[HCRA] To Code or not to Code the question has been decided

[Daniel Sullivan]

Hi my name is Dan and I am a 20wpm Extra..*crowds says hi Dan*

 

OK here is what I figure:

 

1)       Someone suggested more operators for HF nets. This is true and a
good thing. Perhaps they'll learn that a repeater is a tool and not a way of
life in EMCOMM. Maybe they'll even check out SSB, CW or data modes on that
706/857 they have for VHF/UHF repeaters on those higher bands (specifically
working myself or a few friends during the V/UHF tests please!)

2)       I have friends who are tone deaf and dyslexic who will benefit from
this change in the rules. They are actually pretty good ops and should still
remain pretty good ops on HF oddly enough. So that is a good thing.

3)       By not having the code as a requirement for a license, as much as I
wish they would have left it alone OR left it at least for the Extra class,
I can appreciate it as we move from an analogue age to a digital age. Morse
will survive and prosper simply because when there is a CME at the bottom of
the cycle its about the only hope of a contact you have on HF!

4)       I don't think the loss of code will open the flood gates of CB'ers
and if it does I'd only ask for 11m back because it's a fun band. As the
last decade plus has shown, I have not heard 10-4 Good Buddy once in a
serious way (only when horsing around or tongue in cheek.) I may have heard
poor operating habits (and have been guilty of them myself) but that goes
with learning how to operate.  Plus some of the worst, rudest and most
profanity laced operators on the planet are on 20m and 75m phone.

5)       The biggest reason I would have loved to have CW stay in some form
as a requirement is a sense of legacy or tradition. It does make us
different. It actually does attract people to the hobby, especially kids.
When people do demos of the hobby its not the phone tent that gets the
attention and certainly not the data tent, it's the CW operators. The
musical chime of dits and dahs flowing in a foreign language intrigues
people. Makes them think about old movies or other stories they heard from
grandparents. It really is a more important factor to promoting the hobby
than filtering bad operators out. I do not see that changing ever. Kids
today can talk to anyone around the world on the net with voice or text,
they can't do that using Code. 

6)       When all else fails the theory is they call hams. When hams can't
do it we look to Morse Ops that will not change. If they can save the world
in Hollywood it must be true for reality after all! Seriously though, CW as
a skill to get messages through is tried and true and should reign supreme
until someone figures out a better idea just as simple for QRP in the
wilderness.

7)       Remember Morse is allowed ANYWHERE in the amateur service
regardless of the gentlemen's agreements. This does not eliminate the use of
code, just the need to be able to receive a mere 5wpm (which shoulda been 10
wpm since it's easier and more comfortable to copy) for a license.

 

In closing I have but these questions: If there were blogs when SSB was
allowed imagine what they would have said.listen to 3886 to find out. More
importantly, what did the CW guys say when the microphone became so
important?!?

 

Comments above are mine and mine alone. 

 

 

Dan S

KO1D/4

Falls Church, VA