[GreenKeys] CODE

[Gary Chatters]

Larry Tighe wrote:
[...]
> For years there were/are folks on 3950 who ripped every minority group 
> in existance.  There are other equally outlandish discussions 
> elsewhere. This was long before code became an issue.  Code didn't 
> keep this large group of monkeys off the ham bands.
>
If code proficiency is the filter that keeps the ham bands from sounding 
like CB, then the interesting question is not "why isn't it perfect?", 
but "how does it work so well?".  OTOH, we have had the no-code 
Technician class for 15 years.  Maybe my choice of 2M repeaters to 
listen to is rather selective, but the quality of operator isn't much 
different from 20 years ago.  Could it be that something else is doing 
the filtering?

> I think techies I know, who don't care or have time for code, will 
> make a major advancement in the technology levels of this declining 
> hobby.
>
Perhaps, but past experience indicates that we shouldn't expect much.  
Before the no-code Technician class came along, it was mostly the 
Advanced and Extra classes of licenses that you would see interested in 
advancing the technology of amateur radio.  After 15 years of no-code 
where are the hordes of techies who were only kept out of amateur radio 
by the code requirement?   Mostly, anyone who didn't have time to learn 
the code doesn't have time to participate in amateur radio, code or no.  
Will adding HF frequencies for no-coders make much difference?  Seems 
unlikely.

> It may be possible that code was the cause of the decline!!

That seems rather unlikely.  Considering the number of licensed amateur 
operators there is the question of what decline are you referring to.   
There does seem to be a decline in the level of activity if not total 
numbers.  I can think of several alternative explanations:
- The rise of the PC and the Internet.  Back when I was in high school, 
if you were a nerd, amateur radio was one of the few options for the 
technically inclinded.  Today a good chunk of that interest is going to 
developing software, particularly open source projects.
- Cheap and plentiful radios.  There is nothing special about having 
two-way radio capability these days.  Almost everyone has a cell phone.

So what will happen now that no-coders have HF?  An initial burst of 
activity as many Technicians upgrade.  Then what?  I don't know.  At 
least there should be a few more RTTY operators on the bands.  Will 
amateur radio deteriorate into another CB? Or will there be some surge 
in activity that lasts a while and reinvigorates the hobby?  Mostly I 
don't expect big changes, but we can try to be optimistic.

[...]
>
> Jack, WA2HWJ and I are exploring installing a RTTY only repeater in a 
> high rise in NYC.  Any interest out there??
Can you get a repeater pair coordinated?  Around DC everything on 2M and 
70CM is taken.  I guess there is nothing wrong with a 6M RTTY repeater.  
Probably a bit too far away for me.  But there is a guy about 10 miles 
north of me who says he gets into one of the NYC repeaters to talk to 
his brother who lives in the city.

73,
Gary

>