arrl.org — End of an Era: FCC to Drop Morse Testing for All Amateur License ClassesNEWINGTON, CT, In an historic move, the FCC has acted to drop the Morse code requirement for all Amateur Radio license classes. The Commission today adopted, but hasn't yet released, the long-awaited Report and Order (R&O) in WT Docket 05-235, the "Morse code"
Dec 16, 2006 View in Crawl 4
zotterDec 16, 2006Submitter
OH yea, it's true! Just follow the link to the ARRL.ORG website - it's all right there.Check the expected date of going into effect: FTFA"Typically, the effective date of an FCC Order is 30 days after it appears in the Federal Register. If that's the case, the Morse requirement and the revised 80-meter segment for automatically controlled digital stations would likely not go into effect until late January or early February 2007. That's not clear from the public notice, however. The FCC can order its decision effective upon release."
nrecobDec 17, 2006
thank God! I may just have to go get a license now. That dash dot crap just never registered at all with me......then again, with the web and VOIP why buy expensive ham gear?The web makes all that crap kinda obsolete....kinda--taking nothing away from those that are into uit
petekf4qoeDec 17, 2006
Yes there are lots of clubs out there. Go to <a class="user" href="http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/clubsearch.phtml">http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/clubsearch.phtml</a> and search for a club in your area.
rusty0101Dec 17, 2006
Also at the <a class="user" href="http://www.arrl.org">http://www.arrl.org</a> website you will find more information on getting licenced, including schedules of some of the exams that happen near you. Likewise dig around in your community for radio stores (not Radio Shack though you might find a few old timers there who remember seling the equipment, and definately not the consumer electronics stores such as Circuit Citty.) The sales people at some of these stores may be of some assistance in finding local ham clubs and people doing testing.Good luck to you, and I hope to see you on the air one of these days.-Rusty - kc0vcu
stormadvisorDec 17, 2006
Totally understand the family part. Tried studying on my way to work, 1hr, but it was too distracting. The kids, both under 5, make it impossible to do it at home. Well this will remove the strain off of learning to test. Now I can learn for enjoyment.Tech "no code" for 11 years.73,kc8bew
bpwagnerDec 17, 2006
The new requirement is 5wpm in SMS! Brian N2IFF
sansburyDec 17, 2006
@gamecat:Navigational charts show the morse code next to each navaid so pilots are not required to know it.
Closed AccountDec 17, 2006
Yup, I had a broken mic on approach once and ATC said "click your mic if you copy" so I clicked an R .-. and the guy said "Ok got your roger, clear to land one niner"That was kinda cool.mjhAB1FSN3340R
redstaplerDec 18, 2006
I thought that this was inevitable since the FCC said lat year that they were considering it. I made a point of passing the Morse test last August, just so I could say I did it, and passed the General exam last May. I think that in the long run CW will continue to exist as it does now. Most of the advanced Hams I know have said that they only learned the code to pass the exam and never use it. I plan on using it myself, and I think a lot of new Hams will pick it up anyway, because of the advantages and the tradition of it. Maybe if they learn the code for fun, instead of for a test requirement, they'll enjoy and use it more. I remember that studying for the Element 1 exam, I had no problems, but I had my usual exam jitters taking the test, and barely squeaked through.73,KC9HTV