Subj : Morse test, to be or not to be?
To   : Steve Bainbridge
From : Michiel van der Vlist
Date : Thu Jun 21 2001 12:55 am

Hi Steve,

> it is 99% certain that the WRC2003 conf will scrap
> morse for full access.

That may be a bit too optimistic. I say 50%.

> Why 2003 I will never know. It wwould be so easy for each
> countries radio regulatory body to scrap it now, just like
> they have lowered the 12wpm to 5wpm,

The bottleneck is art. S25 of the Radio Regulations.

Art. S25 states that a morse test is required for access below 30 MHz. It does
however not specify a speed. So countries can individually decide on a
different speed. To do away with the test altogether however requires an
amendment of art. S25. And that requires a decision by the WRC.

Also note that in order to make that decision, the amendment has to be put on
the agenda. Something that has not happened yet AFAIK and the closing date is
nearing. Even if it does make it to the agenda, I would not make a 100 : 1 bet
on the outcome. The numbers are decreasing but there are still countries that
oppose.

73, Michiel

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