Manager


Manager - N2MG
Manager Notes

Survey Question

Question

What do you think about "The Amateur's Code" composed in 1928 by Paul M. Segal, W9EEA? Pick the answer closest to your opinion and tell us why in the comments, please! ( https://www.qcwa.org/amateur-code.htm )

Results (125 answers)

Take this Survey

Please Login (above) before taking this survey.

Survey Comments

Should be common sense

The Amateur's Code is a very good set of principles.
Not only for ham radio, but most other things as well.
You'd think something like that should be common sense.
Then again.....????

Posted by N8AUC on 2022-03-05

The Amateur's Code

There's Never a Substitute for Good Manners, Respect, and Civility.
Posted by N6RLG on 2022-03-05

Relevant To All

I know the code is specifically addressing the Amatuer Radio hobby, but in truth these principles applied throughout our society, would go a long way to bring decency, decorum and healing to our country.
Posted by WD9JAB on 2022-03-03

It's Never Outdated

I have read it when I started Ham Radio in 1970. I have applied it in the way I treat other Hams. I think it will never be outdated.
73 Gerry
Posted by VE7BGP on 2022-03-03

Good Foundation...

I appreciate what one OM here said regarding the condition of our society today and those that have been raised with different values and moral systems than a number of years ago...

'The Amateurs Code' was a statement of fact 'back in the day', and it was not difficult to adhere to because THAT was 'the fact of the day'. In that way, I find it somewhat outdated, as many in this most recent society have no idea what those values of yesteryear were and hence see them as antiquated and useless...

With the lack, and all but virtual death, of 'the commons'... Common Sense (packet of desiccant is not for human consumption), Common Decency, Common Respect, Common Courtesy, etc... Perhaps the 'guidelines' need to be updated just a bit...

Don't ask me how. I've been trying to figure out a way to express to others that those 'commons' are still a good idea today, and have been unable to find a way. There are even those that espouse that there was never really anything called 'common sense', because not everyone believes in "absolutes", it is all 'relative' to how you feel and what you desire as to what is an intelligent decision. Sure - we all make mistakes along the way, but it only took ONCE getting knocked across the room for me to realize that grabbing onto a cold water vent pipe that ran up through my attic bedroom, and inserting a metal screwdriver into the 117vac fuse holder on my radio bench/desk was NOT an intelligent choice. I became 'absolutely' convinced...

Our GREAT Country was founded on the belief that one person did NOT have the right to "infringe" upon the rights of another in the pursuit of their happiness, but it would seem like THAT belief has all but gone by the wayside, and there are even those striving to abolish that mentality for their own gain. It would seem that MANY no longer consider how their actions may affect others and therefore should NOT be practiced.

That being said... I remember my first time reading those words from the ARRL Handbook, on the page facing the one with Hiram Percy Maxim's photo, in my VERY early teens and remember thinking that they were a good idea, mainly because they were not really all that different from how I was raised in our household.



Posted by KB6LWN on 2022-03-02

JI1HSV

Some things are never outdated.

Posted by JI1HSV on 2022-02-28

Amateur's Code

If everyone operated by these principles the hobby would be even more enjoyable for all.
Posted by K4DU on 2022-02-28

Just words

Just words, words that mean something! There was a generation that was raised by people that didn't need such words written down. They lived them and if you had asked them to write something that they lived by they could have written something like those corny words in our code, but they would have thought you were a little odd to have to have something written down.

This generation and the children they raised are the reason we don't speak German or Japanese. Just words.
Posted by KF5YZ on 2022-02-27

Taught In Tech Class

Although not included in the Tech exam, our club presents the 'Amateur's Code' the first session.
Posted by WA9AFM on 2022-02-25

Updated?

Looking at my third edition (1928) of The Radio Amateur's Handbook, I can see that neither of the versions now shown on the ARRL website and the QCWA website are accurate depictions of the original.

There is no direct way to perfectly solve the desire to be inclusive. Modern English is not structured that way, and it is sometimes hard to avoid offending someone who has too much time on their hands.

In my opinion, all it would have taken to update The Code would have been to replace "He" with "and", and "his" with "their" in all of the paragraphs.

The lone exception is the awkwardly written number 5 ("V - The Amateur is Balanced. "): As a compromise, I guess I would have said:

"Radio is their hobby. An amateur never allows it to interfere with duties they owe to home, job, school, or community."

Putting all that aside for a moment, I think the single biggest problem with the QCWA and ARRL versions is the oversimplification of the very first Code paragraph, Their simplified versions perhaps reflect a bit of moral decay in modern society.

The original version included this: He abides by the pledges given by the ARRL in his behalf to the public and the government."

In other words, the mere existence of ham radio is due to the original pledges of good behaviour and service to the public and government - pledges that remain to this day in every country. Does it seem okay to forget about those pledges now?

I think I would have included something like this modernized version: " The amateur pledges to serve the public and abide by rules set forth by the government". It's important that we as amateurs never forget that.
Posted by VE3WGO on 2022-02-24

just a word

I'd like to know what the commenter meant when he used the word harnesses.
I looked it up but still at a loss.
Posted by KC6RWI on 2022-02-24

It should be reminded from time to time of all harnesses is still relevant.

It should be reminded from time to time of all harnesses is still relevant.
Posted by YO2CNH on 2022-02-23

The Amateur's Code

Ham radio used to be a fraternity. As a high school kid adults took me to hamfests and kept an eye on me so I wasn't taken advantage of but that wasn't necessary. Established hams were happy to help a kid. We took pride in our station and our "fist" and were a close knit group. We had integrity in our operation, award submissions, and dealings with each other. We operated with courtesy. It was nice.
Posted by W4FID on 2022-02-23

Not in today's world

Amateur radio used to be a gentleman's pursuit. Now the goal is get contacts using any means possible. The "Code" does not fit into that world anymore!
Posted by KG4RUL on 2022-02-23

Thank-You, WC4R ---But...

Well, the updated version of the Code has certainly been re-adjusted to reflect the political-correctness of the times, alright...

But I'M OFFENDED by the fact that whomever it was that attempted to make it pass the 2022 p.c. "...sniff test", limited the GENDER of the generic radio amateur to being either a "...HE", or a "...SHE"!

What about those Hams within our ranks who perhaps choose NOT to subscribe to such limits as are thrust upon everyone by a society that purports to be so "...all-inclusive"?

No, I simply WILL NOT REST here until 5 of those 6 revised "rules" are changed from "...He/[She]", to "...He/[She] [It] [Whatever]"...!!!

:o)
Posted by VE3CUI on 2022-02-21

Never heard of it

I've never read it, in fact I've never even heard of it. If its been around this long it probably is something good.
Posted by KD2HCU on 2022-02-21

I Agree With About 90% of it...

"...LOYAL...He/[She] offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, the IARU Radio Society in his/[her] country, through which Amateur Radio in his/[her] country is represented nationally and internationally..."

I've always considered Rule #2 (above) to be rather self-serving, especially early versions of the code that I recall reading where direct reference was made specifically to the A.R.R.L., & NOT some thinly-veiled "...IARU Radio Society" as may be seen in this updated edition of the code.

But that was just a refection of the temper of the times, I guess --- just as I recall reading in one edition of QST magazine in the 1920's wherein the A.R.R.L. writer actually lauded one Ham in its "...Amateur Operator Profiles(?)" chapter for his prominence-allegiance to a branch of the local KKK...

It IS what it WAS --- there's no re-writing of documented history.
Posted by VE3CUI on 2022-02-20

The Code 1960-Style...

Here's the code 1960 stye, specifically Rule #2:

"...The Amateur is Loyal.....He owes his amateur radio to the American Radio Relay League, and he offers it his unswerving loyalty..."
Posted by VE3CUI on 2022-02-20

Just as important today

Agree 100%.
Posted by WB2KQG on 2022-02-20

Two versions

Original version https://www.qcwa.org/amateur-code.htm
The 'adapted' version https://www.arrl.org/amateur-code

Just like songs and movies, the original is usually the best.
Posted by WC4R on 2022-02-20