[QCWA] the future of CW

[Walcott, Paul]

I'd just like to add one observation about the future of CW from my
viewpoint.  That is of a "once in a while" CW operator who's a 42 year
licensed ham who passed the extra class exam back when it was still the
FCC giving the 20 wpm test:

I agree that in the next few years mandatory CW testing will probably be
dropped at least for most classes of license.   BUT I disagree that this
will cause CW operation to diminish to the point that full-carrier AM
had diminished.   The reason for saying that is that full-carrier AM has
diminished for reasons which don't directly apply to CW:   1)
Full-carrier AM is less efficient than SSB voice.  2)  Full-carrier AM
doesn't really have any advantages except possibly in cases where the
highest possible voice fidelity is important.  3)  It doesn't require
any special skill to operate full-carrier AM.  

On the other hand:  1)  CW is an efficient mode of communications.   2)
CW is a "skill" mode and with that skill comes a certain degree of
pride.  

Let me suggest that a valid comparison to CW would be the use of
wind-powered boats.   Before Robert Fulton all boats were wind-powered.
(Well, at least unless you count those powered by people using oars.)
With the successful application of steam power to boats and the later
development of diesel and gasoline power, wind-power is no longer
mandatory.   BUT  at least for recreational sailors, there are more
sailboats now than at any time in the past.   I look at CW as fitting
into the same model as the sailboat.

73's
Paul
WD8H



-----Original Message-----
From: qcwa-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:qcwa-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Robert N Meyer
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 9:46 PM
To: newsline at ix.netcom.com; Discussion of QCWA
Subject: [QCWA] the future of CW

newsline at ix.netcom.com wrote:
> I would not go so far as to call it a precourser of things to come (or
to be deleted from Part 97), but if I were a betting man (and I am not)
I would almost wager that the next "restructuring" completely does away
with mandatory Morse testing.  I would also almost wager that within 5
to 10 yars of this happening that Morse will fall in  interest to about
the level of full carrier AM oprations.  That being, it will never
really disappear but it wll no longer hold the place of prominence that
it did, or even does today.

I don't believe a Morse requirement for testing has anything to do with 
CW use on the air.  It's too efficient at getting through when no other 
signal gets through.  The problem with CW is that, in our era of instant

gratification, it's just too much work.  The generations that get 
satisfaction from overcoming the challenge of CW and that feel that you 
get out of something what you put into it are getting along in years and

are becoming SKs.  I know there's a lot of over-generalization in what 
I've said, but I'll bet there are a lot of heads nodding right now.

I don't believe the Morse requirement should be a rite of passage into 
ham radio because there are plenty of ways to enjoy the hobby without 
CW.  But, we need to snag the younger generation with modes that'll 
reach out and grab 'em (satellite, PSK31, etc.) ... and that includes CW

at the right place and time.  Brag it up at every opportunity, but be 
careful so that the poor non-CWer doesn't think you're being a snob 
about it (perception is everything, they say).

Me, I happen to hate CW.  :-)  I greatly respect the people who use it 
and are good at it, but it's too much work for *me*.  I've made a grand 
total of *1* CW contact in my life and that was back in the late '70s 
right after I received my Novice license.  I was able to stumble through

the 13wpm test up through General and Advanced back then, but I never 
used it.

-- Bob Meyer, KB0GT
_______________________________________________
QCWA mailing list
QCWA at mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/qcwa