Homestead mailing list

[Don Bowen <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

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
My travel journal
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html

I am omnivagant.  
> From Clansgian AT wmconnect.com  Mon Feb 26 23:28:53 2007
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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.