http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/ Engadget Comments for FCC drops Morse code requirement for amateur radio license: - - - .... / -. - - - ! http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/Dec 17th 2006 5:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
0100010001010101010001000100010100100000010000100100100101001110010000010101001001011001001000000101001001010101010011000100010101010011]]>Dec 17th 2006 5:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
0110111001101111000100111001110111110000?]]>Dec 18th 2006 9:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/it?

http://morsecode.scphillips.com/jtranslator.html]]>Dec 17th 2006 5:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/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 :)]]>Dec 17th 2006 5:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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.]]>Dec 17th 2006 5:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/Dec 17th 2006 6:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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.]]>Dec 17th 2006 7:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/Dec 17th 2006 8:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/ _ _ ... ..._ _ _ _.._ _ ._. ._ _._ _]]>Dec 21st 2006 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/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
]]>Dec 17th 2006 7:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
I don't know for sure though, I don't use it much now.

Brandon
KD7HJK]]>Dec 17th 2006 7:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/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.]]>Dec 17th 2006 7:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
]]>Dec 17th 2006 7:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
lol what would that be?]]>Dec 17th 2006 9:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/im fine with tech since i really dont even talk on a radio :)]]>Dec 17th 2006 9:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
C'mon! Hasn't ANYONE seen 'Independence Day'?

They obviously didn't think that one through very well did they?]]>Dec 17th 2006 9:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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)]]>Dec 18th 2006 8:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/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.
]]>Dec 17th 2006 10:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/Dec 17th 2006 10:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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.]]>Dec 17th 2006 10:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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...
]]>Dec 17th 2006 11:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
Morese Code Version:
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / .. ... / - --- --- / -.. .- .-. -. / .. -- .--. --- .-. - .- -. - .-.-.- / . ...- . -. / .. -. / -.. .- -.-- ... / --- ..-. / -- --- -.. . .-. -. / -.-. --- -- -- ..- -. .. -.-. .- - .. --- -. ... --..-- / .. - / .-- .- ... / ..- ... . -.. / - --- / ... .- ...- . / - .... . / .-.. .. ...- . ... / --- ..-. / ..- ... / .--. --- .-- ... .-.-.- / ... . -. .- - --- .-. / .--- --- .... -. / -- -.-. -.-. .- .. -. / ..- ... . -.. / .. - / .-- .... . -. / - .... . / ...- .. . - -.-. --- -. --. / .--. .-.. .- -.-. . -.. / .... .. -- / .. -. / ..-. .-. --- -. - / --- ..-. / - .... . / - ...- / -.-. .- -- . .-. .- ... .-.-.- / -- -.-. -.-. .- .. -. / -... .-.. .. -. -.- . -.. / .... .. ... / . -.-- . ... / .. -. / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / .- -. -.. / - .... . / -.-. .. .- / .--. .. -.-. -.- . -.. / ..- .--. / --- -. / .. - / .- -. -.. / - .-. .- -. ... .-.. .- - . -.. / .. - / .. -. / - --- / .... .. ... / -.. .. ... - .-. . ... ... / -.-. .- .-.. .-.. .-.-.- / --- - .... . .-. / .. -. ... - .- -. -.-. . ... / --- ..-. / .--. --- .-- ... / ..- ... .. -. --. / .. - / - --- / .--. .-.. .- -. / . ... -.-. .- .--. . ... / ..-. .-. --- -- / - .... . .. .-. / .--. .-. .. ... --- -. ... .-.-.- / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / .. ... / - --- --- / -.. .- .-. -. / .. -- .--. --- .-. - .- -. - / - --- / .-.. . - / --. --- .-.-.- / - .... . / ..-. -.-. -.-. / .- -. -.. / - .... . / .-. . ... - / --- ..-. / - .... . / --. --- ...- . .-. -- . -. - / .. ... / - --- --- / -.. .- .-. -. / ... .... --- .-. - / ... .. --. .... - . -.. / - --- / .-. . .- .-.. .. --.. . / .. - .----. ... / ... .. --. -. .. ..-. .. -.-. .- -. -.-. . .-.-.- ]]>Dec 17th 2006 11:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/-.- . . .--. / - .... . / - .-. .- -.. - .. --- -. / .- .-.. .. ...- .


Any questions?
http://www.omnicron.com/~ford/java/NMorse.html]]>Dec 17th 2006 11:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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]]>Dec 18th 2006 1:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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.]]>Dec 18th 2006 12:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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.]]>Dec 18th 2006 3:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/Jan 5th 2007 9:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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]]>Dec 19th 2006 11:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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
]]>Dec 20th 2006 3:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/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]]>Dec 20th 2006 2:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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.
]]>Dec 30th 2006 3:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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]]>Jun 4th 2007 3:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/
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]]>Jan 5th 2007 9:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/fcc-drops-morse-code-requirement-for-amateur-radio-license/http://hamslife.blogspot.com
73
Bill WA6OHP]]>Jan 7th 2007 9:20PM