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FCC Ponders Removing Morse Code Reqs for Amateur Radio Licenses
Nalez writes "This story on the ARRL website outlines six petitions currently in front of the FCC to drop the Morse code requirement for the amateur radio license exams. Currently the ability to do Morse code at 5 words per minute is required to operate on the high frequency bands (below 30Mhz), which are the bands that propagate best around the world." While this may or may not attract more people to ham radio, it will make it easier for the novice to use packet radio devices.
I know the old-timers don't want to hear this, but it's really about time that this outdated modulation and transmission scheme no longer be required. They old-timers won't admit it to others, but they know that their hobby isn't growing because of the code requirements.
Kids these days--the very people you want to get excited about ham radio--have absolutely no interest in pounding the brass, fumbling over the differences between A and N and trying to copy what others have to say via Morse. Remember, they're growing up in a HDTV, 500-channel, broadband Internet world. It's absolutely no surprise that they think sending letters with dits and dahs is draconian. It is.
Let's give the customary 2-meter and 6-meter privileges to new tickets and push the cutting-edge technologies like PSK31 on the newbies. Show them that ham radio can truly be exciting and modern. But it really is about time the code went the way of the dinosaur. Don't outlaw it--just make it optional.
Karma: Excellent Birds (mostly as a result of listening to Laurie Anderson)
We knew that sooner or later this requirement would be removed. Those of us who love CW (Morse Code) still use it, and others will continue to do so, if only because it is simple, it works, and it overcomes real language barriers.
Still, even though we may love it, it is an anachronism, and the requirement will be dropped, like it or not.
73
W4TI
Soli Deo Gloria
Three questions for all you hams:
- Why was morse code originally required for amatuer radio operators?
- How often is morse code used today?
- What advantages does morse code have, vs other forms of radio communication?
It's an issue of national security. There are many countries that would not issue any amateur licenses if encryption was allowed. Although they have more modern toys today, the stereotypical spy used a hidden transmitter to send his reports back to his case officer in encrypted morse code. Amateur radio was shut down completely during World War II due to concerns about espionage. Even today, the more paranoid countries restrict amateur radio to club stations that can be easily monitored for subversive activities. In the worst cases, amateur radio is prohibited and unauthorized possession of radio equipment is considered proof of espionage, resulting in death or imprisonment.
Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
At the time the amateur radio community in the UK was run mostly by people who got their G3 licences in the 1950s and spent most of their time sitting on 80M(3.5MHz) talking about their gardens and what they did in tne war. These people were anti anything that they percieved to threaten the way amateur radio had been for them all those years ago (73 OM and all that) and the morse test was a key(sorry:) bastion of their defence against what they saw as an advance of CB-ers into 'their' patch. The fact that most of the code-less licencees (a) really had no interest in HF communications and (b) had never used a CB in their lives obviously escaped them. In fact the class B licencee building 23cm TV gear is a lot closer to the cutting edge than the G3 with his gbp1000 Icom multi-band HF rig.
So like a lot of licencees in the '90s faced with a load of arrogant and rude old gits on one side and the internet just starting to look interesting on the other I just let my licence lapse and turned to my PC.
Amateur radio is a warning to the open source movement, I hope we dont see a load of 60-something OS coders in 30 years time excluding a new generation because they perceive that their patch is being encroached upon.
Oxford Dictionaries Online
Considering that one of the main justifications for amateur radio is to provide a means of communication when other systems fail, doesn't this mean that keeping a minimal code requirements is good? In an emergency, with limited power, and perhaps cobbled together equipment, something you can send Morse code with is the easiest to get working.
A similar rule change has been made before, and MANY MANY hams felt that it had a negative effect. Around 1989, I believe, the morse code requirement for the technication class license was removed. After that, there was a flood of bad, inconsiderate, and disrespectful new hams. Many of them were CBers who didn't want to take the time and effort to learn the code. It let in the riff raff, more Anonymous Cowards and first posters if you will.
The are several good reasons why the cw requirement should still kept after all these years. Apologies to Bruce Perens.
Think of morse code as a candle. Sure, we have lightbulbs, flashlights, glow sticks, and the sun. But, if something bad happens - the lights go out, the flashlights batteries are dead, your out of glowsticks, and its the dead of night, wouldn't it be nice to have a candle. It might be boring, plain, ugly, smelly, near useless in the modern world - but when the s*** hits the fan, you'll be glad you have it.
It is a good filter. Most people have to really give an effort to learn the code. Not all but some. I studied for a couple of weeks to pass my 5wpm test. I studied a few days for the 13wpm test. Some people claim it takes them years to learn it. Maybe, i don't know. The point is, if you want to just talk to you buddy down the street, you can get a cb for $40 at radio shack and not even think twice about a license. Think of the bad operators as spam. If you had a chance to have a really good spam filter or not, would you take it. Don't get me wrong, not all no coders are bad guys and they should have a chance to use ham radio - and they do. They can get a no code tech license and use frequencies above 30mhz. What this would change is give them frequecies priviledges below 30mhz. These frequences are special because of physics and the ozone in that they can propogate thousands of miles instead of the couple hundred of the uhf (50mhz) freqencies and above.
History. Morse code and ham radio have been together since the beginning. Its almost disrespectful in my mind to push the code to the wayside. Like putting an old dog down just because he isn't good for fetching the papers anymore.
Anyway, im fairly confident that cw will be around for a long time after its required. If i had to bet, I would say that the requirement will be dropped. I'd say at least 50 years (hopefully i'll make it to my 80th birthday)
As an aside, several people have mentioned that the written tests themselves are an appropriate filter. I disagree. All the questions that appear on every test are known in advance. I could teach my 10 year old daughter the answer to the questions without her having a clue what the questions actually mean.
What do the old farts do that ruins the hobby for new/young people?
Too many of them are G.D. knowitalls. Others fancy themselves as some sort of emergency officials. I just wanted to chat on 2 meters while I commuted to and from work. I found that unless I got involved with the clubs, upgraded my license and volunteered to work hamfests, Skywarn/EMS/whatever, my welcome wore thin. I lost interest.
Wansu, th' chinese sailor