Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!rutgers!lll-lcc!lll-crg!hoptoad!pozar From: pozar@hoptoad.UUCP Newsgroups: mod.mag.fidonet Subject: FidoNews Replies Message-ID: <1866@hoptoad.uucp> Date: Mon, 23-Feb-87 18:07:59 EST Article-I.D.: hoptoad.1866 Posted: Mon Feb 23 18:07:59 1987 Date-Received: Thu, 26-Feb-87 21:18:24 EST Organization: Syncstream (San Francisco) Lines: 49 Approved: pozar@hoptoad.UUCP From: Gareth Howell Date: Fri, 13 Feb 87 09:34:16 GMT Subject: Re: Response to News > >Date: Fri, 6 Feb 87 15:56:23 cst >From: lll-crg!seismo!uiucdcs!clio.las.uiuc.edu!berger (Mike Berger) >Subject: Fido news letter > >This is in response to your comments about an exam-free amateur radio >license: > >Finally, I think that complaining about the morse code requirement is >a cop-out. The requirement may be obsolete and stupid, but it's >not insurmountable (or even difficult). The code test for a technician I don't think that the requirement for Morse proficiency is obsolete. It is still the case that Morse code is used widely on the hf bands, also we (radio amateurs that is) are often co-users of the hf bands; sharing with emergency and point-to-point communications. The reasoning behind the continued existence of the Morse test, I believe, is that it enables amateurs to understand the co-users of the band, and therefore either avoid interference, or in the case of emergency channels, alert the appropriate authorities. I view it in a similar vein as the requirement that all Air Traffic Control procedures take place in English. In the UK Morse is not required on VHF and UHF bands. I haven't passed the test yet, mainly because I am sufficiently occupied with VHF and UHF communications and haven't yet felt the need ,or had the money, for hf equipment. 73s Gareth -- Gareth Howell G6KVK @ IO91VX ICL Network Systems, Private Networks Business Centre London Road, Stevenage, Herts, England, SG1 1YB Tel:+44 (0)438 738294 howellg%idec%ukc@mcvax.uucp, idec!howellg@seismo.CSS.GOV -- Tim Pozar UUCP pozar@hoptoad.UUCP Fido 125/406 USNail KLOK-FM 77 Maiden Lane San Francisco CA 94108 terrorist cryptography DES drugs cipher secret decode NSA CIA NRO IRS coke crack pot LSD russian missile atom nuclear assassinate libyan RSA