or cheap introduction with a
yellow and black book befittingly described as "For Dummies!"

I can see the day when the station you want to talk to the most can't hear
a peep out of you because you don't have the skills or knowledge to do much
more than turn equipment on or off.

Yes sir, that's where Amateur Radio it's heading to, a bargain basement of
radio licenses because nobody could set the kid straight and teach him a
few dits and dahs. Impress me and learn a new trick besides roll over and
play dead!

Diana Satyr wrote in
:

In article 36,
Clem wrote:

"Douche Bag" wrote in
ps.com:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/bu...l?_r=1&em&ex=1
167 368400&en=19d9459b705ce909&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

That ancient code as you put it is a language made in heaven.

When Amtor, Pactor, this TOR or that TOR, SSTV and even phone can't
make it through, the Lord was kind enough to provide us with cw.

One thing you failed to notice was that the FCC did not do away with
CW. No no no ... it can still be used. Wait until contest time you
witless twit!

CW blows phone away when conditions are tough. If you want to see
skill and savvy at work then build a Captain Decoder kit and "listen"
in. Of course that's providing you have such skills.

You think your all that because you took a written test and passed?
HA! Dig out a test sheet from before the age of transistors and
chips.

You'll fast discover my friend that earlier on in this world people
developed skills, real skills, not a fast or cheap introduction with
a yellow and black book befittingly described as "For Dummies!"

I can see the day when the station you want to talk to the most can't
hear a peep out of you because you don't have the skills or knowledge
to do much more than turn equipment on or off.

Yes sir, that's where Amateur Radio it's heading to, a bargain
basement of radio licenses because nobody could set the kid straight
and teach him a few dits and dahs. Impress me and learn a new trick
besides roll over and play dead!



Now things are just as they should be. Folks (mostly old) who like
code are free to use it. The few folks who want to learn it are
likewise free to do so. But no-one anymore has to go through said
agonizingly boring process just to become a ham.

Moonman

No, things are NOT as they should be. CW never was and never will be an
"older generation" issue. There was a purpose and reason for knowing cw
and being required to pass a cw test to hold a license.

Unfortunately, the F.C.C. lost sight of that issue and grew weary of ham
want-to-be's screaming Gimmie! Gimmie! This new ruling is just another
example of how higher authority gets tired of the whining and crying and
gives in. Bad move.

I stand on what I said earlier. Some people think getting a license should
be as easy as ordering a Big Mac. I suppose we should do the same thing for
drivers and pilots licensing too. Makes me feel real secure. NOT!

Perhaps you never came across an instructor or training package suited to
your level of learning. That doesn't mean it's difficult to learn or your
incapable.

I was a VE and I have taught people between 7 and 80, literally. I have
taught cw to people with disabilities who rather than opt for a waiver that
would have made licensing easier for them, kept at it until they passed.

There is more than one way to pass a cw test. Only once had I witnessed
someone who after 5 attempts was allowed to take the test by other than
conventional means. When he was told he passed he almost fell out of his
chair.

New hams today just want it easier. You didn't win anything because the
F.C.C. lifted the requirment, you lost the ability to be apart of something
that could have expanded your horizons. Don't you feel better now that you
impossed a self limitation on yourself?

Clem wrote:
...

New hams today just want it easier. You didn't win anything because the
F.C.C. lifted the requirment, you lost the ability to be apart of something
that could have expanded your horizons. Don't you feel better now that you
impossed a self limitation on yourself?

I'll bet you miss Ed Sullivan dearly ...

JS

Clem wrote:
Diana Satyr wrote in
:


No, things are NOT as they should be. CW never was and never will be an
"older generation" issue. There was a purpose and reason for knowing cw
and being required to pass a cw test to hold a license.

if there was a reason other than just hazing it seem the advocates of
Morse Code testing have never managed to articulate it well enough to
be understood even by other hams hams like myself let alone the FCC.

I have alwasy been willing to conceed their might be a good reason ofr
mandating code testing but that it was alunknown to me and unknown to
those pushing it.

Code testing is and older issue since code becomes less relvant and
less usefull in the real world daily as it users craok faster than new
ones are created, less ham able to use it the mode become less usefull
this process of attrition WILL continue . It will speed up some with
the end of code testing till some level reached much like AM

John Smith I wrote in
:

Clem wrote:
...

New hams today just want it easier. You didn't win anything because
the F.C.C. lifted the requirment, you lost the ability to be apart of
something that could have expanded your horizons. Don't you feel
better now that you impossed a self limitation on yourself?

I'll bet you miss Ed Sullivan dearly ...

JS


ha! It was a good show in it's day.

The main reason why cw lasted as long as it has was because of an
International Agreement. Basically it stated no person could be
licensed by their country unless as part of their testing, proficiency
of cw could be demonstrated.

Unfortunately other countries broke this agreement. The United States
after many years of upholding cw tossed in the towel.

The purpose of proficiency testing was to insure you can send and receive
code with a minimum of effort. Consequent to receiving your license, you
also took a commitment and seriously I might add, to assist and render
aid should you hear a distress call.

In spite of the numerous advances made in the communications field, one
thing that has been proven time and again, is that cw is easier to decode
under trying band conditions. Developing the ability to hear a distress
call and rendering aid takes very little effort.

My concern is that someday a call will be transmitted for help using cw
and while the signal could be ideal for decoding. The person hearing it
will have no idea what he/she is listening to. The result of overlooking
the call could be devastating. That will be a tragic day.

What bothers me equally as bad, is how people want things to be easier.
I'm tired of the whining. I hear. It's to hard, it's to difficult . . .
baloney!

Try holding a verbal (not cw) conversation with someone at only 5 words a
minute. After 5 minutes you'll go crazy and want to speed things up. It's
a natural process. Try it.

What gets me is that some people want to talk cw at 20 wpm or faster
right out of the box. If they can't do that, they don't want to deal with
cw at all.

Let's cheapen cw a bit more. Using a tnc is easier than learning code but
it does not make you any smarter and provide you with anymore ability to
operate cw when the tnc is not available.


Commitment, honor and tradition.

Thank God you can't buy a license or commitment goes right out the
window. The sad fact is that I think we're getting close to it.

In the past it was an honor to become part of an elite group of
communicators and to serve a community when the need arose.

CW became the traditional banner you displayed and cherished. The faster
you copied code the greater your bragging rights.

Not anymore. Amature Radio is seriously getting as cheapened as a 99 cent
happy meal at McDonalds.

I have been apart of Amature Radio since 1962 and if you think the code
was tough when it was abolished, you should have seen the requirements
back then. I could be wrong but 30wpm for an Extra class is ringing a
bell.

I saw this trend with c.b.. Our ham bands are going down the same drain
I'm sorry to report. Get to relaxed about something and you loose it for
good. Look at the 220 band, half of it gone. 11 meters (yes c.b. use to
be apart of amature radio) is gone entirely. Now the code.

Has the FCC specified if a non-code tested station can operate cw with a
tnc in the specified freqs? I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the FCC took
those portions away from us so they can sell the frequencies like on 220.

Bill Cosby in one of his many speeches said "hold yourself to a higher
standard." While he was refering to something else, the comment stuck
with me as it can be applied to many circumstances. If your going to get
an Amateur Radio license, then get one being the best operator you can
be. Don't cheapen yourself by trying less and accepting something second
to number one.

Was learning cw boring for me, yes. But so was learning my abc's and 1+1
equals 2 stuff.

"Clem" wrote in message
. 97.136...
Not anymore. Amature Radio

I have been apart of Amature Radio since 1962

Yet after 45 years you can't spell it.

Mike

"Mike" wrote in :

"Clem" wrote in message
. 97.136...
Not anymore. Amature Radio

I have been apart of Amature Radio since 1962

Yet after 45 years you can't spell it.

Mike


Your right, I do that all the time. bad habit.