Subj : Morse test, to be or not to be?
To   : Michiel van der Vlist
From : Roy Witt
Date : Mon Jul 02 2001 01:10 pm

Hello Michiel.

26 Jun 01 06:59, you wrote to Steve Bainbridge:

>> you do pass the morse test, there is nothing to satop you
>> sending by any method you choose.

MvdV> One could use a computer. However morse is a code not designed for
MvdV> automated use.

Actually it's well suited for the automated purpose of IDing.  A little
hardware and a few diodes and one can have perfectly spaced morse.

MvdV>  If one uses automated means, there are methods that
MvdV> are more suitable.

I guess that's why there's no automated morse IDers on repeaters or HF
transmitters.

>> I send/receive morse on 6mtrs using a computer.

MvdV> That only makes sense if the other party is human. Letting two
MvdV> machines talk to each other in morse, is inefficient.

LOL!  It's more efficient than two humans pounding a key.

>> Don't get me wrong, I think morse is very usful, and no
>> doubt it will always be used by the die hards,

MvdV> It sure will for a long time.

>> but with things like PSK31 ect and computer progs, manual
>> morse is a dying art.

MvdV> And so is machine made morse. As I said; letting two machines talk
MvdV> two each other in morse is inefficient.

MvdV> But that is not the issue. The issue is not should we retain morse
MvdV> as a transmission  mode, but should we retain the morse test as a
MvdV> requirement for access?

MvdV> For that we have to go back to the original reason for the test.
MvdV> The reason was that we have shared bands. Among the other users are
MvdV> vital and emergency services. We needed to be able to recognise
MvdV> these services so that we could stay out of their way.

MvdV> Note that the above is in the past tense. All other services have
MvdV> stopped using morse. The military, aviation and marine services,
MvdV> none of them uses morse any more.

MvdV> The original reasons for the morse test no longer apply. As a
MvdV> result the "authorities" no longer insist on it. The only ones
MvdV> standing in the way of getting rid of it now are the amateurs
MvdV> themselves...

Not quite.  There's the IARU or whatever they call it.  Until they change
the requirement, the test is still required by every IARU member country.


... She said it was either her or the radio.  <over>!
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