rcf@inuxd.UUCP (R Fitch) (07/16/84)
Your comments on NO CODE are good and the guys that say "I did it so should you" are appropriately cited. I like CODE and as many others have testified, in an emergency ( by the way this is what Amateur Radio is about except for those hobbiest only guys) CW is the answer . A basic question on the FCC test asks what HAM radio is to be used for. The answer is to further develope technical skills in communications and for "PUBLIC SERVICE". All in all I believe that CODE is quite important "NOT" to "KEEP OUT the CB'ers" but to insure the necessary skills to perform the REAL Amateur Radio Tradition to serve the public. NO the HAM RADIO has not lost it's thunder!!!!! We are very much in the news on sattelite communinications, over seas message delivery(by the way I have had to resort to CODE to get important messages through that other methods failed), disater communications, PACKET RADIO, SPREAD SPECTRUM, etc,etc,etc. The bottom line is , HAM radio is a hobby SECOND and a service first. To do that and do it well we must know the basic modes of opereation to get the job done. By the way I have taught several quote "CBers" and they are all first class operaters as HAMS. 73's RICH KN9K
labelle@hplabsc.UUCP (WB6YZZ La Belle) (07/18/84)
I totally disagree with the "Ham radio is a hobby second and a service
first" ethic. It is a hobby first! It is in someway paid for with
public service; but that is not its primary function.
GEORGE