[Milsurplus] Code Requirement to be Eliminated

[Falls, Jim]

Hi everyone - My 2 cents worth: I have been wrestling with this issue for years. I didn't really become interested in "Ham Radio" until late in life because of the "Geezer Factor" (I'm 50 and on my way to becoming one) - The few hams I met years ago were not very welcoming. This was their brotherhood and I felt like a Johnny-come-lately who didn't quite pass muster. When I decided to learn Morse and become a Ham, I couldn't. I tried all the systems (except hypnosis) but it wouldn't stick long enough for me to pass a test. Even 5 wpm was too fast. New languages are harder to learn as an adult.

Even more insidious was that maybe it was really because I was lacking in moral character, maybe I just didn't have "IT". "If you REALLY want to, you can do it. If you can't, then there's something going on with you and we don't want you" was the subtle message. Then, several members of the local club befriended me after hearing of my crystal set building and they told me to try for the Codeless Technician license (which was news to me). They are a friendly, gregarious group and I'd never had anyone take the time and keep after me about the upcoming exams. I studied, took the test and aced it along with a friend. 

Yeah, I can hear the "Big deal, they're giving them away to cereal boxes these days", but they still kept after me once I passed and I discovered a whole new batch of friends I would have never met otherwise because of the code. I am active in our local VHF/UHF ARES nets, love to help out with public service, and served as the VP, then President, of our club three years ago.

I love tube-filled BA's but was limited to only SWLing with them because of the code requirement (that pesky "proper attitude" again). I have an active four year-old who serves very nicely as a "neural neutralizer" and, frankly, I had little hope of passing the 5 wpm requirement for the Tech Plus until she was at least 10 and less of a handful (if ever). 

I have a complete TCS-8 set-up and a pair of Swan transceivers (a 350 and a Cygnet with a linear amp). All of these work, but none have ever had RF coming out of them into an antenna because of that "proper attitude" again. I don't think myself as a mere "appliance operator": I have worked on several of these with the help of my Elmer and have a BC-342 slowly coming back from the dead. I want to build my own MOPA rig and jump into some AWA Straight Key Night with my "J-38". 

I take "The Amateur's Code" (Paul M. Segal, W9EEA, 1923) VERY seriously and consider myself a good Amateur Radio Operator. CW is a remarkable system to get the word out with low power under noisy conditions and I intend to get there. But - I also live in an active part of the world; we have earthquakes, big storms and floods. Power often goes out because of downed trees; highways close because of rockfalls. We need good ARES operators on HF to get the word out over the mountains when the repeaters go down but I am locked out of HF indefinitely because of that "proper attitude" again. I have plans for an NVIS antenna ready to go but no hope of ever using it or helping my family and community in time of emergency by being able to communicate with the outside world. When the new rule takes effect, I will be in the first VE session I can find and on the air on HF as soon as the FCC says, "GO".

Peace and Health!

Jim Falls
KG6FWT
Eureka, CA