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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!houxz!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!stephenc
From: stephenc@tektronix.UUCP (Stephen Coan )
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Re: Morse code stinks
Message-ID: <2955@tektronix.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 5-Jul-84 13:39:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: tektronix.2955
Posted: Thu Jul  5 13:39:24 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Jul-84 01:13:56 EDT
References: <2812@ecsvax.UUCP>, <858@akgua.UUCP> <187@mit-athena.ARPA>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 24

NO-CODE will turn the 2 meter and possibly 40 cm bands into a junkpile.
Those that think a tough technical test should remember how many books
are out there to help people pass the present technical tests, all the
way to extra.
   I knew of a woman, totally non-techninical, who went and got a First
Class ticket by reading a book.  She did this back in the late 60's
because she was working a night shift at a radio station, and this would
help keep the costs down.  Do you think she would have been able to 
perform any First Class ticket functions if required?  They told her
what to do, and to have her call the engineer if anything happened.
   I was one of those who complained about the code requirement for
years until I sat down and did it.  When you realize that 5 wpm is only
one character in about two seconds, all you have to do is learn to
recognize the characters and numbers of the code.  Two seconds is a 
fairly long time to recognize a character.
   At least it shows that a person is genuinely interested in the
service.  Also, for those that think that code doesn't get used on VHF,
there are many places where the code is used.  For one, it identifies
most of the repeaters that are in use.  When in an unfamiliar area, this
may be the only way to know which call sign for the repeater is current.
Also, those repeaters that have autopatch capabilities usually send the
number information back in code as a check prior to dialing the number.
   Code exists most everywhere in Amateur radio, and you only have to 
listen to find some.