[HCRA] Code or No Code?
Clifford Bennett
[email protected]
Thu, 31 Jul 2003 11:23:04 -0400
HCRC: What the 5- Words Per Minute requirement for a ham license does is =
introduce CW to the head of the new Ham. Without the requirement, the inc=
entive to learn and practice code is nil. Then the McArthur affect takes =
hold, i.e., "Old Hams Will Just Fade Away" and "Fait Acompli." Cliff W1AK=
B =20
----- Original Message -----
From: Daniel Sullivan
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 8:39 AM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]; viennawireless@yahoogroups.=
com
Subject: RE: [HCRA] Code or No Code?
______________________________________________
-------Hampden County Radio Association-------
-----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
______________________________________________
Rick,
I think there should be three license classes just as there are now. A VH=
F =20
and above only, A Limited HF license and a Full Priviledge license. I hav=
e =20
been talking about this down here on the Vienna Wireless Association =20
(Fairfax, VA) Reflector for a bit since this came up.
Right now we break and try and spread things out based upon the Morse =20
Element (which I for one will be very sorry to see go but I accept that a=
CW =20
test does not a good operator make.) We should instead look at what =20
knowledge we expect of a basic, intermediate or advanced level operator w=
ho =20
will most likely stay on repeaters. Why is it the Extra License test wher=
e =20
we get a big dose about Satellites and not in the basic where they have t=
he =20
privledges? Why do we not adress in more detail the skills need to fix an=
=20
Icom 706 MKIIg yet we can all probably sit down with the old Heathkit HW1=
01 =20
and reconize parts and have some idea how to get around? If we are to =20
provide a technological foundation for emergency services and armed force=
s =20
in times of national crisis why do we not teach higher and more modern =20
concepts in greater deatil?
I am not saying get an EE degree, I am saying let's re-examin the =20
expectations. This is the hard part. I always get into trouble breaking d=
own =20
the technical aspects because I am not as technical as I may want. I love=
my =20
hollow state but I realize and appreciate the importance of the solid sta=
te. =20
That is where we are weak. Instead of just being an opening to modern =20
electronics we should be well inside that door and trying to get back to =20
some of our more pioneering roots.
In my humble opinion (which will hopefully spark some debate):
Basic operators should be able to handle DC concepts, FCC Rules, proper =20
operating etiquette, and any type of operation in their privledges. From =
EME =20
to RC Planes inclusive. Perhaps they should be limited to 100w PEP above =20
50Mhz.
Intermediate operators should be able to handle the rest of DC and the =20
Majority of AC plus some aspects of the technology involving computer =20
programing of rigs and gear. They can have maybe 750w PEP and half of the=
=20
band allocations on each band int he CW/Digital and Voice spectrum.
Extra should be full priviledges but we should re-introduce ourselves to =
the =20
idea that at this point in time we can build our own station in the moder=
n =20
sence. Maybe the test would be a lot harder, and maybe it wouldn't make =20
everyone perfect on 14.313 but it would definately increase our =20
effectiveness and abilities. I for one admit I need to brush up alot on m=
ost =20
everything.
These are just my ideas and I hope that in some way they can stimulate an=
=20
examination of just what it is we expect of ourselves when we walk around=
as =20
appliance operators with official licenses. I look forward to the =20
discussion.
Dan Sullivan
AA1TE/4
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Rick Lindquist, N1RL" <[email protected]>
To: "'HCRA Mailing List'" <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: [HCRA] Code or No Code?
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 20:21:53 -0400
______________________________________________
-------Hampden County Radio Association-------
-----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
______________________________________________
Greetings!
Let's all be clear on one thing: The issue is not the elimination of
Morse code on the hams bands or anything of the kind. It is whether or
not to retain the 5 WPM Element 1 Morse requirement for a license that
provides HF access. If the decision is to delete this requirement, then
the decision tree starts to branch a bit.
What do you want the rules to say in terms of which license class
holders should get HF access? How many license classes should the US
have? What should the privileges be for each? Even if you enjoy CW but
don't have a problem with deleting Morse code as a licensing
requirement, could elimination of the requirement eventually lead to the
diminution or elimination of the CW subbands?
Give this some thought now, so you'll be in a better position to comment
intelligently when the FCC puts the various Morse-related proposals
(yes, there will be more than one) on public notice and invites
comments.
73, Rick N1RL
-----Original Message-----
From: Clifford Bennett [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 11:50 AM
To: Rick Lindquist, N1RL; 'Jim Mullen'; 'HCRA Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [HCRA] Code or No Code?
Dear Folks: When I first heard about the possibility of the elimination
of the code requirement in amateur radio, an alarm when off in my heart
thinking my skill of communicating with C.W. could be silenced. That's
because it would be the second time such a deprivation happened to me.
The first time involved my experience as a 16 year old boy who wanted to
become a railroad telegrapher. After taking Continental Telegraph Code
lessons, spending many hours practicing, and becoming fairly proficient
sending and receiving telegraph messages, it was not many later that the
skill I learned as a youngster through determination and toil became
obsolete. My interest in this special skill, however, has not gone away.
I still have a telegraph sounder and listen to the unique sound of the
device on occasion, but, the opportunity to apply my telegraph skill in
a real sense does not exist.
My ham friends, I have been very pleased and given hope in the
preservation of our hobby and to learn so many hams want to preserve the
existence of amateur radio continuous wave operation. It is my opinion
that if some measure of C.W. Ham Radio Operation is preserved and
maintained, the interest in ham radio will dwayne. Ultimately, your
hobby, the greatest of all hobbies, will fade away and become non
existent just like railroad telegraphy. I believe the use of cell phones
and E-Mail, along with the whole gauntlet of computer and electronic
communication modes, will replace the personal satisfaction one gets
from voice activated ham radio. Ham C.W. makes our hobby special and
unique. It is like glue that holds our diverse, yet common, electronic
interests together, and sets us aside into one common body of friends
and brothers. So folks, don't let those who put their economic interests
before our amateur radio interests and take our cherished hobby away.
Preserve the opportunity to send and receive C.W. Per. Cliff, W1AKB.
----- Original Message -----
From: Rick Lindquist, N1RL
Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2003 12:30 AM
To: 'Jim Mullen'; 'HCRA Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [HCRA] Code or No Code?
______________________________________________
-------Hampden County Radio Association-------
-----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
______________________________________________
Hi, Jim
The Morse story in The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 29 (July 25, 2003) was
the Reader's Digest Condensed Books version of the one that's already on
our Web site and to which someone posted the link a couple of days ago
here. The Web story contains a lot more detail. I'm sure we'll be having
more to say on this topic.
Regarding your recommendations, I have no problems with 1, 2 and 4. But
I would very strongly NOT recommend that anyone contact the FCC with an
opinion or suggestion regarding the elimination or retention of the
Morse examination requirement (known formally as Element 1) until a rule
making is in play. That has not yet happened, so there's nothing to
comment to the FCC about regarding the Morse code issue.
Hold your fire until a rule making proceeding is active, and the FCC is
soliciting comments on it from the amateur community. That's the time to
contact the FCC. Otherwise, you're pretty much just wasting your time
and annoying the FCC. Keep an eye on the ARRL Web site news crawl or The
ARRL Letter for information on when such a rule making proceeding is
under way on this topic.
Tom Frenaye, K1KI, is the ARRL New England Division Director. His e-mail
is [email protected].
Thanks for letting me butt in.
73 Rick N1RL
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Jim Mullen
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2003 6:08 PM
To: HCRA Mailing List
Subject: [HCRA] Code or No Code?
______________________________________________
-------Hampden County Radio Association-------
-----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
______________________________________________
As most of you are aware, the requirement to demonstrate ability to send
and/or receive Morse code for operation below 30 MHz was made optional
at
the recent World Radio Conference this July. This means it is now up to
the
individual countries to make their own decision as to whether or not to
continue to require Morse proficiency for under 30 MHz operation.
I've reprinted information from the most recent ARRL letter below to
give
you some idea of what has to happen to remove the Morse restriction in
the
United States.
What do you think? If you think it's a good idea to remove the
requirement
it's important you let the appropriate people in the right places know
your
views. The ARRL is amateur radio's best voice in the USA, but their
membership is only about 25% of the licensed amateurs in the US. I'm
sure if
we crunched the numbers the average age and license class of an ARRL
member
would be quite different than the amateur population as a whole. Be
aware
that the ARRL needs to be responsive to its members, and has to balance
the
members desires with the overall worth of rules changes.
So, if you want to see things change I would suggest a few things to do:
1. Contact your local ARRL Division Manager, Tom Frenaye and let him
know
your views.
2. If you're not an ARRL member, think about joining. It's not that
expensive and the broader their member base becomes the more likely
their
views will converge with the average ham.
3. Contact the FCC with your opinions.
4. Talk it up at club meetings and on the local repeaters. You will be
amazed at how few people are aware of what is going on at any given
time.
The more people that know, the better off we will be.
I'm in favor of dropping the requirement. It would bring us into
alignment
with the rest of the world. It would certainly open up our hobby to more
people. Growth of amateur radio in the US has been stagnant lately,
maybe
this will be another boost similar to "no-code license" that started in
the
early 90's.
Anyway, give it some thought and take some action, no matter what way
you
think this should go. If we just sit on the sidelines, do nothing, then
complain that things should have changed - who's to blame for that!
'73.. and good DX!
Jim, KK1W
=3D=3D>WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE MORSE REQUIREMENT POST-WRC-03?
World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) made optional the
requirement to prove the ability to send and receive Morse code to
operate
below 30 MHz. While Morse exam elements remain on the books in the US,
Canada and elsewhere, Switzerland and the United Kingdom have apparently
become the first countries to delete their Morse requirements for HF
operation. In the US, however, the FCC is unlikely to act on its own
motion to simply make the Morse testing requirement go away.
"There isn't an exception in the Administrative Procedures Act that I am
aware of that would permit the Commission to issue an administrative
fiat
changing the license structure or exam-requirement rules," said an FCC
staffer who's closely involved with Amateur Service rules. Other
countries
can do this because they have different laws and procedures, the FCC
staff
member observed, adding that even if it could be done here, "that still
leaves unanswered the fundamental question: What do you want the new
rules
to be?"
In its December 1999 Report and Order restructuring Amateur Radio
licensing, the FCC stopped short of revising the rules to sunset the
Morse
requirement automatically if WRC-03 deleted Morse proficiency from the
international Radio Regulations. The FCC also acknowledged "a clear
dichotomy of viewpoints" on the Morse code issue within the amateur
community.
The ARRL's policy for several years has been that Morse should be
retained
as a testing element in the US. At its July 18-19 meeting in
Connecticut,
however, the Board said it would solicit and review input from members
on
the Morse testing requirement and other possible revisions to Part 97
arising from WRC-03.
The first move on the Morse code question in the US is for someone to
file
a Petition for Rule Making with the FCC seeking a rule change. No Code
International (NCI) <http://www.nocode.org/> has spearheaded the battle
to
eliminate the Morse requirement and would be a likely organization to
file
such a petition. NCI Executive Director Carl Stevenson, WK3C, said late
last week that NCI was still studying the matter and had not yet made a
final decision on a plan of action. An ARRL member, Stevenson says he
hopes personally that the League would join NCI in actively encouraging
the FCC to eliminate the Morse exam element as soon as possible.
Hopes for a quick resolution to the Morse question could be wishful
thinking, however. Once a petition to drop the Morse exam element is
filed, the FCC will put it on "public notice" by assigning an RM number
and soliciting comments. If more than one such petition is filed, the
FCC
is obliged to invite comments on each. When that process is completed,
the
FCC may determine that a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) is in
order. The Commission at that point could incorporate all Morse-related
rule making petitions into a single proceeding. The NPRM would get a
docket number, and the comment process would begin anew.
Further complicating and extending the process, the FCC most likely
would
incorporate other pending Amateur Radio-related issues into the same
NPRM.
At the end of the comment and reply comment periods, the FCC would issue
a
Report and Order (R&O) that includes its decision on the Morse code
requirement and any other issues incorporated into the proceeding. The
whole process could take a couple of years, perhaps longer.
Ratification of the WRC-03 Final Acts by the US Senate does not appear
to
be necessary before the FCC can act or begin the rule making process.
Following World Administrative Conference 1979 (WARC-79) which resulted
in
three new HF amateur bands, the FCC acted in 1982, prior to Senate
ratification of the conference's Final Acts, not only to initiate the
rule
making process but to give amateurs limited access to 30 meters.
Radio Amateurs of Canada has advised hams in that country that the Morse
qualification requirement remains in effect for operation below 30 MHz,
"pending a review by Industry Canada of the impact of the WRC-2003
regulatory changes on the Canadian radio regulations, policies and
procedures."
------Hampden County Radio Association-------
An ARRL Special Services Club for over 50 years
------------http://www.hcra.org------------
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Address any comments to:
-Jim, KK1W - [email protected]
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------Hampden County Radio Association-------
An ARRL Special Services Club for over 50 years
------------http://www.hcra.org------------
________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe from the list please visit:
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcra
Address any comments to:
-Jim, KK1W - [email protected]
_______________________________________________
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------Hampden County Radio Association-------
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Address any comments to:
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------Hampden County Radio Association-------
An ARRL Special Services Club for over 50 years
------------http://www.hcra.org------------
________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe from the list please visit: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman=
/listinfo/hcra
Address any comments to:
-Jim, KK1W - [email protected]
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