No Code Dot Org

In life, as always has been and in every aspect, mankind from the individual to the masses look for the easy way out. Some say the necessity is the mother of invention; yet, some would agree laziness in the real mother of invention. To avoid the drudgery and toil of the human mind and body, the power of reason and culminated ingenuity of man really did make us a lazy lot for sure. I tend to agree with the latter.

Far back, I remember when I used to listen to Morse and did not have a clue about it. I used to dream of being one of those "operators" rapping on AM on a wooden shortwave set, the Morse just a thumping noise on an electromagnetic speaker. My only true knowledge of Morse was SOS which I incessantly tapped all the time. But wait, I knew that off by heart even if heard somewhere. Only 26 letters and 26 sound patterns. Ah, that must be a piece of cake I thought. Around my neighborhood, we had these old women who spoke 3 to 6 languages from E.Europe -- now how in the world could I not learn such a simplistic language.

I had a brother who was all too interested too in Ham. We make a bet. We would sign up for our examinations without even knowing the code. We had one month to study and learn the code. We made a big joke of it. Hell, we even had transmitters ready, both homebuilt and a couple of nice old tube receivers. We just read the outline of what was needed for theory and dug some basic books out, and started listening to some Farnsworth vinyl record given to us by a guy with a huge assortment of wires in his backyard.

One week of 8 hrs per day. That's all we did for the theory. The last week was approaching. My brother already had his speed to 10 wpm; I was stuck at 8. This was bad. That last week, listening to Morse, W1AW and dreaming Morse was too much. But the second last day, all depressed and down that I would not make it....I turned on the record player. Flip side 15 wpm. To my amazement, I copied the whole side without one mistake. My brother had 13 down pat.

We left the DOC office without flying colors.

What we learned was that there lies in Morse that plateau...that plateau of speed where you believe you will never pass. But magically, always, from all the people I ever knew who learned this, experienced this. For those who think they could never do it, they show a character of giving up. Fortitude and desire grow strong in those who are stuck in binds of any sort. Those who want to prevail, those who want not to fall down let alone be scraped off the ground, those who want to triumph -- they, no matter how little the problem or situation, try 'till win or lose.

Now, about these Morse code dot org people, I think they are really of a mob mentality. All it takes is one to incite a riot, and all the losers come to the forefront. All Orgs need a leader, win or lose and the sheep follow.

I am not against no Morse code, but I love it. In Canada, when we had our first license we couldn't even talk voice. It was CW, all bands, for one year, and it had to be proven by logs and some QSLs. How's that for discipline? I never minded. I and thousands loved it and for many it became a lifetime mode. We must remember Ham is a multi-faceted mode, and many roads. I found sanity in CW and was easy on the pocketbook to boot. Then came RTTY and FAX and ASCII, which I loved that used old oily machines and homebrew interfaces. Then came computers with decoding and transmitting. Yes, I did a lot of building, testing and constructing for that. But never one being over 100 watts or having 37 transceivers and an antenna farm, I was the little peon of ham radio who cared little for pompous types; I stuck to my own world of Ham radio, the licensed hobby the gov't gave me as a privilege to exercise my interests in communications. The rules were the rules.

I accepted ham radio for what it was, a hobby. It was never a "career" of which many made for themselves devoting an entire lifetime and huge sums of money to lose with it. The government could as well as abolish it, for it is a privilege and not or never will be a right. The operators never insisted Morse become a staple of communication, for it just started that way. It had its day I know, but I am one person who is glad I learned it. If one of the no code orgs ever learned it, perhaps they would change their mind a bit.

I remember how enthusiastic to get my new "skill" on the air. The first contact was with a one tube home built 6L6 crystal transmitter. It was to Regina, some 400 miles distant on 40 meters on a quiet summer night. It was a wonderful night I don't forget easy. This CW never let me down. The big guns with the linears and gardens of antennas were never my peers. QSLs piled up and piled up with my measly power and continued with no more than 100 watts. I remember getting shortwave QSLs from Russia, because they had to get QSLs from Hams overseas by listening to a shortwave set just to be eligible for a license. Duly, I always sent them a card. Through all the propagation mayhem, CW made it through, and I am proud to know it.

For the no Morse orgs, you are missing out on a nice mode. I think the no Morse orgs will always be the jealous not having the knowledge to copy a conversation without high power, because they'll need it sometime. SSB is terrible at times, but long after it becomes inaudible, CW QSOs keep on going. Well, mobs do sometimes win and overrule.

They talk of computer Morse, but at best, it's the worst unless you have point-to-point communication. I've tried all that, but the ear, that power of the ear to discern a tone out of the mud and noise cannot be replicated.

What's with the 5 wpm? Somehow I just cannot believe what a stumbling block it could be. It has been said that those with hidden musical ability have a better time with code, but anyone can whistle Mary Had A Little Lamb.

Dump the Morse, hmmmmmmmm....and yet to be a Maritime Operator, you have to know 25 wpm still. The HF silently abiding its time ready for action to cover the last bastion of communication should fail.

Here, I will say one thing for the no Morse code orgs. The do have a point. Certainly they should be allowed some portions of HF to use voice. I only think that fair having passed a comprehensive test on theory and regs. I don't see why not.

It would be my hope the no Morse orgs are not just freeloaders or migrants from the 11 meter channelized band.

It's a new world, and there certainly lies a myriad of electronically and computer gifted minds who can contribute to the "fraternity" at large. I have seen all over the world writing such nice software, rig control programs, new modes and bringing new ideas into play. I somehow think the fight for no Morse code is not all about the death of Ham Radio, but a new beginning. I, in my time, a lowly Ham, feel small to an engineer who can't pass a code test, and yet they can design a rig from scratch. The no Morse orgs do have some good points, but surely I agree let Morse be for as long as it lives, and it will. Personally, I'd hate to see the entire spectrum be a pecking contest of voice of who has the latest Kenwood rig, which about sums it up around now. I fire up my old Cheyenne with a bit of chirp for some fun, and some jerk with a gold plated rig comes on and complains I need repairs. Well, I told him flat out, it was built with chirp, isn't that a nice sound. He split, flipped his dials or whatever. The new age, welcome to the new age of things.

Well, I can only say let the Morse live if only an extra endorsement on a license. Let it live for those who would want at sometime to take a stab at it one day. Let it live heritage and we keep myriad heritages alive. Let it live somehow, but sure, let the no Morse orgs in and see what transpires. If I think back, I would have been just as polite and obedient operator as I am now, even if there was no CW. It's all in the character I guess. There is a world of talented, knowledgeable, highly educated people who can make a difference in the field of Ham communications, and it is my hope, and let it be your hope, that they deserve to be here not only for the Morse, but all the modes open to them to experiment with.

Cut the legal limit to 100 watts worldwide for Hams. Ah, then the ingenuity will come out and the Morse will live again. :) How simple can it be.

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