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  • From: Don Bowen <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Update
  • Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:04:20 -0800

At 2/26/2007, you wrote:

Whaaaa? No code for the General Class any longer? Why even bother to
license people then??

The OFs are really fussing about that but the International regulatory agency eliminated code several years ago. Morse code for business use was stopped in the 70s so about the only remaining use was amateur radio. Tests are still important for making sure you know the rules and some smattering of what you are doing. The Extra class test is very heavy on electronics knowledge, I have passed several online versions and will be taking the test in a couple of weeks.

As I mentioned the OFs are saying it is no longer a "real" license without the code. Others are saying the bands will be overrun by foul mouthed CBers. They are also saying similar things about such things as Echolink not being real radio because it does not use RF.



Don Bowen Awl Knotted Up KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com
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The OFs are really fussing about that but the International regulatory agency eliminated code several years ago

At a ham radio meeting in the late 60's an old patriarch among the operators with one of the old four character call signs from twenty years before (such as K4IZ) gave a little speech to the effect that in a few years either there would be no more ham radio operators or else everyone would be one. A prophet, that man.

Back in those days, as I'm sure you know, the purpose of knowing the electronics was because most hams built their own equipment, many designing their own or improving on designs. The outlandish rigs were called 'bread board' because many times times the chassis was an old bread pan turned upside down.

The idea behind knowing electronics (theory) and code was not one upsmanship, nor to limit the ranks. But rather to promote a body of operators who could set up and supply communications in emergencies. One of the perennial questions on the test was to sketch the diagram for a Colpitts oscillator that could be made from parts taken from a television. Thus in an emergency the operator could send out a signal, wind a few turns off the tank coil (thus shifting the frequency) and keep sending out signals until the message was heard. The "message" of course would be in code.

A1 code emissions take up only a fraction of the bandwidth that modualted signals require. Code operators typically passed on messages in a fraction of the time it took to do so by AM or SSB because voice messages invariably had to be repeated and enhanced with phonetic code.

I am well aware that technological reality is gone, passed. Digital encoding and digital modulation have made code obsolete. But is there any longer any practical side to the FCC exam? So what if we know LSI electroics cold, what are we going to do about it? Ham equipment is in the appliance age, bought like a microwave or cell phone. What's really the point in examining people over things they have no control and cannot participate directly?

QSL and 73. FB QSO bt this OF has been QSY for gd reason, I suppose.




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