Get your ham tickets now - no more excuses!

[jonny290]

FCC enters 21st century, removes 5wpm from General/Extra exams.


Quoth the FCC:

The current amateur service operator license structure contains three classes of amateur radio operator licenses: Technician Class, General Class, and Amateur Extra Class. General Class and Amateur Extra Class licensees are permitted to operate in Amateur bands below 30 MHz, while the introductory Technician Class licensees are only permitted to operate in bands above 30 MHz. Prior to today’s action, the FCC, in accordance with international radio regulations, required applicants for General Class and Amateur Extra Class operator licenses to pass a five words-per-minute Morse code examination.

Today’s Order eliminates that requirement for General and Amateur Extra licensees. This change reflects revisions to international radio regulations made at the International Telecommunication Union’s 2003 World Radio Conference (WRC-03), which authorized each country to determine whether to require that individuals demonstrate Morse code proficiency in order to qualify for an amateur radio license with transmitting privileges on frequencies below 30 MHz. This change eliminates an unnecessary regulatory burden that may discourage current amateur radio operators from advancing their skills and participating more fully in the benefits of amateur radio.

Come join us in the world of TX/RX!

Edit: maybe not the best forum choice, mod feel free to move it to another one if it's more appropriate. Its just Big News!

 

[biglaz]

Thanks for the info. For those that are wondering where this quote came from:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-269012A1.pdf

I suppose this means those that have CSCEs for a written exam would have to go to another VE session to upgrade their license?

 

[cschmit]

FCC enters 21st century, removes 5wpm from General/Extra exams.


Quoth the FCC:


Come join us in the world of TX/RX!

Edit: maybe not the best forum choice, mod feel free to move it to another one if it's more appropriate. Its just Big News!

Hmmm haven't seen this anywhere else on the interent....Interesting

 

[kf4pep]

Hmmm haven't seen this anywhere else on the interent....Interesting

It's on the ARRL website now among others.

 

[crayon]

Sweet. About time ..

 

[K5MAR]

here's the ARRL link:

End of an Era: FCC to Drop Morse Testing for All Amateur License Classes

Mark S.

 

[rattlerbb01]

I don't hold any kind of license, but I would think that morse would at least still be a good thing to learn, though not really needed for operating in the bands below 30 mhz. Maybe an additional title extension added to those who are proficent.

 

[jhooten]

It is a mode of communication like any other. Do we need SSB endorsements, or Radio Teletype endorsements, or what not? No. If you enjoy the mode learn it and use it. That is one of the things that make amateur radio great. There is something for just about every one to enjoy.

Hey FCC, it is about time.

To the spark, I mean code forever guys, get over it. It is not the end of the world for amateur radio. Maybe now we can beging to increse the number of liscense holders and not have to fight so hard to hang on to "our" frequencies.

 

[eorange]

Wow, I never thought it would actually happen. I did think the recent 80m band expansion announcement was peculiar, though.

It would be interesting to see if Icom/Yaesu/Kenwood post record sales in 2007 due to HF rigs.

Finally - I predict the forums at eham.net will spiral into anarchy and self-destruct!

 

[cschmit]

I like that it was dropped for General but would have liked to see it stay for Extra. Even with this change I will still learn the code since it is something I really would like to know.

 

[jonny290]

Even with this change I will still learn the code since it is something I really would like to know.

See, that's the attitude of somebody who loves the concept of CW and barebones communication, and shows that it is still valid. CW will survive because it is great, and people will continue to enjoy it.

That's more of an endorsement than any 5wpm rubber-stamp on FCC letterhead.

 

[mancow]

Thank god!

I bet Yaesu and Icom are seeing $$ signs this holiday season.


Time to popt the FT100 cherry. It has been here quietly monitoring for years.

 

[SLWilson]

Code...

here's the ARRL link:

End of an Era: FCC to Drop Morse Testing for All Amateur License Classes

Mark S.

I took my General element test on November 19th. Passed it OK. I'd taken the Technician class test back when code was required for it. A few that took the test the same day I did haven't had the 5 WPM element yet. They were talking about having a year to get that done. Our club was looking at having a code class. Guess we'll only do that now for someone that just wants to learn it!!! It looks like those that tested when I did have lucked out!!!

Steve/KB8FAR

 

[Grog]

Finally - I predict the forums at eham.net will spiral into anarchy and self-destruct!

I think the Zed' will be the 1st to go. I better see what is going on at hamsexy :lol:

 

[iMONITOR]

I'm listening to my local 2-meter band in Macomb, Michigan this morning, 147.180MHz, and I'm amazed! It is buzzing with all these hams who just found out about this today! They must live under a rock! I'm not even a ham, and I was reading about this coming a week ago! Maybe they need to get off the radio, talking about Christmas shopping, and get back into the actual radio hobby and stay on top of what's going on!

They're all in a big uproar about it too, and I don't understand that either.

 

[trace1]

I’ve only been in the hobby since May of this year, a Technician, but I’m going to start studying now for my upgrade.

 

[loumaag]

... I'm not even a ham, and I was reading about this coming a week ago! ...

Well I am one, have been for longer than I like to think about it, and I have been hearing about this for the past 7-8 years...point is no one outside the FCC had any inclination about it actually happening until yesterday. Still no firm date on when it is effective, probably in 30 days or so.

 

[policeMonitor]

Don't get TOO excited. The effective date still is uncertain. The FCC issued a public statement that the code testing will be discontinued...but they did the same thing a few months ago.

"In a break from typical practice, the FCC only issued a public notice at
or about the close of business and not the actual Report and Order,
so some details -- including the effective date of the R&O -- remain
uncertain. The public notice is located at,
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs...tch/DOC-269012A1.pdf."

 

[N4JNW]

I'm pretty happy as a Technician class. Now that code is gone, I'll probably grab a General Study book and hit it..

Time to start saving for an HF rig!

 

[iMONITOR]

Well I am one, have been for longer than I like to think about it, and I have been hearing about this for the past 7-8 years...point is no one outside the FCC had any inclination about it actually happening until yesterday. Still no firm date on when it is effective, probably in 30 days or so.

How do you feel about this? I'm having a hard time understanding why so many are so ticked off about this change. They can continue using code if they want, and those who don't, won't have to. One guy was saying now all the truckers will have Icom HF rigs and wipe out the whole band. I think they're overreacting. Having to learn code, does not make you a better ham operator, or prevent you from being a poor one. It all seems so silly!