?
Hi All,
?
I have updated the frequency privileges file that is used to display the phone and CW privileges for each license class in my software with the new privileges that became effective on December 15, 2006.? This file also is used to determine whether to set your rig to phone or CW when you click on a DX spot.? If you are using AC Log to determine mode by frequency for data entry, this file will not not affect those results.? That process was hard coded and will have to be address separately.? You will find the file by clicking on the Country and Band Plan Files link at .
?
73 to Morse?
?
On a separate note, since this group represents a high percentage of contesters and CW enthusiasts, I wanted to pass along my thoughts on Friday's FCC announcement that the CW requirement is in fact being dropped for all license classes.? If your group is anything like ours here in Maryland, there have been quite a few passionate thoughts expressed on this subject in the last 48 hours.
?
Since the debate is over and the decision is now final, the focus is turning from?whether it is a good idea or not to the future of Morse code.? In response to a thread on our local club e-mail reflector entitled "73 to Morse", I wrote the following:
?
One thing is certain -
CW is?fun.? Hams had to learn
CW to get their licenses, but we didn't have to use it once we had ticket in hand.? The fact that
CW remains a very popular mode is proof positive that it can stand on its own.
?
My hope is that this move will help infuse the hobby with the fresh minds and passions that it sorely needs.? If our numbers rise, a portion of this new group will learn code, not because they have to, but because they want to.
?
One incentive to learn CW is certainly contesting.? There are lots of CW only contests to participate in, and the multi mode contests usually give double the points to CW.? W3JX and N3HCN accounted for more than double the Field Day points on the CW station than the rest of us did on the phone station combined!?
?
Another incentive is that it is truly fun.? CW can be both relaxing when you are rag chewing at a nice comfortable speed and challenging when you are trying to nab that high speed DX or contest station in ways that other modes simply don't offer.?
?
I know that it will take some creative thinking on our part to help newcomers see?CW's value.? The joys of?CW - the sense of accomplishment, the fun of the rag chew, the thrill of nabbing a DX station, the excitement of?being at the bottom of a CW contest pileup;?can only be experienced by doing.? It is not easy to communicate with words, but it is incumbent on all of us to try.
?
I welcome the new hams that will come to the hobby.??I hope that once they have ticket in hand and the newness of the phone contacts has worn off, a worthwhile percentage will discover the fun and enduring qualities of CW.
?
Let's hope that we are wishing 73 to Morse in the sense of best regards, and not as part of a farewell.? If indeed this is farewell, there will be many who will never know what they missed.
?
?
73, Scott
N3FJP
http://www.n3fjp.com/
Serving the Amateur Radio Community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.
