My Take on the NPRM to Eliminate 5 WPM code
This has been a hot topic on many internet bulletin boards as well as in many ham groups. Thankfully, it hasn't been on the air much.
My take: Total elimination of code isn't the solution. It could have been done much better, in my opinion. On most of the bulletin boards I have been reading (primarily QRZ.com) we now have a rift between coders and no coders. Ok, so we probably still would have had this rift, but it could have been alleviated had the NPRM not asked for total elimination of the code requirement.
We have 2 sides. Those who had code, and got it because it was a tradition, a rite of passage, whatever you want to call it, and the other side who views it as an antiquated mode. BOTH sides have some valid points though:
Morse code is the only mode we test for-we don't test for other modes. This is true, and a solution for this would be for testing on every mode. Course, Morse code has to be learned, and to be properly operated, has to be known well enough to receive, so I can see why we tested on it-but testing for one mode and not others.....ok, thats a valid argument. I don't buy people not learning code as being lazy though. We're just meeting the current requirements (for now) and the requirements later (for when and if this does go through).
Anyway, on to my opinion. If they would have done this smart (and when I say "they" I'm referring to NCI, as they seemed to be the ones who spearheaded most of the NMPR) they would have looked at 2 aspects:
1) Morse code, and testing for it as well as using it, is a tradition to operators who have used it for a long time.
2) People see Morse code as an antiquated mode that should no longer be tested for.
They looked at aspect #2, but totally ignored aspect #1. This is why we're seeing all the arguments, finger pointing, "you're not a real ham if you don't have code" etc. etc. Had NCI thought about this, they would have looked at meeting 2 goals-getting HF access by removing code from the GENERAL license, and maintaining the tradition by still requiring it for the Extra. But instead of this, they 'went for broke' and got it eliminated completely. That is what created the rift, and when this goes through, we can only hope that all of the stuff we're seeing on the internet won't be happening on the air. People are actually talking about not talking to people without code. Come on guys. If they drop the requirement, they did what the FCC required to get a license at the time. You shouldn't hold that against them. They are doing what they have to do NOW to get the license. Many of these people weren't even AROUND when code was a requirement, or when the higher requirements were around. I hope it doesn't come to this.
NCI could have helped on the PR side by leaving Extra alone though. By not doing this, we have all of this strife.
I have submitted my comments to the FCC (I don't know if they will help at this point) indicating that Extra should retain code to maintain the tradition. I don't see it actually happening, but all we can do now is to submit our comments and hope our voices are heard. If you haven't commented, I would encourage you to do so, but be sure to comment with reasoning and not just yell at them either. Though we know that this day was coming, NCI got the thing to the FCC, they saw it as a good idea, and are looking at implementing it. Yelling at them will only make them look more negatively at our hobby.
One positive that will occur out of this though is that everyone will probably watch for submissions to the FCC now. I know I will be checking at least monthly to see what people are suggesting, and making my voice heard. Hopefully with this happening now, every other ham operator will also check to see what people are suggesting to the FCC and let their feelings be known before it reaches this stage-where basically we're taking comments, but the decision has basically been made.
POST ON QRZ
When I wrote the above I kinda rambled, but here is a post I made on QRZ on the same topic which I felt covered it pretty well (according to PM's people liked it also) I was replying to another post when I sent this reply:
I think all of the
anger didn't come out of the fact that the code was being dropped, it was the
fashion in which it came about.
Had the NPRM submitters took into consideration not only the fact they wanted HF
privs, this wouldn't be as large of a fight as we are seeing now.
2 things could have been considered to help maintain the tradition AND give HF
access to people without code:
1) Having the FCC give small slivers of each HF band to the Technician class
licence. This gives them HF access, and gives them the 'gumption' to want to
learn code to get more access to those bands; or
2) Retain the code for the Extra class licence, so then you get General HF privs,
but if you 'want it all' you need to step up to the plate and learn the 'elite'
theory and code to get there.
Both sides of the argument have valid points, and both have exaggerations.
Coders fear HF will become CB. Sorry to inform you of this, but if thats the
case, 50mhz and above should already be. Out of my ham friends that I talk to
at least weekly, 50%+ came from CB and left it BECAUSE of what it has become.
They won't be here to turn it into that because they left it for that very
reason. No Coders have claims code should be dropped because it is holding good
operators back, and that it is an antiquated mode of operation. Yes, it is
probably holding good operators back, as even people WITH code have some bad
apples in thier bunch too, so I don't agree with code being a 'lid filter' per
se. But as for code being antiquated, sure, its been around for years, but it
has been proven that in a pinch, it will get through when other modes cannot
either.
A balance could have been struck by giving the entry level licence a taste of HF,
or making code one of the steps to get the highest class licence with all of the
available privledges. Whats done is done, and there isn't much we can do about
it. 2 things are for certian though....the NPRM authors could have taken the
tradition in mind and prevented the split, and you can bet now that every
Amateur, no matter what 'rank', will be watching the FCC site very closely now
for anything that is submitted, and hopefully something like this will be caught
in the earlier stages and amended into something that both sides can agree on,
instead of becoming an issue when the FCC has already basically acted on it.
As for me, if it goes through, I will be learning code. I may not learn it to
upgrade my licence, and I may upgrade before learning it, but I will become
certified in it-however that has to occur, FCC, ARRL, or whomever. I will also,
however, learn it at my own pace, as this is a hobby that I want to enjoy. I
will enjoy learning it and being proficent at it when I do pass the test-not
just learning it to pass, then never using it again like a good portion of the
ham population I know.
If you don't like that, feel free to flame away, but I think in a hobby, you
should have the right to take things at your own pace. If that makes me lazy or
a 'unreal ham', consider me so labelled proudly. I'm proud of the level I'm at
now, and what I will become in the future, but I will set the pace of my future
advancement. Fair enough?
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73 to all!
Joshua, KD6NIG
Packet: KD6NIG@WH6IO
http://www.kd6nig.net
APRS: KD6NIG-9
13 year NCT (Licenced 08 Sept 1992)-Passed General Written 8-27-05; working on
code. Flame away, my asbestos suit just got back from the cleaners today.
146.655 - 100.0 Tracy, Ca is monitored constantly.