[CW] Personal experience with CW

Sun, 10 Aug 2003 14:11:42 -0400 (EDT)

I work with a guy who just got his tech license a few months back.  His 
son (age 13) just passed his tech as well.

Without prompting, the dad said he wanted to learn the code because he 
felt it was useful independent of whether or not it was going to be used 
for a testing criteria for higher license classes.

Why?  They both understand that it gets through when some other modes 
don't, and they don't want to be shortchanged.

I then loaned the two of them my copy of the ARRL CW tapes.

It's all about how we approach the situation...10,000 people who are 
PROFICIENT and enjoy Morse are far more important to the future 
proliferation of Morse than are 1,000,000 people who simply learn to copy 
at 5 wpm and then never use and subsequently forget it.

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003, Alan KI7WO wrote:

> This is the reply I received from the Missouri Section Manager.
> Alan  [email protected]
> 
> --------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Dale Bagley <[email protected]>
> To: Alan KI7WO <[email protected]>
> Cc: k0ky arrl <[email protected]>
> Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 12:19:19 -0500
> 
> Hi Alan:
>    I don't subscribe to the CW reflector on QSL.net, so thanks for the
> info.
> 
> Even with my full support for having a CW requirement within the U.S. 
> Amateur Radio Service Licensing program, I  know for a fact that the cw 
> requirement hasn't kept a large number of  nuts out of the HF spectrum.  
> 
> I doubt that there would be any noticeable change on HF if the
> requirement was eliminated, but I still see the value of having all
> amateurs on HF being  capability of communicating using Morse Code. I
> believe that when amateur operators have to earn their HF privileges by
> learning the international language of Morse Code, they will hold those
> privileges in greater esteem and have a greater pride in that
> accomplishment. 
> 
> Most of the ARRL leadership I have spoken to are strong for keeping the
> CW requirement, but they seem resolved to the fact that even if the U.S.
> keeps the requirement, it will be eliminated in the remainder of the
> world.  Amateur Requirements are always in a state of flux and reflect to
> some extent the value placed on various aspects of Amateur Radio as seen
> from the prospective of the Federal Government.  
> 
> Just before I got my first license, the FCC had required applicants to
> draw circuit diagrams for Pierce Oscillators or similar electrical
> circuits to get a license.  Today I noticed that there is an increased
> emphasis on Safety and RFI exposure.  I know that 30 years from now there
> will be topics and aspects evaluated on the Amateur Radio exam that I
> can't even imagine at this time.   I believe that thirty years from now
> those of us that enjoy CW will still be operating, just as one of my Ham
> friends from high school are still enjoy operating AM Amateur Stations
> today.   
> 
> Let's hope that the FCC chooses to maintain the CW requirement for HF
> privileges, but I will not be blaming the ARRL if it is eliminated.  The
> ARRL has worked harder than any other organization to keep CW as part of
> the requirements for HF, but they are up against a powerful organized
> against the Morse Code requirement.  Thanks again for the heads-up and
> hope to see you at some upcoming Hamfest to continue the discussion.
> 
> 73
> Dale Bagley, K0KY
> ARRL MO SM
> 
> Alan KI7WO wrote:
> 
> > Hi Dale,
> > 
> > I don't know if you are subscribed to the CW reflector on QSL<dot>NET
> or
> > not but there is great discussion about the ARRL and specifically the
> > Section Mangers position, or lack of stated position on supporting the
> > petition to disband the requirement & the associated "sub bands" used
> by
> > CW.
> > 
> > I am NOT a 100% CW fanatic, however I am more than 50% CW operator.
> Just
> > thought you should know what the "natives" are up to before it sneaks
> up
> > and bites you.
> > 
> > Alan  [email protected]
> > Oak Grove, Missouri
> > 
> > 
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-- 
Scott Rosenfeld  ARS N7JI
541-684-9970  Eugene, OR  Land o' much rain
If you find me on the air, I'm probably in my car
[email protected]  http://w3eax.umd.edu/~ham