From: vbreault@rinhp750.gmr.com (Val Breault)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: In the beginning there was Morse and little else
Date: 10 Nov 92 19:10:36 GMT
Organization: General Motors Research Labs
In-reply-to: rcanders@nyx.cs.du.edu's message of 10 Nov 92 01:23:56 GMT

In article <1992Nov10.012356.7760@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> rcanders@nyx.cs.du.edu (rod anderson) writes:

   From the beginning until after World War 2 ham radio was basically
   cw.  Because Morse was the primary method of communications, the
   ability to send and copy at high speeds was of primary importance.
   The code speed was set at 13 wpm because 10 wpm was too easy, this
   was perhaps an attempt to limit licences to those with the ability
   to hear letters rather than dots and dashes.  When there was no
   option for communications then the stress on high speed Morse was
   logical.

   Today skill at high speed Morse code is irrelevant to 
   communications ability.  It can be an interesting part part of the 
   hobby of amateur radio, but it just a part.  Morse is dying as a 
   method of commercial communication.  Satellites are replacing 
   Morse on hf for ship to shore and point to point communications.  
   The military no longer uses morse.  Only in ham radio is the 
   "usefulness" of Morse code stressed.  I think that a lot of this 
   is the, "I had to learn it so every one else should have to learn 
   it also" attitude.

   Morse has a place, as a specialized method for certain purposes in 
   ham radio.  It is like black powder hunting, useable and 
   challenging but no longer state of the art.

   Because Morse code is just one of many different ways for a radio 
   amateur to communicate the requirements for the general licence 
   should be changed. Reducing the code speed required to 5 wpm and 
   increasing the difficulty of the  written for the general would 
   help to bring the examination in line with current needs.  Most 
   hams would be better served by studying other topics rather than 
   working their code speed up to 13 wpm.

   I do plan to learn Morse for eme but I have no interest in working
   up to 13 wpm for the general.   I do not consider morse at 13 wpm 
   communicating.  It is more like boredom.


   Rod Anderson N0NZO                     rcanders@nyx.cs.du.edu

Amen.....  Very well written....

I agree with all that you've said Rod with only two exceptions.

I think that a better hunting analogy would be bow hunting.  We have
dates reserved exclusively for bow hunting.  People hone their bow 
hunting skills, construct and purchase specialized bow hunting gear.
It is regarded by some as being more challenging and therefore more
rewarding than hunting with firearms.  Nearly everyone that hunts 
(around here anyhow) has used a bow at one time or another but most
of the hunters use firearms.

Point two is a personal one.  I studied the code in order to get a
license upgrade.  While learning, I was sure that I'd set the paddles
aside as soon as I got my CSCE for 20 wpm.  Funny thing..... I guess
it kinda grew fond of it....  Morse code is now my preferred mode on
HF.  I  *DO*NOT*  suggest that it ought to be the preferred mode for
ANYONE else.  

-val-  (I had to learn it so.....  SO?  SO WHAT?)

--

Val Breault - GM Research - vbreault@gmr.com - N8OEF
Instrumentation dept., 30500 Mound Rd., Warren, MI 48090-9055
The opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect 
those of GMR or those of the General Motors Corporation.