"Jeff Renkin" wrote in message
...
Pretty close. Some of the other digital modes are narrower but as you
state, you need more hardware such as a computer. In addition each of
the
other digital modes has its own unique set of advantages and
disadvantages
in on air operation.

The biggest disadvantage would be narrowing down the percentage of people
on
the other end that would be able to decipher your emergency message.

If you are calling for help, you want as many people on the receiving end
of
your transmission to be able to UNDERSTAND your message as possible.

The emergency broadcast system (now the EAS) works on English Voice, NOT
with
morse code. And it is designed to be used in an emergency. Same
with
police, fire and ambulance radios.

Imagine the president addressing the public with a morse code key.
Might as
well talk to a wall.



In emergencies hams are NOT broadcasting to the public. They are using
their skills to pass messages from the public and emergency services to the
public and emergency services via the ham network. No has to be able to
understand the message while it is in transit except the hams. Thus hams
can and will use any means at their disposal appropriate to the situation,
that includes voice, computer digital modes and good old Morse code.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE