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wrote in news:fITJe.3606$op.62
@bignews4.bellsouth.net:

I am of the opinion they should keep the 5 wpm code for the etra. The
extra is supposed to be a smattering of knowledge of all things ham
radio, and the code is part of our heritage as well as a viable mode.
Arrl is proposing bandwidth based band plans instead of modes. I'd
still like to see narrow band emission types have segregated places
where those folks can work without wideband signals trouncing them and
vice versa, just as I'd still like to see special segments of vhf and
uhf bands for weak signal enthusiasts to pursue their interests
without being trashed by some cb on fm no code memorized the answers
to pass his multiple guess tech test.

Richard Webb, amateur radio callsign nf5b
active on the Maritime Mobile service network, 14.300 mhz
REplace anything before the @ symbol with elspider for real email

What a bunch of crap from the people who suggest that the code requirement
should be kept. Who ever uses it? Nobody! Listen to the frequencies and
how much code do you hear? Virtually none. Actually when I do hear it,
it's generally a one way transmission over the top of voice conversations.
It's an archiac form of communication that no one uses. To have the FCC
finally come to that conclusion emphasizes that point.

It's the old guard who says "Well, if I had to learn it, every one should
learn it!" These are also the people who claim to have walked up-hill to
school (both ways) in 3 feet of snow...every day. That is unless it was
when it was 110 degrees and the locust were out.

Face up to the realities of today's communication. It isn't used and it's
not important.

-- Geoff

"Geoff Schultz" wrote in message
6...
wrote in news:fITJe.3606$op.62
@bignews4.bellsouth.net:

What a bunch of crap from the people who suggest that the code requirement
should be kept. Who ever uses it? Nobody! Listen to the frequencies and
how much code do you hear? Virtually none.

Actually, many times of the day I hear more CW activity going on than voice.
For those who fear that NO-CODE will turn ham radio into a new CB land --- I
think that the reality of no-code licenses for VHF/UHF suggest otherwise.
My observation is that VHF/UHF repeater use in many places I travel is on
the decline. Most traffic seemse to be evening nets, and old friends
chatting on the way to/from work. Other than that, I hear a log of quiet.

There may be some selective hearing going on there. If you don't know /
like CW, you are probably not going to spend a lot of time seeking it out.

snip

Face up to the realities of today's communication. It isn't used and it's
not important.

How many hams build / modify their own radios? I suspect a very small
percentage --- so why require everyone to know all that electronics stuff?
Why not a special class of license that allows one to open their radio's
case --- or build their own radio? Just the old timer trying to keep the new
guys out?

So if CW is out, then certainly one must consider APRS, Packet, EchoLink and
similar VOIP technologies IN. Why not have a programming / networking
license?

Len Hodgett posted in another thread
"I have better things to do with my time than learning to use a totally
dead language.
I'm not interested in ham radio as a hobby, I already have too many.
For me is it strictly a communication tool when I'm on then water.
Nothing more, nothing less"

I think that sums it up for many of the "no-code" crowd --- they don't want
to be a part of the hobby, they want to pick and choose what suits them --
the general self centered dumbing down of America.

On the other hand, I don't think removing the code requirement will
necessarily kill either CW usage (at least in the short run) or ham radio.
The large number of people who enjoy CW will continue to operate / contest
and recruit.

FWIW -- My inability to learn CW kept me out of ham radio for 40 years. It
never occured to me that the licensing requirements should be dumbed down to
accomodate my learning disability. I eventually found a learning method
that worked for me and I finally passed the 5 then 13 WPM test. While CW is
still a struggle for me, it is my primary on-air mode.

-- Geoff

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