John Smith wrote:
Peter:

Really, you don't expect to take one or two simple points, stretch
them to a whole book with gobs of un-necessary text, then expect
someone to read it to the end, do you? Well, if so, this is just to
inform you I am not... bet I am not the only fool who just doesn't
get how important your long winded rants are! grin

John



Actually, I would expect nothing less. But then, I also realize that
in today's soundbyte world of communication, expecting anyone to go the
distance is pretty much a fantasy.

But then, that's precisely the heart of this discussion, isn't it.








"D Peter Maus" wrote in message
...

John S. wrote:

Unfortunately a large portion of the ham community has chosen to
ignore
the fact that morse code is not used in any significant
communications
in the western world.


In fact, you are incorrect about this.


Repeating our message from earlier this week:


Morse Code is used to identify every VOR station in the US. VOR
station identification takes place every 30 seconds. Every VOR radio
has an ident switch that permits the pilot to hear the Morse Code
identifier for the VOR station he's monitoring when navigating by
radio. When flying under IFR conditions, this identifier is
essential for correct location of the aircraft on the grid by the
pilot, and identification of the correct course.

I would hardly call that insignificant. So, your premise on it's
face is incorrect.


Now, to be thorough, here....the Morse identifier for a given
station is printed on the sectional chart for that given region of
airspace, so, it's not necessary that a pilot actually know the
code, but if you've ever tried to read a sectional chart in flight,
solo in the cockpit while trying to navigate it can be an
unnecessary and unwanted distraction, especially when flying under
less than optimum conditions. But many pilots, having learned their
Morse Code as Boy Scouts, or in the military, or as part of the
Amateur service, find it much simpler to simply hear and understand
the code, than to take the time to read and then try to translate it
into audible intelligence.

You may also be unaware that many V/UHF repeaters also identify by
Morse Code, so while it's not exactly a requirement that an operator
know the code, even non Code required licensees will find that
knowing the code actually facilitates their operations. Especially
under unusual propagation conditions, as we're experiencing now in
Northern Illinois, where VHF signals are skipping in from greater
distances than local repeaters' operating areas would normally fall.
In which case, the Morse identifier permits an operator to know if
he's actually hearing the correct repeater, or if he's actually
hearing a repeater skipping in on anomalous propragation.

Again, not insignificant. Especially where operation on a repeater
is by membership only and freeloaders are not welcome.

And again, to be thorough, non code licensees would still have to
be able to hear and understand the code to prevent freeloading, or
take the time to look up and translate the audible signal into
understandable language for identification.

So, there you have two significant and relevant, current
applications of Morse Code in the US, alone. There are more, to be
sure.



For the record, this debate has been going on for decades. And it
laways boils down to the unwilling badgering the authority to be
granted the privileges that have been otherwise earned through
diligent skill acquisition. Even when I was in Jr High, the code
test was a bone of contention between members of the Ham Radio Club
and applicants. And that was 40 years ago. The fight has only gotten
more shrill.

And the code requirement itself was widely misunderstood. It was
assumed that one had to take one's tests in order of rank and that
before one could have phone access to the bands, one was required to
spend no less than two years pounding brass. This alone ran off a
lot of applicants. Truth is that one only had to know the code to
get a license. Which license was largely a matter of preference,
with one exception. I know many hams who never went through the
Novice or Technician classes, but went straight to General and
above.

In my own circles, this misunderstood abhorrence of the code drove
my friends to CB, rather than to the more exciting and more useful
world of the Amateur service. I took a different path, learning the
code so I could hear and understand what was on my receiver, but
since I had little interest in actually conversing...most of the
people I'd want to talk to were in the skip zones anyway, I never
pursued it further. I've always enjoyed the listening more than the
talking. But, as with many things in life, I've learned that a
skill acquired is never without practical application, and have
found myself brushing up on my code frequently over the years, for
everything from shortwave and ham band listening, to aviation
monitoring, to emergency communications monitoring, to silly things
like movie/tv watching. There is always a relevant application to
the knowledge of Morse Code.

Simply abandoning knowledge of something because there are newer,
better ways is only smart if the newer better ways can and will
never fail. This is fantasy at best. In which case having a fall
back, especially in communications, is prudent, even if it does seem
like filling up your head with useless baggage at the time.
Considering how times emergency communications have failed because
of a poor microphone, high noise, or even partial failure of a
radio, OOK in Morse Code is often the only option left in an
emergency. And, as has been explained here numerous times, unlike
any other form of communication which requires ever increasing
layers of technology to get the job done, all that's required in
Morse Code is one human operator on each end, and the ability to
create a signal, regardless of how or what that signal is.

Personally, when my ass is on the line, I'd much rather rely on an
experienced operator than any piece of technology.

Now, like the person sitting in the exitway on an airliner you may
be unable, or unwilling to assist in the event of an emergency, and
that's your right. But have the decency to get out of the way and
let those who are willing and able to assist to do so.


Your premise that "morse code is not used in any significant
communications in the western world," is patently false.