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December 16, 2006
FCC Drops Morse Testing for Amateur Radio
ARRL: End of an Era: FCC to Drop Morse Testing for All Amateur License Classes
"NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 15, 2006 -- In an historic move, the FCC has acted to drop the Morse code requirement for all Amateur Radio license classes. The Commission today adopted a Report and Order (R&O) in WT Docket 05-235. In a break from typical practice, the FCC only issued a public notice: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-269012A1.pdf"
Special thanks to my friend Mark Petrovic for the heads up.
This is an end of an Era.
As a kid, Morse code was one of the first things I ever remember teaching myself. And it was my own commitment to myself for being able to teach myself Morse code at least at 5 words per minute that I was empowered to take and pass my novice exam back when I was 12 1/2 years old. It then took a few visits with my grandfather to the FCC at 201 Varick Street in Manhattan until I managed to pass at 13 words per minute and then take the written exam to get my general license and then Advanced class license. Eventually mastering 20 words per minute took even more effort. I'm proud to say that I still know Morse code today.
One of my first ham radio friends who was an avid fan of Morse code or what we call "CW" pointed out years ago that the beat one hears when they pound out "CQ CQ CQ CQ" in Morse Code was used as the base line for a number of disco songs in the mid 70s.
While I have spent 99% of my "on air" time as a Ham speaking on HF SSB and not HF CW, a number of years ago I was on a vacation with my immediate family in Barbados. We were there and had 8 days of rain and the only person happy was me since I had my ham radio with me and was having a great time speaking with people from all over the world with just a radio and a wire antenna. The prefix for ham radio in Barbados is 8P6. But when I was there, my Morse code was so rusty that I had a number of conversations signing off as 8P1. And in the world of Ham Radio geeks, 8P1 is a rare prefix. I had no clue until it was too late that I was signing my Morse code and being dyslexic and was sending out ". _ _ _ _" instead of "- ...."
I'm sorry to see the end of this era. I would love to see the ARRL adopt my suggestion for "Internet Field Day" and find ways to engage the Internet communication enthusiasts of this generation but that is the subject for another blog post.
73s de Jeff, WA2BOT
Tags: FCC, Ham Radio, ARRL, Jeff Pulver
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Posted by jeff on December 16, 2006 06:39 PM | Permalink
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Comments
I am looking for hams who are interested in blogging about ham radio and make money at the same time. http://hamslife2.blogspot.com is to invite hams to participate. http://hamslife.blogspot.com is my regular blog.
Let me know if you are interested.
Bill
WA6OHP
Posted by: Bill WA6OHP at February 18, 2007 07:58 PM
Good blog. I am one who loves CW but I just don't seem to have time to get on. We have no one to blame for this action but ourselves for not getting on and using CW more. You can see more of my thought on this ruling by going to my blog at http://hamslife.blogspot.com/ and scroll way down the page to my 12/22/2006 blog.
73
Bill
WA6OHP
Posted by: Bill WA6OHP at February 6, 2007 07:07 PM
I am greatful for the help I had getting my license. Most of them don't use cw. The people who did not help me, are the ones who were mad over the change. Talked alot on the repeaters about turning the ham bands over to CBer's. To bad. It made me want to run out and up grade so I could talk about the neubes with them. NOT...If you love the hobby, Find someone who is trying to get in and help them. They may end up on 30 meters.
Posted by: kd4bwq James at February 6, 2007 01:25 PM
Well i,m very disappointed that the cw has been droped.I,m a firm beleiver that every tech operator should have to learn cw before he or she can get a general ticket.period.
Posted by: marvin at January 29, 2007 07:56 PM
I have been a ham for 10+ years and am into aprs and Sat communications and today with all the digital equipment ..... Cell phones and email, I can say I have no use for code and havent in ten years, what would change in the next ten years, heck the Gov got rid of it in the mid 80s? I think its time to let it go and move on to bigger things in ham radio, imho
Posted by: Robert Donahue at December 30, 2006 12:38 AM
Oh no, who'ever said CW is the most inefficient mode is dead, dead wrong. It may be slower, but it is more reliable than any other mode. And the slower part is only limited to the effort of the operator in developing his skill. I copy 25 WPM reliably, and many ops copy 40+ WPM. On SSB, how many conversations do you hear going much faster than that with all the "uhhmm, well, uhhh" and pauses to drink your coffee? And with SSB, an increase in QRN can wipe out a QSO, but the same level of noise and a CW QSO can keep on going!
I'm not mad because the requirement will be dropped. I'm disappointed because I'm afraid that the motivation to learn the code is gone. I'm concerned that many people who would otherwise find out they actually ENJOY the code will never get the pleasure because they'll never bother to learn. And that saddens me because I think CW is so undeniably tied to the traditions and history of our hobby. I welcome all the new HF users when it occurs, but PLEASE don't be so biased against the code that you never give it a try! All it takes is a good month of dedicated study, and you can operate with relative accuracy and have lots of fun. In just a few months you'll be truckin' right along with the big dogs on the band!
Hope CW lives forever!
73, ke5frf
Posted by: KE5FRF at December 18, 2006 12:48 PM
Hi JP,
I was first licensed in 1953. Was a Novice for 3 months, then passed my General at Federal Bldg. in Syracuse, N.Y. Now I'm Advanced class and I love CW. I do use voice also. Nothing wrong with voice. Am active in several traffic nets and to the astonishment of many we can pass traffic faster, with a greater chance of accuracy than on voice (and under adverse conditions). The slow drop in the threshold of obtaining a ham license is sad. Not unexpected however. "CW Forever".
73/88, K2DYB
P.S.: Am putting a link to your blog on mine.
Posted by: K2DYB at December 18, 2006 10:41 AM
I don't think it's a very big deal. I saw this coming and got my General class last winter to say I passed the morse requirement; I saw it as a challege more than anything else. Though I don't use CW and don't have plans to, it's always out there for me and others, regardless of the test requirements.
Posted by: kd5ndq at December 18, 2006 10:37 AM
this is really sad to hear. I still remember studying and practicing hours on end to get my 5WPM down for a Tech+ license, and at the age of 15, I was damn proud of that.
73, KE6QFN
Posted by: jimbo at December 18, 2006 01:05 AM
Yes CW will be around for some time because there
are some diehards that still use it.
Posted by: Butch at December 17, 2006 11:59 AM
Abolishing morse from testing depicts a change in times. while the Internet and VoIP is taking over Ham radio's part of communication in society, removing it's necessity in the exams might increase (but slightly) the number of future generations hams.
It has so in Israel in the past five year, where the IARC pushed the communication ministry to add a new technical class where morse code is not needed.
It added the chance for a bunch of youth amateurs to get their licenses and talk on 2M.
Sadly, Ham radio is a dying art, but I'm rest assured that there will still be some of us enthusiasts out there.
but is CW going QRT ? donno.
73 DE 4X6NB ....- -..- -.... -. -...
Posted by: Oded Sharon at December 17, 2006 07:38 AM
Remember, even thought the "requirement" has been dropped, CW will still be around for many,many years to come. There has been nothing said about it being "illegal" to operate it.
-. .- ....- .. -
Posted by: NA4IT at December 17, 2006 04:24 AM
I'm glad they dropped the CW requirement, it seemed foolish to promote one operating mode out of many that radio operators have available to them. CW is the slowest form of communication known to man, and this makes it the most inefficient. Ham radio is a dying hobby, in 20 years it will cease to exist, so let's enjoy it while we can.
73
Posted by: Richard Haskins at December 17, 2006 02:01 AM
I am just a no code tech,there will always be those who "will" enjoy cw. It will be up to those to get the younger generation interested.Cw will never totally go away!
F.C.C. did remove it from the testings,for me that is "somewhat" good,as I have a tone disfunction.
For those that use cw keep it alive!Bad choice of reference but good example of cw was independence
day the movie..."they are using old morse code"
Normally when all else fails CW!
Posted by: rick at December 16, 2006 11:06 PM