From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!CAD:teklabs!zehntel!sytek!menlo70!hao!hplabs!neil
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Title: Re: Thoughts on CW - (nf)
Article-I.D.: hplabs.1002
Posted: Tue Nov 30 19:26:06 1982
Received: Sat Dec  4 04:11:44 1982

#R:sri-unix:-432900:hplabs:5500001:000:2471
hplabs!neil    Nov 30 19:07:00 1982

***** hplabs:net.ham-radio / sri-unix!WBST /  9:34 am  Nov 29, 1982
The people in favor of a code free licese have several arguments which I
consider invalid. Some of these are:

1. CW is "Just another mode" and should not be forced on people that do not
want to use that mode.

If ham radio was like any other hobby then you are at liberty to do what you
want.  But ham radio is not.  Its fundamental purpose is public service.  We are
using a national resource ... spectrum space.  If its just to amuse ourselves then
we could do anything.  But The reason you have your licese is because it
contributes to the good of the nation.  In particular disaster communication.  I
cannot see how anyone that pretends to be contributing to the public service can
call himself a radio operator without being able to send and receive CW.

CW, on HF or UHF can get through under most adverse conditions.  Recently a
boating accident left a boat sinking on the Pacific near San Francisco.  The mike
was smashed in the accident but the guy knew CW because he had leaned it as
an Eagle Scout many years ago.  He was saved because a Ham operator that
knew CW was listening on the CB band.

Also CW has been sent by waving flags, flashing flashlights, tapping with
pipes, etc.etc.etc.  In a submarine disaster code was sent to the men inside and 
back by tapping a pipe ... one bang for dots, two bangs for dashes. Many lives
have been saved because of a knowledge of CW both on and off the bands. Also,
in times of disaster on a wide level, most communication is by written message. 
This can be more accurately and faster sent and received by CW.  

2. CW is an unnecessary restriction and is just "too difficult to learn".

It takes a person of average intelligence about 4 hours to learn and send and
received at 5 WPM. After leaning the code it takes about 30 minutes practice to
get to 5WPM.

3. CW is not necessary on the UHF bands.

In the future it will even be more necessary.  As the space shuttle builds a space
station, exploration to the planets and beyond will take place.  QSO's by hams
will be at first by CW because of the simplicity and effectiveness.  Also,
emergency communication with people in space, via the Hams on Earth would be
greatly hampered without CW. How would you feel if the first distress message
from space was sent via CW and there were no hams that knew how to copy it ?
Remeber that boating accident.

			Joe, N2XS   (spark forever !!)
----------