FCC drops Morse code requirement for amateur radio license: - - - .... / -. - - - !

Despite the fact that it's been proven more than once that there are lots of folks who are well-versed in Morse code, it appears that the SMS of the 19th century has become a thing of the past. The FCC has finally dropped the requirement to learn the obscure language to become a ham radio operator; up until now there had been a five word per minute minimum Morse code speed requirement in order to get the amateur radio license. This brings American amateur radio operators in line with similar requirements in Europe and Canada, who since eliminating the rule in 2003, have found this requirement a bit, shall we say, old world? [Warning: PDF link]

[Via Slashdot and ARRLWeb]

[eisdell @ Dec 17th 2006 5:35PM]

-.. ..- -.. . / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / .-. ..- .-.. . ...

[LukeA @ Dec 17th 2006 5:39PM]

Soon you'll have to learn binary.

0100010001010101010001000100010100100000010000100100100101001110010000010101001001011001001000000101001001010101010011000100010101010011

[Cowboy Bob @ Dec 18th 2006 9:01PM]

dont you mean

0110111001101111000100111001110111110000?

[eisdell @ Dec 17th 2006 5:40PM]

Why learn Morse code when you can just translate
it?

http://morsecode.scphillips.com/jtranslator.html

[Matt @ Dec 17th 2006 5:41PM]

FCC drops Morse code requirement for amateur radio license: - - - .... / -. - - - !

Works out as

FCC drops Morse code requirement for amateur radio license: OH NO!

incase you cant be bothered to work it out :)

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 17th 2006 5:43PM]

Wow.

I remember going to classes and practicing to get my (then) coded Tech license.
I never really used Morse code again, except for a small FRS beacon I made once for range testing.
(long story)
Most of my activity WAS on 2.4Ghz ATV.
I did renew my license when it came up last time and will continue to carry it because hey, you never know, right?

RIP Morse code requirement.

I heard you on the wireless back in '72
Lying awake intently tuning in on you
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through...

-you were the first one.

[John G @ Dec 17th 2006 6:08PM]

This is a little bit untrue. There was never a morse code requirement for the tech license. Only for the upper ones.

[Dave @ Dec 17th 2006 7:39PM]

There used to be a code requirement for ALL licenses - even Novice - until a decade or so ago when they started removing the requirement in a bid to get new people into the hobby.

Frankly, I think this is stupid. The higher ranking licenses should still have to learn CW - partly out of historical purposes, but also because its an extremely effective way to communicate in very low power situations, or in cases where you simply don't have voice available. Hell, if you can flip a light on and off, you can communicate in Morse.

Also, in the era of disaster preparedness awareness, you'd think a lot more people would be becoming hams - and CW should still be a part of that in some part. Someday, a hurricane or terrorist attack is going to hit - and people will be staring at their dead cell phones in panic. Without hams, there would be little to no disaster communication in the affected areas.

[Joe @ Dec 17th 2006 8:28PM]

Interesting announcement in that the FCC dropped the morse code requirement for several classes of licenses years ago. This merely removes that requirement from the rest. Oh, and yes, at one time there had been code required for the tech license. --... ...--

[Ray Owen @ Dec 21st 2006 6:28PM]

Tech lic was general test with 5 wpm code test, like Novice- No?
_ _ ... ..._ _ _ _.._ _ ._. ._ _._ _

[Rusty @ Dec 17th 2006 7:28PM]

I just hope they don't make the written exam easier. All the "old timers" were afraid that if they dropped the code, all the "cb'ers" would flood the amateur bands. Well, considering what's on some of the 20 & 40 meter bands, they couldn't do much worse. One reason I don't even bother with HF
is the crap that is on there.
Unless the amateur bands (mostly VHF/UHF) are used more, the FCC will take them away and sell them to the highest bidder, like they did with some of the 220 band some years ago.

73's
KB0GNK

[BrandonLehman @ Dec 17th 2006 7:39PM]

I'm to young to to really remember CB, but I've heard stories. I wonder if this will really change a whole lot though, ham radio seems to be enough of a tight group that people who don't follow the guidelines get weeded out.

I don't know for sure though, I don't use it much now.

Brandon
KD7HJK

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 17th 2006 7:34PM]

I beg to differ John G.
At one time there was a code requirement for EVERY grade of license from Novice on up.

The (then) no-code Technician license only started on or after 1990.

[BrandonLehman @ Dec 17th 2006 7:34PM]

For the lower two levels (up to Tech) there was never a code req. I got the lower two and never took the time to learn my code.

[daniel @ Dec 17th 2006 9:14PM]

-.-

lol what would that be?

[steve @ Dec 17th 2006 9:20PM]

i got tech class license and i was having too much trouble with morse so i just stopped there
im fine with tech since i really dont even talk on a radio :)

[Joshua @ Dec 17th 2006 9:47PM]

How the hell will we be able to co-ordinate strategic counter-offensives against the incoming oppressive Alien Horde?

C'mon! Hasn't ANYONE seen 'Independence Day'?

They obviously didn't think that one through very well did they?

[David @ Dec 18th 2006 8:56AM]

"C'mon! Hasn't ANYONE seen 'Independence Day'?"

first thing that came to mind for me too...

in fact, now knowing that its not required makes me want to learn it... woo for learning random, mostly useless things (just learned how to complete a rubik's cube)

[MR @ Dec 17th 2006 10:06PM]

They used to require 13WPM for General/Advanced class and 20WPM for Extra class, which, in my opinion was just plain crazy.
But I think it's reasonable to expect 5WPM for General class and above. Besides, I don't recall having any difficulty passing the 5WPM exam on my first try.
It'd be a shame if morse code becomes a lost art because of this.

[AndrewNeo @ Dec 17th 2006 10:23PM]

Well I know I didn't have to take the Morse code test to get my Tech license, and that was a few years ago...

[Richard @ Dec 17th 2006 10:27PM]

Good riddance. When the US Navy decided that it was time to eliminate teaching CW, the writing was on the wall.

Also, a lot of people bring up some good points:
Why should hams be tested on CW to access HF when they're not required to be tested on other "digital" modes like PSK, RTTY, baudot, etc.?

They're all digital modes...

What licensing needs to focus on is proper operating technique. If Rusty thinks 20 and 40 are bad (and honestly, I've never heard very much crap on either of those, and have made many great QSO's as far as Moscow on a crap HF vertical @ 100W) he should stay away from 80m!

A lot of the OF that are complaining that the loss of CW will turn HF into another CB are the worst of the offenders on 80m.

It's just a bunch of old guys complaining how things are SOOOOOO much easier than when they were young... the whole "walking 2 miles in the snow, uphill both ways" argument.

Bah.

[no_one @ Dec 17th 2006 11:29PM]

Gee... are we Americans that arrogant? We just would never imagine that we could ever be placed back into a "dark age" where the only means of communicating will be morse code....? what's the Big deal that someone has to learn the morse code? I wish I knew it. Imagine what happens when no one knows it. We just lost an advangtage. What's plan B?

I believe We need to re-evaluate our sense in invincibility...its dangerous.

I have one suggestion.. watch 'jericho' series on CBS. that should wake some of u up. That scenerio is NOT impossible. If you think it is you are exactly what our enemy wants you to be... complacent.

....now you can go back to playing your video games...

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Dec 17th 2006 11:51PM]

Morse Code is too darn important. Even in days of modern communications, it was used to save the Lives of US POWs. Senator John McCain used it when the Vietcong placed him in front of the TV cameras. McCain blinked his eyes in morse code and the CIA picked up on it and translated it in to his distress call. Other instances of POWs using it to plan escapes from their prisons. Morse code is too darn important to let go. The FCC and the rest of the goverment is too darn short sighted to realize it's significance.

Morese Code Version:
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / .. ... / - --- --- / -.. .- .-. -. / .. -- .--. --- .-. - .- -. - .-.-.- / . ...- . -. / .. -. / -.. .- -.-- ... / --- ..-. / -- --- -.. . .-. -. / -.-. --- -- -- ..- -. .. -.-. .- - .. --- -. ... --..-- / .. - / .-- .- ... / ..- ... . -.. / - --- / ... .- ...- . / - .... . / .-.. .. ...- . ... / --- ..-. / ..- ... / .--. --- .-- ... .-.-.- / ... . -. .- - --- .-. / .--- --- .... -. / -- -.-. -.-. .- .. -. / ..- ... . -.. / .. - / .-- .... . -. / - .... . / ...- .. . - -.-. --- -. --. / .--. .-.. .- -.-. . -.. / .... .. -- / .. -. / ..-. .-. --- -. - / --- ..-. / - .... . / - ...- / -.-. .- -- . .-. .- ... .-.-.- / -- -.-. -.-. .- .. -. / -... .-.. .. -. -.- . -.. / .... .. ... / . -.-- . ... / .. -. / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / .- -. -.. / - .... . / -.-. .. .- / .--. .. -.-. -.- . -.. / ..- .--. / --- -. / .. - / .- -. -.. / - .-. .- -. ... .-.. .- - . -.. / .. - / .. -. / - --- / .... .. ... / -.. .. ... - .-. . ... ... / -.-. .- .-.. .-.. .-.-.- / --- - .... . .-. / .. -. ... - .- -. -.-. . ... / --- ..-. / .--. --- .-- ... / ..- ... .. -. --. / .. - / - --- / .--. .-.. .- -. / . ... -.-. .- .--. . ... / ..-. .-. --- -- / - .... . .. .-. / .--. .-. .. ... --- -. ... .-.-.- / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / .. ... / - --- --- / -.. .- .-. -. / .. -- .--. --- .-. - .- -. - / - --- / .-.. . - / --. --- .-.-.- / - .... . / ..-. -.-. -.-. / .- -. -.. / - .... . / .-. . ... - / --- ..-. / - .... . / --. --- ...- . .-. -- . -. - / .. ... / - --- --- / -.. .- .-. -. / ... .... --- .-. - / ... .. --. .... - . -.. / - --- / .-. . .- .-.. .. --.. . / .. - .----. ... / ... .. --. -. .. ..-. .. -.-. .- -. -.-. . .-.-.-

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Dec 17th 2006 11:46PM]

All that I have to say is this:
-.- . . .--. / - .... . / - .-. .- -.. - .. --- -. / .- .-.. .. ...- .


Any questions?
http://www.omnicron.com/~ford/java/NMorse.html

[Jon @ Dec 18th 2006 1:04AM]

Years ago I had to complete the 5, 10 and 20 wpm code test for Novice, General and Amature Extra class licenses. I enjoyed learning code...it was fun and even though I haven't used code in over 11 years...I still somehow remember it to this day.

But this move is long overdue. I stopped using amateur radio in 1995 when Windows 95 came out and the internet boom began. It all seemed obselete to me when I could simply get on the computer and communicate with anyone around the world without the hassle of Antennas, feed lines, towers, lightning stikes and hundreds of dollars of equipment.

RIP Morse Code

[Richard @ Dec 18th 2006 12:32PM]

To all the morons above:

Morse Code isn't going away!
The FCC has just removed it as a requirement from licensing!

It's like driving a car: you don't have to take a road test in a car with a stick-shift.

There are still big chunks of spectrum carved out for amateurs to use SPECIFICALLY for Morse Code.
If anything, this will encourage more CW use.

[Mark @ Dec 18th 2006 3:33PM]

But alas. I think everyone SHOULD be required to take a driving test in a car with a stick shift. It's about proving proficiency with the piece of equipment. When you go to rent a car or get a service loaner, they may only offer cars with stick shifts. You think people won't take the car anyway? They'll take it and be driving around with the rest of us in a car that they're not qualified to operate, putting the rest of us in danger.

Part of amateur radio is emergency preparedness. Every ham should be able to operate under adverse conditions, and under REALLY adverse conditions morse code is the only way a message is going to get through. I don't think 5wpm is unreasonable, but if the FCC thinks that they will get more licensees without the morse code requirement, that's their choice.

[Model T @ Jan 5th 2007 9:54PM]

Fer sure...if you're driving a Model T!!

[RichW2VU @ Dec 19th 2006 11:06PM]

I don't usually comment on blogs, but I wanted to set the record straight on historical matters since there seems to be a fair amount of confusion. Until 1991, there was a code requirement for all classes of amateur radio license in the US (5 words per minute for Novice and Technician, 13 wpm for General and Advanced, 20 wpm for Amateur Extra). In 1991, the FCC dropped the code test requirement for the Technician license, and in 2000, lowered the speed for the upper classes to 5 wpm. This decision completes a process that began 16 years ago.

I also must take issue with Cyrus's statement that "it appears that the SMS of the 19th century has become a thing of the past." Removing the test requirement does not mean that Morse code will no longer be used by hams. Quite the contrary, many of us expect more people to learn and use it now that it will be a challenge rather than an obstacle. There are many thousands of amateurs around the world who prefer code to voice for a variety of reasons, including its ability to get through when nothing else will, the ability to encode/decode it without a computer, and the fact that for many people, it's just plain fun! Test or no test, there will still be plenty of hams happily keeping "the SMS of the 19th century" alive and well in the 21st.

Rich Moseson, W2VU / Editor, CQ Amateur Radio magazine

[Michael Glenn @ Dec 20th 2006 3:22AM]

This is a poor decision on the part of the FCC. Ham radio operators have very recently saved lives using Morse Code in the Katrina events in late 2005. They are sure to do it again in other disaster zones. Where did these hobbiests learn Morse Code? Well, I can almost promise it wasn't remembered in the 6th grade class session where they said "... and this is what Morse Code looks like..." and flipped the page. Ham radio operators are some of the most frequent life-savers in disaster situations, and removing the requirement to learn Morse Code will remove almost all the incentive for someone to know it.

Are we really so naive that we don't foresee problems like Katrina (or worse) occuring again in the future? Do we really wish to remove such a valuable weapon from our rescue arsenal?

http://navgrp.net

[Phil McElrath @ Dec 20th 2006 2:48PM]

Morse should not be forced on an Operator anymore than RTTY, ATV, Packet, or any other modes should be. My experience in the hobby indicates that knowing Morse doesn't guarantee you will get a knowledgeable,courteous, or well disciplined Operator. (Listened to HF lately?)
That being said, Morse is a near foolproof method of communication that, in my view, will continue to be used. It's not going to disappear because the FCC has eliminated the requirement. I'm going to learn it.

Phil/K5BBC

[steve @ Dec 30th 2006 3:17PM]

IT"S ABOUT TIME!!!!

I havea hearing disablilty and have difficulty distnguishing certain frequencies and have be unable to pass tghe code becauue of this. When I contacted the FCC they told me I was out of luck and would have to be happy with my technician license. I live in in isolated rural location so you can see how a tech license was useful for me as a hobby to talk to people internationally.
I am gonig to to skip general class and go on to Extra Class since I can already pass this exam easily.

[Jack @ Jun 4th 2007 3:11PM]

Steve,

I am sorry you missed out on the best part of Ham radio. I tapped out messages on my little brother's knee when I was a kid. 8 or 10 wpm was no problem via that mode. He had recently passed Novice test. One excuse is as good as another for not learning code.

Perhaps by now you have discovered you can't go didrect to Extra Class, without taking the other tests. I failed to renew General years ago, and had to take Novice, General, Advanced, and Extra [all in 1 day in FCC office, in order to save my old call. They were changing the rules in a few days, dropping the 'reissue prior call if Extra Class' rule. I started Ham Radio with a Class B ticket, in the pre-Novice days, but I had to start over with a 5 WPM Novice test, after having been a ham for over 25 years. Since I had reached 40 WPM before my first 12 months on the air, the 5, 13, & 20 WPM code tests were no obstacle that day.

73, [That is a CW abbreviation for 'Best Regards' - so you won't have to decode it.]

Jack

[Adios Freekin' Morse Code!!! @ Jan 5th 2007 9:42PM]

The end of an era. Yep! Things change. Even Ham radio, like it or not. Digital TV, cellular telephones, digital communications, Internet/email...and a bunch of old fools who say we need to learn Morse Code. Why? Becasue they did! Will it "weed out" the CBers? I don't know, but 40 & 80 meters might give you an indication!

Ham radio is like the VFW pre-Gulf War. A bunch of veterans who deserve the status (and kicking the bucket daily) but wonder why their club is dwindling. Geez, the family Doberman could do that math!

Ham radio needs new blood. Younger folks with new ideas. Not a bunch of codgers stuck in the 50's. Don't get me wrong. I love an old story over a cold beer. Just realize your yesterdays and respect the todays.

When the day comes I can upgrade without learning Morse Code I will be one happy camper.

M

[Bill Duncan @ Jan 7th 2007 9:20PM]

The thoughts on the FCC dropping the CW requirement are interesting. I invite you to my blog, wich still shows my last blog where I spoke on this matter, at http://hamslife.blogspot.com
73
Bill WA6OHP

[Mark @ Sep 19th 2008 12:28PM]

This is an old blog, but an interesting one. I am a new No-Code Extra ham (after 4 months in the hobby) and I know someone will not like that, so I will only reply with :

1) I love the hobby
2) The FCC updated the rules, so I am only abiding by them
3) I bought CodeQuick 2 weeks ago and have learned 18 characters since then at 3.7 wpm and continue to study the code. I'm planning to use it on the air this fall/winter.
4) I'd ask those hams not-so-happy with the changes to instead welcome the new hams, encourage those hams to explore all the digital modes we're lucky enough to have - and help them learn the code. Isn't that what we all really want ?

By the way - I thought it was funny in a post by one of the mature hams that he had a typo in his morse (but no one commented on it) - > here's a paste from that earlier post.
==================================================================
LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Dec 17th 2006 11:46PM

All that I have to say is this:
-.- . . .--. / - .... . / - .-. .- -.. - .. --- -. / .- .-.. .. ...- .
==================================================================

73 to all and I hope those in the duldrums can cheer up some and spread the code !

AJ4KZ