[ARRL-OK] To CW or Not to CW, Is that the question?

[Bill Wyatt]

Greetings from Northwest Oklahoma,

Subject: just some thoughts from the west

I see Amateur Radio, as a hobby, searching for a new direction in=
 a 
world of "fast food" lives.  Once upon a time, seems I have heard=
 
that line before, ham radio was built on a new concept of=
 talking, 
without wire, over great distances and doing this with equipment=
 
designed and built by those in the hobby.  Much of this original=
 
concept has been promoted by specialized groups which have kept=
 these 
old, foundation parts of the hobby alive.  Morse Code Nets, DXing=
 and 
QRP have done much keep Morse Code active and revive scratch=
 building 
and kit building.  

Morse Code will always be a part of that great concept just as=
 AM, 
slow scan TV,  packet and teletype are all great modes of 
communication even though not as widely used as SSB and FM. =
 Morse 
Code, as a mode, became somewhat distinguished from other modes=
 when 
it became a part of the licensing procedure for Amateur Radio. =
 At 
first it was held as, a right of passage in a world where "hard 
things" were worth working for and technology, of the period,=
 needed 
a  means of sending information, which could be understood during=
 
less than ideal conditions, with less that ideal equipment.  Code=
 was 
and still is the best mode to accomplish this when all factors of=
 
wireless communications are considered.  But, for many, the idea=
 of 
"Morse Code" has become a cumbersome part of attaining an Amateur=
 
Radio License.

Aside from a few that truly enjoy CW, we have allowed it to=
 become a 
tool for the protection and sanctity of Amateur Radio.   Over the=
 
years we have heard every reason for not learning the code from,=
 
"it's, no longer useful" through, "I just can't hear the=
 difference 
between a dit and a dah".  Instead of organizing code classes and=
 
mothering, I think Elmering is the politically correct thing to=
 say, 
young prospective hams through the learning process. Busy lives=
 and 
other interests helped many to say, "they're just CB'ers and=
 wouldn't 
be good for the hobby anyway" or "I learned it on my own so can 
they".  Therefor, Morse Code took it's place as a limiting=
 factor, in 
many cases, to keep "undesirables" from the sacred ranks of=
 Amateur 
Radio.  Oh, I know, there were many code classes given but, we=
 still 
allowed "the code" to become a tool to limit who became a ham. 

The truth of the matter, many things besides Morse Code have=
 effected 
ham radio's over the years.  The technology which was born out of=
 ham 
radio has done much to limit the average person's ability to=
 build 
and maintain his or her equipment.  I many cases, it's just plain=
 
cheaper to buy, than build or send to the repair shop rather than=
 buy 
the test equipment and figure out how to fix it.  Amateur Radio=
 has 
become secondary to other hobbies and parts of our lives.  Now we=
 
become a ham to chase storms, to fly radio controlled airplanes,=
 to 
keep in touch with family, to assist in local and national 
emergencies and other activities which are enhanced by good=
 reliable 
communications.  No longer is Amateur Radio the reason to become=
 a 
Ham for many but, the benefits of Amateur Radio have become an=
 added 
benefit to many other parts of our lives.  In other words, "we=
 have 
become accepted by the world", isn't that all we wanted back in=
 the 
70's and 80's?

>From my point of view we have two forces at work.  First, the=
 hard 
liners which wish to maintain the sanctity of the hobby for the 
betterment of Amateur Radio.  Secondly, the new generation who=
 wish 
to enjoy the hobby of Amateur Radio along with their many other 
interests in life. The hard liners will keep the hobby pure=
 welcoming 
all that can muster the desire to enter the gate.  While, the=
 passive 
group will welcome all and enjoy their visit.  Can the two live 
happily ever after?  

The demands of the groups are much different.  The hard liners=
 have 
hammered into their ever being, anything worth having must be=
 earned, 
there must be a right of passage and there must be a means of 
limiting access.  And, Amateur Radio must be maintained in it's 
purest state.  The desires of the second group are passive.  They=
 
will use the hobby as their interests lead them, they will=
 attempt to 
change the things they don't enjoy or do not agree with and they=
 will 
leave the hobby for other adventures when finished.

I know Hams that feel the FCC should still be administering exams=
 and 
Bash was the downfall of Amateur Radio.  These ideals are just as=
 
misplaced as the ones which suggest, one should simply fill out a=
 
form for an Amateur License and let the cost of equipment limit=
 the 
number of hams.  As older Amateur's we must accept the fact that,=
 the 
reason we came to the hobby is not held by many of this=
 generation of 
younger Hams and younger Amateur's must accept the fact that much=
 
hard work has gone into the preservation of the hobby by a=
 generation 
of older Hams.

Technology has brought many new adventures to the world but few=
 will 
ever hold the ability to bridge nations, people and ideals as has=
 
Amateur Radio.  There should always be some profound statement=
 that 
one could use about now but, none comes to mind.  So, I will=
 close 
with this.  I would like to see Morse Code remain a part of the 
process but if it does not, Amateur Radio is still worth saving. =
 
Never doubt for a minute that other services would love to have=
 our 
frequencies.  The only way we will save our band is though use=
 and 
peace in our united ranks. 

Bill Wyatt  N5WO

QRP has bolstered that phase of the hobby some but, my bet is,=
 this 
to will slowly slip into the background of ham radio.  

 

On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 06:51:31 -0500, Mark D. Conklin N7XYO wrote:
>I hope all of you have been coping Coy Day N5OK (e-mail:
>n5ok@arrl.org  )
>with all your coments.  The ARRL board needs your thoughts.
>
>Here is what I sent:
>
>Hi Coy,
>
>Here is my two cents.  Many of the new and younger folks coming=
 into
>the
>hobby do NOT see any need for morse code.  They are the=
 internet
>generation
>and the future of ham radio.  They have been able to send a=
 message
>around
>the world in an instant all thier lives with out morse code.
>
>Many of them would love to get into HF, but see no need for the
>code.  I
>see a lot of the age gap in the hobby.  Older hams with codes=
 skills
>and on
>HF and younger with no desire to learn code and are expermenting=
 on
>6M and
>up.
>
>Want to grow the hobby?  Look to the younger hams, and=
 encourage
>them.
>
>I know there are strong feelings either way. Yet I am looking
>forward and
>the elimination of morse code would spur the growth of our=
 hobby.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Mark Conklin N7XYO
>OK-SEC PIC
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>___________________Information __________________________
>ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager - John Thomason, WB5SYT 
wb5syt@arrl.org
>Oklahoma Section Web page http://members.cox.net/arrl-ok
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