mpackard@uok.UUCP (07/16/84)
#N:uok:2800010:000:1110 uok!mpackard Jul 15 17:10:00 1984 [] <--Eat Me I've been working on radars since 1972 and currently am a crewmember on the E3 AWACS and during all that time I've never broke or failed to operate the equipment within specs because I didn't know morse code. I believe what the hams want is competent operators and technicians. They don't want some puke splattering or intentionally jamming his fellow amatuers. They want a pure spectrum where everyone can talk or key a conversation. I think the code has a perfect place in HF but is only a nuiscence in the bands after 10 meters. In Oklahoma all the popular repeaters use voice ID. I first got interested in amatuer radio in high school and this guy told me that I couldn't use it unless I learned code. So we listened to HF and some of us eventially got profficient but 95% of the group went on to metal shop and said screw this! In USAF tech schools these guys are refered to as ditty boppers and most of them can't even tie thier shoes yet. I agree morse is easy to learn, so then why require it as then you'll get a bunch of people who got their liscenses the easy way! uok!mpackard