class and above). Similarly, the reasons given in the comments for un-requiring it were usually better than the reasons for keeping it, at least in the FCC eyes.
There are those who say that having to enter through the supplicants' door i.e. learn to use some morse code is how the CBers and "riff-rafff" are kept out. Since the "general" class test is so easy, I will concede partially to that point. The other half of the equation, which I cannot concede to, goes thusly:
1. listen to the HF ham radio enough, you will hear plenty of CB-like behavior including cursing and sometimes jamming, playing music, etc. I think the riff-raff already passed the morse code test and is in there now.
2. The CB'ers are unlikely to want to try the technical test, but if they do, they face an obstacle of $500-1000 for a station, even an old clunker with a decent receiving capability plus an antenna will cost $350-400. Then, who the heck do they talk to? Most CBers know that the ham ops don't put up with alot of crap on their frequencies and have been known to track people down, and that the FCC does occasionally make costly examples of ham operators gone bad, unlike the FCC + CB band scene, where operators can run free like they wish. -- so it would take a real commitment from a CBer to join up, and that person would then most likely obey strictly the rules and do the best they could.
-----
Now, for all those general-class hams and those above them who have made fun of me because I did not espouse the code, I forgive them, for they have a narrow view and are entitled to their opinion. Maybe I can talk to them on SSB or AM some day.
------
-- and BTW here is how you modulate a CW transmitter that you cobble together after the bomb; go scrap out a telephone and connect the handset so the carbon mike is in the cathode or emitter lead of the oscillator or one of the intermediate power amplifiers, and there ya got AM.
As for the Code itself, it is a much revered icon. It's not being banned, and it will never disappear. People actually love to use it, it is a fine hobby for many people. I have no fears that morse code will disappear from the ranks of ham operators because if no one wanted to use it, it would already be silent in those sub-bands. Consider how many hams learned 5 words per minute code just to get the privelege of using voice or data communications on the HF bands, and never used code again. Now consider how many of them learned the code because they had to, and then found out that they liked it as a fun way to communicate. So it's not going away, probably ever.
My friend Dennis W5FRS is a real expert in code, can do 25 WPM just like talking. For the last 35 years since he was licensed he never used voice modes and he builds all his own gear using vacuum tubes just like it was done in the 1930's. -- but I admit it, I corrupted him to voice, and we cathode-modulated his 250-TH amplifier.. so he has an AM option. His stuff is here (since I suppose it's on topic to show ham radio gear here)
[url]http://208.190.133.201/w5frs/index.html[/url]
Just like any older mode such as AM or RTTY or SSTV, there will always be people that like this or that aspect.
Me, I like vacuum tube high level plate modulation and dangerously high voltages and I don't care about electrical power consumption. See my rig. It's 49 years old, and I have spent the last 4 years restoring it. For me it's a labor of love and preservation of 1500 Lbs. of Texas Military History but someone else would say it's a piece of junk, to be torn down and sold for parts.
Please take the tour if you have not.
[url]http://www.bunkerofdoom.com/tuckerkw/tucker_transmitter.html[/url]
Maybe I am an oddball, but I think there's plenty room on the ham bands for all of us who want to try it.
