[hfsig] Re: [Flexradio] The final nail in the coffin of Morse?

[Robert McGwier]

I think coupled with the promotion of Morse in the most popular 
activities (2 pts for CW QSO's at FD vice 1 for SSB) and similar 
"marketing tools" will continue to enable Morse a significant presence 
for the foreseeable future.  It is still my contention, that due to 
human nature,  it will wither on the vine.  Over time, this SIG (amateur 
radio)  will have a small sub-SIG called Morse operators.   Coupled with 
the "bandwidth-based" proposals we are seeing  from the League will 
definitely impact the future.  Whether it is in time or not,  I do not 
know.  Certainly the current demographics trends need to be turned 
around and even the FCC acknowledges that explicitly in this NPRM.  It 
will be hard to have a viable hobby if 80% of the people doing it are 65 
and older.  As a mathematician, I do not believe in straight line 
prognositication, but I also do not ignore what to all of us is a 
troubling trend.   I think this experiment in change has met with 
qualified success in Europe.  I pray it does here but is an unqualified 
success.

Bob
N4HY


Hare, Ed W1RFI wrote:

> Is there a reason that ARRL's existing code-proficiency-award program 
> is not sufficient?
>  
> http://www.arrl.org/awards/#cp
>  
> 73,
> Ed Hare, W1RFI
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* hfsig-bounces at lists.tapr.org on behalf of Walt DuBose
> *Sent:* Thu 7/21/2005 9:04 PM
> *To:* TAPR HF Modes SIG Mailing List
> *Subject:* Re: [hfsig] Re: [Flexradio] The final nail in the coffin of 
> Morse?
>
>  > I'd like to see national radio societies establish some kind
>  > of plan for an internationally recognisable certificate of
>  > morse proficiency in the absence of one provided by
>  > government institutions.
>  >
>
> I've suggested to several ARRL Directors and the President and I 
> believe that
> they think this is a goos idea...maybe a green stone in your ARRL logo 
> for 5
> WPM, Red for 10 and Diamond for 20...maybe even a REAL diamond chip.
>
> Walt/K5YFW
>