"Bill Sohl" wrote:

Why Dwight, you doubt that all hams wouldn't
"vote" based on common sense, logic and
what is rational as a requirement in the 21st
century?? :-) :-)


Well.... No comment!


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

"N2EY" wrote:
"Dwight Stewart" writes:

You haven't established, at least not to my
satisfaction (nor the satisfaction of the ITU,
FCC, and several countries around the
world), why Morse code is necessary
(notice I said necessary, not enjoyable)
for ham radio today.

You mean the code itself, or the test?


In the context of that sentence, code itself.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

"N2EY" wrote:
"Dwight Stewart" writes:

It's time to move on, Jim.

To what?


I meant to answer that in the last message. Anyway, it's time to move on
to something besides just endlessly debating the Morse Code testing
requirement. This debate has sharply divided the Amateur Radio community and
I think that alone is having a major impact on any attempts to further the
goals and purposes of the Amateur Radio Service (we can't discuss anything
without this topic constantly interfering).


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

"Dwight Stewart" wrote in message
link.net...
"N2EY" wrote:
"Dwight Stewart" writes:

You haven't established, at least not to my
satisfaction (nor the satisfaction of the ITU,
FCC, and several countries around the
world), why Morse code is necessary
(notice I said necessary, not enjoyable)
for ham radio today.

You mean the code itself, or the test?


In the context of that sentence, code itself.



Just a few short weeks ago, auroral activity imposed so much distortion on
HF voice that it was not useable. At the same time, the distortion on the
HF computer operated digital modes was great enough that the computer could
not decipher them. Of the computer operated digital modes, the newest one,
PSK31, failed first. RTTY held up a bit longer but it also failed. Although
distortion on the HF CW/Morse signal also existed, the human brain version
of a computer could and did decipher the signals into intelligible, useful
data when all other modes were useless. The choice was operate code or turn
off the HF radio. If code is not necessary in ham radio today, then neither
is HF itself.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message
gy.com...

"Dwight Stewart" wrote in message
link.net...
"N2EY" wrote:
"Dwight Stewart" writes:

You haven't established, at least not to my
satisfaction (nor the satisfaction of the ITU,
FCC, and several countries around the
world), why Morse code is necessary
(notice I said necessary, not enjoyable)
for ham radio today.

You mean the code itself, or the test?


In the context of that sentence, code itself.



Just a few short weeks ago, auroral activity imposed so much distortion on
HF voice that it was not useable. At the same time, the distortion on the
HF computer operated digital modes was great enough that the computer
could
not decipher them. Of the computer operated digital modes, the newest one,
PSK31, failed first. RTTY held up a bit longer but it also failed.
Although
distortion on the HF CW/Morse signal also existed, the human brain version
of a computer could and did decipher the signals into intelligible, useful
data when all other modes were useless. The choice was operate code or
turn
off the HF radio. If code is not necessary in ham radio today, then
neither
is HF itself.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE



While I try to avoid posting to my own comments, I see that I need to add
additional information.

This phenomenon becomes more severe the further north that your station is.
It was quite noticeable here in Michigan but it would have been less severe
in places like South Carolina where QRZ shows Dwight lives. Southern
stations may merely have noticed the absence of northern stations on the air
if they noticed anything at all.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Dwight Stewart" wrote in message link.net...
"N2EY" wrote:
"Dwight Stewart" writes:

It's time to move on, Jim.

To what?

I meant to answer that in the last message. Anyway, it's time to move on
to something besides just endlessly debating the Morse Code testing
requirement.

OK, fine. Let's do just that.

The issue will be decided one way or another by the FCC at some point
anyway.

This debate has sharply divided the Amateur Radio community

I don't see that at all in "real life" amateur radio outside
newsgroups and such.

and
I think that alone is having a major impact on any attempts to further the
goals and purposes of the Amateur Radio Service

We'll have to agree to disagree about that)

(we can't discuss anything
without this topic constantly interfering).

I say the opposite is true. We can try, anyway.

Here's a selection of topics:

- Regardless of code test requirements, should there continue to be
separate HF subbands for voice/image and cw/data modes in the USA?

- Is there a need to change the entry-level license requirements and
privileges?

- What can/should be done about CC&Rs?

- What can be done to increase the visibility of the ARS to the
general public?

- Are contests a good thing or a bad thing for the ARS?

- Is homebrewing by hams dead or dying?

- Should there be a minimum age requirement for a ham license?

- Should there be an experience requirement for upgrading?

- How many classes of ham license should exist, and what should the
requirements/privileges be (other than code test/no code test)?

Pick one or more, or sugghest your own, and let's go!

73 de Jim, N2EY

"N2EY" wrote

- Regardless of code test requirements, should there continue to be
separate HF subbands for voice/image and cw/data modes in the USA?

Yes.

- Is there a need to change the entry-level license requirements and
privileges?

Yes. See http://tinyurl.com/wce9 for the needed change.

- What can/should be done about CC&Rs?

Hire a good lawyer.

- What can be done to increase the visibility of the ARS to the
general public?

Large antennas high in the sky.

- Are contests a good thing or a bad thing for the ARS?

Yes.

- Is homebrewing by hams dead or dying?

Yes.

- Should there be a minimum age requirement for a ham license?

No.

- Should there be an experience requirement for upgrading?

Yes.

- How many classes of ham license should exist, and what should the
requirements/privileges be (other than code test/no code test)?

Two classes. See http://tinyurl.com/wce9 for details.

OK, now that's all settled. What should we decide next?

73, de Hans, K0HB

"KØHB" wrote

- Are contests a good thing or a bad thing for the ARS?

Yes.

That answer should have been "They are a GOOD thing for the ARS"

73, de Hans, K0HB
---
RadioSport Minnesota: http://www.w0aa.org

"KØHB" wrote:

"KØHB" wrote

- Are contests a good thing or a bad thing for the ARS?

Yes.

That answer should have been "They are a GOOD thing for the ARS"

73, de Hans, K0HB

Don't be too hasty, Hans. I'm a contester too and I think your first
answer may have hit the nail on the head.

Dave K8MN

"KØHB" wrote in message thlink.net...
"N2EY" wrote

- Regardless of code test requirements, should there continue to be
separate HF subbands for voice/image and cw/data modes in the USA?

Yes.

Agreed!

- Is there a need to change the entry-level license requirements and
privileges?

Yes. See http://tinyurl.com/wce9 for the needed change.

Saw 'em. Wonder what others think?

- What can/should be done about CC&Rs?

Hire a good lawyer.

BEFORE you sign on the dotted line!

- What can be done to increase the visibility of the ARS to the
general public?

Large antennas high in the sky.

AGREED!


- Are contests a good thing or a bad thing for the ARS?

Yes.

(a good thing per followup post)

Agreed!

- Is homebrewing by hams dead or dying?

Yes.

Which is it? It's not dead at my house. Nor dying.


- Should there be a minimum age requirement for a ham license?

No.

Agreed/

- Should there be an experience requirement for upgrading?

Yes.

How much? No such requirement that I can see at

http://tinyurl.com/wce9

- How many classes of ham license should exist, and what should the
requirements/privileges be (other than code test/no code test)?

Two classes. See http://tinyurl.com/wce9 for details.

Been there, done that.

But how much experience? Looks like someone could waltz in and get a
full-privs ticket right away under that proposed system.

OK, now that's all settled. What should we decide next?

See what others think...

73 de Jim, N2EY