[Elecraft] Dropping the Code Test

[Vic K2VCO]

EricJ wrote:

> Another point that is missed is that emergency traffic is not just endless
> numbered messages relayed verbatim.

But this is exactly what health & welfare traffic is.  It is slightly 
lower priority than emergency traffic, but it is very high volume.  The 
police, etc., have their own communications systems and don't need ham help.

There are plenty of applications for CW in an emergency.  The overriding 
reason that CW is not used anymore in emergencies is simply that there 
are too few qualified operators.  Someone who can copy 15 wpm in his 
head, or even recognize his own call in a pileup at 30 wpm is most 
likely not capable of accurately copying traffic at a reasonable speed.

-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco